$500 speakers with the best imaging that you know of?

[twochordcool]

I really was impressed by the imaging of the Focal JMlab Chorus 706 S.

What other speakers around the same price range impressed you because of their fantastic imaging?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I really was impressed by the imaging of the Focal JMlab Chorus 706 S.

What other speakers around the same price range impressed you because of their fantastic imaging?

MacManNM said the BIC DV84 towers were outstanding as far as imaging goes, and I think they can be had - shipped for under $400 (in the US). He's got a very good ear for music and owns some very nice equipment. He bought an entire BIC setup for his father n law and did a review on it in house. $500 is a tough price range. You can get very good bookshelves, or average towers. The DV84's, like their DV62 and CLRS62 cousins, impressed the heck out of Mac. That's a tough thing to do. If you know Mac, if it's not separates, or McIntosh, it's just not up to par. These were par.

 

[3db]

Psb

I really was impressed by the imaging of the Focal JMlab Chorus 706 S.

What other speakers around the same price range impressed you because of their fantastic imaging?

I'd like to pit them against PSB's Image B25s. You said it had to be under 500 dollars . I have the larger ImageT45s and when I play Dianna Krall, I can feel her breath caressing my cheek. How's that for imaging?

Seriously though, PSB Image series is very difficult to beat in terms of soundstage details and bringing out the nuances in music.

 

[twochordcool]

I'd like to pit them against PSB's Image B25s. You said it had to be under 500 dollars . I have the larger ImageT45s and when I play Dianna Krall, I can feel her breath caressing my cheek. How's that for imaging?

Seriously though, PSB Image series is very difficult to beat in terms of soundstage details and bringing out the nuances in music.

well, 3db, I heard the Chorus speakers and I heard the PSB Image B25 speakers side by side - and I was impressed by both for different reasons, and a little disappointed in both, for different reasons.

The PSB's sounded good, and with a lot of punch and liveliness, but blurred all sounds evenly across the soundstage.

The Chorus speakers seemed less lively and punchy, more laid back and "polite", but I was more able to pinpoint what was going on where on the soundstage more - if a violinist was playing I could close my eyes and visualize EXACTLY where he was.

Since you appear to be knowledgeable, care to recommend a few speakers in the same price range which might combine the best of both worlds of the 2 that I mentioned?

 

[twochordcool]

Anyone else before this thread drops into oblivion?!

 

[Gatorchong]

Some of the best imaging I've heard in that price category is the Usher Audio S-520. Great mini-monitor, but I don't know if there are a whole lot of dealers. Check em out.

 

[silversurfer]

Ascend Acoustics CBM-170.

 

[Soundideas]

This is one of the best that I have ever come across that only cost $250.00 a pair, Generic Chinese speakers and compares to speakers $2000 and a little higher! You can take the other $250.00 and get some snake oil and some more snake oil to put under your speakers, I put three under each speaker. Another great product that I'm going to get soon is the snake oil ac outlets

 

[jaxvon]

[Sarcasm]

Yes. Cryo-treated outlets will help you.

[/Sarcasm]

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

quote removed by Admin to avoid lame promotion of Generic Chinese speakers

You do bring smiles to our faces. My side is starting to hurt.

Check these out. You can't touch them for under $75,000.
http://cgi.ebay.com/SDAT-Cherry-Finish-Floorstanding-Hi-Fi-Speakers-New_W0QQitemZ5792991577QQcategoryZ14993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Imagine, 11"x11"x44" tall. Now that isn't a totem pole waiting to fall over, is it?

 

[Privateer]

quote removed by admin to avoid shameless self-promotion

Right, I wont waste my money on this snake oil.

 

[Soundideas]

Right, I wont waste my money on this snake oil.

Just like I said before, its easy to talk bad about a product that you have never tried. Sure there's a lot of SNAKE OIL out there BUT these are NO SNAKE OIL!

[Right, and you didn't just post 10/10 posts all about these great speakers that of course you have nothing to do with professionally - Admin.]

 

[Soundideas]

You do bring smiles to our faces. My side is starting to hurt.

