What’s Your Favorite Speakers < $3,000?

[Fastnbulbous]

Last year I tried to poll what were people’s favorite high end speakers under $5K. There were some good comments, but not a lot of feedback, probably because most of us can’t afford that range. Even if I could find something used, they would likely need better power than my new HK AVR 645. If I upgrade in about a year, I’d be looking under the $3K range. I was encouraged when a local dealer had the Von Schweikert VR-2 for only $1,600. Wish I had the money now.

Tastes will vary here quite a bit, so it helps to know where you’re coming from – what music you like to listen to and how does the speaker complement it. For example, my current Regas were great for the space I have and value, but their crisp sound is better suited to jazz and acoustic music. When I upgrade I want something with <i>cajones</i> that can better handle low-end heavy reggae, hip hop and metal.

The poll only had the option of ten choices. If yours isn't on here, vote in the reply, and I'll add it to this post, and tally the votes manually.

The prices below are inconsistent – some are list, some are whatever I could find in a Google search.

B&W 703, $3,000 | Review
Wharfedale Opus 2, $3,000
Polk LSi25, $3,000
Totem Forest, $2,990
Revel Performa F32, $2,970
Usher CP-6371, $2,900
Onix Rocket RS1000 Signature, $2,800
Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, $2,750 | Review
Salk Phast ‘Est, $2,700
Von Schweikert VR-2 (The Vigilance), $2,500

Not listed in the poll above (I'll keep a tally on votes):
Definitive Technology BP7001SC, $2,650 (list price $3,500) 1 vote
AAD Silver-7, $?
Devore Fidelity Gibbon 8, $?

Salk Veracity QW, $2,999
Energy Veritas V2.3i, $2,800 | Review 2 votes
Odyssey Lorelei, $2,700
Focal-JM Labs Electra 926, $2,700
Boston Acoustics VR-M90, $2,700 | Review
NHT 2.9, $2,675
KEF Reference 203, $2,600
Gallo Acoustics Nucleus Reference 3.1, $2,600 | Review 1 vote
Joseph Audio RM22si Mk2, $2,499 1 vote
Klipsch RF-83, $2,498
Rega R7, $2,495
Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Floorstanding Reference Monitor, $2,400
Monitor Audio GS20, $2,400 1 vote
Paradigm Studio 100, $2,400 | Review 1 vote
Revelation Audio Lyra 7, $2,200 1 vote
PSB Stratus GT1, $2,000
MB Quart QLS 1030, $1,999 1 vote
Onix Strata Mini, $1,995 1 Vote
Vandersteen 2Ce Signature, $1,800
Definitive Technology BP7002, $1,750
Magnepan MG1.6/QR, $1,725
Dali Ikon 6, $1,600 (Absolute Sound's 2006 Affordable Loudspeaker of the Year)
Axiom Millenia M80 v2, $1,300
Phase Technology PC-9.1, $1,300

Compact/Bookshelf:
Dali Helicon 300, $2,750
B&W 805S, $2,500 3 votes
Sonus Faber Concerto, $1,895 | Review
Tyler Acoustics Taylo Reference Monitor, $1,825 2 votes
Energy Veritas V2.2i, $1,024 1 vote

 

[j_garcia]

JA RM22Si MkIIs, which are in your list, but missing from your poll.

 

[Pianoman84d]

On my dream list is the Onix Strata Mini. @ 1,995

Haven't heard it, but dying to do so.

 

[Sheep]

Energy Veritas V2.2i

Since I can't stand floor speakers, and M&K SP150s are $2100 each, this is my favorite for 3g.

SheepStar

 

[mike c]

wishlist
B&W 805S
Monitor Audio GS10/GS20

 

[emorphien]

This is tough, I've heard a lot of speakers in this range I might consider for music. Ultimately I've been really in love with the Totem's I've heard (including the Forest) for music so that would probably be my pick at this point.

 

[billy p]

Well I'm

staying close to home if money was no object then Energy veritas v2.4 or Psb platinum T6. At the moment both will have to wait.

