Best speakers to "abuse" for around $2k ?

The Cerwin Vega CLS215 got nice reviews from Soundstage, and quite surprisingly, Robert E. Greene. Plus, you'll come in way under budget.

Yes Cerwin Vega, and and if I remember right they are way efficient so they will really crank.

Used Dynaudio 70s (like I have), 80s, 72s or 82s. Great speakers for loud music. They won't tire you out, the midrange is beautiful and the bass is deep. I am not selling any speakers and I have no relationship with the seller but I just noticed that there is a pair of 72s and the asking price is $895.

Correct. Except the new model is the Xls-215.

And now, right at your price range, CV offers the CMX-212-NA with built-in dual 12" powered subwoofers. They're even available at Wal-Mart!

I have an idea...stop listening to Kansas and drivel like "Carry on Wayward Son" and you won't have to expend on speakers.

Look for a pair of used OHM Walsh. They are fairly bullet proof and generally take whatever you throw at them well. Abuse away!

I hear ya Lindisfarne but I'm into that stuff as well as a lot of other types of music (except rap / hip hop).
Very eclectic and appreciate real music but its just somethign about that song that gets me going - when its cranked
!

Another vote for Cerwin Vega. I am sure that there are plenty of speakers that can easily match the CW's SPLs, I own Klipsch La Scalas that can get really loud but few will keep the party really thumping in the era before sub woofers the way Cerwin Vegas did, those were the days.....

Another vote for Cerwin Vega. I am sure that there are plenty of speakers that can easily match the CW's SPLs, I own Klipsch La Scalas but few wil keep the party really thumping in the era before sub woofers the way Cerwin Vegas did, those were the days.....

Though they are hard to drive you could look for some Infinity Kappa 7's or 8's. I owned 7's for years and they rocked out pretty well for me. Just a suggestion as you can find them well under your spending limit.

Ive never heard a pair of cerwin vegas that did not sound bloated and undefined in the bass but maybe i never tried the rjght amp.

You could try vintage JBLs, Klipsch, Altec. If patient you'll find something on your local Craigslist and for much less than $2000. High-efficiency horn speakers are fun to crank.

you'll routinely see von schweikert vr2 listed here for $1000-1200--really good full range speaker with massive low end. meadowlark kestrel have very similar qualities and should be even cheaper. also mirage omd15 (less than a grand new at vann's et al)--big soundstage.

One tech reason the OHMs are a good choice for this is that they crossover to tweeter very high at 7khz or so and do not put much demand on the tweeter as a result. Plus the main full range Walsh driver never seems to show any stress at any volume. That is true of even original Walsh 2s from the 80s' that can often be had used these days for just a couple hundred dollars. Just make sure whatever you buy used especially if older is in good condition.

JBL L65 Jubals or L300s would work exceptionally well in your scenario. They are hard to find in good condition, but well-worth the search...

-RW-

Legacy Focus.

07-19-12: Mapman
Ive never heard a pair of cerwin vegas that did not sound bloated and undefined in the bass but maybe i never tried the rjght amp.

The reviews that showed up both in Soundstage and Absolute Sound indicate that the bass in the CV CLS-215 speaker is reasonably quick, or at least not notably slow or thick. They *do* tend to have diecast frames and very powerful magnets, which helps. TAS also praised them for overall neutrality and for providing the bottom end to do Mahler justice for the price of a decent minimonitor. They also verified that they can play LOUD distortion free, and with a 90+ dB sensitivity rating, can safely absorb 500 watts input. That's a usable max. SPL somewhere around 120dB.

If you want faster bass at the OP's max budget, then CV's new CMX-212a towers give you twin 8" woofers on a narrow baffle, augmented by powered side-firing 12" subs. No doubt that would tighten the bass significantly.

Using a more modern amp with higher damping factor 50 or greater might help with CV bass as well.

I have not heard them in years so its quite possible things have gotten better.

07-20-12: Mapman
Using a more modern amp with higher damping factor 50 or greater might help with CV bass as well.

Frat-boy speakers were most likely powered by a frat-boy receiver--some over-sized walnut-encased monstrosity with more knobs than you could count, with a marginal power supply and low damping factor.

These days, inexpensive high current separates and integrateds are all over the place. Witness this 125 wpc Emotiva power amp on sale for $314.10 with a damping factor of >500!

Audio Physic Sparks:
Looks like Peerless 6.5's in a 2.5 way with a 1" Vifa silk dome. One way to go is to "upgrade" to the Vifa Dual Ring Radiator" which have a higher wattage rating. Except for the 5 screws, instead of 4, might "plug in". Problem is that Vifa offers many verions of nearly identical looking tweeters that vary in impedance, range and power handling. Change the impedance and the crossover won't work as planned. Any model #'s for the tweeters?

If you want more bass and dynamics as well... go bigger. The Sparks do quite well for their size.