Appreciate all the suggestions, you guys have definitely showed me some options I had not considered. My main reason for this thread was because I've been living with the same speakers for about 6yrs now, so I haven't been paying much attention to what is out there. I'm really pleased with what is available within the range of sub $4k.
Thanks again fellers for some great ideas to mull through. It'll be awhile before I follow through, but someone is going to get a nice set of Harbeth's for a good price. *wink*
I probably would have bought some M3's someday if Skip hadn't push me in different direction.
but now my path is clear to me at least I just joined the Usher fan club!
Darryl, welcome aboard. I can only imagine how nice those dancers are. I bought my N-6361 "just because" and now I can't wait to get a set of diamonds.
Parlor: Yamaha RX-A2030*Parasound Halo P5*Parasound Halo A-31*Parasound 2250v2*Emotiva XPA-200 Gen1*LSiM707 Fronts*LSiM706c Center*LSiM702f/x Surrounds*Monitor70 Series II Rears*Monitor40 Series II Presence*SVS PB2000 Sub X2*OPPO BDP-103D*Sony PS3*Samsung BD-H5900 3D Blu-Ray*Samsung-55" LED 1080p Smart 3D HDTV UN55H7150AFXZA*TEAC TN-300*Wireworld Solstice cables*Blue Jeans Cable LC-1's IC's*
I've seen Salk mentioned and highly recommend them. You can buy pre configured or talk about other drivers/tweeter combinations. If it is doable, he will build it. The Supercharged SongTower is in your budget range.
I hear your concern about used. One thing Jim Salk does with used speakers dropped off at his shop for resale, he will go through them and ensure they are up to spec.
"These speakers will be tested to confirm that they are in perfect working condition and will be re-finished, if necessary, to make certain they are in like-new condition before sending them on to a new owner."
He upgraded the crossovers on my SoundScape 8's to new specs, refinished the plinths (they were scuffed) and offered me choice of spikes. He packed them up in new boxes. I could not tell they were used at all. He also gave me adoption paperwork. Nice touch and I saved $2600 versus new.
His for sale at Audio Circle. This circle contains used, demo and new where the buyer aborted before delivery.
Make yourself necessary to someone. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
The Salk's were on my radar back when I ended up with the Fritz Carbon 7. They seem to be of very good fit & finish, and are something I'm considering.
I would take a look at Sonus Faber Venere 3.0 or Revel Performa3 F208 (may be a bit above budget, but much better bass than the F206). They may do some things better and look more impressive than Polk LSiM705s, but they do cost more too.
Focal and Harbeth sounds are about as far apart as speaker manufacturers can get.
Another model would be the Vandersteen Signature 3A. There are reasons they have been around for so long despite the appearance being stuck in the 1980s.
1. Polk LSiM707, 704C, 703; Dual SVS SB2000 subwoofers; Pioneer Elite SC-97; Parasound A23 amp; Oppo 105D; Toshiba HD-DVD Player; Samsung UHD 4K Player; Sony 65" 4K TV; FIOS; PS Audio Power Plant Premier; MIT S2 cables 2. JM Labs Electra 920.1; Parasound JC2 Preamp; Parasound A21; Sony HAP-Z1ES; Marantz SA8004; Music Hall MMF7 and PS Audio NuWave phono pre; Technics SL-1200MKII and PS Audio GCPH phono pre; PS Audio P1000; MIT S1 Cables 3. Polk LSiM703; Anthem Pre-2L SE pre and Parasound HCA-1500A amp; Squeezebox Touch; Wyred4Sound DAC2; MIT S3 cables
Yes the Spatial Audio M3's are something special. I never thought I'd like a horn speaker that much. Although it would take some real time in one's own setting to really know how well one can live with them.
FAMILY ROOM HDTV - Sharp AQUOS LC-70LE600U 70" | AVR/Streamer - Onkyo TX-NR3008 | Amp - Parasound HCA-1203A Blu-Ray/Media/Gaming - Sony PS3-320GB / Microsoft Xbox One | Broadcast - Xfinity X1 Platform Front Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Center Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Rear Spkrs - Artison Portrait LRS Sub - DIY Stereo Integrity HT 15 | Sub Amp - Dayton Audio SA1000 Wire - Audioquest Type 4, BJC Belden 5000 | HDMI - BJC Belden | Power Cables - Pangea | Surge - Monster
Add a pair of sealed 12" subs...Velo, REL, JL Audio. Pick up a DSpeaker Anti-Mode for superb bass management. Keep the Harbreth's on maybe consider another pair of bookies. That combo done correctly will have tower's in your price range running out of Dodge.
Hey Steve! I have a set of Emerald Physics CS2p. They are the bi-amp version with the DSP based crossover.
When I get back home (someday) I'll ship them out to you.
Take 'em out for a spin.
Hey Steve! I have a set of Emerald Physics CS2p. They are the bi-amp version with the DSP based crossover.
When I get back home (someday) I'll ship them out to you.
Take 'em out for a spin.
Very generous offer! You are not at all like Dan described!
