Best Speakers for $2000 to $3000

[ridfighter]

Hi Thanks all of yall for your input, i have a question, what is the best speakers, doesnt matter if its used, refurbished or new (floorstanders with a center channel) between $2000 to $3000, i love bowers and wilikins and paradigm brands, i do understand these brands are expensive but maybe used? i do listen to a lot of slow rock, pop, techno, 80s basically all kinds of music and i love to feel the effect of a good sub which brings me to the next question, whats the best sub for the price range of $500 to $1000, so basically i am looking for a center channel, left and right floorstanders and a powerful Sub for the price range between $3000 to $4000, Thanks

 

[zieglj01]

One option - Focal
Tower
http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/27010
http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/13210

The center
http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/25799

One sub option - HSU
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-15h.html

Another sub option - Rythmik
http://www.rythmikaudio.com/F15.html

And SVS
http://www.svsound.com/subwoofers/ported-box/pb12-nsd?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=14&category_id=7

 

[zumbo]

I have these in two systems. I have a complete HT, and a separate 2-channel rig. Superb discontinued product HANDMADE IN GERMANY!

MB QUART QLS-830 6.5" 2-WAY TOWER SPEAKERS (PAIR)

MB QUART QLS-330 CENTER SPEAKER, EACH, FINISH IN BLACK, BEECH, CHERRY

I use an older model of this sub.

B-12d Powered Subwoofer | Home Theater | Premium Audio Equipment

Depending on your location, I would be glad to demo.

 

[cpp]

How big is the room your going to put these in ?

 

[Nuance AH]

Hi Thanks all of yall for your input, i have a question, what is the best speakers, doesnt matter if its used, refurbished or new (floorstanders with a center channel) between $2000 to $3000, i love bowers and wilikins and paradigm brands, i do understand these brands are expensive but maybe used? i do listen to a lot of slow rock, pop, techno, 80s basically all kinds of music and i love to feel the effect of a good sub which brings me to the next question, whats the best sub for the price range of $500 to $1000, so basically i am looking for a center channel, left and right floorstanders and a powerful Sub for the price range between $3000 to $4000, Thanks

How big is your room? Is this primarily for music and will this serve as a dual purpose system (HT and music)? Do you listen very loud?

Salk Sound and Philharmonic Audio would be my choice, but YMMV. Ascend, Paradigm, B&W, Revel and Kef are some other great options. I'll throw in Definitive Technology and Klipsch for the fanboys here too.

For subs I'd look into the DIY route, otherwise Rythmik, SVS, HSU or Epik. JL Audio makes the best consumer subwoofers IMO (for music), but you'd have to go used and it would probably break your budget.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

For sure, you must audition and compare various brands. The only way you will get the idea of what is "best" is to compare.

You say you like B&W & Paradigm. What have you compared them to?

KEF? Revel? DefTech? NHT? Focal? Salk? Philharmonic? Ascend?

For subwoofers in the $1000 range, I would get dual Rythmik FV12 Direct Servo subwoofers @ $500 each.

So that leaves you $3K for the front 3 towers.

What is your requirement of the center speaker? Does it need to be horizontal? What kind of dimensions does it need to be? Can it be also a tower speaker?

If you have compared those B&W and Paradigm to all or most of the other speakers and still think the B&W and Paradigm sound better, then get some B&W and paradigm either used or brand new @ 20% off.

 

[zumbo]

One option - Focal
Tower
Dedicated Audio - Focal Chorus 826V Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Dedicated Audio - Focal Chorus 816 V Floorstanding Loudspeaker

The center
Dedicated Audio - Focal Chorus CC 800V Center Channel Speaker

Thanks for the dedicated audio link. Fantastic!

 

[zieglj01]

Thanks for the dedicated audio link. Fantastic!

They have some good stuff

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks for the dedicated audio link. Fantastic!

Man, I can't believe a pr of Dynaudio C1 Sign bookshelf is $8500! Pricey.

That is more than the B&W 804 Diamond towers, Focal 1028 Be towers, Revel F52 towers, and most towers out there.

The Stereo Shop-Bowers & Wilkins-800
Dedicated Audio - Focal Electra 1028 Be Floor Standing Loudspeakers
Revel F52 Floorstanding Loudspeaker

 

[zumbo]

All pricey, but fantastic stuff.

I would put the MB Quart 830 up against any of those brands in a similar 2.5 design, and even some of the 3-way multi-driver sets. The darn things are just fantastic.

