You have a $4000 budget, what would you buy?

steveinaz
steveinaz Posts: 19,521
edited May 2017 in Speakers
1. Must be a floorstander
2. Will not be used with a sub
3. No electrostatics
4. MUST BE NEW
5. No "delicate flowers" it's got to ROCK

Here's a few I'm considering; MartinLogan Motion 60XT, Polk LsiM 707, PSB Imagine T2. Give me some more ideas...
Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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Comments

  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    Don't know, I never had that much to spend on speakers
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    GREAT ideas so far...keep them coming!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • adb3da
    adb3da Posts: 506
    I'd try to find some new old stock Dynaudio Focus series speakers I think. But they may all be gone by now.
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    adxb0qryohl9.png

    Check $$ with @DSkip
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • mpitogo
    mpitogo Posts: 475
    edited May 2017
    Golden Ear Triton Two, or Triton One if you can find it on sale.
    • Living Room Music-2.0 Polk Legend L800 | McIntosh C70 | McIntosh MA5200 (Treble) | McIntosh MC452 (Bass) | Sublimeacoustic K231 Active xover | Denon DP-2500A | Denafrips Ares II | Belkin Soundform Connect | iPad Air USB to DAC
    • Media Room Ht-7.2.6/13.1 (Atmos/Auro-3D) Polk LSiM707, LSiM706c, LSiM702 F/X [x4], height LSiM703 [x6], HSU VTF-15H MK2 Dual | Marantz AV8805A | Rotel RB-1590 (L/R) | Appollon NC500 11ch | Sony UBP-X800 | AppleTV 4K | JVC RS2100
    • Game Room-5.1 Polk LSi25, LSiC, LSiF/X | Marantz SR7009 | AppleTV 4K | Xbox One S | Sony PS2, PS3 | Nintendo Wii | Gaming PC | Sony 75" LCD
    • Master Bedroom Music-2.0 Totem Hawk | Marantz PM-10 | Marantz SA-10 | SONY PS-HX500
    • Office-2.0 Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX, DSW microPRO3000 | Rotel RA-1570 | Marantz HD-CD1
    • Daughter's Bedroom 1-2.0 TBD Martin Logan Forte
    • Guest Room 2-2.0 Klipsch RP-600M | Martin Logan Forte
    • Guest Room 3-3.0 Martin Logan Motion 40, 50XT | Onkyo TX-SR705 | Apple TV | Samsung 55" TV
    • Guest Room 4-2.0 QAcoustics 3030i | Sansui AU-6900 | Topping DX7s | Sansui FR-1080 | TV
    • Maintenance: Pro-Ject VC-S Record Cleaning Machine
  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited May 2017
    Revel F208 would be high on my list along with the PSB's.I would also look at Salks. http://www.salksound.com/
  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    Check out Tyler Acoustics.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,033
    Or wait a couple months until the new SDA line comes out....
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • scottyboy76
    scottyboy76 Posts: 2,905
    I thought you would never go back to floorstanders after fallin in love with your big bookies, LOL
    I tell ya, always regret leavin some psb stratus golds in a guys livin room cause he wanted 300 bucks and wouldn't even pretend to dicker back and forth, so I left with some big boston acoustics for half that, but I still remember the way they sounded.
    Old speakers, but if they have kept up the quality, hard to beat.
    Good luck old man and god bless
    humpty dumpty was pushed
  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Or wait a couple months until the new SDA line comes out....

    How "confirmed" is this John? I have seen some cryptic messages from them on social media lately that point to this.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    mpitogo wrote: »
    Golden Ear Triton Two, or Triton One if you can find it on sale.

    This is what I was going to recommend. I've heard the twos three different times and love them.

    Hopefully, they will be my next pair.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    edited May 2017
    Given your decorating tastes Steve, you want something with a nice finish to it, that also looks like a piece of furniture rather than a big black box.

    I would reconsider the "must be new" aspect though, demo or slightly used will afford you more speaker for the buck. Are the speakers your seeking going to replace the Harbeths ? Are you looking for similar sound signatures ?
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    How big of a room are these going in, and what will they be driven by?

    Is there flexibility in placement out in the room?

    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.
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    edited May 2017
    Tony--
    Yes, replacements for the harbeths. Ready to get back to the "weight" and scale of a floorstander. I'd love to have the harbeth midrange/treble, but ready for something more dynamic with better bass. I can never quite integrate a sub (this was my 2nd attempt), and find satisfaction going that route, so the SVS is gonna sell as well. I have had a few towers that dug plenty deep for me. Seems to me there is a biq "sweet-spot" for outstanding towers in the $3500-$4000 bracket.

    So far, I really like the suggestion of the Focal Aria 936's. Of course Revel's are always on my watch list. I have looked extensively at Golden Ear, but I cannot get past the cheeseball construction/sock grill thing, so they are a non-starter. I also don't like powered woofers in passive speakers--I don't have a dazzling argument, just not my cup of tea.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    edited May 2017
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    How big of a room are these going in, and what will they be driven by?

    Is there flexibility in placement out in the room?

    Room is approx 26' x 18', 10ft ceilings; listening area in the first 1/2 of the room, with system on the 18' wall. Seating will be about 10-12ft from the rack.

