Actually, I take back my comment about not hearing a single conventional system that came close to delivering what a horn-based system is capable of. A long time ago, I listened to a pair of PMC MB2's, and they were quite spectacular. If they had 3 bedrooms and a bathroom, I might buy a pair!
Seeking Speaker Recommendations
Greetings,
I've been away from the hobby for quite a while, but am now ready to slowly edge my way back in. Many moons ago I sold my Altec Model 19's, and have never been able to find a replacement for them. Their dynamics, their liveliness, their punch, the way they recreated the music on a grand scale. Even at lower volumes their dynamic swings were amazing. They sounded so lifelike. I'm sure their measured performance was likely abysmal, but the sound they generated, to my ears, was like sitting at a performance.
Having been to the CES/Comdex show many, many times years ago, I had seen and listened to hundreds of speakers by hundreds of manufacturers. What I liked was significantly out of my price range. I've personally owned systems by Thiel, Von Schweikert, Martin Logan, Magnepan, Legacy, Focal, and the list goes on. I even went to great expense and custom built a pair of Altec 604 based speakers. All have left me wanting my old Altec 19's back.
I know they can be had today, and you can even build a "new" pair with the cabinets and drivers available, but I can no longer house a pair of speakers larger than a washer/dryer! What I'm looking for is a small to medium sized floor-standing speaker, preferably under $3,000/pair, that will recreate that Altec Model 19 magic. I assume it would have to be high efficiency and horn based.
Can anyone kindly recommend a system that might come close to what I'm seeking?
Thanks!!
I've been away from the hobby for quite a while, but am now ready to slowly edge my way back in. Many moons ago I sold my Altec Model 19's, and have never been able to find a replacement for them. Their dynamics, their liveliness, their punch, the way they recreated the music on a grand scale. Even at lower volumes their dynamic swings were amazing. They sounded so lifelike. I'm sure their measured performance was likely abysmal, but the sound they generated, to my ears, was like sitting at a performance.
Having been to the CES/Comdex show many, many times years ago, I had seen and listened to hundreds of speakers by hundreds of manufacturers. What I liked was significantly out of my price range. I've personally owned systems by Thiel, Von Schweikert, Martin Logan, Magnepan, Legacy, Focal, and the list goes on. I even went to great expense and custom built a pair of Altec 604 based speakers. All have left me wanting my old Altec 19's back.
I know they can be had today, and you can even build a "new" pair with the cabinets and drivers available, but I can no longer house a pair of speakers larger than a washer/dryer! What I'm looking for is a small to medium sized floor-standing speaker, preferably under $3,000/pair, that will recreate that Altec Model 19 magic. I assume it would have to be high efficiency and horn based.
Can anyone kindly recommend a system that might come close to what I'm seeking?
Thanks!!
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- 37 posts total
- 37 posts total