Tannoy Prestige GR any model will sound better than 99% of anything out there
Sorry if you own something else
Sorry if you own something else
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???....
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???....
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- 66 posts total
I just want a pair of good speakers so I can enjoy King Crimson, Ramones or Beethoven. Then give these a look ... Zu Audio Dirty Weekend @$1000 https://www.zuaudio.com/loudspeakers/omen-dirty-weekend-2 Have been enjoying this hobby for almost 50 years. Few speakers have ever excited me like these. Rich |
In 2007, after getting back to buying stuff again, following an 18 year bout of keeping what I had, I tried to replace good Vortex Screens made in the 1990's by Albert Von Schweikert--maker of Von Schweikert speakers that are very highly praised today. I went to Emerald Physics CS-2 speakers by what I read--didn't like the highs as they seemed to by closed off. Then I read about VMPS 626R monitors. They were very highly praised in the press. I bought a pair used and loved them. They were very detailed without having ear bleed, open and transparent. I later added a VMPS 215 VSS subwoofer and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I became a demonstrator for the VMPS speakers and had an opportunity to hear and own VMPS RM40, RM30, and then RM40 BCSE with MLS cabinets. All were fantastic because, as has been mentioned, I loved the sound the VMPS brand produced. I still own the last pair mentioned here. All the VMPS speakers are great values for the money in all of audio. To beat the sound of those took a lot of money. I really only had 2 makers of speakers in mind--Sanders ESL 10e electrostatic speakers and the better Vapor Audio speakers--Cirrus, or the Joule. The Vapors really hit my sound parameters, but had gone up in price considerably over the last 4 years. The Sanders required selling most of my other gear and buying all Sanders stuff. Very tempting except I loved all the gear I now had and it sounded great with the VMPS speakers. NO ONE can tell you what sound you prefer in side your budget you're willing to spend. I have friends that think my system sounds great, but it's still not their cup of tea. Listening to other speakers at friend's houses or at the few dealers that are still around is a very good way to see what sound you do like. IF YOU BUY USED FROM SELLERS ON GOOD WEBSITES THST HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK, you usually can buy and sell without too much of a cost penalty. You may even make out a little sometimes. If you buy new and sell, it is much like buying a new car and selling. You already lost 1/3 of the initial cost when you bought. Good luck and take your time on the decision. Check out the seller's feedback and be quick to buy once your decision is made. The highly praised speakers go quickly on Audiogon or Audio Circle. or US Audio Mart. Bob |
audiosaurusrex Great minds think alike. I am 65 yrs old. I started farming inn 1978. When I sold my first load of corn I too bought an AU 717 & Technics SB 7000s. |
Ok I’m 67...been around mono and stereo equipment my whole life.With houses and apts of all different sizes.I now own a townhouse with catheral ceiling...30’x15’ with balcony...Its like a concert hall,and alot of speakers just don’t cut it.I need big speakers with plenty of amp rms ...JBLs ,ARs,Sono Faber,Cerwin Vegas,Polk,KLH,Yamamha,Pioneer,B&W,Klipshorn,Dyanco,Bose ,Sansui,Radio Shack,Lafayettes,Bozaks,Elacs,Fulance,Sonys,Tannoys,Marantzs,Cambridge,etc,etc,etc...when you listen to music over alot of different speakers .Large woofers , its like going to a live concert like MSG but live music as we know sounds different at different stadiums like Yankee stadium vs Randels Is.Size of the places does make a difference like a Sound Engineer....the amp power...ive been at the Meadowlands for Bruce Springsteen and could hear a pin drop....But been at The Paramount in Huntington and people wouldn’t shut up.or put there Cell Phones away. .. . OMG lol..old,new ,vintage they all sound different but can start sounding the same...again price ! Do $500,000 sound better ? I have heard speaker Systems costing in the millions sound like crap because of a lousy sound man. Lol and a Four Seasons song sound fantastic on my RCA pocket radio.. Remember them.? |
- 66 posts total