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With $20,000 in your hand, what speaker would you

I've recently gone into retirement. I am a 52-year-old diehard audiophile. I've had just about every statement level speaker the American market has offered over the last 10 to 15 years. The speaker I have found the most satisfying overall is my presently owned modified pair of Maggie 3.6R. I've also had their 20s and started with the Mg 3A. for my second favorite speaker I would have to pick the Avalon radian HC, and not the Eidolon( I had problems with the ceramic midrange distorting with dynamic vocals and the base was not perfect). I had dozens and dozens of conventional and electrostatic speakers so many I could bore you with the list. So let's just say I've been around the block a few times.

Let's assume that I made no mistakes meeting the speakers with the proper equipment, power conditioning and acoustical environment treatment. I have been mostly a tube person but I switched over to the new passlabs equipment because I found that I am
the equivalent sound or better than my reference tube amplifiers, without the heartbreaking experience of blowing up and $2000 tube replacements.(As I said I am retired now, I can't afford the maintenance fees anymore.

What I'm asking of my fellow audiophiles that have been listening with reference great audio systems is that they e-mail me back and give me their opinion on what conventional loudspeaker they would own if they had say $20,000 or so to spend(20,000 retail). Semi-full range down to say 35 Hz or so.

I'm going to keep the Maggies but, they don't feel the need when it comes to wanting a more compact/dynamic speaker that I could also drive with my Belcanto SET. Although, they don't need to be ultra efficient.

I would really appreciate anybody's input, I would find all of your input invaluable in making my decision.

by the way what do you all think of the Grand Veena 3A speaker. Is it better than anything for under $20-$30,000?

Thank you very much for all of your help,

Regards,
Andrew

thanks again,
Andy

PS I am still keeping the Maggies.
acollen
hhdinc
8 posts
 
If you've been chasing this 'sound' for 10-15 years and have not found it - your quest is about the chase not about ending it. My opinion is that you'll never find what you think you're looking for because your quest is not about satisfaction, it's about the quest.

Spend your money on tickets to live shows in decent halls. Pick the finest halls in the world, take the wife or a friend and enjoy live music in a proper setting. Go places you've never been, hear LIVE voices. Share the love, man. take home a memory, not another piece of gear you'll be looking to liquidate for pennies on the dollar in a few years.

I sat through Il Travatore last night in a mediocre hall with a slightly sub-par orchestra and it kicked the s#@t out of any stinkin' record. And best of all, I took the wife, we had a meal, we talked about how insanely complicated the plot was. Bottom line - I have something more than vinyl, or shellac, or tubes for the rest of my life to treasure.

Fear not, I love vinyl, and shellac and tubes, but they don't make the world go around. That's my two cents and worth every penny I assure you.
77cooper
5 posts
 
Stacked quads would be nice - from PK of course - if they fit into your listening room.
nick72's avatar
nick72
24 posts
 
Why mid-full range.....i would buy the Usher D-2 flagship horns....speed,transparency, weight..musicality in spades, i would not think twice if i had the room to fit a pair.
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Easy, Vandersteen 5A.

Full extension below 20 Hz with phase and time coherence.

Can't beat them for the price and you'll have megabux left for software or some other toy.
scottht
398 posts
 
Large advents, then pay the first semester for my daughters collage! What the heck. This is 2009 and we are in the worst shape since the great depression. This is still a viable question ? Any of you die hards give me a loan please?
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