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?
Avalons just sounded very unique and different to me when I heard them. So if I had the bucks, I would want to give another listen to see what it was really all about.
I do not recall dynamics as being the thing that made them sound different. It was either tonality/voicing, detail/resolution or perhaps some combination of both. Not sure. Just know that they were different enough to make me take notice. I liked the unique cabinet shape and design as well.
The brand new Bose 930YZ. The sonic signature is beyond reality. You'll think your head is jammed inside Tommy Lee's base drum. After one listen you'll go into a state of hyper ventriculated spazmazoid.
It seems from reading your post that you are looking for compact speaker's to be driven by a moderate power amp. If that is the casethere are a number ofmonitors people like. For floorstanders that might need more power I heard the new vienna acoustics klimpt last week and I though the were much better than magico v3 at the same dealer, and also better although in adifferent way than sonus faber elippsa. But if yor willing to experiment and think outside the box, there is a pair of final sound 1000i speakers with sub woofers for 5700 delivered on sale now. Buy then, listent to them and decide. Surely yo could sell them for close to that if you don't like them. Im betting you will love to have the speaker and 15,000 more in your retirement account
Seriously, with the economy these days, most anyone should think 3 or 4 times before dropping more than $6-8 or maybe $10 grand on speakers. I think there is something to meet most anyone's needs realistically in this price range.
Rgcards: For floorstanders that might need more power I heard the new vienna acoustics klimpt last week and I though the were much better than magico v3 at the same dealer, and also better although in adifferent way than sonus faber elippsa.
< A very interesting sweeping remarks here, Rg can you please elaborate a little on equipments/ancillaries used during the audition and in what obvious ways were the Vienna "much better" than the later two?? Also what system you yourself are currently running at home to better understand where you are coming from. Thanks.
Bvdiman I dont wan't to start or participate in ay kind of argument. I know there are many people who beieve mgicos are untouchable, Jonathin Valin at his Avguide blog practicslly csme to blows with someone whodisagreed with him about the magicos, and I am not going to waste my time in any kind of debate. I rarely post at all so as not get embroiled in arguments. That beinf said, I believe the Magico was being driven by a plinius amp. The klimpts were being deiven by a larger audio research amp, which was on e of their d series solid state amps. The Sonus fabers were beibg driven by a 20 year old levinson. Both the SF and VA speakers wer sensarional, but I thought the bas and the sound stage depth was better on th klmpt. This was one of the best sounding demos I have ever heard, espescially since I was looking for a cheaper pair of speakers but wasmesmerized by the sound of the klimpt. To me the meagicos sounded less like real music, they din;t do anything wrong, but agftger 5 minutes I got bored and went to listen to the klimpt until I had to leave.
I ended up buying the Final sound speakers I recommended. These are my own speaker which I payed,for me, a lot of money, so you should disregard any praise for them, except to trealize tha I spent twice as much for them as the pair here is on sale for, so that must mean I like them. Honestly, I should have saved my money for my kids, but I do feel that I got the best speakers I could ever need or afford. Despite my fear in saying so,(please don't hit me Jonathan Valin) I thought they sounded better than the magicos for what I like , and they fit my room and lifestyle better(my wife accepts their looks). Are they a great speaker? For me they, for anyone else only they can say.
Hi, I'm using right now JM Lab Utopia 3 La Scala with McIntosh equipment. The sound is fantastic. After 200 hours of break the speakers do the best. Find a dealer and try the Utopia 3 La Scala, you will be surprised. Sergio
Argument? Nah..far from it, waste of time. Am actually just curious of how you came about to your previously mentioned conclusion. With reference to your experience however, I believe Magico as being the more neutrally balanced and revealing speakers amongst the three, would/should have fared better given electronics of more commensurate quality. Anyway, thanks again for sharing.
no doubt; Verity Audio Parsifal Ovation. if you can stretch it: Sarastro. but do listen to the Hansens too. i found peace of mind with Verity after Strad. big time. cheers;
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.
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.
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?
What did you buy? Of course, if you are one of the many audiophiles who are happy to solicit some help but prefer not to share anything back then I understand.
I recently heard the new Magico V2 set up beautifully by the dealer with Spectal/MIT and an SME tt. Best demo I've ever heard. I brought in my own LPs and they have never sounded more real and involving as with that system. If I had the $18K, I would audition them in my system and then buy them.
Acollen, I second the above recommendation on V2. Having quite a similar path as yourself in that I too had started my earlier days with amongst others an MG3a in the early 80's, and lived with the MG20.1 for a period of 3yrs a couple of years back (Incidentally am also a converted die-hard tube-o-holics). After having gotten used to planar's sound, there's just not many options in boxes design for me, Magico happens to be one that I could live (more than) happily after my planar/stats years.
Pass labs are no good with sound labs. Total wrong combo. Trust me, I have tired this.
Be forewarned that Pass stuff can damage speakers. (it has happened to me) I wouldn't trust them with $20,000 speakers unless woofers are easy to get and replace and you like doing this type of thing.
Really, if you have speakers you like, stick with them because the only thing that has happened in the last 15 years in quality has gone down and prices are up 3-4 times for junk.
I'd pony up another $17,000 for the Tonian Labs TL-M1 MKII. If not, I'd settle for the TL-D1s. You could pocket $17,500 and be quite satisfied. There are some models in between that would float your boat. They are that good.
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.
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.
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.
I am retired and did the same thing you are doing. I bought an 11 month old pair of Eggleston Savoy speakers. I also live in an old house with 10 foot ceilings and wood floors and large rooms. What size is your room? I am now having the fun of building a system around the Savoy speakers.
Omnis are worth thinking about. At your stated price point, I'd suggest a used pair of MBL 101s. This is a different (and striking) sounding speaker.
Some folks feel that they're acceptably neutral in balance, but they may also sound (to others) a bit mid bass heavy and forward through the presence region (as they do to me). If this is the case, consider a pre-amp with room correction (like the Integra pre-pro), and you'll still be about on-budget.
If you're looking for a different flavor, this will provide it. Obviously, auditioning would be a good idea. A variation on the theme would be a biamped Ohm/subwoofer system like I use. The MBL is a more dramatic sounding system than the Ohm+subs, but it is more expensive and less neutral (IMHO).
For your budget, MBLs (with or without correction) would seem to be appropriate. For my money, moving from the Ohms to the MBLs isn't really justifiable. I have thought about this one, but never quite pulled the trigger on the expenditure and doubt that I ever will.
Having heard mbls and liking them and also having owned OHMs for years now, if I had the means and the proper room to house them, I'm not sure I would jump from OHM to mbl either. I'd probably use the money elsewhere (like to build a bigger better listening room for the OHMs).
Marty, we seem to think alike. I was thinking that pairing the Huff's with actively bi-amped TacT gear with integral, room correction and cross-overs for the subs might work nicely.
I'd build a deck, screened in porch, some Blue Ray discs, a new suit or two, some shoes to go with them, some CDs, DVDs, maybe another SS amp, some speaker cables, and a pair of preowned Andrea IIs.
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