Best bang for buck 2.0 speakers Music only

[ImcLoud]

A friend of mine just bought 2 500w mono amplifiers, he is now looking for a set of towers that are capable of handling the power and having a clean clear sound for music... He has looked at the arx a5's, axiom m80 v3's, and something called wharfdale evo40 .. to give you an idea of hid budget... thanks, I told him to hold off until I ran it by the guys on here...

 

[zieglj01]

Does this mean, that the budget is between $1500 and $2000?

I would look at the refurbish Boston VS336 speakers.
The are transparent, with real good detail, definition and depth.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/BOSVS336BB/BOSTON-ACOUSTICS-VS336-VS-Series-3-Way-6-1/2-in-Tower-Speaker-Black-Each/1.html

http://ap.bostonacoustics.com/-VS-336-Floorstanding-Loudspeaker-P239.aspx

 

[STRONGBADF1]

A friend of mine just bought 2 500w mono amplifiers, he is now looking for a set of towers that are capable of handling the power and having a clean clear sound for music... He has looked at the arx a5's, axiom m80 v3's, and something called wharfdale evo40 .. to give you an idea of hid budget... thanks, I told him to hold off until I ran it by the guys on here...

Lots of speakers out there. Max price and if he's ok with used are two good questions. another would be if he will use a sub or not.

off the beaten path are Magnepan 1.7's (if he has the room for them)

 

[Steve81]

A friend of mine just bought 2 500w mono amplifiers, he is now looking for a set of towers that are capable of handling the power and having a clean clear sound for music... He has looked at the arx a5's, axiom m80 v3's, and something called wharfdale evo40 .. to give you an idea of hid budget... thanks, I told him to hold off until I ran it by the guys on here...

That's kind of a wide open question. Any idea which way his tastes lean, ie what kind of music does your friend listen to, and what does he value in it? That is to say, a pair of Salk SongTowers or Ascend Sierra Towers would make for a fine music system that do a great many things well and many would find pleasing. On the other hand, a pair of used Klipschorns could also be found in that same price range, with a very different set of strengths and weaknesses. They could do with 50 watts what most speakers would need 1000+ watts to achieve (assuming they could handle that kind of power without compression).

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Lots of speakers out there. Max price and if he's ok with used are two good questions. another would be if he will use a sub or not.

off the beaten path are Magnepan 1.7's (if he has the room for them)

2.0...Duh.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

WHARFEDALE EVO2-40 TOWER SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct

$800 for Pair in stunning rosewood (black or maple) is a great deal for very well made British brand speakers....

Few Reviews online , but most give 4/5 - which is excellent mark for under 1k/pair speakers

Wharfedale Evo2 40's | Stereophile.com

Review in russian here:
http://www.wharfedale-audio.ru/upload/iblock/80e/80e669f013eac6218730b43e6cc060d8.jpg?PHPSESSID=eb3db6fdb52d633e701f585b78fa924d
Cliffnotes:
Pros: Well balanced and crystal clear reproduction. Extremely well quality of finish.
Cons: Soundstage imaging could be better

That said, 800 and 1500 are quite different price points - Give us actual numbers for better suggestions...

 

[ImcLoud]

He, is leaning towards the wharfedales because he obviously wants to spend as little as possible, he is looking for something with a little furniture grade to them, and he wants full range towers with no sub...
As far as budget if there is a deal out there with a pair for $3000 speakers for $1500 he would probably jump on it, but sound I think is the most important thing...
He listens to country, rock, jazz from what I see... As I do also listen to them 3 thats why I like my 2.2 system...

 

[zieglj01]

Wharfedale is a good option, and should be on a short list.
For some serious sounding bass >> and real good imaging
with a huge soundstage, then I would also keep the Boston
VS 336 towers on a short list - use to sell for $3,400 a pair.

 

[Steve81]

He, is leaning towards the wharfedales because he obviously wants to spend as little as possible, he is looking for something with a little furniture grade to them, and he wants full range towers with no sub...
As far as budget if there is a deal out there with a pair for $3000 speakers for $1500 he would probably jump on it, but sound I think is the most important thing...
He listens to country, rock, jazz from what I see... As I do also listen to them 3 thats why I like my 2.2 system...

Has he heard the Wharfdales? What were his thoughts? Any big weaknesses that were mentioned?

One possibility that I'd toss out there, the Aperion Verus Grand towers:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/floorstanding/verus-grand

 

[ImcLoud]

He hasnt heard them yet, but he is worried about the power handling since he has 500 per channel and he said he seen them rated for 150

 

[Steve81]

He hasnt heard them yet, but he is worried about the power handling since he has 500 per channel and he said he seen them rated for 150

Before we get ahead of ourselves here, how loud does your friend want to listen to music? If he only plans on listening at 80dB with peaks of maybe 90 to 100dB in a smallish room, sitting about 8 feet from the speakers, his amplifiers will never put out 500 watts in the first place with the Wharfdales (they're not extraordinarily sensitive, but they're not rated to be power hogs either). On the other hand, if he's asking for closer to rock concert levels (~120dB), you're going to need to look at a whole different kind of speaker.