 

[zumbo]

The MB Quart 830 is just an old model of this 4k set:
GermanMAESTRO - Powered by MAESTRO Badenia

 

[MinusTheBear]

My first choice would be the Ascend Acoustic ST (Sierra Towers) in this price range.

Sierra Tower Bamboo Loudspeaker

Then I would get a custom subwoofer from Funk Audio.

Products

 

[zieglj01]

Man, I can't believe a pr of Dynaudio C1 Sign bookshelf is $8500! Pricey.

You can save a few dollars, if you go with Imperium Acoustics.
The sensitivity is low.
Dedicated Audio - Imperium Acoustics Super Monitor Loudspeaker

 

[jinjuku]

Three Zaph Revelator 2.5's. I would put money that they will eat the breakfast, lunch, and dinner of anything you are looking at commercially in your price range. None of them are going to have the anything near the driver quality of the Scan Speaks.

Pair them with a Rythmik sub.

 

[slipperybidness]

Look into the Goldenear Triton 2 or the def tech BP Supertowers. Both have built in subs and amps in each tower. Advantages and Disadvantages to each one.

AccuDefTech probably said it best in a previous thread: These are fun speakers if nothing else.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Look into the Goldenear Triton 2 or the def tech BP Supertowers. Both have built in subs and amps in each tower. Advantages and Disadvantages to each one.

AccuDefTech probably said it best in a previous thread: These are fun speakers if nothing else.

I think the DefTech bipolar are between the ultra accurate speakers and the ultra inaccurate speakers in terms of FR.

The 2 exceptions I know of is the SM450 & Mythos STS, which were measured to be very flat.

For example, the BP7001SC & BP7000SC are more like +/-3.5dB, instead of +/- 2dB from 200Hz-10kHz, whereas the MLESL measures +1.05/–6.27 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz, Vienna Acoustic Beethoven Baby Grand measures +2.84/–6.48 decibels from 200 hertz to 10kHz, Vienna Acoustic Music measures +3.49/–6.02 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz, B&W 803D measures +1.90/–3.68 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz, and also others like Sonus faber, Wilson, Zu, Magnepan, Mirage, who don't quite fit the +/-3dB FR.

MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater
Vienna Acoustics Klimt Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater
Vienna Acoustics Klimt Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater
B&W 803D Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater


What the powered bipole seem to "lack" in ultra accuracy, they gain in the much larger 3D soundstage and bass output.

The point here is that some speakers still sound great to us, even if they don't measure flat like +/-2dB.

 

[Nuance AH]

I think the DefTech bipolar are between the ultra accurate speakers and the ultra inaccurate speakers in terms of FR.
.
What the powered bipole seem to "lack" in ultra accuracy, they gain in the much larger 3D soundstage and bass output.

The point here is that some speakers still sound great to us, even if they don't measure flat like +/-2dB.

All subjective. Bipolar uses the room to gain that expanded 3D soundstage, but what if the room acoustics are crap? I suspect such a speaker would suffer worse than a direct radiating one in a bad room. Oh, and I'm not just talking Def Tech here; this applies to the Mirage's, Phil's, SoundScapes and other non-direct radiators.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

All subjective. Bipolar uses the room to gain that expanded 3D soundstage, but what if the room acoustics are crap? I suspect such a speaker would suffer worse than a direct radiating one in a bad room. Oh, and I'm not just talking Def Tech here; this applies to the Mirage's, Phil's, SoundScapes and other non-direct radiators.

I agree. They may be harder to place in some rooms. I think room size matters most.

I thought the Soundscape is a monopole?

The Philharmonic uses the dipole planar midrange, whereas the Soundscape uses the monopole Accuton midrange?

 

[Nuance AH]

I agree. They may be harder to place in some rooms. I think room size matters most.

I thought the Soundscape is a monopole?

The Philharmonic uses the dipole planar midrange, whereas the Soundscape uses the monopole Accuton midrange?

Wouldn't the SoundScape be considered a dipole due to the open-back midrange chamber? Perhaps not because it doesn't actually fire toward the rear, eh? It's a unique design for sure. How about we call it a semipole? LOL!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Wouldn't the SoundScape be considered a dipole due to the open-back midrange chamber? Perhaps not because it doesn't actually fire toward the rear, eh? It's a unique design for sure. How about we call it a semipole? LOL!

We need to have Dennis clarify this.

I don't recall anywhere on the Soundscape website that says it is a dipole design!

What is the purpose of the open back cabinet if the Soundscape is not a dipole speaker?

Inquiring minds want to know.