Different Speakers
MillerLiteScott
Posts: 2,561
I have had the itch to listen to some different speakers and I have always like the look and style of Totems. A local shop was a Totem dealer so I headed up there Friday night to give them a listen just out of curiosity. They had a pair of Model One's hooked up to a Mega Mac system and gave them a listen with some familiar music and was pleasantly surprised. They also had a pair of Mani 2's IIRC but I did not listen to them. The Model one's had a very nice tone and were very impressive for their size. The room set up really did not lend itself to evaluating the imaging so that will still be a mystery for me.
I then asked the sales man to play their best system for me which was on the adjacent wall. An all Classe system with some B&W 800 series floor standing speakers. Again another familiar from my CD and after about 30 seconds I was done:eek:, but out of respect I let it play for another 30 seconds and then turned to the salesman and he said what do you think. I said I like the Totems better. The B&W's were just flat, and not engaging and very chesty sounding at that. The sales man asked me what I was using and when I told him I was using 20 year old Polk Audio's he gave me the equivalent of rolling his eyes and walked up to stop and eject the CD.
After that we walked over to another room where they had a pair of Rainmaker's and Arro's. Listened to the Rainmaker's and again a very nice sounding book shelf speaker even with the lesser gear and zip cord type speaker wire. The Arro's are a very small floor standers, I would even say cute, they had a very different sound than either of the other 2 bookshelf Totem's but it could have been the set up and or room. They were not really to my liking.
Later that night I listened to my 20 year old Polk Audio speakers and was very happy with the sound, imaging and sound stage so I think I am sticking with them for the foreseeable future. Like the salesman said to me everyone's ears are shaped differently and we hear things differently
I also bought a pair of those Insignia NS-B2111 speakers which were on sale at Best Buy with a gift card and can say for very little $ these are a decent sounding book shelf speaker, and IMHO more engaging than the B&W speakers. I plan on building a budget/office system around the Insignia's just for fun. They have some resonance problems but I think there are some mods to help lessen the resonance and even some crossover mods to smooth out their curve. But even stock the are nice and pretty cool looking to boot.
YMMV
Scott
I then asked the sales man to play their best system for me which was on the adjacent wall. An all Classe system with some B&W 800 series floor standing speakers. Again another familiar from my CD and after about 30 seconds I was done:eek:, but out of respect I let it play for another 30 seconds and then turned to the salesman and he said what do you think. I said I like the Totems better. The B&W's were just flat, and not engaging and very chesty sounding at that. The sales man asked me what I was using and when I told him I was using 20 year old Polk Audio's he gave me the equivalent of rolling his eyes and walked up to stop and eject the CD.
After that we walked over to another room where they had a pair of Rainmaker's and Arro's. Listened to the Rainmaker's and again a very nice sounding book shelf speaker even with the lesser gear and zip cord type speaker wire. The Arro's are a very small floor standers, I would even say cute, they had a very different sound than either of the other 2 bookshelf Totem's but it could have been the set up and or room. They were not really to my liking.
Later that night I listened to my 20 year old Polk Audio speakers and was very happy with the sound, imaging and sound stage so I think I am sticking with them for the foreseeable future. Like the salesman said to me everyone's ears are shaped differently and we hear things differently
I also bought a pair of those Insignia NS-B2111 speakers which were on sale at Best Buy with a gift card and can say for very little $ these are a decent sounding book shelf speaker, and IMHO more engaging than the B&W speakers. I plan on building a budget/office system around the Insignia's just for fun. They have some resonance problems but I think there are some mods to help lessen the resonance and even some crossover mods to smooth out their curve. But even stock the are nice and pretty cool looking to boot.
YMMV
Scott
I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
Post edited by MillerLiteScott on
Comments
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For the price the vintage Polks are hard to beat. What was the asking price for the B&W's ?
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I recently had the same experience with a Classe and B&W rig...I believe they even had the diamond tweeters. Honestly, I don't understand how anyone could like the sound of them."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Scott, which shop did you go to? Gramophone? I live in Baltimore, and would really like to find some local shops that sell Dynaudio, KEF, or Focal. I really just want to get out and listen to some other speakers.
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Nick, Yes it was Gramaphone. I don't think they carry any of those brands though. They have all the B&W speakers you could ever want to listen to though.I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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For the price the vintage Polks are hard to beat. What was the asking price for the B&W's ?
I think they are $ 14,000 retail from what I saw on Audiogon. I did not even look at the price in the store.I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D -
Focal's Utopia line is outstanding."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Face, have you heard anything in Focal's Electra Be line? Those are the ones I want to check out.
