Speakers !! Best bang for the buck at the $2k price level ?

[Ohighway]

Hypothetical question.

Speakers........ $2k cash in hand.

What's available? New ....used..... doesn't matter.

Best bang for the buck for the price?

 

[usedto]

I bought my Khorns for $1000, but I know it was a bargain. I see them advertised for $2500 from time to time, so I'd say that you should be able to find a pair for $2K. I like the resale value, too.

 

[Harvestor]

a set or XLS-215 CERWIN VEGA'S !
NEW at Best Buy $1500.00
Or vintage OHM-I

 

[slowpat]

Like someone else asked, you have to know how big your room is, the type of music you like (rock, jazz, classical, easy listening with lots of vocals?), the amp and preamp that you will be using. Then you look at what's out there that can match what you have. Klipsch , for example, are very efficient, so you don't need that much power. Some boutique speakers are 88 db efficient, and you will need high powered, high current amp to drive. British speakers tend to be more polite, and some American speakers are more dynamic.

For used, I can see ProAc Response, B&W towers, Klipsch Cornwall to K-horn, JBL 250Ti, some ADS (like the L1590), Thiels, Paradigm.

 

[rickb119]

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/SRT/srt.html
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0312/sierra_tower_speaker.htm

I have the Sierra 2 (bookshelf) in my office and love them! If I had the money, I'd have the towers too (with the RAAL tweeter of course) for the TV room.

 

[KevinJS]

I agree with @botrytis. Go used.

No affiliation to this seller. Just an example of what's out there.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...otion-40s-martin-logan-30-center-gloss-white/

Bear in mind this price is in Canadian, so the US price is nearer $1200. Then sell the centre channel speaker cheap for about $500, and you have a great pair of speakers for less than half of your budget.

 

[OMGCat!]

As said above, it really, really depends on what you want them for.
I listen to a lot of jazz and the like (lots of un-amplified small groups basically) and absolutely love B&Ws for that work. For around $2,000 there are quite a few that would fall in that range.

 

[teal'c]

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/ele/d/thiel-cs36-coherent-source/6469404029.html

 

[Archguy]

Magneplanar 1.7i ... please get them with optional stands to raise them slightly off the floor.
Buy slightly used and you'll have enough extra for a bass module, should you feel the need.

Then please report back

These are my #1 temptation atm.

 

[Archguy]

I wonder if Peter Gunn's nifty frames produce an improved WAF?

 

[vinyl1]

If you are shopping in the used market for speakers, $2000 will go a long way. You should be able to find a wide variety of speakers that originally sold for $3000-8000 and are no more than 7 or 8 years old.

They are hard to move, because shipping is expensive for heavy speakers. It is a very competitive market. If you are willing to travel with cash in hand and a vehicle large enough to haul off your purchase, deals can be had.

I suggest searching the 'Gon with a 250 mile radius, and see if anything you might be interested in pops up.

 

[markshan]

@slowpat summed it up very nicely. Until those questions are answered, this thread is just a list of favorites, not really advice.

 

[esprits4s]

Find a pair of Aerial Acoustics 10T's. They can be had for less than $2K and are an amazing value at that price.

https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/466/index.html

 

[Ohighway]

@slowpat summed it up very nicely. Until those questions are answered, this thread is just a list of favorites, not really advice.

I'm looking for a list of what people think are well regarded, great bang for the buck speakers in the $2k range.

I fully realize recommendations will likely span speakers that are good for varying size rooms, work best with varying types of amplification, and on various different types of music. Thats fine .....I just want to see what can be had for $2k that folks would recommend.

 

[markshan]

Find a pair of Aerial Acoustics 10T's. They can be had for less than $2K and are an amazing value at that price.

https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/466/index.html

As long as he has a big whompin' amp that can drive a 3 ohm load. Again, until slowpat's questions are answered there can be little good advice here.

 

[markshan]

I'm looking for a list of what people think are well regarded, great bang for the buck speakers in the $2k range.

I fully realize recommendations will likely span speakers that are good for varying size rooms, work best with varying types of amplification, and on various different types of music. Thats fine .....I just want to see what can be had for $2k that folks would recommend.

I apologize. You did say "hypothetical".

 

[Ohighway]

No apologies needed. Truth of the matter is my musical tastes vary, I've plenty of tube and SS amplification available and am not tied to one specific room for a system/listening.

 

[KevinJS]

No apologies needed. Truth of the matter is my musical tastes vary, I've plenty of tube and SS amplification available and am not tied to one specific room for a system/listening.

I assume everyone listens to everything from baroque on period instruments to Ozzie Osbourne. Please say it isn't just me?

 

[Archguy]

I assume everyone listens to everything from baroque on period instruments to Ozzie Osbourne. Please say it isn't just me?

Are you telling me Ozzy Osbourne doesn't play baroque music on period instruments?

I keep learning new stuff here!

 

[teal'c]

Are you telling me Ozzy Osbourne doesn't play baroque music on period instruments?

As far as I'm aware, Ozzy doesn't play any instruments.