Vintage HiFi Audio Forum
Audio Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: OldiesButGoodies on August 16, 2015, 05:50:06 PM
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A shout box comment led me to post this question. Assume you have $2,000 to spend on a pair of speakers and that somehow your wife will not complain about your purchase, ugly box or not. You have to buy them used from what is available on the web now. Assume the $2000 is net of shipping for the purposes of this. What cat coffins would you buy?
OBG
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LaScalas. I adore LaScalas, but this is fiction both in terms of the budget and the foot print.
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Probably these, the Aerial Acoustics 10t
(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa184/jensonav/Picture103.jpg) (http://s201.photobucket.com/user/jensonav/media/Picture103.jpg.html)
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These!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SANSUI-SP-5500-MONSTER-QUAD-4-OF-THESE-BEAST-/252056415374?hash=item3aafbbac8e (http://www.ebay.com/itm/SANSUI-SP-5500-MONSTER-QUAD-4-OF-THESE-BEAST-/252056415374?hash=item3aafbbac8e)
A quad set of Sansui SP5500's and with the $100 I have left I can buy some more records.
I LIKE THE KABUKI!
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KEF Q900 and lots of $$$$ left over, since they are moving them out. Call Mark at Accessories4less.com.... Absolute Sound B rated... great speakers and you can come listen to a pair at my house before you buy. lol
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The Aerials look awesome - wonder what their sound signature is like.
Jim - I think you mean Stereopile Recommended Class B full range for the Q900 ;D They do sound good!
The La Scalas look like they could fill my basement. They only go down to 51hz - feels low? The sub would take care of teh rest I guess...
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Yes, LaScalas were designed before EDM, etc. KHorns get a little lower, but for modern stuff a sub is required. Then again I don't run a sub with my Hereseys (yet) and only occasionally miss it.
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Polk Audio SDA SRS 2.3TL's. No sub needed and with the left over money, do the usual upgrades. Stereo as it should sound.
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Tough question, there are so many out there, most of which I've never heard!
I picked up Legacys a little while back and have come to really like them.... if I could move up that line of speakers a bit for two grand, that'd be one possible path. I'd also be happy to try out a decent pair of Martin Logans.
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The Aerials look awesome - wonder what their sound signature is like.
If you are like me, you really dont take into account what most reviewers say. I mean Ill read and look and see there view, but for me its what I hear and if I like it, I buy it.
Heres a stereophile review of the Aerial Acoustics
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/466/#hkosjM3jh3q8qcWi.97 (http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/466/#hkosjM3jh3q8qcWi.97)
With what they say though, I would have to agree 100%. These are truely amazing speakers.
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If I could find some Rogers/Splendor/Harbeth in that price range I would certainly go that route. They aren't easy to find though. Seems that people who buy them never let them go.
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No Magnepans in the list... Definitely expected the Polks to be in the running.
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I would buy the ones I already have
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I'd go with another pair of Martin Logan ReQuest speakers. With ASL Hurricane DT amplifiers on the panels I cannot imagine being unhappy. They are crossed over at 180 Hz so unfortunately I could tell a big difference between a musical and a not so musical amp on the subs. There is a guy in Cleveland who can redo the panels. If you can find one with junk panels you can get them for a steal! They are in the top 5 I have heard when set up properly.
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I would of course buy Acoustats.
They don't suffer from panel failure like the Martin Logans and the Quads and they sound better.
In all my years of listening to speakers including the Infinity IRS system on Mark Levinson and Conrad Johnson electronics I have never heard a better speaker than Acoustats.
While you can't get extremely high SPLs out of them they do sound the same as a live classical concert.
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Polk Audio SDA SRS 2.3TL's. No sub needed and with the left over money, do the usual upgrades. Stereo as it should sound.
Amen! I did this on Jesse's recommendation 10 years ago. It was solid advice. I did all the upgrades and mods, I think I would still have change with $2K to start.
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Polk Audio SDA SRS 2.3TL's. No sub needed and with the left over money, do the usual upgrades. Stereo as it should sound.
Amen! I did this on Jesse's recommendation 10 years ago. It was solid advice. I did all the upgrades and mods, I think I would still have change with $2K to start.
I've heard them and they sound great!!!!