 

[zieglj01]

He hasnt heard them yet, but he is worried about the power handling since he has 500 per channel and he said he seen them rated for 150

Wharfedale is rated up to 300 watts > Boston up to 400 watts

However, I would still use caution with long term man-cave volume levels - need to look out for the tweeters.

 

[sawzalot]

Does this mean, that the budget is between $1500 and $2000?

I would look at the refurbish Boston VS336 speakers.
The are transparent, with real good detail, definition and depth.
BOSTON ACOUSTICS VS336 VS Series 3-Way 6-1/2 in Tower Speaker Black Each | Accessories4less

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I have only heard and read good things about this line of BA, I just returned a pair of towers that fell way short of my liking and want to try out something different, already, so these , at the lower price sure seem inviting. I also had my eye on the KEF Q 900 as I did get to hear the smaller size and thought they were very nice. What are your thoughts on the comparison of the two, Thanks sawz.

*Sorry for the mini hi-jack to OP.

 

[ImcLoud]

Before we get ahead of ourselves here, how loud does your friend want to listen to music? If he only plans on listening at 80dB with peaks of maybe 90 to 100dB in a smallish room, sitting about 8 feet from the speakers, his amplifiers will never put out 500 watts in the first place with the Wharfdales (they're not extraordinarily sensitive, but they're not rated to be power hogs either). On the other hand, if he's asking for closer to rock concert levels (~120dB), you're going to need to look at a whole different kind of speaker.

Its not that he will be listening loud, the problem is the size of his room, It has vaulted ceilings {peak about 24'} and the room is about 32x19... He has a 2 channel ONkyo receiver with an ONkyo amplifier, I think the receiver is 200 watts and the amp is 200 watts, feeding 4 bic 6t towers... I remember when he bought that setup, it was only around $900 shipped... It actually sounds pretty good for what it is, but he now bought these 2 mono blocks and wants to just have 2 nice wood speakers..

Our friend that does granite work, made him 2 amp stands with rough cut edges {they look amazing} and he bought a dac/preamp.. its going to be a nice system for sure... He is having a hard time picking the speakers, we just went to breakfast and he also mentioned a used pair of mirage om7's or 12's or 10's I dont remember the number....

 

[KEW]

Picking speakers to match the max output of an amp is going about it backwards.
Max watt figures for speakers are notorously bogus.
500 watts assures he has ample power for any reasonable speakers, but is also very likely to blow any speaker if he doesn't control the volume.

 

[Matt34]

I'd do a ebay, craigslist, and audiogon search for a pair of Klipsch la scalas.

Klipsch La Scala Theater Speakers (Pair) 743878017649 | eBay

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I like Matt idea, but if commercial look might not suit everyone, there still a hope
JTR Speakers*|* Triple 8HT
yes, it will be over $2400 but will fill his room for sure

 

[Steve81]

I'd do a ebay, craigslist, and audiogon search for a pair of Klipsch la scalas.

Klipsch La Scala Theater Speakers (Pair) 743878017649 | eBay

I'd also mention the Cornwalls, Chorus, and Forte speakers. You could find any of the above in fairly good condition for ~$500. These three aren't fully horn loaded like the La Scala, but they're all extremely sensitive and will offer good full bodied, room filling sound. With a little searching, you can find any of the three reasonably inexpensively (~$500 a pair) and in decent condition. Depending on age, they could use some reconditioning (primarily replacing the caps in the XO).

 

[zieglj01]

I have only heard and read good things about this line of BA, I just returned a pair of towers that fell way short of my liking and want to try out something different, already, so these , at the lower price sure seem inviting. I also had my eye on the KEF Q 900 as I did get to hear the smaller size and thought they were very nice. What are your thoughts on the comparison of the two, Thanks sawz.

*Sorry for the mini hi-jack to OP.

I am not brand loyal, and this is all subjective - however based on
the speakers that I have owned, and listened to - and with the VS
series former price listing > there is nothing I prefer over them, at
this time.

The Boston VS series is open, clear and transparent, and smooth.
They are somewhat robust and lively sounding >> with-out being
edgy, sharp or harsh, their soundstage can be big, wide and deep,
and maybe slightly forward. The resolution is really good, and with
the proper placement, the bass is deep, tight and controlled. They
do have strong dynamics and can take the power. However, I still
caution against man-cave volume levels in larger type rooms.

 

[ImcLoud]

I got a few pm's asking which way he went, and he ended up buying the EV0-40s and they sound really good, he is talking about adding a sub and crossing the towers at 80 using some type of fmod...

After hearing his towers I decided to build a music only system, but Im doing a 2.2 system with dual subs... I ordered the evo40 towers also, for the sale price I think they are a really good choice...

the evos are VERY loud and clean, the cabinet seems like it is made out of 2" hardwood and they are heavy... His came missing the feet but they are sending him a set. Wharfedales Customer support also seems to be top notch...