Best floor-standing speakers for music? Up to $2500 to spend

[jglim0109]

I know this has probably been discussed at length and I've searched through a handful of threads already. I'm looking to get some new tower speakers after the holiday season, and will be going to listen to speakers in the coming weeks. I want speakers for music (home theater doesn't really matter; I figure good music speakers can handle movies, while the other way around may not be true) and will set my budget around $2500 or so.

I've heard great things about the Salk SongTowers (I wish there was a way to listen to them).

Others good music speakers I know about or have read about on this forum:

Paradigm
Dynaudio
Swan
Revel
Jamo

Any other recommendations are welcome. I listen to mostly rock/indie (no metal), both new and old. Anything from Zeppelin and the Stones, to Queens of the Stone Age, Beck, White Stripes, Interpol, etc.


I have a receiver (Yamaha HTR-5450; 5 channel, 80W per) that is now 7 years old. Will this affect the musical quality (I haven't done enough reading to know what makes a good amp)?


My budget isn't set in stone, so if I had to get a new receiver, that would be fine (I have a family friend that can get great deals on almost anything). I don't want to get good speakers and lose quality with the receiver I have. I've already started converting my CDs to FLACs. I may add a turntable in the near future, but that is further down the road.

I have started compiling music to bring to the speaker shops. The remastered Zeppelin - Mothership album sounds great, so I will definitely bring a few tracks from that. Any specific rock song recommendations that are great for testing speakers are also welcome. Thanks.

 

[jamie2112]

http://www.paradigm.com/en/reference/fronts-studio-studio100-model-2-13-1-29.paradigm
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1233617272&/aerial-7B-beautiful-cherry-fin

These are a couple of great speakers for music. As far as taking music to demo speakers. Just take stuff you are used to hearing. Peter Gabrial, Sade Acoustic and vocals are key as well. There are so many great speakers in your price range that it can be overwhelming. Best of luck to you I am sure many folks will jump in with ideas.

 

[Davemcc]

I've heard great things about the Salk SongTowers (I wish there was a way to listen to them).

If you want to hear the Songtowers, there are two ways. First, contact Salk and see if there are owners in your area that will provide an audition. They do that type of thing. Second, contact Salk and they will send you a set to audition in your own home.

You should be able to strike a deal on a pair of Dynaudio Focus 220's in that price range. The Era D14 is another speaker I like in that is cheaper than the Dynaudio and are a perfectly suited speaker for rock music.

 

[WmAx]

I know this has probably been discussed at length and I've searched through a handful of threads already. I'm looking to get some new tower speakers after the holiday season, and will be going to listen to speakers in the coming weeks. I want speakers for music (home theater doesn't really matter; I figure good music speakers can handle movies, while the other way around may not be true) and will set my budget around $2500 or so.

Let me point out that for not much more, you can piece together a pair of really good bookshelf speakers, twin subs and the appropriate active crossover to integrate them as virtual singe source 3 ways, and this will result in much higher quality sound as compared to resorting to 'full size' full range speakers. If interested, I'll provide more information.

-Chris

 

[walter duque]

Let me point out that for not much more, you can piece together a pair of really good bookshelf speakers, twin subs and the appropriate active crossover to integrate them as virtual singe source 3 ways, and this will result in much higher quality sound as compared to resorting to 'full size' full range speakers. If interested, I'll provide more information.

-Chris[/QUOTE
That's the way to go. More bang for the buck..

 

[allargon]

I know this has probably been discussed at length and I've searched through a handful of threads already. I'm looking to get some new tower speakers after the holiday season, and will be going to listen to speakers in the coming weeks. I want speakers for music (home theater doesn't really matter; I figure good music speakers can handle movies, while the other way around may not be true) and will set my budget around $2500 or so.

I've heard great things about the Salk SongTowers (I wish there was a way to listen to them).

Others good music speakers I know about or have read about on this forum:

Paradigm
Dynaudio
Swan
Revel
Jamo


I have a receiver (Yamaha HTR-5450; 5 channel, 80W per) that is now 7 years old. Will this affect the musical quality (I haven't done enough reading to know what makes a good amp)?