Make yourself necessary to someone. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Hey Steve! I have a set of Emerald Physics CS2p. They are the bi-amp version with the DSP based crossover.
When I get back home (someday) I'll ship them out to you.
Take 'em out for a spin.
Very generous offer! You are not at all like Dan described!
Hey Steve! I have a set of Emerald Physics CS2p. They are the bi-amp version with the DSP based crossover.
When I get back home (someday) I'll ship them out to you.
Take 'em out for a spin.
Very generous offer! You are not at all like Dan described!
Hey Steve! I have a set of Emerald Physics CS2p. They are the bi-amp version with the DSP based crossover.
When I get back home (someday) I'll ship them out to you.
Take 'em out for a spin.
Very generous offer! You are not at all like Dan described!
Lessons cost money, good ones cost LOTS - Tony Beets
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
My system makes me happy and changes too often for me to care to update a list..... you guys are good at spending my money!
Hey Steve! I have a set of Emerald Physics CS2p. They are the bi-amp version with the DSP based crossover.
When I get back home (someday) I'll ship them out to you.
Take 'em out for a spin.
Very generous offer! You are not at all like Dan described!
"Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."
"Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
Silverline Sonatina MkI, LSi15, LSi7, LSiC, LSiFX, LS/FX, DSW MP2000
Let Russ kill off some of your landscaping....then you'll be golden.
Hedges and bushes just attract folks with alcohol. Like a magnet. Like a moth to a flame.
Now we have to assign blame for the thread derail. Steve is looking for speakers, we have to stop fooling around. Serious business here.
Which Dan? OCD Dan, or just Dan?
Post edited by SCompRacer on
Make yourself necessary to someone. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Hey Steve! I have a set of Emerald Physics CS2p. They are the bi-amp version with the DSP based crossover.
When I get back home (someday) I'll ship them out to you.
Take 'em out for a spin.
Russ, you're going to have to stop by before we move. I have no idea what the stereo setup is going to be like at the next place (no idea where the next place will be, specifically, aside from it being in St. Louis).
Comments
Thanks again fellers for some great ideas to mull through. It'll be awhile before I follow through, but someone is going to get a nice set of Harbeth's for a good price. *wink*
I'm am intrigued by the Spatial Audio M3 too from all I heard from others who have got to listen to them and the price leaves room for more gear
http://www.spatialaudio.us/hologram-m3/
p.s. since my 3 trips to LSAF I find I have a thing for open baffles
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
I was blown away by the M3s - they dug DEEP, and the sound was holographic. The price is amazing.
I just don't have the space to get them set up right.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
but now my path is clear to me at least
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
Darryl, welcome aboard. I can only imagine how nice those dancers are. I bought my N-6361 "just because" and now I can't wait to get a set of diamonds.
Dungeon: Auralic Aries Mini*Dayens Ampino Preamp*Dayens Ampino Monoblocks*Usher N-6361*Wireworld Oasis cables*Wireworld Oasis IC's*IFI nano IDSD* Cambridge CXU*
Panamax MR5100*Panamax M8-AV-PRO*Furman PST-2+6
Head gear: Sennheiser HD 558*Audio-Technica ATH-M40x*Sennheiser HD 598 Cs*Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7*Philips SHP9500S*
Hello Kitty boombox
Spares: Yamaha RX-A1040*Emotiva XPA-1L Gen2 X2*Emotiva XPA-3 Gen2*CSiA6 Center*Monitor40 Series II*SVS PB1000 Sub*Sony BDPS6500 Blu-ray player*POS 37" LCD*Douglas Connection Furez 12 AWG 2 Conductor*Blue Jeans Cable LC-1's IC's*
I've seen Salk mentioned and highly recommend them. You can buy pre configured or talk about other drivers/tweeter combinations. If it is doable, he will build it. The Supercharged SongTower is in your budget range.
http://www.salksound.com/model.php?model=Supercharged+SongTower
I hear your concern about used. One thing Jim Salk does with used speakers dropped off at his shop for resale, he will go through them and ensure they are up to spec.
"These speakers will be tested to confirm that they are in perfect working condition and will be re-finished, if necessary, to make certain they are in like-new condition before sending them on to a new owner."
He upgraded the crossovers on my SoundScape 8's to new specs, refinished the plinths (they were scuffed) and offered me choice of spikes. He packed them up in new boxes. I could not tell they were used at all. He also gave me adoption paperwork. Nice touch and I saved $2600 versus new.
His for sale at Audio Circle. This circle contains used, demo and new where the buyer aborted before delivery.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=5v10jqes41d5mo2h85fooss3f4&board=140.0
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Focal and Harbeth sounds are about as far apart as speaker manufacturers can get.
Another model would be the Vandersteen Signature 3A. There are reasons they have been around for so long despite the appearance being stuck in the 1980s.
