• Please note that there are a few updates and clarifications made in the Audiokarma Rules, mostly relating to advertising and the addition of the new "Paying it Forward" & "Giving back" forums in the AudioKarma Audio Marketplace section.

Best speakers for under $500 and $1000 ! ! !

Raphael

Raphael

Dream catcher.
Post your list of three favorite speakers in the under $300, $500, $1000, and under $3000 catergories.

Members: please help our community by making educated selections of the best sounding speakers available for the money (in good cosmetic and operating condition). Please ensure that your first two choices in each category have been made utilizing real-world comparisons in order to maintain the usefulness and integrity of your averaged responses. It is not necessary to choose three in each category or even select a category if you have not established any comparison (do not list a speaker model just because you own it).

I will develop ageraged listings in two weeks for our readers.

Readers . . got money to burn? Take a look at our member picks. The lists are only opinions and represent solid, largely accepted notions regarding the best audio reproduction available today for your money but please compare other speaker choices to a listed contender and make your own determination before shelling out your hard earned smackaroos.

I posted this because I noticed the HPM/L810 shoot-out and noted discussion about past shoot-outs but have not seen anything like a compilation of speaker favorites by our esteemed guru's. I though it would be helpful for a noob like myself and in extension--others in my boat.

I guess I'll start the listing myself and demonstrate by stating that although I have a number of reputable speaker sets--I can only make a recommendation on only two sets because I can not make 'apples to apples' comparisons of the other seven sets I own and have never participated in a shoot-out.

Ralphie's Picks:

UNDER $300
ADS L400

<$500
HPM-100

<$1000
(I wish)

<$3000
(I really, really, wish)

Regards, --RALPHIE
 
Register to hide this ad
Having several years for about 200 pairs of speakers under my belt, I've quite changed my mind. Still many I haven't heard. But my new list:

Under $300
Dynaco A25s
Yamaha NS-690s

Under $1000
Yamaha NS-1000s
Carver Amazings

Under $300
All-Around = Polk Monitor 7B - 10B - RTA11t (tl)
All-Around = Boston Acoustics A60 - A150 ---(I don't know why I didn't mention these)

$300 - $500
All-Around = Klipsch Forte II

$500 - $1000
1) everything but loud distortion rock = Carver Amazings
2) Polk SRS

+$1000
I wouldn't buy anything
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Under $300
Dynaco A25

$300-$500
a/d/s l810

$500-$1000
Dhalquist DQ 10

+1000
I have no idea

This is all based on my limited exposure to speakers. Just the best ones I've been lucky enough to hear.

Take care,

Ed
 
maybe add an under $100 category in which i would put;
Large Advent
KLH 6, 17, 20, 23, and several others that i cant think of right now.
Boston Acoustic A-70, A-100
ADS L-520
 
dingus said:
maybe add an under $100 category in which i would put;
Large Advent
KLH 6, 17, 20, 23, and several others that i cant think of right now.
Boston Acoustic A-70, A-100
ADS L-520
Click to expand...

Add the Boston A-150 to that list.
 
I got a set of vandersteen 2c's, for $400, in mint condition, they are a very nice sounding speaker IMOP. and they look nice also.
elroy
 
UNDER $300
Polk Monitor 7-10
PSB Alpha AV

<$500
JBL L-112
Paradigm Titan-Monitor 5
NHT Super One

<$1000
JBL L-250
JBL L-65 Jubal
Larger Paradigms

<$3000
DIY - Danes (DynAudio)
Ect.

From my limited experience using speakers I have owned. . .
 
UNDER $300
DCM TF-700

<$500
DCM TF-700

<$1000
DCM TF-700

<$3000
Martin-Logan ReQuest

Can you tell I really, really like my TF-700s?
 
Under $300
AR2ax; KLH6,5,23,17; Advent Large; Definitive Technology Celsius; Infinity Infitismal; Boston A-100,150.

Under $500
AR3a; Polk Monitor 10; Infinity RSIII,Quantum Jr.

Under $1,000
Infinity Quantum 2,3,5,RSII; Polk SDA 1,2; Definitive BP Towers(any); Paradigm Monitor Series.

Under $3000
Infinity QLS 1, RS1,2;
 
Under $300:
Dynaco A-25
Epicure 100W
Wharfedale w60
Wharfedale W70

But being the cheapie that I am I try to get these under $100.
 
Under 300: Dynaco's, small Ar's, Boston's (A60, A100)

Under 500: Dhalquist DQ 10's (seen em)

Under 750 Apogee Caliper Sigs, Smaller Maggies (not EXACTLY small!) some of the older ML's

Under 1000 Apogee Stage's, Quad ESL 57, Rogers, sm and lg., mid sized Infinities

Under 3000 Apogee Duetta's, Apogee Scintilla's (when you see these BUY THEM!) Acoustats.
 
Under 300: Maggies

Under 500: Maggies / with sub

Under 750: Maggies / with nice sub

Under 1000: Maggies / with super nice sub

Under 3000: Dunno
 
Last edited:
Under $300 (some maybe under $100) -
Dynaco A-25
KLH5
AR4

$300-$500
Klipsch Forte II
JBL L-112

$500 - $1000
Klipsch Cornwall
 
Based upon what I've heard and bought (or almost bought):

<$300
EPI 100/150
Boston Acoustic A200 (or 150, or 100)
Mission 737 (or 707 or original 700)

<$500
Klipsch Cornwall (That's what I paid... your deal may vary)
Boston A400
Mission 774i

<$1000
Klipsch Cornwall
Klipsch LaScala (if you find 'em)
 
Last edited:
< $100
Scott S-11D
KLH 7

< $300
SpeakerLab3 (unfinished)
Maggies
KEF 103/4

< $500
DQ-10
SpeakerLab7

< $1000
Symphonies
DQ-20i
RF-7

< $3000
:sadwave:

From speakers I have owned and compared. . .
 
I've never paid over 100 dollars for a pair of speakers, and keeping in mind that some of these are very lucky finds (and in no particular order of preference, though the $50 AR-11's are probably my favorites):
a/d/s L-620
a/d/s L-520
AR-11 (Teledyne)
AR 4-ax
KLH 5
KLH 17
Advent Large
Ohm Walsh 2
Dynaco A-25

Excepting the Ohms, the Dynacos, and the AR-11s, I have seen multiple pairs of these other speakers all for well under 100 dollars.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom