On the hunt & some short reviews
audiocr381ve
Posts: 2,588
On the hunt for some used speakers in the $1,500 range.
I'm not new to this and I've tried many many speakers at this point. I'm looking for more seasoned vets to respond. I LOVE trying new brands. I have a medium sized room, listen to EVERYTHING, and am looking for a floorstander because bass impact is important to me.
For electronics, I have a Dared SL2000a pre with some great tubes (thanks to Brock!), CIA VDA-2 DAC, and a pair of B&K Sonata M200's (200wpc @ 8 ohms, 400wpc @ 4ohms).
I figured it would be best for those interested in helping to read what I've been through. So here goes in no particular order:
PSB Synchrony One - The flagships of PSB's line. Amazing speakers. I regret selling them but their sacrifice allowed me to get equipment for my business that has lead to so many great things in my career. They did absolutely everything right. I never got to throw tubes at them. I got them for a ridiculous price otherwise they would have been out of my reach. I only dated them, but they were wife material.
Dynaudio Audience 72 - Again, didn't get to throw tubes at these. Now that I realize how tubes can really add soul to a speaker, I feel like never got to hear the speakers I have owned the RIGHT way. Anyway, Dynaudio is a special company. You have to be if you're building your own drivers. What I did like was the imaging. For HT they were kickass. They were slightly fatiguing up top and a hair to forward for my tastes. Bass was pretty good. Overall though, very fun speakers that had a very unique sound.
Magnepan MG10 - They don't have the slam nor the dynamics that I need, but damn do they do a few things well. Acoustic instruments sound incredible. Jazz is so nice on these. Paired with my sub, they're great, but I need more dynamics and impact. I won't be selling these because of their rarity.
Magnepan 1.7 - I now realized that my room was the issue I had when owned these monsters. I probably would have liked them in the room I have now.
Monitor Audio RS6 - My first taste of hifi. They had great bass for their footprint. Vocals on these speakers were amazing. The mids were over emphasized and the top end caused a little fatigue.
Paradigm Signature S2 Monitors - Another top of the line speaker from Paradigm. Absolutely beautiful finish. The beryllium tweeter was very nice. They were neutral, balanced, and easy to listen to. Bottom end wasn't there but they were bookies. At the end of the day, we just didn't have any chemistry. Nothing stood out to me.
KEF Q300 - Didn't like much about these speakers. No bass, no resolution, no sparkle. To me they were TOO laid back and dull. Could have been a synergy thing.
Polk SDA-2B - I threw maybe $400 at these in modifications. They were very musical, fun to crank, and of course had amazing imaging. At the end of the day I wanted more from the top and more definition on the bottom. Could have been a room thing, but after trying them in several rooms, it was time to let them go. I had a great run with them though.
Polk LSi9 - These were stock. Just to laid back for my tastes. Almost the opposite of the Dynaudio's. They have great slam for their size, but the bass that was there wasn't refined. They are a romantic sounding speaker that have zero fatigue. It was a pleasure dating them, but they were not wifey material.
Polk CRS+ - Same great musicality as the SDA-2B's, they just lacked that punch for me.
Polk Monitor 5B - Not a standout speaker, but great for a small room. I have the RD0-198 tweets in these and completely redid the xover's with Sonicaps & Mills. Still, they are nothing really special in my opinion. Just fun speakers that are musical and get the job done. Kind of like a girl "friend." Not wifey material at all.
Just thinking about the speakers I've gone through is crazy. I've had great times with many of these. The PSB Synchrony One's were the first pair of speakers that gave me EVERYTHING. I mean everything. I didn't find a single thing that I didn't like. I know what you're thinking, "Dude, take that $1,500 and spend it on something lower in PSB's line." That's not what I want to do. I've tried this type of girl and am curious about different girls now. Call it audio promiscuity. I don't want to have something lower when I already had a taste of the top.
So what I'd like to do is maybe try something different from Dynaudio. Brands I'm interested in are Totem & Usher although I've never heard anything from them. I'd LIKE a floorstander but I could be convinced to try another monitor.
So give it to me :twisted:! What should I try?
I'm not new to this and I've tried many many speakers at this point. I'm looking for more seasoned vets to respond. I LOVE trying new brands. I have a medium sized room, listen to EVERYTHING, and am looking for a floorstander because bass impact is important to me.
For electronics, I have a Dared SL2000a pre with some great tubes (thanks to Brock!), CIA VDA-2 DAC, and a pair of B&K Sonata M200's (200wpc @ 8 ohms, 400wpc @ 4ohms).
I figured it would be best for those interested in helping to read what I've been through. So here goes in no particular order:
PSB Synchrony One - The flagships of PSB's line. Amazing speakers. I regret selling them but their sacrifice allowed me to get equipment for my business that has lead to so many great things in my career. They did absolutely everything right. I never got to throw tubes at them. I got them for a ridiculous price otherwise they would have been out of my reach. I only dated them, but they were wife material.
Dynaudio Audience 72 - Again, didn't get to throw tubes at these. Now that I realize how tubes can really add soul to a speaker, I feel like never got to hear the speakers I have owned the RIGHT way. Anyway, Dynaudio is a special company. You have to be if you're building your own drivers. What I did like was the imaging. For HT they were kickass. They were slightly fatiguing up top and a hair to forward for my tastes. Bass was pretty good. Overall though, very fun speakers that had a very unique sound.
Magnepan MG10 - They don't have the slam nor the dynamics that I need, but damn do they do a few things well. Acoustic instruments sound incredible. Jazz is so nice on these. Paired with my sub, they're great, but I need more dynamics and impact. I won't be selling these because of their rarity.
Magnepan 1.7 - I now realized that my room was the issue I had when owned these monsters. I probably would have liked them in the room I have now.
