2. speakers
  3. 1061426830

Best new/demo/used value for $7.5K range

Hello all!

I will be buying new speakers at the end of September.

My budget is roughly $7.5K (can flex some if a steal is found).

I am currently looking at:
-B&W 802N (5000K used and 7K demo)
-JM lab Mezzo Utopia (7k used)
-Revel Studio (7.5K used)
-Dynaudio Confidence 5 (5k used)
-Wilson Sophia Used (8.5K? used)
-Wilson Watt/Puppy6 (8.5K? used)

I like all of these speakers for different reasons. I would be happy with any of them, but wish I could afford the wilsons - my favorite.

Any thoughts? At this price I want to know I considered everything.

My gear: EAD 8000pro preamp, Levinson No.27, Classe CAV150, SACD XA-777es, Pioneer Elite DV-47 DVDm, Transparent Audio and Audioquest interconnects...
jtee

Showing 3 responses by ritteri

ritteri
223 posts
 
There are some good choices there. My favorite of the bunch would either be the Revel Studio's or the JM Lab's a close 2nd. But both have different sound characteristics in my view.

I personally wouldnt put either of the Wilson products(especially the Sophia)in that list from a SQ perspective though. If they are your favorite sounding speaker truely, the Revel's will be right up your ally as they give alot more with the same presentation. If you can do a direct sound comparison between em Im sure you will be quite impressed, just make sure the rest of the system is up to snuff.

I also like'd the other suggestion of Vandy 3a Sig's with a pair of Vandy subs, that IS a great setup too.
ritteri
223 posts
 
There are some good choices there. My favorite of the bunch would either be the Revel Studio's or the JM Lab's a close 2nd. But both have different sound characteristics in my view.

I personally wouldnt put either of the Wilson products(especially the Sophia)in that list from a SQ perspective though. If they are your favorite sounding speaker truely, the Revel's will be right up your ally as they give alot more with the same presentation. If you can do a direct sound comparison between em Im sure you will be quite impressed, just make sure the rest of the system is up to snuff.

I also like'd the other suggestion of Vandy 3a Sig's with a pair of Vandy subs, that IS a great setup too.
ritteri
223 posts
 
If the speakers dont sound musical, look to your source,amps and other equipment. A truely transparant speaker will bring out the flaws in the rest of the equipment chain. As for Revel's needing big power amplifiers, completely untrue. I have heard Salons and Studio's with tube amps in the 50-75wpc range that sounded great at rather high volumes too.

KeithR: Sorry Ive never been into TAS or Stereophile all that much or their take on build quality. I take breaking down one physically in person over any magazine article any day. WIlson uses alot of fancy words and marketing for something unremarkeable at best. Other than the structural cabinet(its decking material folks!)they are pretty basic speakers at best. Gotta love that "high grade" velcro they use for the grilles.........
More to discover