Diminishing Returns

got some restored B&W CDM1 se's for 100 bucks...talk about bang for the $.   in a small room their still something special even 25 years on.

Also bought my Aria 936's for 2500... keep an eye out for demo's... a great middle ground in the used/new spectrum

Here on June 4 the wind has probably died off for this thread.  Nonetheless, I can't resist suggesting used Vandersteen 3A Signatures, often appearing for under $2k.  I've long considered this buy among the best in sound for the money.  Then pair them with a pair of used Vandy 2wq subs, also, I believe, well under $2k, and you will have sound that you can't believe for the money that will probably keep a smile on your face, or rather in your heart, for a good while.

The brand new Vandersteen 2 Sig mk3 should be on anyone's list under 3500.  He rebuilt the crossover and is using a top circuit board along with the same midrange that's in my Quatro's, lol.  He made a bunch of other changes.  I was told that these are a large upgrade, hence the new designation.  Mate that with an all in one integrated that streams etc... and what a system you have.  

BTW, if you use Vandy subs they are designed to take on the sound of your main amp for the bass where they are crossed over>. It will also free up your main speakers, so that you won't drive them too hard and they too will sound better.  I've never felt the 3's needed subs, but I know many want more bass and it does help the sound of the 3's.

About speakers deal mine is hard to beat...

I bought 3 years ago a pair of Mission Cyrus 781 speakers 80 bucks...My electronic repairman(very competent one) said to me that one of the speakers was more beaten and less powerful than the other....I listen to them and I see that with my own ears... I phone back the seller and well, he was sorry to hear that, and does not know about that problem before the sale etc... Being very honest, he lowered the price half and at 40 bucks I bought them....


I adjusted the balance and position to compensate but you know a broken speakers is a broken one...


But miracles happen, after 2 years I discovered one day that the 2 speakers were equal in power now....I dont know why, perhaps some catalytic resurrection coming from my many "golden plates" located near the electronics.... :) I never listen to my many headphones now....


But These British speakers indeed punch way over their price (800 bucks) in quality.... Non fatiguing highs with plenty of details, mids velvety, their bass sounds are clear and I listen to them with my body....For a 7 inches bass drivers this is more than very good....I modify them my way and now to upgrade them will cost me many thousand dollars...( I sold a subwoofer because with these bass notes I dont need one, I dont listen metal ,nor movie music ).


The sound is immersive( nearfield) or out of the speakers (in regular listening distance) not related to them filling the room with no real defect at all... Better speakers exist but the price is not 40 bucks, more many thousands, i know it because in their own way they top my Old Tannoy dual gold, which I sold 800 bucks after 40 years of use....The Tannoy were too big for my desk....


But last word, speakers could not deliver optimal good sound at any price without a room treatment, a passive one and an active one....If I look the photos in the virtual section almost nobody use active room treatment.... And those that use a passive one dont feel the necessity to use a good active treatment.... Add to that a minimalistic or a nonexistent electrical house grid treatment, and except for a minimalistic resonance and vibrations controls, almost all invest in the Electronic Components and never address rightfully the triple embeddings problem...

Then it is not surprizing that most people are sure that Hi-Fi S.Q. is directly linked to the price scale.... That is a myth....A myth that no reviewers can debunk really once and for all because they will lost their sponsors in the E.C. industry....


First and last audiophile law:

" Dont upgrade before embedding it"