Recommendations for a used system

cokewithvanilla

Hello! I got out of audio a while ago, and am looking to get back in. I sold my Tyler Acoustic monitors that i bought from a member here (mistake)... I still have my aragon preamp and adcom amp laying around.

I am looking to pick up a used setup that sounds good. I think i am going for floor standers this time. Ultimately, I want to purchase something at a good deal, that I could sell and not lose much if I decide to get out (or more likely, if the other half doesnt approve).

The speakers must:
Be good looking
Have very good clarity and imaging
Be substantially discounted from their original MSRP (here's where options and shopping around will help).
Be less than $3000

As far as amplification, source, and preamp... I am still stuck on a computer source with usb dac. I can use my current gear if i need, but I might be interested in trying some of Emotivas new stuff, unless it sucks. XSP-1 and XPA gen 3 come to mind

I am open to monitor /subwoofer solution if it will sound uniform.

Legender

For speakers, if you like the Polk sound, if this deal is still no many have of us have taken advantage of the 1/2 price offer on LSiM 105s...

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/173793/adorama-has-lsmi-series-on-sale-today-half-off-w-fs#latest

Assuming you're looking for 2 channel listening ...or just for home theater. Advice will be different depending on your sound desires. And you only mentioned monitors owned before.

Craigslist and audiogon are good used choices if you prefer that route. There are more speaker options than we could illuminate here so having more information about the sound you looking to achieve as well as the room you want to fill are important factors.

As for spending money on audio components... any number of good people here can help you with that. Welcome back...

[Deleted User]

As I said to another member, i'd check out the one-owner pair of Infinity Renaissance 80's FS on USA Audio Mart for $750. Throw a 2nd hand McCormack DNA250 at them with a 2nd hand Conrad Johnson Premier 18LS on top. McCormack and CJ have known synergy. You could put that system together for not much more than $3k.

cokewithvanilla

Thanks for the replies. I'm sorry, i was not entirely clear. I meant 3k on the speakers. I am looking for 2 channel audio, that may double as TV speakers. I want something that is very detailed in imaging, but not harsh on the ears. I want something that can go pretty low, but I will not be listening to music with really heavy bass.

I had the polk LSi's at one point in time, and they sounded good, but no where near as good (to me) as the Tyler speakers. I have listened to B&W and liked them as well. As far as getting a 'deal' I didnt know if there is something that is known to be a very good bargain in the used market... you know, like buying a 2012 GTR w/10k miles will be nearly the same car as a 2016 and save you $40000... that type of thing.

rooftop59

What you are looking for is way out of my league @cokewithvanilla, but it would probably help others to know where you are located. @DSkip has some great deals in the FM right now in the DFW area...

maandjojo

https://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Technology-BP-8060ST-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B00422L39Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1470673317&sr=8-5&keywords=definitive+technology
why go used when you can pick these up for 1/2 the price of msrp. Picked these up last month, I wanted to get out of the business of buying and selling used speakers to put my ears on as many of the better speakers out there. Now, I did have a lot of fun doing it, and talked to many of the folks on this forum in the process but enough was enough. Spent a bunch of money and felt it was time to get a pair of speakears that was more specifically taylored to my tastes. These speakers are the ones.

Good luck,
Joe

Legender

"I had the polk LSi's at one point in time, and they sounded good, but no where near as good (to me) as the Tyler speakers."

The LSiM series is a level above the LSi series as I have both. I've not listened to the Tylers so can't tell you.
This is the Polk forum, so don't be surprised if we recommend Polks for your listening pleasure.

Joey_V

If you like BW, at 3K you'll likely be at the level of cm10s2 which I think is pretty good overall.

Above that for about 4500 you can probably snag a BE 804d2.

For tv watching, I probably think the cm10s2 would serve you well.

Dawgfish

If I were in your shoes I would get a decent tube preamp and some SDAs, put some RDO-194 or 198s depending on the model on them if they are not on it, and sit back and grin! You'll be in heaven for both two channel and TV. Few speakers regardless of cost image and have a soundstage like SDAs. Hint, you don't need a center channel with SDAs, nor surrounds,, nor a subwoofer if you get something at or above SDA-1Cs.

Spend about 1000 on a good tube pre, spend about another 1000 on a modded pair of SDAs, and spend the rest on some decent speaker cables and ICs, like Analysis Plus, MIT, or Douglas Cables from Doug here on the board. Your Adcom 5802 will go perfect with both. You will be in sonic heaven.

cokewithvanilla

Thanks for your recommendations. I know I cannot do SDAs. When i say for looks, I mean because the girlfriend needs to approval, and shes all big into room design and this and that.

She did not like the look of the LSiM's... I am also a bit skeptical, having had the LSi25's. What I liked about my tyler speakers is they had excellent drivers, I could take them out and look at them and know they were excellent... not so much on the polks, dont know about now-a-days. What I didn't like about the Tylers was the simple, aging design.

While thats a great price on the LSi's, it makes me wonder how they can afford to sell them half off... is it because they really dont cost that much to make, or...? I'm not so much price focused, that i feel I need to come down to 750.. i mean is the LSiM going to beat the B&W Nautilus 803, which is in my price range?

I do like B&W. I remember being at a best buy (of all places) and being pretty impressed by the sound coming out of a cheaper set of B&W's and a marantaz receiver. At the time, i had the 5802, the Aragon, and Monitor Audio speakers.

