Way too many speakers out there I must say!

[gixxerific]

[Begin Rant]
Been researching speakers for a while now. There are just way too many manufactures to choose from. They all say they are the best but you know a lot of time that is crap. From my experience in car audio I always found the no name brands, well those not know to the masses are always way better and a lot of the times cheaper because they are not selling their name they are selling pure quality.

Of course we all know we can buy a $40,000 or more single no name speaker but we also know it will sound great maybe not $40,000 better. So they are not always cheaper but......

I haven't even begun to audition local stores yet and I already have a SHORT? list of about 11 manufactures I'm looking at and there may be 2 or 3 speakers from each of them I'm considering. I know I could go out to the first (audiophile quality) store I go to and get their lowest line and it would smoke what I have now. But I want to get the BEST sound my budget can afford.

I have been putting this VERY important investment off for as long as I can remember because I know what I want and what I want ain't cheap. But that is how it is in the electronic world, quality costs.

So say your prayers for me, and hopefully I will come home with a pair of speakers that will have me cumming in my shorts every time I play them. Cause I know how I am if I were to spend $100,000 on towers I will still second guess myself if there is something better out there.
[End Rant]

Thanks for listening Dono

 

[Geno]

Sounds like you have discovered what makes us audioholics a little batty. There are dozens of speakers out there that are designed & built very well ,perform on a more-or-less high level of satisfaction, and are reasonably priced for the average middle-class employed dude. Not sure if I'd say they contribute to the soiling of your undergarments, but they can give you a lot of enjoyment for music & movies.
Read the reviews, especially the 'shoot-out' comparisons, pick a brand, then find your best deal. There isn't one brand or model that has a corner on the market.
Of course, that's just my opinion...I could be insane, too.

 

[gixxerific]

Geno I was going to Pm you but thought it better for everyone to see.

I see you have the MA RS6's what are YOUR thought on them? I was looking at the RS8's myself so any input would be appreciated.

 

[captiankirk28]

[Begin Rant]
Been researching speakers for a while now. There are just way too many manufactures to choose from. They all say they are the best but you know a lot of time that is crap. From my experience in car audio I always found the no name brands, well those not know to the masses are always way better and a lot of the times cheaper because they are not selling their name they are selling pure quality.

Of course we all know we can buy a $40,000 or more single no name speaker but we also know it will sound great maybe not $40,000 better. So they are not always cheaper but......

I haven't even begun to audition local stores yet and I already have a SHORT? list of about 11 manufactures I'm looking at and there may be 2 or 3 speakers from each of them I'm considering. I know I could go out to the first (audiophile quality) store I go to and get their lowest line and it would smoke what I have now. But I want to get the BEST sound my budget can afford.

I have been putting this VERY important investment off for as long as I can remember because I know what I want and what I want ain't cheap. But that is how it is in the electronic world, quality costs.

So say your prayers for me, and hopefully I will come home with a pair of speakers that will have me cumming in my shorts every time I play them. Cause I know how I am if I were to spend $100,000 on towers I will still second guess myself if there is something better out there.
[End Rant]

Thanks for listening Dono

I feel your pain brother, i am the same way!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

There are really only 3.

Dynaudio
Paradigm
B&W.

Sounds like you have discovered what makes us audioholics a little batty. There are dozens of speakers out there that are designed & built very well ,perform on a more-or-less high level of satisfaction, and are reasonably priced for the average middle-class employed dude. Not sure if I'd say they contribute to the soiling of your undergarments, but they can give you a lot of enjoyment for music & movies.
Read the reviews, especially the 'shoot-out' comparisons, pick a brand, then find your best deal. There isn't one brand or model that has a corner on the market.
Of course, that's just my opinion...I could be insane, too.

 

[gixxerific]

There are really only 3.

Dynaudio
Paradigm
B&W.

Oh the Dyn's, I keep going back to them but they are a bit out of my leage.

 

[EJ1]

I feel ya, gixxerific. I'm about to shop for some speakers for a dedicated 2-channel setup. Has anyone come up with a good way to audition multiple speakers at different locations? Without listening to things back-to-back I have a hard time remembering and comparing. Should I take notes? I know auditioning in-home is ideal but many dealers don't allow this. So I'm forced to deal with different rooms with varying acoustics. :sigh:

 

[hotroady]

If I were just starting, I would look at Craigslist for a set of large Advents. Many times people have re coned them and treated them with loving care. 100 bucks a piece is the going rate right now. You could turn them around anytime in the future, and have a reference speaker to go by in the meantime. They will always have their following, because they were engineered extremely well.

 

[Geno]

Geno I was going to Pm you but thought it better for everyone to see.

I see you have the MA RS6's what are YOUR thought on them? I was looking at the RS8's myself so any input would be appreciated.

I'm very happy with my speakers. They're pretty unobtrusive in size, have a classy finish (mine are cherry veneer) and sound much better than they should for the cost. The company really stands behind them, too.

 

[fredk]

I too feel your pain. When I bought, I was not aware of all the quality speakers out there, so it was not as painful for me.

There really do seem to be a lot of qulity manufacturers out there though.