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I'd go with another pair of Martin Logan ReQuest speakers. With ASL Hurricane DT amplifiers on the panels I cannot imagine being unhappy. They are crossed over at 180 Hz so unfortunately I could tell a big difference between a musical and a not so musical amp on the subs. There is a guy in Cleveland who can redo the panels. If you can find one with junk panels you can get them for a steal! They are in the top 5 I have heard when set up properly.
I remember auditioning these MLs at your basement Steve - very impressive, incredible soundstage. I agree that the ML Requests should be in the list for anyone looking for great bang for the buck at $2K level.
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I would of course buy Acoustats.
They don't suffer from panel failure like the Martin Logans and the Quads and they sound better.
In all my years of listening to speakers including the Infinity IRS system on Mark Levinson and Conrad Johnson electronics I have never heard a better speaker than Acoustats.
While you can't get extremely high SPLs out of them they do sound the same as a live classical concert.
Also expected this one. You have been very consistent in praising the Acoustats over the years. I have not been able to audition a pair yet - it is in the bucket list.
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OBG,
I have a standing invitation from a Mr. Don Gold, who lives in Irwin, to stop over and audition his multiple systems, at least one that includes some Acoustats. I struck up a conversation with Mr. Gold at an estate sale a few years back and, lo and behold, later discovered, at the swap meet a couple years ago, that, at some time in the past, our own Anders sold him speakers.
Its a small world after all......
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LaScalas. I adore LaScalas, but this is fiction both in terms of the budget and the foot print.
I could have had you a pair of super modded ones for like 1800 last year. Some dude drove all the way from Lexington just to get them. They are big though... and mildly to extremely ugly depending on the finish.
2 grand... hm... does used count? I've always wanted to listen to a pair of Acoustic Zen adagio's. Made by the same guy who did all the True Image Research gear that has been floating around since the late 80's. New though... can you get Legacy's in the price range?
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From Carl:
Amen! I did this on Jesse's recommendation 10 years ago. It was solid advice. I did all the upgrades and mods, I think I would still have change with $2K to start.
[/quote]
Did you want Jesse's girl too?
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2 grand... hm... does used count?
Used better count. New LaScalas are four large EACH (still made in Hope, Arkansas).
How can you say this is ugly?
(http://admin.audiovideo2day.eu/useruploads/images/2011/maart_2011/klipsch_la_scala-review-home.jpg)
Well, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. They were my first love. :-*
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I've visited with Don Gold at his house too. The Acoustats he has are huge and in a very small room. Think they are simply called the Monitors, they are the one with the built in tube amps in the bases.
OBG,
I have a standing invitation from a Mr. Don Gold, who lives in Irwin, to stop over and audition his multiple systems, at least one that includes some Acoustats. I struck up a conversation with Mr. Gold at an estate sale a few years back and, lo and behold, later discovered, at the swap meet a couple years ago, that, at some time in the past, our own Anders sold him speakers.
Its a small world after all......
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OBG,
I have a standing invitation from a Mr. Don Gold, who lives in Irwin, to stop over and audition his multiple systems, at least one that includes some Acoustats. I struck up a conversation with Mr. Gold at an estate sale a few years back and, lo and behold, later discovered, at the swap meet a couple years ago, that, at some time in the past, our own Anders sold him speakers.
Its a small world after all......
I would be interested to join if you accept the invite, let me know! Would like to listen to La Scalas
OBG
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I've visited with Don Gold at his house too. The Acoustats he has are huge and in a very small room. Think they are simply called the Monitors, they are the one with the built in tube amps in the bases.
OBG,
I have a standing invitation from a Mr. Don Gold, who lives in Irwin, to stop over and audition his multiple systems, at least one that includes some Acoustats. I struck up a conversation with Mr. Gold at an estate sale a few years back and, lo and behold, later discovered, at the swap meet a couple years ago, that, at some time in the past, our own Anders sold him speakers.
Its a small world after all......
Should have written 'Acoustats'...
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I'd like to find a pair of the somewhat larger Apogee speakers. Should be doable in $2k.
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2 grand... hm... does used count?
Used better count. New LaScalas are four large EACH (still made in Hope, Arkansas).
How can you say this is ugly?
(http://admin.audiovideo2day.eu/useruploads/images/2011/maart_2011/klipsch_la_scala-review-home.jpg)
Well, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. They were my first love. :-*
The pair I dealt with were a nasty looking black with a rough texture. They looked like hell. Sounded good though; I'm not much of a horn guy though.
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You know the AL 3's can't be beat in that price range.