I will be taking a visit to a local hifi store that has B&W (including diamond), Focal, Def Tech, and Paradigm (which i never liked)

I am currently located in eastern ohio.

mrbiron

Hold the phone........i'm sure we had this conversation with Heiney about this very problem. "Girlfriend" falls into the dating category and means little to nothing in the world of audio purchases. Buy what YOU want.

cokewithvanilla

Let me add that we live together, currently in her place. I sold my house.

mrbiron

DAH!.....you screwd the pooch!

erniejade

Music direct has some good Focal's at a great price.

MrBuhl

I haven't heard them, but if you need an artful looking speaker that's got great reviews on here - the Usher Dancer Mini X is a good looking cab and stand and certainly within your pricepoint on the used market (or close maybe). Also has a relatively small footprint. I'd be considering them if I had that budget.

cokewithvanilla

Wow. those ushers do have a nice looking cabinet! how much you bet it wont be the correct theme or whatever. She works in like interior fashion or whatever. Someone has a set on audiogon for 2300. What do these go for new?

Some of that focal stuff looks very modern. the closest focal dealer is 43 miles away for a listen, which i will go to.

MrBuhl

@DSkip is your man on new Usher, he can tell you. $2300 sounds good, as I recall retail is just north of $4K. The stands make them uber sexy IMO.

MrBuhl

^^ stands are a must! ^^

cokewithvanilla

Oh wow , finally found a picture of the stands. those look awesome. So, 2300 for speakers 800 fort stands... 3100. Would it be a tragedy to power them with an Emotiva XPA gen 3, and XSP-1 ?

MrBuhl

If that's what you gots, that's what you gots, start with the speaks, they aren't going to suck. When you recover from them, nab yourself a McCormack DNA and tube pre and never look back. **full disclosure, I am biased in this regard **

txcoastal1

Straight up the mini X's are one of the most transparent monitors I've had my ear on

And of course beautiful to boot

cokewithvanilla

I am actually interested in seeing how those turn out. Well, guys, I dont know if I have words for this... but she says the Usher's are 'hideous'

I'm completely at a loss now. Think at this point it would be easier for me to buy a house, get what i want and sell her... err.. wait.. i mean sell her house...

cokewithvanilla

I'm going to take a trip with her to the store in akron this weekend and see if there is anything acceptable.

EndersShadow

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

I am actually interested in seeing how those turn out. Well, guys, I dont know if I have words for this... but she says the Usher's are 'hideous'

I'm completely at a loss now. Think at this point it would be easier for me to buy a house, get what i want and sell her... err.. wait.. i mean sell her house...

Here is what I'd do as an option. Find 3 speakers YOU can live with. Make her pick between those three. Or tell her to put up or shut up. Since its her place I'm guessing shes picked most or ALL of the decor..... tell her you want to feel like its your place to and that you want creative control on ONE part of the house, the speaker system..

Otherwise shes gonna really like some speakers that look good are small and sound like crap.

Have you looked at Tyler Acoustics bookshelves (**edit** Apparently I cant read)? They are also quite nice. And what about Paradigm Signature bookies?

dromunds

The best thing about woman, they're all over the world. Think about it.

MrBuhl

Yep, you're on the small, invisible, crappy sounding speaker train my friend. I feel for you. WAF sucks. GAF is optional though.

mrbiron

MrBuhl wrote: »

Yep, you're on the small, invisible, crappy sounding speaker train my friend. I feel for you. WAF sucks. GAF is optional though.

Not when it's HER house.

I'd cut my losses and see if she has a sister. You get similar looks but different sound characteristics.

cokewithvanilla

Wellllllll. I finally made it to what seems to be the only high end audio store in ohio lol...I took a listen to some of the Diamond series of B&W... and to be honest, at a 15000 price point, they didnt sound great. When turned to the black keys, they weere muffled and quite awful. The guy said that the black keys use terrible recordings, and maybe thats true, but ouch. The 805s (6k) sounded good, sure, but I was certainly not impressed. What actually impressed more was the Magnepans... which are probably the most ugly speaker in the world.

The one thing i have decided is that if I get a set of monitor speakers, or maybe any speakers at all, two subs will be required. The difference in sound with the subs was amazing (ive never had subs)

I have also determined that I will probably not be able to audition any particular set of speakers i am interested in... the audio stores are few and far between. I feel like im farther from a solution than i was when i started. I remember this feeling...

rpf65

Pretty good compromise here.

https://www.kefdirect.com/kef-ls50-mini-monitor-pair.html

These little guys would probably work if it's a small room, probably about 175 sq ft max. Add a SVS PB 1000, and you both may just be happy.

Joey_V

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Wellllllll. I finally made it to what seems to be the only high end audio store in ohio lol...I took a listen to some of the Diamond series of B&W... and to be honest, at a 15000 price point, they didnt sound great. When turned to the black keys, they weere muffled and quite awful. The guy said that the black keys use terrible recordings, and maybe thats true, but ouch. The 805s (6k) sounded good, sure, but I was certainly not impressed. What actually impressed more was the Magnepans... which are probably the most ugly speaker in the world.

The one thing i have decided is that if I get a set of monitor speakers, or maybe any speakers at all, two subs will be required. The difference in sound with the subs was amazing (ive never had subs)

I have also determined that I will probably not be able to audition any particular set of speakers i am interested in... the audio stores are few and far between. I feel like im farther from a solution than i was when i started. I remember this feeling...

Room setup and recording is important.

I would be careful to rule them out without proper audition. The baffleless design interacts with the room (ceiling and side wall reflections, speaker boundary interactions, toe in etc) much more than a line source magnepan. I have never really liked a BW demo.

But once at home, they are glorious.

kharp1

Where in Ohio are you.