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speaker recommendations

highend64

highend64

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
As you can see, I am looking to upgrade my speakers. I going to give my DIY speakers to my brother and go with a different speakers. What are your recommendation for speakers for under 1K. I listen mostly rock, country, and latin. I would be using it with a B&K ST1400 amp and a Rotel RC-970BX preamp. Thanks
 
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Despite the varied assortment of recommendations you will receive to your inquiry keep this simple fact in mind:

We all listen and hear differently. What I think sounds great you may not and vice versa.

Everyone's room is different, everyone has different equipment, everyone has different tastes in material and it all comes from different sources(vinyl, CD, streaming, tape).

There is no right answer to your question, but there isn't a wrong answer either.

The best advice I could offer is to listen to everything you can. Find a retailer(if you are going new) that has a liberal return policy or even a listen at home demo and pick the speakers YOU like best.

YOU are the one who has to like how YOUR system sounds, non of us can make that choice for you.

Some brands to keep an eye...or rather ear out for should include:

ADS
Klipsch
JBL
Polk
Mission
Mirage
Zu

I'm confident you will get many recommendations, just be sure you choose what best for you.
 
If you have the room, and WAF isn't an issue......size matters.

A larger speaker will have a greater ability to produce bass and "fill the room" with sound.

I prefer the presentation of bi-polar speakers such as Magenepans or Carver Amazings. They are large but present music like no box ever could.

YMMV
 
So you've most likely heard good things about the classic AR speakers but also heard they aren't cheap either. Well yes all that is MOSTLY true, there are a few hidden gems but may require a bit of patience.

The AR58 models are mostly known for the vinyl covered, cone midrange versions which are a departure from the classic AR 12" 3/way with a dome midrange and furniture grade cabinets.

Well this is lucky for us that know about the AR58s which due to the above resides in obscurity and the prices reflect this lol.

Here are pics of a nice pair I picked up through eBay a couple of yrs ago for $275. Notice the classic AR dome midrange and furniture grade cabinets in all their glory, look great with my vintage silver faced Kenwood gear as well.

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Very high WAF, my lady loves them.
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wmgwizard said:
If you have the room, and WAF isn't an issue......size matters.

A larger speaker will have a greater ability to produce bass and "fill the room" with sound.

I prefer the presentation of bi-polar speakers such as Magenepans or Carver Amazings. They are large but present music like no box ever could.

YMMV
Click to expand...
I used to believe that but have found it to be a myth. I won't go into specifics but some small speakers have very good bass and some large speakers have very poor base. This is from personal experience not third party. Size isn't all that matters. Design plays a bigger role.
 
Thunderbox said:
I used to believe that but have found it to be a myth. I won't go into specifics but some small speakers have very good bass and some large speakers have very poor base. This is from personal experience not third party. Size isn't all that matters. Design plays a bigger role.
Click to expand...

Dragons are myths, but facts are facts.

While some smaller speakers can produce a surprising amount of bass for their size they will never produce the kind of room shaking, soul rattling bass a pair of large speakers can.

I will grant you, the inverse is true as well, I have been thoroughly disappointed by some speakers that looked like they should produce much more bass for their size.

You are also correct that it's the design that matters most. I have heard speakers with 8" woofers produce bass that would embarrass speakers sporting much larger driver's due to the design. But those smaller drivers were still in a relatively large cabinet.
 
In the larger speaker category, and in your price range, the KEF 104/2 gets my vote. (Web picture)
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Being in CA, JBL and Infinity should be easy finds. Also consider VMPS. Another CA speaker, not many have or have heard. Great bass, midrange and dynamics. Big, but efficient. Some have cone mids, and later models use flat planar mids, and many have ribbon tweeters. Your B&K shouldn't have issues with them.

I also agree with the East Coast suggestions. ADS, Allison, AR, Boston Acoustics, and EPI are all good. NHT speakers are great too, and would be easy to find. Bookshelf and tower models. Some with built in subs, or floor mounted woofers. Any worthy.

'Luck.
 
wmgwizard said:
Despite the varied assortment of recommendations you will receive to your inquiry keep this simple fact in mind:

We all listen and hear differently. What I think sounds great you may not and vice versa.

Everyone's room is different, everyone has different equipment, everyone has different tastes in material and it all comes from different sources(vinyl, CD, streaming, tape).

There is no right answer to your question, but there isn't a wrong answer either.

The best advice I could offer is to listen to everything you can. Find a retailer(if you are going new) that has a liberal return policy or even a listen at home demo and pick the speakers YOU like best.

YOU are the one who has to like how YOUR system sounds, non of us can make that choice for you.

Some brands to keep an eye...or rather ear out for should include:

ADS
Klipsch
JBL
Polk
Mission
Mirage
Zu

I'm confident you will get many recommendations, just be sure you choose what best for you.
Click to expand...
Great advice. Add to that list:

Sound Dynamics
Paradigm
PSB
Axiom (if they are available to you)

Happy hunting.
 
No longer will I spend money on "pre-loved" speakers. Surrounds will either disintegrate or harden and crack, take your pick. If they've been mistreated the voicecoil insulation may have damage. Replacement parts may be out of specification or unobtainable. Electrolytic capacitors may have dried up, iron core inductors are having problems with hysteresis, printed circuit boards are phenolic and tracks are lifting.

New technologies have brought large improvements (e.g. measuring with laser) in driver performance, unfortunately building materials for the cabinets seem to have reverted to using pressed paper (eh... MDF) or chipboard rather than plywood. MDF can work if you have a very dry house (low humidity).

Perhaps the Wharfedale Linton if you like laid back, old fashioned British sound?
 
AmadeusMozart said:
No longer will I spend money on "pre-loved" speakers. Surrounds will either disintegrate or harden and crack, take your pick. If they've been mistreated the voicecoil insulation may have damage. Replacement parts may be out of specification or unobtainable. Electrolytic capacitors may have dried up, iron core inductors are having problems with hysteresis, printed circuit boards are phenolic and tracks are lifting.

New technologies have brought large improvements (e.g. measuring with laser) in driver performance, unfortunately building materials for the cabinets seem to have reverted to using pressed paper (eh... MDF) or chipboard rather than plywood. MDF can work if you have a very dry house (low humidity).
Click to expand...

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But, that means more for me...! :D
 
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