    Here's a pic of the family room end of the great room:

    6w5zw9dzwkzb.jpg

    The dining room end:

    d7mzlfwucpri.jpg

    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,124
    Why not any on the used market. I have had great luck with posting "want ads"

    Dealers will usually chime in and sell their demo models

    You could step up a notch in the line of your choice..i.e. Focal Electra 1028 Be
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    I still vividly remember how impressed I was with Spatial Audio's M3 Turbo at THE SHOW last year.

    And also the Salk Song Tower - plenty of dynamic slam and balance.

    I'm going to the LA Audio show next week - I'm going to revisit Spatial's room.

    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.
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    edited May 2017
    Here's my beef going used:
    1. Everything today is in "excellent condition" (but not really)
    2. I'm a fussy SOB
    3. People tend to "tinker" and I don't want a tinkered-with speaker
    4. You have to be at the right place, at the right time to get the speaker you're after
    5. There's plenty of great choices (new) in the $4k and under bracket IMO

    Having said that, I got LUCKY with the Harbeth's. The guy just happened to be in Arizona, and the speakers were absolutely perfect---even the bottoms, which sometimes look like hell on a used monitor. Plus, the price was outstanding.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Tony--
    Yes, replacements for the harbeths. Ready to get back to the "weight" and scale of a floorstander. I'd love to have the harbeth midrange/treble, but ready for something more dynamic with better bass. I can never quite integrate a sub (this was my 2nd attempt), and find satisfaction going that route, so the SVS is gonna sell as well.

    I thought I remembered you being pretty happy with the integration of the SVS? Was that just initial excitement that faded?

    I LOVE my 703s, so I would love to hear the towers. But they are the nicest speaks I have ever owned (or even heard really), so I am sure there are lots of other, better options out there.

    And I also do think you should be open to dealer demos and likely used gear. Weren't your Harbeth's used?
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
  • Manticore
    Manticore Posts: 408
    Nice open floor plan. Looks great. It will probably take floor speakers over bookies to fill that room the way you want...all the way to the kitchen.
    Especially like that soffit type ceiling. Great for sound.
    Happy speaker hunting.
    Denon AVR X4200W
    Parasound A23 amplifier
    Parasound A23 amplifier
    LG 65" Ultra HD4k
    LG 4kBR - UP970
    Denon DVM 4800
    Denon DP 3000 turntable
    Saec 308sx tonearm w/
    Dynavector 10x5 cart
    Vincent PHO 701 Phono Preamp
    MIT Avt3 Speaker c's
    Audio Quest Big Sur ic's
    Polk SDA 1C's modded
    Polk LSim 707
    Polk LSiM706c
    Polk RTiA 3's
    Polk 80F/X-RT
    Polk DSW PRO 440wi sub
    Infinity bu2 sub
    "The early Klingon gets the Gagh"
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    edited May 2017
    Gotcha Steve....The Salks are a good suggestion. Dynamics, bass slam with no sub....in a room that big...Gotta throw the Legacy Focus HD's in the mix. You won't find them new for 4k, but maybe a demo pair. You'll forget about subwoofers with those. The Dynes and the Focals are also good rock speakers.

    I know you plan on keeping the same amp, and that would be a good match with any of the 4 brands mentioned as well.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    Thanks Tony.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,033
    Or wait a couple months until the new SDA line comes out....

    How "confirmed" is this John? I have seen some cryptic messages from them on social media lately that point to this.

    It's not, just wishful thinking.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,707
    https://www.kefdirect.com/speakers/hi-fi-speakers/r-series/r700-floorstanding-loudspeaker.html

    http://us.kef.com/r700

    900x900_r700_blk.jpg

    They come in black, white and walnut. The walnut looks sharp.

    I'd recommend the R900's but they'll be almost a grand outside of your dictated price range.

    My first thought here would be the Polk LSiM707's.

    I have 703's and they knock everyone's socks off.

    The KEF's are very neutral in regards to gear and every KEF I've had has been relatively easy to drive so almost any amplification will work. My favorite amp to use with my iQ9's is one of my New Audio Dimensions jobs. KEF and NAD pair well together. Polk and NAD pair well together as well.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    Skip, what about the MartinLogan Motion 60XT's?
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,707
    I think you are being a bit dramatic there, @DSkip.

    My basement is 14' W by 40' L by 7' H. If the center wall was removed, it'd be 30 feet wide. Even with it there, it offers little sound isolation and Polk RTi10's, LSiM703's, KEF iQ9's and Polk 265-RT's all have no problem filling the space with excessive sound pressure levels on as little as 70 watts per channel. Even a pair of ancient KLH Model 20's on an old Kenwood stereo receiver will get that entire space rocking pretty hard.

    I think the biggest issue @steveinaz is going to face is reflections because that space has many, many hard surfaces to bounce sounds off of. I don't think a $4000 or less price range tower is going to get lost in there at all. Even with a 10 foot ceiling.

    If it was a vaulted or uneven ceiling, I'd tend to agree that a larger speaker would be needed to pressurize the space adequately enough for desirable bass response but that's 10 ft evenly spaced the entire length of the room. Won't be a problem.

    Also, he specifically stated no electrostats.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!