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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
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
after having a 10k bender in Vegas i would sober up and spend the balance of avalons. i would remember the weekend long after i tired of 'any' speakers.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i would buy multi pairs of quad esls--originals. can't say how many, because of price. perhaps 8 pair. yes, i relize not a full range, but this is my choice.

second choice is apogee duetta two signature--maybe two pair and pocket the change.
jckonicek
13 posts
 
Consider the Klipsch palladium line, p38 or p39. They are exceptional speakers, and i like them better than wilson, thiels, etc.
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
Where'd you go, Andy? Two months later and no response. That's rude.
hi_hifi
120 posts
 
Easy choice - Sound Lab U1s. Assuming you have the right electronics (great tube gear such as the right ARC or Atmasphere or VTL, etc amp and preamp) and you have the right room this is a no brainer. You will get outstanding deep, tight, bass, enormously realistic midrange - vocals will be in the room unlike anything you've heard before, and beautiful, delicate highs. You will get high definiton, transients, texture, detail, air, transparency, and precise imaging side to side and front to back. You will get the most amazing, realistically musical experience possible. Just make sure the room dimensions and treatments are as good as the speakers and electronics - at this level, the room is a huge factor in letting the gear do it's magic. (And of course you need a good source - analog and/or CD.) Ok, this system might stretch your budget a bit, but no sense in going 80% of the way. (If need be, you could scale down a SL model or two.) Let us know what you decide and how it goes.
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