where should I start looking (Speakers)

[gixxerific]

I tried a search but got nowhere.

I am looking for Audiophile (or damn close) speakers for HT and music. I can't afford the $30,000 + a piece stuff that is for sure. I will probably be buying towers first than sub than sats. Can't afford it all at once. I do want quality and awesome sound\reproduction.

I have been looking at B&W, Axiom and others what are few great not overly priced manufacturers to look into. I would like to stay around $2,000 or under for a set of towers.

Thanks Dono

 

[OttoMatic]

I like my Vandersteens.

 

[Haoleb]

If you have any shops in your area go out and listen to as much as you can. Thats the best place to start. Just dont buy the first thing you hear that sounds good on the spot. 2 grand will get you a pretty nice set of speakers but there's alot of players in that market and some of them are better than others.

 

[jamie2112]

Do you want to buy new? I am a huge B&W fan and would recommend them to anyone. There are alot of options for used speakers as well.If you are not opposed to used Audiogon is a great place to look.http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/srch_fs.pl?BAAW

 

[DD66000]

I tried a search but got nowhere.

I am looking for Audiophile (or damn close) speakers for HT and music. I can't afford the $30,000 + a piece stuff that is for sure. I will probably be buying towers first than sub than sats. Can't afford it all at once. I do want quality and awesome sound\reproduction.

I have been looking at B&W, Axiom and others what are few great not overly priced manufacturers to look into. I would like to stay around $2,000 or under for a set of towers.

Thanks Dono

Building a system a piece or two at a time is a very good way to go.
And doing auditions is a must. But in today's market where the best deals are online means buying first and then auditioning.

There are alot of good speakers in the $2k/pr range. But, I would say the best $/SQ ratio would be a pair of JBL PT800s. These speakers list for $1500/ea, but can be had for $1050/ea from http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?sp=S&brand=JBL&market=HOM scroll to the bottom of the page. There you will find the PT800, PC600, PS1400

These "specials" are listed as refurbs, but are not, just overstock, anyone who has bought harman audio "refurbs" will tell you the same thing.
Although they are not considered full range, can be run that way. They're a 3-way with 1", 4", 8" Ti drivers. They can be wall mounted, stand mounted and docked to their matching subs.

I have yet to find another system, in their price range and beyond to maybe twice, that have the soundstage that the PT800 have. Clear, clean and dynamic thoughout their entire range.

 

[bandphan]

The aforementioned recomendation in regards to demos is the best way to start ID or BM. When looking consider the center purchase to make sure timbre matching will be possiable at the later date. If your more into ht, bookshelves and dual subs present an excellent value

 

[armaraas]

I'm not sure of your exact location, but are there many audio shops near you? If so, great, follow Haloeb's advice and go listen to what you can. If you're limited then you will want to check out some online manufacturers where you can audition and return the speakers if you don't like them.

Axiom is a good one, I've returned some of their speakers without hassle and didn't cost too much.

Aperionaudio.com will pay for shipping both ways.

av123.com also has a decent return policy as well.

If you can't find B&W locally (have you listened to them?), you'll still probably be able to get them, but they might be one's not very easily returned.

These are not widely known or heard, but people who have them really like them- http://www.salksound.com/songtower.shtml

These are pushing your price range, but you could wait for a discount to come up- http://store.audioholics.com/product/791/18/mb-quart-alexxa-s-one-cherry-w-black--each- They also take returns I believe.

Same with these- http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ENRC70
They take returns within 30 days too, I have seen them onsale for under $800 each, but I missed the sale by a day when I went to place orders.

I ordered a couple of pairs of speakers online at once so I could compare them in my home side by side. That's the best place to listen to them, but it's not always very easy to swing. Talk to some local shops and find out what they'll let you do. If you do not have many by you, then you can check into some of the places above, find out their policies and give a couple of them a try. For me, I figured the return shipping I paid was essentially gas money I would have spent driving around looking for shops to audition in. Good luck.

 

[jamie2112]

Building a system a piece or two at a time is a very good way to go.
And doing auditions is a must. But in today's market where the best deals are online means buying first and then auditioning.

There are alot of good speakers in the $2k/pr range. But, I would say the best $/SQ ratio would be a pair of JBL PT800s. These speakers list for $1500/ea, but can be had for $1050/ea from http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?sp=S&brand=JBL&market=HOM scroll to the bottom of the page. There you will find the PT800, PC600, PS1400

These "specials" are listed as refurbs, but are not, just overstock, anyone who has bought harman audio "refurbs" will tell you the same thing.
Although they are not considered full range, can be run that way. They're a 3-way with 1", 4", 8" Ti drivers. They can be wall mounted, stand mounted and docked to their matching subs.

I have yet to find another system, in their price range and beyond to maybe twice, that have the soundstage that the PT800 have. Clear, clean and dynamic thoughout their entire range.

All I can say is WOW? He said audiophile speakers......IMO of course these would not even hold a candle to B&W's. I am not a JBL fan at all. I have used their pro stuff since 1985 and still will advance a different system if I see JBL on a rider. I cannot listen to their horns at all as all I hear is a 3k push and I don't like harsh tweeters. Just my opinion of course...To the OP There are alot of options in your price range. I would try to audition as many speakers as time allows for you to pick the right ones that suit your taste. Have you heard PSB or SVS? SVS has a speaker setup that smokes most systems twice its price, but they are bookshelfs...Are you against bookshelf speakers or are you open to suggestions....

 

[gus6464]

All I can say is WOW? He said audiophile speakers......IMO of course these would not even hold a candle to B&W's. I am not a JBL fan at all. I have used their pro stuff since 1985 and still will advance a different system if I see JBL on a rider. I cannot listen to their horns at all as all I hear is a 3k push and I don't like harsh tweeters. Just my opinion of course...

With B&W unless you look at the 802D and above, the rest of their stuff is very overpriced for what you get.

In the OP's price range there is a lot better stuff out there than B&W, be it used or new.

 

[jamie2112]

With B&W unless you look at the 802D and above, the rest of their stuff is very overpriced for what you get.

In the OP's price range there is a lot better stuff out there than B&W, be it used or new.

Really???? To each his or her own...

 

[gixxerific]

Thanks for all the replies.

As far as JBL someone mentioned their harshness I agree there they are way too harsh for me all my car audio is always silk tweets.

I have heard B&W before I'm a bricklayer we did a $20 + million dollar house that had a million+ dollar theater that makes Wherenberg look and sound like a kids playroom. It was complete with 2 inner 1 outer layer of THX drywall which is over 1.5 inches thick each. The walls were separated to the floor above by huge rubber grommets to cancel all vibration. Vibrating seats and much more truly unbelievable.

SVS was mentioned that is my sub choice for sure. Though I would rather have floor standers than bookshelves as far mains are concerned.

As far as shops around there are probably close to 10 give or take a few that have high to ultra high end goodies. St. Louis likes their music.

I have researched this on and off for a couple years but come income tax time it's finally time to start collecting. I will be doing heavy research till then. I always put my money into high end car audio now it's HT time.

Thanks again Dono