With $20,000 in your hand, what speaker would you
Congrads on being able to settle down at an age you can enjoy life. There is nothing wrong to my knowledge to pursuing your passion though I do like the thought of Italy. The grand veena is a wonderful speaker I do not own. I have heard it on several occasions. I heard it in vegas with several friends and we were all amazed by the sound quality per cost. It is wonderful at conveying emotion and yet detailed. Its sound is comprable or better than many speakers costing substantially more. I would definitely consider an audition before spending more, particularly if you are wanting to use it with tubes. Unfortunately people like change and so it is hard to know if this will last you a lifetime but it is certainly within budget. Best of luck. |
Ooops - I put the speaker in the title, and it didn't show - I meant the Silverline Audio Bolero @ 9K/pr leaves enough for matching center and surrounds. I have yet to hear anything I liked better for under $20K. It's a colored - euphonically - speaker, so it's not for everyone. But it sounded so beautiful when I heard it, it almost brought me to tears. |
If you like ribbons and dynamic bass, maybe the Gilmore Audio Model 2 speakers. Open baffle design made from a slab of Corian. http://www.glacieraudio.com/new%20Glacier%20Audio%20Site/Products%20folder/Gilmore/Gilmoreaudio1.htm |
I am very happy with Wilson Audio Sophia II's. The Wilson line has gone through some major changes over the years. I use to think they were very bright and loud. The Sophia II is different. It is voiced beautifully. You really get the open feeling from electrostatics and maggies but also get the dynamic impact from conventional speaker design. Not to mention one of the finest quality speaker cabinets in the business. I know there is a lot of controversy about Wilson Audio but I encourage you to give them an audition. I believe these run $16 to $18K depending on finish. I see them on audiogon for around $10K. |
Acollen I have a couple of years on you though I still have a few years before I punch out. Bought my first pair of Magnapan speakers in 1982, back then I vowed that I would never go back to speakers built in a box...Well never say never... The following year I came home with a pair of Quad63s which I still own today and listen to on occasion. My budget last year for a new speaker system was 20 grand tops and as you know there are some beauty's new and used at that price point. Over the entire summer going from one audio store to the next, the speakers I settled on I wasn't even aware of them at the time. Do give the Reference Grand Veena's a listen. |
Andy, I can tell you the Avalon Eidolon Diamonds are the best speaker I have ever heard and you know I have heard just about all of them. I heard your Maggies and they sound very good in your room but if you ever heard the Diamonds your jaw would hit the floor. No box speaker sound like Avalon's and most maggie owners don't like box speakers. The Andra's sound good but they need a sub or two. They don't compare to the Diamonds but the diamonds cost $14,000 more. Mark |
Should combine the virtues of dipole and being more dynamic than the typical panel speaker. It would be my second choice (auditioned at an owner in MY) to my 2805s, the compromises of the Quads are better suited to apartment living (can't play loud anyway). I do by the way drive my Quads with a Pass amp (Aleph 30) which I surprisingly preferred to a tube amp. Problems are (1) that they cost a lot less than $20k and (2) you no longer need you beloved amps. |
I am also a maggie owner, 3.6, my friend has the 20.1. I like the Aerial 20T as I cannot be without the ribbon on the top end. Even at CES, I failed to hear any speaker at any price with that type of top end. That is just what I find musical and realistic. Many great speakers, the ribbons just do it for me. |
| Post removed |
First off, congrats on your up coming retirement.-- I hope it wasn't health related. In general,life is short; "eat your desert first".period... After just reading the follow up on the Salon 2's--I say there is a speaker that might tempt me and I see the on line price of $16.2 is under your budget allocation. Hey,it's time you tried some cones???? |
Speaker choice in this or any price range would depend upon your room size, room acoustics and personal preferences. That said, as a maggie owner and owner of electrostatics and Nelson Pass equipment myself, you also seem to prefer planar designs. You might consider (if you have the space) apogee speakers rebuilt with better ribbons and crossovers. Innersound eros 2-3/kaya speakers are wonderful if you don't mind a small sweet spot. If you can find a good pair of Hill plasmatronics and upgrade the subwoofer and use and external crossover and don't mind your room temperature rising and speakers that look like 1920 ice boxes you will have something special. All of these choices cost way less than $20,000 so you can use the remaining cash on other equipment or save it for the difficult economic times ahead. |
I had problems with the ceramic midrange distorting with dynamic vocals That is common enough with consumer designs. Do you like to listen loud in a large space? Do you want something approaching panel sound in the midrange but more compact and with more low end (a better all rounder)? If so, then try to audition an ATC 150 or 100 - and since you are ok with good SS amplification then the active version coupled with a tube pre or source might be what you are looking for. Since you have owned everything American perhaps you will enjoy the British sound. In any case, the pro drivers will not compress as easily as you have experienced previously - so transieents/percussion will be very realistic. The only draw back (if you are used to American sound) is that the bass response, although extended, is light (detailed and tangible) rather than heavy or impressive. |
