Speakers !! Best bang for the buck at the $2k price level ?
- Thread starter Ohighway
- Start date
I'm not sure on the Quads--there are probably others here who know more about them. (I know they are electrostatic, of course, but haven't heard them, nor do I know of anyone who's had any experience with them.) I don't think they are as robust, and they likely would need a sub to fill out the bottom octave. Acoustat is another older manufacturer of stats. They can both sound really good, but I'm not sure if they are like a type of girlfriend (beautiful, but high maintenance
). I'm more familiar with the Martin Logan line, plus a newer manufacturer Soltanus Acoustics. There is a company named Sanders that also sells stats, but they are on the high end of the scale.
My only concern is that the older style of manufacturing for Martin Logan's electrostatic panels will only give about a 15-20 year life. They tend to weaken, due to the conductive coating degrading over time. They can be replaced, and there used to be someone out there who could rebuild them at a far less expensive price. The newer panels reportedly (according to a factory rep) have an unlimited lifetime. I'd probably stick to about 10 years old tops, and even then, $2k might get one of the less expensive models, or their entry-level Electromotion ESL (which again, I have not heard). As for the older models, unless the panels have been replaced in the last few years, I wouldn't pay the going price for any of them.
There are also Magnepan speakers (a magnetic planar type of speaker) which many are fond of, as well as ribbons like the Carver Amazing Loudspeaker (which also uses an array of woofers). Magnepan even used to have a trial program on their entry-level model, which was pretty cool. A good way to try them in your home to see if you liked that type of sound.
Panels are an acquired taste, though. It depends if you can live with their shortcomings (room placement can be fussy, and flat panels have a narrow listening "window" where you need to remain seated at one spot to hear them at their best, where curved panels have a bit more leeway). It's best to listen to a pair before dropping that much coin on them.
Are those Vandersteens looking better now?
Never mentioned it here, but one pair (of two) in my bedroom system are DefTech SM45s, their younger brothers. I'm amazed by the polite clarity of their sound on the piano jazz I'm always listening to. Never heard of Sandy Gross before, will look him up.
Apologies for the brief diversion. One takeaway from this thread has to be that there are a ton of great speakers out there for less than $2K. In case anyone didn't already know. I like the topic...it's becoming almost a compendium, which I daresay is what the OP was intending.
Yeah I mentioned Maggies upthread. A couple of additional notes in relation to your observations: Always opt for aftermarket stands which raise them a bit off the floor, at least for the smaller models; they are light enough that you can aim them at will to wherever you're sitting; finally, I wouldn't own them as "only" speakers for this reason above all else. I really really like them but if you have a crowd over (even a small crowd) they won't get the benefit even if they're sitting on top of one another. Two or four other speakers fill in and spread the sound as required. You don't have to play all four (or six, etc) except when you want to.
But when there's just one or two of you, they can really be heaven. Caveat: as hinted already, there are many variables, and in my case I'd agree that the Mags shine better on acoustic piano jazz (for example) than heavy metal.
I really like the way those look.
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KevinJS
Lunatic Member
Interesting character. Started Polk Audio, Definitive Technology and GoldenEar. He has quite a track record.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/sandy-gross-true-confessions
For the purposes of the OP, anything he has been involved with is worth a look.
Oh yeah, thanks, now I remember. I read an article about the genesis of GE. And I've read several about the origins of Polk, I just didn't remember the name.
Let's say co-founded Polk Audio, though... Well, heck, let's say co-founded DefTech too...!
Let's say co-founded Polk Audio, though... Well, heck, let's say co-founded DefTech too...!
Ohighway
Wannabe Minimalist
That's actually what got this whole thread started. I've been offered these (shown below) for $2k firm. I'm thinking probably a good deal as I've heard these many times and they're awesome.
However I got to thinking..... it would be silly of me not to at least look in other directions to see what $2k might fetch. Who knows...... maybe something better? You never know if you don't ask. Hence this thread to get some ideas. Call it brainstorming if you will, using the collective brain of AK members.
I'm not sure on the Quads--there are probably others here who know more about them. (I know they are electrostatic, of course, but haven't heard them, nor do I know of anyone who's had any experience with them.) I don't think they are as robust, and they likely would need a sub to fill out the bottom octave. Acoustat is another older manufacturer of stats. They can both sound really good, but I'm not sure if they are like a type of girlfriend (beautiful, but high maintenance
I'm more familiar with the Martin Logan line, plus a newer manufacturer Soltanus Acoustics. There is a company named Sanders that also sells stats, but they are on the high end of the scale.
My only concern is that the older style of manufacturing for Martin Logan's electrostatic panels will only give about a 15-20 year life. They tend to weaken, due to the conductive coating degrading over time. They can be replaced, and there used to be someone out there who could rebuild them at a far less expensive price. The newer panels reportedly (according to a factory rep) have an unlimited lifetime. I'd probably stick to about 10 years old tops, and even then, $2k might get one of the less expensive models, or their entry-level Electromotion ESL (which again, I have not heard). As for the older models, unless the panels have been replaced in the last few years, I wouldn't pay the going price for any of them.
There are also Magnepan speakers (a magnetic planar type of speaker) which many are fond of, as well as ribbons like the Carver Amazing Loudspeaker (which also uses an array of woofers). Magnepan even used to have a trial program on their entry-level model, which was pretty cool. A good way to try them in your home to see if you liked that type of sound.
Panels are an acquired taste, though. It depends if you can live with their shortcomings (room placement can be fussy, and flat panels have a narrow listening "window" where you need to remain seated at one spot to hear them at their best, where curved panels have a bit more leeway). It's best to listen to a pair before dropping that much coin on them.