Chris is correct re: the bookshelves and subs. I would add AV123 to the list as well. Check out the Rockets and the Strata Mini. RBH might also have something in that range for you.

 

[Swerd]

If you want to hear the Songtowers, there are two ways. First, contact Salk and see if there are owners in your area that will provide an audition. They do that type of thing. Second, contact Salk and they will send you a set to audition in your own home.

In addition to what Dave said, there is an audiocircle forum for Salk speakers. You can ask there if anyone near you has SongTowers you can listen to. If you ever travel to the Washington, DC area, you are welcome to listen to mine .

Your receiver should be fine for a pair of SongTowers. Their designer, Dennis Murphy, says that any amp or receiver that delivers an honest 50 watts per channel and is stable as low as 4 ohms can easily drive them. STs are said to have 4 ohm impedance, but they are not difficult to drive. From my own experience, I agree.

Maybe you've read all or most of these reviews and listener impressions, but I'll post them here again:

My SongTower Impressions

Boybee's SongTower Impressions

Enjoy The Music Review

Audioholics Review

Nuance's Impressions of ribbon SongTowers

 

[irishtom]

I'd get these. JBL Pro.

http://www.performanceaudio.com/cgi/product_view.cgi?products_id=1255

 

[alexsound]

I'd get these. JBL Pro.

http://www.performanceaudio.com/cgi/product_view.cgi?products_id=1255

I didn't see in the thread the size of the room mentioned, but, I'm fairly certain he's NOT looking to outfit a small auditorium just to listen to music.

 

[nova]

I want speakers for music (home theater doesn't really matter; budget around $2500 or so.
Paradigm
Dynaudio
Swan
Revel
Jamo
Any other recommendations are welcome.

A couple I'd recommend you audition:
RBH 1044-SE or if you can bump the budget a few hundred the RBH 1266-SE
PSB Imagine T
Totem Acoustic Hawk
Monitor Audio GS20 MSRP a bit over your budget, but you may be able to find them for a price close to or below.

 

[MatthewB.]

If you can find some Paradigm Studio 20's those would be great and cost effective.
Dynaudios are just mind blowing in sound quality (but cost is a definite factor)
I own some AV123 Strata Minis which I just love for music only. Although some don't like em. I absolutely love mine for music sound quality. Each one is a four way with 8" subwoofer with 325 watt amp in each speaker

Strata Minis in my guest room/office

Closeup of detail

 

[irishtom]

I didn't see in the thread the size of the room mentioned, but, I'm fairly certain he's NOT looking to outfit a small auditorium just to listen to music.

You misunderstand. Some people use small motion picture theater speakers for home use and think they sound better than conventional home type speakers; that they have better dynamics and superior clarity and effortlessness. Such enthusiasts often prefer the look of spartan utility cabinets but note that a number of home speakers from JBL and Altec used motion picture speaker components in furniture cabinets.

I use a set of small JBL theater speakers in an alcove off my bedroom.

The Altec Model Nineteen home speakers in my HT use motion picture components in furniture cabinets.

 

[Exit]

You might want to check into this EMP-351T 5.1 system at $1,870 marked down to $689 at the Audioholics store on promotion special during December. EMP is the internet sales version of RBH more or less. It seems to be an unusually good deal at about 60% off unless you really want something higher end.

http://store.audioholics.com/product/1831/17/emp-htp-351t-5-1-speaker-system

 

[strube]

...Monitor Audio GS20 MSRP a bit over your budget, but you may be able to find them for a price close to or below.

I agree :

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/clt.pl?spkrfull&1226250392&clout&3&4&

 

[Vanhoecke]

You might want to check into this EMP-351T 5.1 system at $1,870 marked down to $689 at the Audioholics store on promotion special during December. EMP is the internet sales version of RBH more or less. It seems to be an unusually good deal at about 60% off unless you really want something higher end.

http://store.audioholics.com/product/1831/17/emp-htp-351t-5-1-speaker-system

More less than more. With a $2500 budget you should be looking at the RBH MC Series speakers not the EMP speakers (which are low end versions of a speaker line that RBH discontinued).

 

[Nuance AH]

In addition to what Dave said, there is an audiocircle forum for Salk speakers. You can ask there if anyone near you has SongTowers you can listen to. If you ever travel to the Washington, DC area, you are welcome to listen to mine .