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For years I have taken grief for my opinion of B&W speakers (sometimes on this forum). I have really tried/wanted to like them...but they just don't work for me. I have demoed every B&W I could find...everthing from the entry level 600s, 700s, CMs and up. I have heard a couple of 800 series and Nautilus speakers that are quite nice...but not for the price IMO. I know they are a good company that makes a very good product...but they just aren't for me."Just because youre offended doesnt mean youre right." - Ricky Gervais
"For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase
"Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson -
Face, have you heard anything in Focal's Electra Be line? Those are the ones I want to check out.
No, only the Utopia line."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
Scott:
From everything I've heard the The One's are very special monitors. I've had the opportunity to hear Totems (Rainmakers, Mites, Dreamcatchers) up against the LSi9's, LSi7's, RTiA3, and Polk 5B's. For my ears and using the same gear, Polk speakers just don't match up. Only the detail in the bass frequencies did the LSi9's better the Rainmakers. You can read the comparison article in the December 2008 issue of A$$A. Sometime I hope to hear a modified x-over pair of LSi9's against the Rainmakers, now that would be interesting.
As for B&W speakers, they are the ultimate in European sound, very neutral, and even from one end to the other. For many this comes off as "boring" or plain sounding here in North America. We're used to listening to speakers that have some added coloration or boost in one area or another. I've never had the opportunity to hear B&W's in my rig, but am curious.
If you get the chance, try some current speakers in your rig I know you'll find the experience fascinating.Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3 -
Mark,
I would love to hear some current speakers with my gear but I just do not have the disposable income to rotate the speakers through. I was actually hoping to listen to a pair of Sttaf, Hawk or even Forest towers but they did not have any in the store. After hearing the Totem bookshelf speakers I can imagine that they would be very musical.
Yes, I do own a few too many vintage Polk Audio speakers and that was the reason I wanted to go to a shop to hear some different speakers to see if what I was hearing at home was up to snuff with what is available today. I have to say what I am listening to at home is definitely in line with what I am looking for in a system and I am not wanting for something else other than a phono pre for my LOMC cartridge.
My gut tells me it would take a pair of speakers that were well out of my financial range to sideline my current Polk speakers. I also think I have achieved a certain level of synergy between my electronics, interconnects, speaker wire and speakers that works pretty well in my room. I am sure I could do better with more $ but I am quite happy now with a modest amount of $ invested.
ScottI like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D -
B&W manufacturers an excellent loudspeaker, just not one I've ever really liked. WAY too many others to lose sleep over it. I've liked Totem since being turned onto them by a friend. As far as Gramaphone is concerned...the "rolling of eyes"...hopefully they'll still be in business next year would be my thought. I detest that location and its employees.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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Tannoy makes a few good speakers, but the models with good drivers(paper cones) are pretty expensive and it's difficult to demo a pair stateside. I'd be a fan of KEF(Q series and above) if they weren't so bright, but that's nothing some changes in the crossover can't fix.
One brand I'd like to check out is Von Schweikert."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
I'd do another pair of 10x series KEF before the Q series again. I love the older KEF models and I don't modify xo's in modern loudspeakers, I get rid of them. If it wasn't designed right in the first place and they don't sound good in my home, N E X T. I got better things to do than pretend to become a sound engineer.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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I like what I have seen from KEF as far as concept and design however I have never heard anything, I certainly would like to hear them. I also have not heard any Tannoy speakers and would like to hear some also. I am beginning to appreciate and be intrigued by the simple speaker designs.I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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I've got your different speakers right here.Wristwatch--->Crisco
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I listened to the B&W 802Ds and liked them, I just think for the price of 20K for fronts and center I could do better elsewhere. Like Tyler acoustic D10s or something similar. Focals though, they do look like a treat, never heard those before.Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!
Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580 -
That's why I'm now into DIY, altering a pair of new(and expensive) speakers will probably kill it's resale. I'd rather just build something to my liking around my rig.I'd do another pair of 10x series KEF before the Q series again. I love the older KEF models and I don't modify xo's in modern loudspeakers, I get rid of them. If it wasn't designed right in the first place and they don't sound good in my home, N E X T. I got better things to do than pretend to become a sound engineer."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
Scott:
If you're happy, that is all that matters, and yes, SYNERGY is a key component. If it wasn't for writing reviews, I'd have a very small window of experience. Last week I drove up to a repair shop to pick up my HK680i receiver. The owner had a pair of 10B's playing, my all-time favorite Polk speaker and one I owned back in the 1980's. They sounded great, very much the way I remembered them.
A free way to hear other speakers against yours is to attend an audio gathering that happens across the country hosted by locals. Audiokarma.org has a very active list going all the time.
The most important thing is that you spend time with your rig and get lost in the music.Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3 -
That's why I'm now into DIY, altering a pair of new(and expensive) speakers will probably kill it's resale. I'd rather just build something to my liking around my rig.
Kudos Face...you're on the right track.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