Keeping notes is probably a good idea, but for speakers where the differences are more subtle, I am willing to bet that nothing can replace a/b listening. With the economy being the way it is, it should be easier to convince dealers to let you demo in home.

 

[Warpdrv]

Dono.......

What speakers are on your short list of speakers.... 11 different brands gives you a pretty wide range of products already...

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Dono,

Find a local dealer that carries a wide variety of speakers. Make a demo disc of your favorite songs. Go try all the different speakers out. Make sure that the equipment is set flat with no EQ or DSP's engaged. Then come back here and tell us which speakers you liked and which speakers you didn't.

From this info the members here can point you toward similar brands. Thus narrowing down the number of candidates and maybe saving you some money with a less expensive alteritive...Maybe...

SBF1

 

[gixxerific]

Dono.......

What speakers are on your short list of speakers.... 11 different brands gives you a pretty wide range of products already...

My list:
Axiom
Monitor Audio
Salk
AV123
Energy
Pradigm
Jamo
Dynaudio
B&W
Focal

Yeah it's pretty varied I"m giving myself plenty of room to play with. Some of these brands can be found localy. I will auditioning either next weekend or the following. I neede to find a date that my wife could come with me. I want her to see what a great speaker sounds like so she maybe understands why I want to spen $2-3,000 on a pair of speakers.

 

[Warpdrv]

Axiom
Monitor Audio
Salk
AV123
Energy
Pradigm
Jamo
Dynaudio
B&W
Focal

Thats a pretty good start, and all of those listed are pretty consistent and have good and not so good sounding speakers... I have heard speakers from all those companies save the Focals and Axiom...

In the price range you are looking at, the B&W's certainly didn't have what it took for me, I really didn't like the 700 series...

If I may make a suggestion, find something that really trips your trigger and then go shopping on Audiogon for the same speaker for a significant savings.
Nothing like a tough economy for a good plan towards some savings IMO.

 

[zumbo]

There are really only 3.

Dynaudio
MB Quart
B&W.

I agree.

 

[gixxerific]

Thats a pretty good start, and all of those listed are pretty consistent and have good and not so good sounding speakers... I have heard speakers from all those companies save the Focals and Axiom...

In the price range you are looking at, the B&W's certainly didn't have what it took for me, I really didn't like the 700 series...

If I may make a suggestion, find something that really trips your trigger and then go shopping on Audiogon for the same speaker for a significant savings.
Nothing like a tough economy for a good plan towards some savings IMO.

Never fear already thinking about the audigon deal. After I have narrowed it down a bit I will be doing some bargain shoppin. I do know how to find awesome deals I have about $5,000 worth of audio in my truck I acutually only paid out about 1/2 that. Hell the only thing I paid full price on was for the sub, an Adire Brahma 12".

 

[highfigh]

Dono,

Find a local dealer that carries a wide variety of speakers. Make a demo disc of your favorite songs. Go try all the different speakers out. Make sure that the equipment is set flat with no EQ or DSP's engaged. Then come back here and tell us which speakers you liked and which speakers you didn't.

From this info the members here can point you toward similar brands. Thus narrowing down the number of candidates and maybe saving you some money with a less expensive alteritive...Maybe...

SBF1

In the process, make sure to note the room's size (relative to yours), acoustics and any treatment.

 

[highfigh]

While I know that everyone like a great deal, no dealer appreciates people coming in to audition equipment and then buying somewhere else. Be honest up front and they may work out a better price but remember- they have a business to run and just being open costs a lot of money.

 

[gixxerific]

While I know that everyone like a great deal, no dealer appreciates people coming in to audition equipment and then buying somewhere else. Be honest up front and they may work out a better price but remember- they have a business to run and just being open costs a lot of money.

That makes sense but what am I supposed to do buy from the first dealer I go to. They have to understand that people will be going to other paces. Should I tell them i will be auditioning other speakers or just leave that at the door?

Dono

 

[jostenmeat]

That makes sense but what am I supposed to do buy from the first dealer I go to. They have to understand that people will be going to other paces. Should I tell them i will be auditioning other speakers or just leave that at the door?

Dono

Whatever makes you feel comfortable. Cuz it doesn't matter. You will find that they will ask you where you've been going, anyways. You will also typically find that they will talk smack on the brands they don't carry. More honest dealers will be, well, more honest about the products they actually do carry. When they push cabling on you, put up the hand, and be strong for me will you?

Bring lovely music. It will draw other customers in as well, and the dealers will like that about you.

If you walk in with some cd's and notepad in hand, they will immediately take you more seriously.

I filled up an entire mini Mead pad during my travels. I talked with double digit dealers. They knew I was possessed, and if they were smart, they would have done their very best to land me as a client, and should have offered me the best deal they could have.

For I went with the best deal, with a dealer that also happened to be very cool. As it turns out, without surprise, I am a repeat customer. On multiple occasions.

Good luck, AND MAKE SURE TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY YOURSELF. If this is not possible at any store, or you feel they look down on you, or are playing that game of, "give me a commitement (read: money), and I will give you better advice", then look elsewhere.