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Used vs New vs Vintage vs Floorstanding vs Bookshelf vs ..... OMG!

OK. I am new in this (new in HIFI, in Audiogon, in discussion forums). I need to buy a pair of speakers for a newly-to-be-built HIFI system, and I am getting a little overwhelmed about all the options and possibilities (and opinions). By the way, I am NOT rich so that helps me a lot to discard a bunch of options.

I started checking vintage HIFI speakers for around $500, basically old JBLs, Technics, and the like (eBay, Craiglist, Letgo). Of course as soon as I began I started checking newer and pricier loudspeakers... and I am trying not to be a consumerist… Either way first  I decided for a pair of JBLs vintage. Until I watched John Darko's youtube review on the ELAC Navis ARB-51. So I changed my mind, I raised my budget and changed from vintage to new, from big to small.

Then I learned about the huge immense used HIFI market. For the same price of the Navis I could buy speakers from enormous brands like Sonus Faber and Focal and B&W in the used market. There I could find Sonus Faber Veneres for 1500, B&W 802 for 2000, and so on. When I contacted somebody from another webpage (The music room) about which was the best option.... the response was... Vandersteen 2Ce signature, "by far". I looked for opinions about it and all I read about them was "OK but meeh". 

So I was really confused. Until I learnt about the Tekton Double Impact, and now I started to get some dizziness. "The best loudspeakers for that price range", "the best period", etc. I contacted Eric Alexander, who kindly took his time to explain me why paper speakers are still the best, and so on. So they are great, really great, for "just" $3000... and I raised my budget again.

Either way, I have read so much, heard so much, watched so much, and I haven't learned much really. Different experts have different opinions, whether the speakers should be flat or not, colored or true, whether it is a matter of "taste" or "you should listen and like them". Well I am no expert, I am 45 years old and I probably won't listen wavelengths of 50 Htzs or lower.

I just want a pair of good speakers so I can enjoy King Crimson, Ramones or Beethoven.

Can anybody help? PLEASE???....

tykozen
audiosaurusrex's avatar
audiosaurusrex
316 posts
 
Hi tykozen,
Thought I would give you my 2cents. I am 58 and have been loving music since I was 15 with my first Sansui AU717 and Technics SB7000A's monster speakers,(google them). Have been into quite a few systems since Parasound/Vandersteens/Aerial Acoustics etc. In the early 90's I checked out the Vandersteens at a shop in Providence, RI and fell in love with these speakers the 2ce's(not sigs) I went through some tough times and recently unboxed them and picked up a Krell Digital Vanguard Amp, Just wow!! They are not meeh! At least not to me. For the money they sound just amazing and really worth listening to. I was going to buy Elacs or Buchardts small bookshelfs and after hearing my current set-up. I'm keeping the Vandys and upgrading cables and getting myself a new turntable.  
Don't stress, have fun with this and try to get into some shops to listen or see who might have some cool gear around you. Good Luck
chrisr's avatar
chrisr
541 posts
 
Have you ever thought about getting a good pair of headphones?
belvedere2
41 posts
 
Definitely listen to different speakers and see what you like. Once you know what "sound" you like then decide on equipment to run them. Easier as mentioned to find easy to drive speakers. I went the opposite way vintage Infinity and Acoustic Research. Went through a pile of amps that never did them justice. Now I use Threshold amps so that part is done.
loomisjohnson
1,903 posts
 
without knowing your budget or your other gear it's hard to make specific recommendations, but from the standpoint of  the value, reliability (and probably quality) is in used, more modern speakers--you can  find excellent stuff for 20%-50% of srp
soix
8,651 posts
 
+1 @belvedere2 -- by far the best investment you can make right now is taking the time to go out and listen to as many speakers as you can.  You'll eventually start to identify which speaker characteristics (and speakers) sound best to you.  Only then will you be in a good position to make the right choice, and none of us can tell you what that is because we all hear differently and value different things.  Speakers are funny that way -- once you hear the right ones it tends to hit you pretty hard and you just know.  And by all means bring a good selection of your favorite music to each demo.  Best of luck. 
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