General Speaker Advice and Recommendations

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by shotgunshane, Mar 7, 2017.

  1. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    I could use some advice in finding some new speakers and noticed we didn't have a dedicated general speaker advice thread, so have at it. I'm going first...

    I'm looking to put together a new 2 channel set up in a bonus room. It's a rather large room- I'm guessing around 650 sq ft. Half will be occupied by a pool table and the other half a sitting area with a 2 channel vinyl set up.

    I have nothing on hand and plan to probably use the upcoming Schiit Vidar as the power amp, assuming trusted impressions are good. I'd like to do floor standing speakers to avoid using a separate sub. Budget is around 2k for speakers. What would be the recommended models to try and audition? I'm not opposed to trying to buy used.
     
  2. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    Highly recommend trying to find a used pair of Acoustic Zen Adagio. I heard the larger Crescendos and they were magnificent. They would be really hard to beat for 2k compared to everything else I got a chance to heard at THE Show last year.
     
  3. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    I believe Schiit was demo-ing with a Salk Song3, which could be had under 2k used since retail is 2.9k USD.
     
  4. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    It sounded okay. Better could be had. Also better could be had by using different amps instead of the Vidar. Under 1k, used pro amps do a much better job.
     
  5. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Any suggestions? I've been planning a 2.0 build that got put off by increased workload draining time and energy.
     
  6. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    I own an Anthem MCA 2 which I find quite good considering I paid about $300 for it. The MCA 20 goes for about $500-600. The Crest CA series is quite decent for a few hundred which I owned a CA2 to try (very neutral sound and does top to bottom very well, just can't image). I imagine used Brystons would be similar in performance too. Check the pro audio gear thread.

    A few of us A/Bed the Vidar against my Krell 302e on the same chain. There really was no comparison in sound, but I don't hear the same kind of lopsidedness when I compared my Anthem to my Krell. The Vidar couldn't go down low nor did it have the control, and the highs were jagged and grainy. Not bad for what it is at MSRP, but there's much better to be had in the used market.

    The Salk sound very decent too, but good luck finding a used pair as none have popped out on the market yet. And at new price, my speakers could be had at a similar price (with an amp) and blow them away.

    I recommended the Adagio's because they were plentiful on the used market and the creator swears they sound as good as the Crescendo in a medium sized room (10'x20').
     
  7. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Thanks for the info. I'll look into the Adagio's and the Anthem power amp. Looks like there is an Acoustic Zen dealer close, so maybe I can get a listen soon.
     
  8. Daveheart

    Daveheart Friend

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    Have you considered the Tekton Pendragon's? I've only heard the Lore from their lineup, but it was pretty good in a short listening session. I'd usually not make a rec based upon a model I haven't heard; however:
    • the Pendragon's would certainly fill up a large room
    • the 60 day trial makes them a fairly low-risk endeavor (though return shipping would be spendy).
    • They seem to tick your boxes (floorstanders for about 2k, extends to 20Hz w/o a sub)
     
  9. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    I don't have any preconceived considerations. I haven't purchased speakers in over 15 years and what I owned before was not even midfi. I'm open to any brand. I should have mentioned I'm mainly a guitar driven rock music listener.
     
  10. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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  11. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    These are just a bit over your price range ($2100) but I owned the 1.6 and loved them.

    http://www.magnepan.com/model_17

    They don't play as loud as a lot of box speakers and like a lot of power. But if you're into holographic imaging, they are worth checking out.
     
  12. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    I heard the 3.7i and it sounded completely gutless. If anyone expects a good low end, pair them with subs and monstrous power.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Maggies are kind of like the MrSpeakers Ether headphones in speaker form. I wouldn't discourage anyone from them. They do certain things very well, but also have limitations. I'm still considering picking up a pair for myself for the garage (#3 speaker room).
     
  14. Daveheart

    Daveheart Friend

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    I spent a while auditioning the 3.7 a few years ago, and certainly wasn't thrilled by the bass or dynamics in general. That being said, they swapped in the GE Triton 1, and that thing just sounded like an incoherent mess in comparison.

    *That's not to say that the Goldear is necessarily a bad speaker, but the placement was probably better on the 3.7, and the imaging, detail retrieval, and transparency on the Maggies was pretty stellar. Still, not really the brand I'd recommend for a system sans-sub and for guitar driven rock.
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2017
  15. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Since they were mentioned here, do any of you have any more impressions of the Tekton Lore mid towers? Those are closer to my personal price range than the Pendragons.
     
  16. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    Having formerly worked for a Maggie dealer and setting up countless pairs, subwoofers (usually 2) had to be very carefully selected and positioned to have seamless integration. This was always my issue with Martin Logans that used a built in sub. For this reason I generally discourage using subs with Magneplanars. However, some people really like that solution. But I totally agree with using big-ass amps on them.

    Dynamics are the trade-off with Magneplanars. If that's one of the key abilities someone looks for in a speaker, then choose a different speaker. If someone want a box speaker that images like Magneplanar and has the impact of large horns, they would have to spend several times the price of a Maggie to do it. There may be an exception out there, but I've never heard it.
     
  17. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    You guys are right too. I didn't mention they do what they do well - which is a softer sound with good imaging. And all speakers have limitations.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yup, this is why I'd rather say fugg it to the skinny MLs with woofers, and go to better implemented e-stats or Maggies if not the big panel ML CLS/CLX.
     
  19. Daveheart

    Daveheart Friend

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    As I remember them, they were pretty natural sounding and dynamic. Imaging and staging weren't the best I've heard, but I wouldn't really call it a weakness. The bass rolled off a bit, but didn't absolutely cry for a sub (might need one if your primary genre is some sort of electronic dance stuff).

    Also, iirc it was the plain Lore (as in the full tower model) that I heard and not the mini-Lore that's a mid-tower. And keep in mind that we're talking about probably a half hour short audition and not some extended in-home trial, so take it with a grain of salt.
     
  20. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    Better implemented e-stats = Sanders/Innersound.
     

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