 

[no. 5]

some of my "cheep" list
KEF iQ9
Sonus Faber Concerto Domus
Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
B&W 703
Monitor Audio RS6


and some of the over $3,000 list
KEF Reference 203
B&W 703
Sonus Faber grand piano domus

 

[zumbo]

MB Quart QLS 1030. $1999.99 pr/retail (floorstanding)
B&W 805S. $2499.90 pr/retail (bookshelf)

 

[mkossler]

The rockets. Yeah, yeah, I know - but the detail is incredible, especially for SACD sources (try some Nora Jones), and as for HT, well, hold on to your hat. In the interests of full disclosure, I have heard them played for HT with an SVS SB12-Plus 2, which rounded things out nicely IMO.


They will be mine... oh, yes - they will be mine...

 

[zildjian]

I haven't looked at speakers @ $3000/pair recently, but when I bought the main L & R speakers for my HT several years ago (Definitive Technology BP2000's) they were what I thought was the best performance for the money at $3000 for the pair. DefTech doesn't make the BP2000 anymore, replaced it with the BP7001SC, but when I talked to Chet @ Definitive Tech, he said the BP7001SC's are essentially the same as the BP2000's other than the BP7001SC has a completely different built-in subwoofer system, little more $ though at $3500/pair.

 

[B5I8]

If I ever have that kind of money, I'll probably order some speakers from Tyler Acoustics. I just love those SEAS Excel drivers

 

[Rob Babcock]

The Phast 'Est is not a Salk speaker- it's by Selah Audio. Jim Salk did indeed build one pair of Phast 'Est's for a customer on a one-shot custom basis. He's also built 1801's when Dave Ellis was too backed up to ship in reasonable time.

Info on that particular speaker can be found at Rick Craig's Selah Audio site.

 

[Fastnbulbous]

Energy Veritas V2.2i

Since I can't stand floor speakers, and M&K SP150s are $2100 each, this is my favorite for 3g.

It didn't occur to me to include compact/bookshelf speakers. What do you dislike about floor speakers?

 

[Fastnbulbous]

Energy Veritas V2.4, Def Tech BP7001SC, PSB Platinum T6, and Tyler Acoustics are all beyond this price range. However, I listed the first two because I did find them for under $3k retail.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I voted for the 703s because they are the only B&Ws on your list. I love my 705s. If I were to make that big of a jump in price, I would be more inclined to get the 805s than the 703s. I am satisfied enough with my 705s that I am not sure I could justify the cost of upgrading to either one, though.

 

[Fastnbulbous]

I do have 805S listed on the bottom, so I added your vote to the tally. Wouldn't we all like the 803, but on this threadwe can't afford more than $3k. So B&W has a strong lead. Any thoughts on what makes it more popular? How does it compare to others you've heard? Does their design add an advantage? I have no problem in admitting that some speakers don't excite me simply because they're not very pretty. Gotta make sure yer mate doesn't make you get rid of 'em when you move in together, heh.

It seems that nearly every comment/mini review I read about B&Ws stress how important it is that they're driven by very high-end electronics. Even flagship Denon/HK/Yamaha won't do justice to them. Why is that? Is it true for the other speakers too? It's also mentioned that they're extra-sensitive to the room, so if it has funky dimensions, forget about it.

I might consider augmenting my HK with something like a Rotel RB-1080 once I move into a bigger space. However, I wonder if B&W might be too fussy for me. A large part of my collection is 70s punk, post-punk and 80s indie rock (one of my favorites, Hüsker Dü, is typically badly recorded).

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I disagree that high end electronics are a requirement. My electronics are certainly nothing special (nowhere near the same price class as the speakers) and, as I said, I love the way my 705s sound. They do like a bit of volume to sound "full", but anything with 100 watts/ch will drive them quite nicely. As to why they sound good, I chalk it up to experience. B&W have been in the speaker business for a long time.

 

[Sheep]

It didn't occur to me to include compact/bookshelf speakers. What do you dislike about floor speakers?

I don't like how they blend with subwoofers. I also like how bookshelfs disapear.

SheepStar

 

[TjMV3]

I voted for the Wharfedale Opus 2, because I love them and I have them


I would also like to add that my next favorite speakers in that price range are Alain Courteau's Revelation Audio Lyra 7. Which I have on order for my home office.

The Dali Helicon 400 are third on my list of favorite speakers, but they're in the slightly over $4,000 range.