Are those Vandersteens looking better now?
In view of all this, almost anything looks better.
Maintenance of electronics can be enough of a burden as it is. Who needs the same grief from big, heavy and speakers so easily damaged? Not me.
.Offer to pay for professional packing and cross country shipping on these:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/ads-1590s-phoenix-area.814230/
and get $2k sound for half that. Then spend your other thousand you just saved on a fantastic source amp, or music, or throw it in the bank, whatever.
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/ads-1590s-phoenix-area.814230/
and get $2k sound for half that. Then spend your other thousand you just saved on a fantastic source amp, or music, or throw it in the bank, whatever.
MoreBeer
Money + Money =More Money
With $2,000 you can go new and not have to deal with old and used that's possibly beat up, needs refoaming, rebuilt crossovers, other repairs and upgrades and overall, just old and tired. Decent towers from Klipsch and Polk for example can be had for around $1,000 - $1,400 /pair which leaves enough cash for a nice subwoofer to bring it all together.
I have nothing against older speakers, heck....I have a pair of Infinity Q2's on my vintage system. But for my new system, I'd never consider buying old used speakers.
I have nothing against older speakers, heck....I have a pair of Infinity Q2's on my vintage system. But for my new system, I'd never consider buying old used speakers.
Largely agree. Additionally, great strides have been made in loudspeaker design and materials over the last 20 - 30 years; performance once reserved for the foremost premier speakers years ago is now available at a fraction of the cost it once had been, by and large.
Unless hung up on a specific vintage model, my opinion is the "best bang for the buck" is to be had with new (or relatively recent models) than by looking to models the past. (Garage sale "scroes" outside the purposes of this discussion). Plus of course the difficulties in finding older speakers in relatively unblemished cosmetic condition, let alone the headaches of dealing with deteriorated surrounds, damaged drivers, crossovers, grilles and so forth.
Boutique brands I have found to cost well in excess of performance they offer - on average - in general. For example the McIntosh XR-50 is a nice speaker - I have heard it. But it is not in the same league as my Polk RTiA9 while costing almost 2x the price of LSiM707 which by most accounts should even outperform the A9. I have always found the value Polk represents to be exceptional. As always, YMMV.
Unless hung up on a specific vintage model, my opinion is the "best bang for the buck" is to be had with new (or relatively recent models) than by looking to models the past. (Garage sale "scroes" outside the purposes of this discussion). Plus of course the difficulties in finding older speakers in relatively unblemished cosmetic condition, let alone the headaches of dealing with deteriorated surrounds, damaged drivers, crossovers, grilles and so forth.
Boutique brands I have found to cost well in excess of performance they offer - on average - in general. For example the McIntosh XR-50 is a nice speaker - I have heard it. But it is not in the same league as my Polk RTiA9 while costing almost 2x the price of LSiM707 which by most accounts should even outperform the A9. I have always found the value Polk represents to be exceptional. As always, YMMV.
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You must not have done a lot of speaker shipping like I have, and your assertion that "few" know how to pack speakers properly is complete conjecture. And $500 would more than ensure they get there safely. $300 would buy DOUBLE what it would take to pack them correctly unless you are just a complete moron. It would also cover what any reasonable professional packing/ shipping company would charge. $200 would cover the shipping cost. You don't need the original cartons. People use U-Haul wardrobe boxes double boxed with inner packing all the time for stuff like this.(And by "inner packing" NO I don't mean some wadded up newspaper thrown in there, so don't even go there.)
I shouldn't even have to explain or break down cost of this to anyone who has the slightest idea of how to ship speakers. All you are is an agitator slash contrarian and it's getting tiresome.
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Basic rules of the site state you do NOT argue with Moderation. I did not delete your post - I turned it red.
Look, with a moment's pause, you could have said all that you said without name calling or insulting someone else ...
And yes, I have experienced that very few people know how to pack worth a hoot.
Some of us do it right, the rest do cheap minimal packing - wads of newspaper or brown kraft paper.
foam popcorn that shifts in the box..
And -= its Ms Moderator ...
Look, with a moment's pause, you could have said all that you said without name calling or insulting someone else ...
And yes, I have experienced that very few people know how to pack worth a hoot.
Some of us do it right, the rest do cheap minimal packing - wads of newspaper or brown kraft paper.
foam popcorn that shifts in the box..
And -= its Ms Moderator ...
Regarding shipping costs, I was once quoted something on the order of over $300 to ship a pair of Boston Acoustics T1000, roughly coast to coast which are approximately the size and proportion to the aforementioned A/D/S model. That was also some time ago with me doing the package preparation myself with my own supplies. If I had the UPS store do the packaging, the total would have exceeded the actual sale price of the speakers so that deal was quashed needless to say.
It was just as well as I ultimately wound up using them in the vintage system I later put together. They still sound great and look 95% as good as the day I bought them back in '89.
It was just as well as I ultimately wound up using them in the vintage system I later put together. They still sound great and look 95% as good as the day I bought them back in '89.
Audio Fan
YT Channel - https://tinyurl.com/29zytwu9
Amazing how silly a simple thread can get and be so far off topic.
So, back ON topic. OP, you are in a GREAT area being right outside of DC. I used to occasionally just drool over the offerings that would pop up frequently on the local CL. If patient, I think you could find something really amazing. Currently, I see a couple of nice offerings.
BTW, No affil with any of these.
So, back ON topic. OP, you are in a GREAT area being right outside of DC. I used to occasionally just drool over the offerings that would pop up frequently on the local CL. If patient, I think you could find something really amazing. Currently, I see a couple of nice offerings.
BTW, No affil with any of these.
