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Need help generating a short list

Greetings,

Well, I'm parting with my original VR-4's, which have served me well for many years. In some ways, I wonder if I'm making a mistake selling them, as they're still a wonderful loudspeaker even by today's standards.

At this point, I'd like to consider a more "lively" loudspeaker. The VR-4's are very "warm" sounding, and easy to listen to. The downside to this presentation is a lack of dynamics and impact. Bass extension is not an issue with the VR-4's, but the slam of a kick drum, the pluck of a bass, or the crack of a rim shot just isn't there. Having played the drums for many years, I yearn for a system that can recreate the dynamic impact of a drum kit!

I've tried many speaker technologies over the years; Horn (Altec 19's), Planar (Maggie's), Electrostatic (Martin Logans), and Conventional (Legacy Convergence, Thiel 2 2, Thiel 3.6, VR-4, others), and for some reason, have always come back to conventional designs. Of all the speakers I've owned, the Altec 19's were the most visceral, but they lacked detail and imaged poorly. The live event was there, but it was all mixed together. The most dynamic conventional speaker I've owned was the Legacy Convergence (similar to the Focus), but the presentation was too "hi-fi," and very fatiguing.

I realize it would be impossible to find a loudspeaker with the dynamics of a horn, midrange of a planar or electrostatic, and top to bottom detail of a superior conventional design, but I would imagine some speakers come close. I'm not talking $50K+ speakers, but speakers in the $5K range.

I've seen many a reference to the Aerial 10T and Talon Khorus as being very dynamic, yet detailed and extended, but what other speakers might be considered, particularly current models? I have a very large room, and need a speaker than can play loudly without compression. I realize horns are ideal, but I cannot afford the entry price for even a mediocre horn system.

With hundreds of manufacturers out there, I'm trying to develop a short list so I can limit my search/research. We don't have many "high-end" shops in my neck of the woods (Tampa Bay area), so it's likely I'll have to seek some of the products out during my business travel. Any help would be most appreciated.

By the way, I am intrigued by the "Waveguide" technology, that seems to offer the benefits of a conventional design, with some of the properties of a horn. I've been away from this hobby for 12+ years, so I'm very wet behind the ears. To my chagrin, there are still no shortage of companies trying to stack drivers in a tower configuration (ala Legacy), but it's certainly possible that this configuration has improved over the years.

Any help would be most appreciated!
seadweller
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rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
>> Considering you want to try something other than conventional dynamic designs...<<

Tvad made a good recommendation, the Zus are getting GREAT reviews. So, too, do the Gallo Ref 3s - talk about unconventional!

I am, however, biased: I have an all-Gallo system and I don't see me changing it for many years to come. It rocks my world every single day! And, by purchasing them via Audiogon, I got a pair of Ref 3s and 3 Dues for < $2700 delivered. Talk about SMOKIN' deals! Color me one HAPPY camper...

-RW-
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uru975
684 posts
 
You mentioned liking the Legacy so why not have a listen to their latest in your price range, used, around 4.5-5.2K the Legacy Focus 20/20's. New they'd be about 6.2K with standard finish. You liked them in the past perhaps you still may and with improvements overtime they may satisfy you.
undertow
1,033 posts
 
The Klipsch lascala is not bad for what you seek, however not gonna put out enough low's for you it sounds like... Tannoys I believe will be a little polite, and honestly from my understanding unless you move into their pricier stuff you will be out of range pricewise too.. And as the Above poster stated Zu Definitions would do all you are looking for with some to spare, but will be very expensive, at double 5 grand if that is what your looking to spend. I would suggest forget Lascalas if you can setup K-Horns, they will extend a little lower and have a better balance than the Lascala which uses the same drivers but a different cabinet.. The K-Horns are corner loading, and create a bigger sound, but you gotta have open corners to place them in.. Also, you can get K-Horns in good shape for probably under 3500, but I suggest getting the older ones, I forget what year klipsch changed to the newer Plastic Horns, but I don't like them, the Older metal horns are far better in my opinion.. Also, then you can have the crossovers upgraded in them for a little more money.. Many people on this website and others can show you the way for all that.. Or go to Klipsch.com and they have months of forums for you to read on how to go about this. I owned many klipsch until replacing them with the Zu definitions myself..
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Specifically, I'm interested in getting away from the typical, conventional designs

Driver design has not changed or improved that much since the 70's, IMHO. Competition and price pressure has continued to increase (after all, pretty much anybody can make a speaker using third party drivers). Many of these old designs you referred to, were and still are extremely good.

When you mean "conventional", do you meaning the currently popular slender small driver speaker designs, even as floorstanders (popular since roughly the mid 80's) ?
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