Check these out. You can't touch them for under $75,000.
http://cgi.ebay.com/SDAT-Cherry-Finish-Floorstanding-Hi-Fi-Speakers-New_W0QQitemZ5792991577QQcategoryZ14993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Imagine, 11"x11"x44" tall. Now that isn't a totem pole waiting to fall over, is it?

I'm glad your having fun but just wait until Gene does this review on these SDAT speakers....I can't wait!

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I'm glad your having fun but just wait until Gene does this review on these speakers....I can't wait!

Fair enough, but I want these on when he tests them. Especially on the woofer.
http://www.mihorn.com/

P.S. Do they change colors with the beat of the music? (Double click on the pictures and watch the colors change!)

 

[MacManNM]

Back on subject.

I do believe the BIC DV84's have the BEST imaging you can find under $500 a pair. This speaker not only images well, but is an all around great performer. I loved these units. Now, will they hang with a pair of $2500 speakers, no. But they out perform anything in their price class and several, a few classes above. Plus they can be had for $300/pr shipped.

 

[patnshan]

Fair enough, but I want these on when he tests them. Especially on the woofer.
http://www.mihorn.com/

P.S. Do they change colors with the beat of the music? (Double click on the pictures and watch the colors change!)

Talk about sides hurting!!!

Pat

 

[jcPanny]

Another option

You can get a pair of the Axiom M22ti bookshelves shipped for $440. These have great reviews for imaging.

 

[rich200]

Polk SDA's if you don't mind buying used.

SDA's are no longer made but periodically can be found on ebay. They have a cord going speaker to speaker which feeds some right channel to left and left channel to right. The horizontaly opposed drivers partially cancel some of the left channel that reaches your right ear and right channel that reaches your left ear creating a wide sound stage. Kind of a headphone effect. With a good recording, I can space the speakers 6 feet apart, sit 8 feet back and get a 10 foot wide soundstage. Instruments appears outside the speaker spacing, not just at or between.

I guess if you have a 20 foot wide room you can just separate traditional speakers farther and be good to go. In a narrower room SDA's will expand beyond the walls. In situations where you can't place the speakers far apart, you will get sound beyond the speakers.

Used prices, approximate:
SDA CRS and CRS+ around $275-$300
SDA 2B around $300-$350
SDA1C around $400-$500

My SDA 2B's are over 20 years old and still sound great. IMO I haven't found better imaging for under $1400/pr in newer speakers, not even newer Polk RTi's or LSi's.

I use the SDA's for 2 channel stereo and in another room RTi8's, RTi6's and CSi5 for HT (Home theater).

P.S. I also liked Infinity alpha 40's. I imagine the Beta's would be good also. You can get these for $500-600 on the web.

I have not auditioned the speakers recommended by the others but I hope I get the chance.

 

[Seth=L]

SDA's are no longer made but periodically can be found on ebay. They have a cord going speaker to speaker which feeds some right channel to left and left channel to right. The horizontaly opposed drivers partially cancel some of the left channel that reaches your right ear and right channel that reaches your left ear creating a wide sound stage. Kind of a headphone effect. With a good recording, I can space the speakers 6 feet apart, sit 8 feet back and get a 10 foot wide soundstage. Instruments appears outside the speaker spacing, not just at or between.

I guess if you have a 20 foot wide room you can just separate traditional speakers farther and be good to go. In a narrower room SDA's will expand beyond the walls. In situations where you can't place the speakers far apart, you will get sound beyond the speakers.

Used prices, approximate:
SDA CRS and CRS+ around $275-$300
SDA 2B around $300-$350
SDA1C around $400-$500

My SDA 2B's are over 20 years old and still sound great. IMO I haven't found better imaging for under $1400/pr in newer speakers, not even newer Polk RTi's or LSi's.

I use the SDA's for 2 channel stereo and in another room RTi8's, RTi6's and CSi5 for HT (Home theater).

P.S. I also liked Infinity alpha 40's. I imagine the Beta's would be good also. You can get these for $500-600 on the web.

I have not auditioned the speakers recommended by the others but I hope I get the chance.

You do realize this thread is over a year old right?

 

[vic]

Axiom Speakers

For about 450.00 you can buy Axiom M22v book shelf speakers. They are crisp and balanced. This of course depending on the size of your room. Hopefully you have a sub to bring out the lows.....