Ok have Sda's so what else is good? Lsi15, Jm lab?

faster100

Not that im in the market right now, and i do own sda 1b's... I like them alot.. however to me they arent as refined as id like as i move into better gear.... Atleast i like to think its higher end then what i started my 2 channel with... I love my polks... and they stay in the HT... bang for buck and all that and sound great.. However i "may" want to venture into something different, dare i say then the sda's.... maybe Lsi9's or 15's... or maybe another brand... I know jm labs are high dollar, but ive heard of these and dynaudio, and a few other names that i would like to try in a affordable bookshelf speaker.. I like loud, and the sda's can do that.... but i like jazz, and classical at times.. and these just don't seem to have that tight refinded sound.. for that music imo.... Not knocking them by no means... ive clawed my way from the bottom to get these... and even considered the recent 2.3tls that were available... Just talking outloud here....

what ya think, who here has been there or thinking about a different option then the norm? speaker wise?

BlueMDPicker

Upgrade the caps and resistors on your crossovers and enjoy your "brand new" 1Bs.

Or, build a DIY single driver speaker set (Madisound, etc.) using inexpensive Fostex drivers. Madisound also has some great bookshelf speaker kits.

VR3

No disrespect for Polk here...

But I believe it is time to branch out...different brand...different speakers, that whole thing

Ascend Acoustics
Axiom Audio
Definitive Tech
Mirage
JM Lab
Klipsch
Energy
Athena

etc etc etc

faster100

Blue, ive went through the upgrade deal somewhat and replaced all the tweeters and the woofers with brand new from polk... so essentially they are new... except what you mentioned

I still wanna branch out as trey mentioned... see when i get into a speaker company i tend to get into them... full out and only buy their stuff, I finally learned i didnt have to do this with gear as i did it with gear also... all had to match. so its just a fase i have to work through... i want something different.. not because mine are lacking per say... just to try different sounds.. even if its lsi's

VR3

You need to pick up a pair of Definitives or Mirage...

That will keep you busy with placement alone...

FUN brands, unique sounds....WORTH auditioning (IN HOME)

faster100

i have not the room for moving speakers around... small room and one wall... i want speakers that will sound pretty good anywhere.. they have a wall thats wooden so that should help... this florida room was a porch once i think before it became closed in and the walls are like wood planks/sideing like the old vintage house's have... it is a 40's house ... so that would explain it.... anyways it seems to be a good wall for the rig

2+2

Fast, if you like acoustic/classical music, seriously consider picking up some LSis..80% or so of my listening is in acoustic/classical

..ps...skip Axiom and Energy...not worth your time...

mantis

Always fun to try new stuff.

As usual go out and find them. there out there waiting to be discovered. I traveled this path and it took me in another direction as well.

Good luck,

Dan

Toxis

Axiom and Athena... might as well throw in JBL Northridge. *puke*

LSi9's are always a good choice, as is Energy Veritas (very picky about placement though!). I know there's millions of speakers to recommend but my brain just went blank...

organ

Well, you should at least demo the LSi series. I still own my LSi9 and love them.

If you want to try something completely different (especially if you plan to have a full fledged tube system in the future), try the Klipsch Reference series. I did and have no regrets, they're my reference speakers. Don't know if you still have your Dynaco, but they sound amazing on tubes.

You might want to try a pair of Maggies too. I plan to get a pair of MMG in a few months :cool: .

Maurice

madmax

Faster,
The SDA's will keep up with anything you put in front of them signal wise... Are you sure you don't have a weak link somewhere else rather than speakers?
madmax

faster100

No, its moreso just thinking i want to get higher end/quality speakers and i may be all wrong.. I like the sda's don't get me wrong.. First is the size, cool for the WOW factor but they take up alot of room.. my room is tiny. I like to think coming from the old kenwood integrated silver face i started with in the 2 channel rig to tube pre's and parasound amp that ive moved into higher end gear. I have some good interconnects now, The tosh 3960 works great and have no desire for an upgrade there.. I don't use a tube amp any longer, ala sold to buy these Sda's... I think a set of Lsi's or similiar would look and sound sweet out here.. BUT i dont want a sub, and thats where it gets tricky because these sda's can crank out the sound/bass when i want it loud... I'm now afraid a bookshelf speaker wouldnt provide that to me.. so then i thought what about Lsi15's... they have a 8" woofer and couple mids... BUt i don't know just thinking out loud.. I love my gear and it should be quite a few steps higher after i get the Dodd pre i ordered.. so we will see, Its more estetics and size more then lacking sound quality.... besides just thinking some lsi's or JM labs may be more detailed when i want to listen to some smooth jazz, or classical or the like...

2+2

smooth jazz and classical....again LSis do well but I would also consider Totems....awsome and small (suitible for a small to mid size room)....If my room was smaller I would probably have a set of Staffs.....

faster100

These totems sell online? well i listen to a bunch of music,old rock, current stuff and some rap/R&B but for relaxing time.. its smooth jazz type stuff..

2+2

I dont think they sell Totems on line....Sean (Zero) has a pair. Maybe he can chime in. He mentioned to me that Staff is very particular about the equipment....I cant imagine it being more picky than LSis....I hear differences in almost ever little change I make on the LSi15...LSi7s are much less picky from what I can tell....not sure why...

gmorris

I've heard Tryrrthg's Dynaudio bookshelves (not sure what model, he'll probably pipe in here shortly) and they are very refined sounding. Strongly recommend Dynaudio.

I've also heard the Von Schweikert VR-1's at a local Hi-Fi shop, and I like these alot, although the VR-1's may be a little tricky to place.

Also, read some reviews on Soundstage.com. The chief editor, Doug Schneider, is a bookshelf speaker guru, it is all he reviews.

http://www.soundstageav.com/avreviews_speakers.html

audiobliss

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Klipsch
Energy

I second those! I have Klipsch, so I like the sound (duh ). I've also liked all the Energy stuff I've heard (not really that much, though).

After reading all the replies here, though, it seems to me you're looking for something above and beyond Klispsch and what I've heard from Energy.

Keep us posted on which direction you decide to go!

unc2701

My list: Dynaudio, LSi's, or DIY fostex's (or lowther's if you want to go all out)

B&W is overpriced, but if you can find a dealer, give them a listen, then look for used if you like them.

Klipsh is great for rock, and stupidly loud volumes, but I'm not a huge fan for anything else.

I've never been impressed with mirage or paradigm, but that's just me.

Oh, if you want to go the high-efficiency DIY route, you also might look at JBL drivers.