Monitor Audio RS6 - My first taste of hifi. They had great bass for their footprint. Vocals on these speakers were amazing. The mids were over emphasized and the top end caused a little fatigue.
Paradigm Signature S2 Monitors - Another top of the line speaker from Paradigm. Absolutely beautiful finish. The beryllium tweeter was very nice. They were neutral, balanced, and easy to listen to. Bottom end wasn't there but they were bookies. At the end of the day, we just didn't have any chemistry. Nothing stood out to me.
KEF Q300 - Didn't like much about these speakers. No bass, no resolution, no sparkle. To me they were TOO laid back and dull. Could have been a synergy thing.
Polk SDA-2B - I threw maybe $400 at these in modifications. They were very musical, fun to crank, and of course had amazing imaging. At the end of the day I wanted more from the top and more definition on the bottom. Could have been a room thing, but after trying them in several rooms, it was time to let them go. I had a great run with them though.
Polk LSi9 - These were stock. Just to laid back for my tastes. Almost the opposite of the Dynaudio's. They have great slam for their size, but the bass that was there wasn't refined. They are a romantic sounding speaker that have zero fatigue. It was a pleasure dating them, but they were not wifey material.
Polk CRS+ - Same great musicality as the SDA-2B's, they just lacked that punch for me.
Polk Monitor 5B - Not a standout speaker, but great for a small room. I have the RD0-198 tweets in these and completely redid the xover's with Sonicaps & Mills. Still, they are nothing really special in my opinion. Just fun speakers that are musical and get the job done. Kind of like a girl "friend." Not wifey material at all.
Just thinking about the speakers I've gone through is crazy. I've had great times with many of these. The PSB Synchrony One's were the first pair of speakers that gave me EVERYTHING. I mean everything. I didn't find a single thing that I didn't like. I know what you're thinking, "Dude, take that $1,500 and spend it on something lower in PSB's line." That's not what I want to do. I've tried this type of girl and am curious about different girls now. Call it audio promiscuity. I don't want to have something lower when I already had a taste of the top.
So what I'd like to do is maybe try something different from Dynaudio. Brands I'm interested in are Totem & Usher although I've never heard anything from them. I'd LIKE a floorstander but I could be convinced to try another monitor.
So give it to me :twisted:! What should I try?
Post edited by audiocr381ve on
Comments
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I don't think you'll go wrong with Usher or Totem, but I have to throw ZU out there as a speaker you should definitely hear. They might not be wife material but they are definitely worth dating, especially with a good tube pre.
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call usher to check on pricing of the 6311 and here is a great buy.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-usher-718-dmd-great-monitors-cheap-2013-05-09-speakers-07307Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
How about these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130857757029?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
or these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130857757029?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
He is high on them I think, but he may negotiate. The best part is they are all local (sort of).
I will be getting my ears on the Carvers tomorrow.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 -
Emerald Physics, Legacy's.......things is when comparing to dating, your gonna have to kiss a lot of toads before your prince shows up.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 -
You have already answered your own question. Why **** around? You already know you want to try your long lost love on some tubes. Just save the funds until you have enough to purchase the Ones again. Until then, that question will linger. Look at how you refer to them. Rookie out!!
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Dunlavy SC-II - Hard to find but should be able to find some in 8-9/10 condition for under your $1500 limit. Very enjoyable speaker and easy to drive.
ProAc Studio 140MkII - Used in your price range...new definitely not. But a beautiful sounding speaker and definitely a good tube (pre or amp) match.
I have some other suggestions but they all jump above your price point."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 -
I would have no problem recommending Ushers or Totems. I've really liked what I've heard out of both of them, especially the Ushers. I'll second B Runs recommendation for ZUs also. Based on your tastes and previous speakers I would look at the Omen Defs or Souls, even though the Omen Dirty Weekends may be a good way to be introduced to the ZU sound without breaking the bank. The ZUs have the quickness and transparency of the Maggies combined with excellent dynamics and good bass provided they are set up right (like anything). They can be a little hot on the top-end though, so having tubes somewhere in the mix is a definite plus. The ZU sound is defintiely unique. They are fun and worth checking out as far as trying something different.
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The Maggie 1.7s are great speakers, and the B&Ks should power them well.
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Emerald Physics, Legacy's.......things is when comparing to dating, your gonna have to kiss a lot of toads before your prince shows up.
Since you described some as too mellow, I am with tonyb on this one. Newrival has Emerald Physics and they do sound good. Can you describe your room? When I had carver amazing originals, in my basement they sounded great but once I moved them up to the living room they sounded bad. Thick carpet and just bad room acoustics took all the magic away.
Actually every speaker I put in the living room I could not get to sound right including legacy focus that I am currently running, SDA 2.3, 1.2, vandersteen 2ce sig, vandy 3a, tylers, Normans, . I have since moved them to my den that is a bit smaller of a room but with hardwood floors and area rug and everything came back to life.
The other speaker I would also recommend taking a listen to is JM Labs. I had a set of 815 and on the right equipment ( tube pre, ss amp) they sounded fantastic. If I had the room I would have kept them. If you thought maggies were too mellow, I would not recommend vandersteen. While they are a good speaker they are on the more mellow side and do well in bright rooms.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's. -
John, I forgot to mention that the footprint is a factor (WAF), so the Amazings and the Maggie 1.7's are out due to size.
A shop not to far away carries Totem (I had no clue until searching for dealers tonight and I've been to this place a couple of times), so hopefully I get my ears on them either this week or the next.
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. I'm looking into everything mentioned! -
Alright, after a lot of research I'm looking at the Totem Hawks but my dealer doesn't carry them. I'm hoping Mantis can chime in. Any thoughts about the Hawks?