2. JM Labs Electra 920.1; Parasound JC2 Preamp; Parasound A21; Sony HAP-Z1ES; Marantz SA8004; Music Hall MMF7 and PS Audio NuWave phono pre; Technics SL-1200MKII and PS Audio GCPH phono pre; PS Audio P1000; MIT S1 Cables
3. Polk LSiM703; Anthem Pre-2L SE pre and Parasound HCA-1500A amp; Squeezebox Touch; Wyred4Sound DAC2; MIT S3 cables
HDTV - Sharp AQUOS LC-70LE600U 70" | AVR/Streamer - Onkyo TX-NR3008 | Amp - Parasound HCA-1203A
Blu-Ray/Media/Gaming - Sony PS3-320GB / Microsoft Xbox One | Broadcast - Xfinity X1 Platform
Front Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Center Spkrs - Coming...DIY Statement II | Rear Spkrs - Artison Portrait LRS
Sub - DIY Stereo Integrity HT 15 | Sub Amp - Dayton Audio SA1000
Wire - Audioquest Type 4, BJC Belden 5000 | HDMI - BJC Belden | Power Cables - Pangea | Surge - Monster
Panny 65" 3D Plasma
Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A3010 AVR
D>SONIC M2-600M mono's / mains
Rotel RMB-1095 5 channel amp
TEAC UD - 501 DAC
Oppo BDP-93
SONOS System
KEF Q900 / mains
KEF Q600 / center
KEF Q800 / surrounds
KEF Q100 / rear surr.
Def Tech ProMonitor 1000 / front & rear presence
Velodyne SPL-1200R subs / dual pair
DSPeaker Anti-Mode 8033 sub EQ
Extensive room treatments
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
When I get back home (someday) I'll ship them out to you.
Take 'em out for a spin.
Very generous offer! You are not at all like Dan described!
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Dan's an assmunch-of the highest order.....
I figured assmunch.
Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood Turntable/Grado Gold Cartridge
PS Audio GCPH Phono Stage
Dared SL-2000A Preamplifier
Krell KAV-250a Amplifier
Speakers - Polk Audio LS90's
Gregg Straley Reality speaker cables; Signal Cable Silver Resolution interconnects
The other Dan. You're good in my book.
Lessons cost money, good ones cost LOTS - Tony Beets
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
My system makes me happy and changes too often for me to care to update a list..... you guys are good at spending my money!
Let Russ kill off some of your landscaping....then you'll be golden.
Butler tdb 2250
Cary Xciter dac
Joule LA-100
Pioneer BDP 320
Sony 4k 55 850c
FX 500 surround
Acoustic zen Satori SC's
Pioneer elite vsx21
Sonos-Cullen mod.
Audio Metallurgy GA-0 digital
PS Audio Quintet
Analysis Plus crystal ovals
Acoustic zen Matrix 2's IC
Heading that way tomorrow, Tony. He said something about food and booze. Bonus!
Oh, I know. I was just being hilarious.
Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood Turntable/Grado Gold Cartridge
PS Audio GCPH Phono Stage
Dared SL-2000A Preamplifier
Krell KAV-250a Amplifier
Speakers - Polk Audio LS90's
Gregg Straley Reality speaker cables; Signal Cable Silver Resolution interconnects
What other pejoratives do you answer to?
I am Paul, but I answer to anything that rhymes with "Hey Peckerhead"
Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood Turntable/Grado Gold Cartridge
PS Audio GCPH Phono Stage
Dared SL-2000A Preamplifier
Krell KAV-250a Amplifier
Speakers - Polk Audio LS90's
Gregg Straley Reality speaker cables; Signal Cable Silver Resolution interconnects
"Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
Silverline Sonatina MkI, LSi15, LSi7, LSiC, LSiFX, LS/FX, DSW MP2000
I thought you were Scott...
LOL. I get people's names here confused too. I recently sent halo (Victor) a message and called him Gary. Gary is halo71...
One of the advantages to having your name as your username.
Hedges and bushes just attract folks with alcohol. Like a magnet. Like a moth to a flame.
Now we have to assign blame for the thread derail. Steve is looking for speakers, we have to stop fooling around. Serious business here.
Which Dan? OCD Dan, or just Dan?
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Russ, you're going to have to stop by before we move. I have no idea what the stereo setup is going to be like at the next place (no idea where the next place will be, specifically, aside from it being in St. Louis).
Living Room 2-Channel
Dynaudio DM 2/6 * SVS SB-1000 * Cary Audio Design CPA-1 Preamp * B&K ST125.2 Stereo Power Amp * Technics SL-Q2 Turntable w/ Nagaoka MP-110 * Bottlehead Reduction Phono Preamp + Integration upgrade * ELAC Discovery Music Streamer * Studiotech HF-4 G/S
Living Room HT
Dynaudio Excite X14 & X24 * Marantz NR1403 * Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ850U * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Premiere Streaming Media Player * APC H10 Power Conditioner * Z-Line Designs Elecktra
Bedroom
Energy RC-10 * Denon AVR-2113CI * LG 42PN4500 * Sony BDPS3200 * Roku Streaming Stick * Panamax MAX 6 * Studio Tech HF-4 G/S *