AudiogoN Forums: Are more expensive speakers better?

Are more expensive speakers better?

Recently, I found out an interesting thing while reviewing audiogon threads. Many people were not satisfied with their current speakers and were trying to "upgrade" their system, seeking other people's opinions/advices/recommendations. And most people used the phrases like "best bang for the buck" or "at that price range". Does that mean more expentive speakers are better?

Ddhpark (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-24-02

Responses (1-48 of 48)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

01-24-02 As i have moved up through the vandersteen speaker line 2ce, ... Garfish

01-24-02 Not always. speakers, like all other components, are subjec ... Pbb

01-24-02 Don't waste your money on speakers. save it for expensive c ... Gthrush1

01-24-02 More expensive advice is always better. send us money, and w ... Bomarc

01-24-02 Are expensive cars always better ? not if your requirement ... Seandtaylor99

01-24-02 No! it's completely based on what sounds best to you. Davewavaolcom

01-24-02 Instant gratification enters high end audio. lots of the ... Fzxguy

01-24-02 Fact is, relatively inexpensive speakers ( $2k) that are wel ... Cornfedboy

01-24-02 If the goal is to achieve a theoretical 100% perfect sound, ... Rosros

01-24-02 No sir. Danvetc

01-24-02 There are some great $3000 speakers and plenty of lousy soun ... Rayhall

01-24-02 Maybe, or as a attorney would say "it depends"!!! Avivey

01-24-02 Doesn't the baseball analogy fall apart by looking at the ya ... Kthomas

01-24-02 To achieve greater quality in anything typically requires mo ... Sean

01-25-02 Pbb; you say calling any component/speaker "mid-fi&quo ... Garfish

01-25-02 I'd just add that in robert harley's tas review of the vande ... Garfish

01-25-02 You go, craig!!! i wasn't going to rise to the bait on this ... Sdcampbell

01-25-02 Scott (sdcampbell)-- thanks much for your support, it just & ... Garfish

01-25-02 I walked away with a slighlty different take on what pbb sai ... Sean

01-25-02 I love the van 5's ! i used to own a set - sold them becaus ... John_l

01-25-02 Craig (garfish): i think sean is correct. were pbb actuall ... Cornfedboy

01-25-02: mike@poindexter.cc
In any given price range, there are X number of speakers. The best of those are going to give you the most bang for your buck in that price range. This works if more expensive speakers are better, the same or worse. While not all speakers that cost more are better sounding, the general trend is that way.

Look at any line of speakers. Do their cheaper speakers sound better than their flagship ones? Doubtful, because any smart company would just increase the price of the speaker that is out of line if it is too cheap or discontinue it if it was too expensive.

Some brands offer a better sonic value than others (almost anything vs. Bose or Bang & Olufsen) because some other speakers are offering something other than just sound. Bose offers ease of use and easy to hide speakers, while B&O offers speakers that you would NOT want to hide (although they must match your decor).

What you want in a speaker should guide your decision. Do you want to see them or not? Should they be pretty, or are looks unimportant? How much bass extension do you want? How large or small do you want them to be? How much do you have to spend?

The last one will immediately cut down your field of choices to a workable number. Choose the best of what you want from the category you are in.
mike@poindexter.cc

01-25-02 Reading pbbs post i think he was supporting vandersteens and ... Clueless

01-25-02 Hey, i resent that comment about b&o speakers mike. i think ... Paulwp

01-25-02 Well, it's a new day, and my temperature has returned to nea ... Garfish

01-25-02 Somehow my last sentence got cut off and i didnt notice unti ... Paulwp

01-25-02 Garfish: i auditioned the 5's in a vandersteen preferred sy ... Dekay

01-25-02 Dekay; you are "right on" regarding set-up of the ... Garfish

01-25-02 Craig, i was really thinking about getting some bose speaker ... Danvetc

01-25-02 Danvetc: you don't think bose speakers will hurt your patie ... Cornfedboy

01-25-02 No. the golden rule. its better to be smart than rich when b ... Natalie

01-25-02 Natalie, i'd rather be smart and rich. unfortunately, i am ... Sean

01-25-02 Charlie; if ups will ship bud, i'll send you a sixer;). th ... Garfish

01-26-02 Garfish, get a life! get avalon's and you won't be inclined ... dcamacho1@

01-26-02 dcamacho1: i can't agree with you. i've owned 3 pairs of a ... Cornfedboy

01-26-02 Garfish my friend. no or yes, i forget exactly how you put ... Pbb

01-26-02 Me again. just read sean's post. that is precisely what my ... Pbb

01-26-02 Dear ddhpark, i will build for you the ultimate speaker sys ... Bishopwill

01-26-02 Garfish: i love how you defend the vandy fives, even if you ... Pctower

01-26-02 Hi pbb; and thanks for the well stated clarification of you ... Garfish

01-26-02 Pctower; thanks, i really appreciate your comments re the v ... Garfish

01-26-02 Hi there. i have now an upgrade kit for my previous post. ... Pbb

01-27-02 A third world economy that the general population is to stup ... Natalie

01-27-02 Usually, but not always. the post should read ... bigger and ... Nilthepill

01-27-02 dear bishopwill: thanks for your offer, but no thanks. Ddhpark

01-27-02 Thank goodness. i really didn't want to have to built it. ... Bishopwill

02-05-02 Comfedboy take a look at my previous post, lets not bring th ... Tweekerman

03-01-02 Lots of speakers in all price ranges sound good. what i hea ... Beowulf