Your receiver should be fine for a pair of SongTowers. Their designer, Dennis Murphy, says that any amp or receiver that delivers an honest 50 watts per channel and is stable as low as 4 ohms can easily drive them. STs are said to have 4 ohm impedance, but they are not difficult to drive. From my own experience, I agree.

Maybe you've read all or most of these reviews and listener impressions, but I'll post them here again:

My SongTower Impressions

Boybee's SongTower Impressions

Enjoy The Music Review

Audioholics Review

Nuance's Impressions of ribbon SongTowers

+1 Best speaker's I've heard under $3500. And for 2 little woofers, the TL design presents some darn impressive bass.

I wish you the best on your search. Take your time, bring audition material you are very familiar with and have fun. Let your ears make the decision; nothing else. Enjoy!

 

[WmAx]

+1 Best speaker's I've heard under $3500. And for 2 little woofers, the TL design presents some darn impressive bass.

I wish you the best on your search. Take your time, bring audition material you are very familiar with and have fun. Let your ears make the decision; nothing else. Enjoy!

All you are paying for is the woodwork and the specific EQ curve the designer built in to the speaker. Besides that, it appears to be a highly resonant device, like virtually everthing else out there.

Use an accurate monitor bookshelf pair as I recommend, add 2 high grade subs, and proper DSP xover control and apply your own EQ curve to your preference(s), and the result will be superior AND flexible. Note that few bookshelf speakers qualify. One qualifying example is the B&W 805S.

-Chris

 

[jglim0109]

I am concerned about having 2 subs on the floor of an apartment. I've had noise complaints in the past from my JBL speakers, and I don't even have a sub.


I probably will want a new receiver with HDMI capabilities so I can hook my TV up to it. Any recommendations for receivers that are better for music? I've been doing some reading, but it seems that most professional reviews focus more on surround sound capabilities for movies, rather than music.

 

[WmAx]

I am concerned about having 2 subs on the floor of an apartment. I've had noise complaints in the past from my JBL speakers, and I don't even have a sub.


I probably will want a new receiver with HDMI capabilities so I can hook my TV up to it. Any recommendations for receivers that are better for music? I've been doing some reading, but it seems that most professional reviews focus more on surround sound capabilities for movies, rather than music.

A sub only produces louder bass and transmission to the floor if you turn it up louder. In addition, you can place Aauralex Gamma Pads under the subwoofers to help reduce some vibration to the floor.

-Chris

 

[Nuance AH]

All you are paying for is the woodwork and the specific EQ curve the designer built in to the speaker. Besides that, it appears to be a highly resonant device, like virtually everthing else out there.

Use an accurate monitor bookshelf pair as I recommend, add 2 high grade subs, and proper DSP xover control and apply your own EQ curve to your preference(s), and the result will be superior AND flexible. Note that few bookshelf speakers qualify. One qualifying example is the B&W 805S.

-Chris

Say what you will; doesn't bother me. However, do you even have any proof of your claims? Ever seen a SongTower's innards? I think it's funny that you bash almost all speakers out there, but you always recommend the same B&W system. Why don't you let the OP decide, eh? Or why don't you build your own speakers if you know so much?

You probably haven't even heard most of the speakers you bash. I am sure you'll say that you don't have to because only measurements matter. And that's what separates you from the people that actually enjoy this hobby and the whole point of it - the music and what we hear. I think measurements are important, but not more important that whether we like what we hear. Measurements will NOT tell a person what a speaker will sound like entirely. It won't tell a person if it's musical. Measurement don't allow the listener to emotionally connect with the music. Tweaking a system is a cool idea, but they still have to find a speaker of who's qualities they like and who's flaws they can live with. You can EQ the B&W all day long, but it doesn't mean everyone will be happy with it after doing so to their specifics. You are one of the few people on this planet that seems to think their is no subjectivity to this hobby. Sorry dude, but in this hobby personal preference always trumps measurements any day. Just look at all the manufacturers, speaker lines, sales and price ranges if you disagree.

I think I'll just ignore your unbacked statements from now on, such as the one about the SongTower's, which I doubt you've heard.