Where to begin? Music speakers

[earsintraining]

I’m looking to add a couple nice sounding speakers to my system for the sole purpose of listening to and appreciating music, everything from modern top 40 rock to 80’s/90’s metal to classical. Here’s hoping someone can relate to my description and provide advice.

I just picked up a brand new Yamaha RX-V2700 for $700, which I think was a pretty good deal.

I do some home studio work (totally amateur) and have some decent Dynaudio nearfields on this setup. When I listen to these I’m listening for a totally different reason and I’m analyzing the sound, not necessarily appreciating it. This is what these monitors are for and I think they do a great job of it.

Basically here’s where I’m at. I’m in my 30’s and feel I’m just beginning to appreciate and really listen to music like I never have before. Thus I want to add 2 really nice speakers on my home stereo set up to do this. I have a cheap PolkAudio 5.1 speaker system which is fine for our DVD watching etc. Yes I want to upgrade this too eventually, but for now, I need some music speakers.

I’m searching around and WAY overwhelmed on the number of brands, models etc. Holy smokes! Great to have options, but seriously! I have no issues with used speakers. To add to that I want to listen to Vinyl and will likely be seeking out an old tube Hi-Fi amp for music listening also. But again down the road.

I’m looking for people to provide maybe a handful or two of speakers I should seek out on the used market? Like JBL L5’s etc. What are those tried and true speakers every music listener to should have? What are the work horses? Anything under $1000 is game, cheaper the better and I'm a budget watcher (if that's possible).

 

[anamorphic96]

Well thats a good price point to start with. I'm guessing you want book shelf speakers. But you can a get a good set of floorstanders at that price. Try to look at some of the brands listed.

PSB
Paradigm
B&W
Energy
Klispsch
JBL - The new series is very good stuff. Much better than the older L series IMO.
Monitor Audio
Definitve Technology
Ascend Acoustics - Internet Direct
Aperio Audio - Internet Direct
Axiom Audio - Internet Direct

 

[billnchristy]

AV123 is a good place to look as well, the reference series or even mini stratas if your budget allows will simply amaze.

The Onix SP3 is a great tube amp at a great price as well. I picked mine up new locally for a very good price.

Forgot to mention, if you order the Ref1s + SP3, the combo is only $1200 wheras the amp is normally $999 and the speakers $1200 so you basically get the amp free.

Worth checking out.

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=processors&product=26.1

 

[Davemcc]

Most of the good ones are already listed, but I'd like to add Era or some used Focal/JM Labs if they can be had for under a grand.

The Onix Ref1s + SP3 package looks pretty darn good, too.

 

[earsintraining]

Thanks for the reponses so far. I don't think I'll get the low-end response i'd want out of a 5.25" woofer.

For my music speakers I'm thinking floor speakers and not bookshelve's. Am I wrong in thinking this? I would like to get a nice full frequency range range out of two speakers including a nice lows.

The room I would use them in is about 20 x 100 as the media room extends into dinning then into kitchen (no back wall).

 

[Tomorrow]

Get 'em before they're gone. Great price! http://www.audioc.com/speakers1/protegev/protegev.htm

 

[billnchristy]

You would be suprised what that 5.25" woofer puts out.

 

[corysmith01]

You would be suprised what that 5.25" woofer puts out.

Couldn't agree more. I'm more than impressed by what those speakers put out. I've had them now for about a month. Don't understimate it based solely on the size of the driver. Cabinet size/volume also plays a large part.

With that said...if you're looking for a larger frequency and you're not looking to add a sub, just 2 speakers (as you mentioned above), you're probably going to get better performance out of floorstanders. Many of the ones above are good. I've had the Studio line from Paradigm and was well impressed. If you can give it about month, B&W has updated their 6 series line and will soon be releasing them. They've added the FST driver for the first time in a 6 series speaker, the 683. Obviously it's too early to tell, but many are expecting good things from this update.

Good luck with the hunt.

 

[j_garcia]

Check my signature The A/V-2s will do nicely.

 

[agarwalro]

As mentioned earlier, in the $1000 range there is a host of options. Demo-ing is the best way to go as are floorstanders.

Fanboy alert

I have a similarly eclectic taste in music and the Axiom M60's fair well.

 

[no. 5]

I suppose you may be overwhelmed by the responses (14 suggestions in ten posts ), but KEF is also worth recommending for music.

 

[mazersteven]

Polk Audio LSi9's

These are nothing like the Polk Audio's your used to. These are in a league of their own.

You will also get the bass your looking for. Yes with these bookshelf speakers.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/lsi9/

Used for around $500 a pair.

Then use one of these amps to drive them, and use your Yamaha as the pre/pro.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHA500

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/2200.html

http://www.emotiva.com/bpa1.html

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Paradigm studio series
Warefedale Evo series
PSB Image series
KEF IQ series
Monitor Audio RS series
Ascend CMT-340
AV123
Aperion Intimus 633

 

[Nick250]

I’m looking to add a couple nice sounding speakers to my system for the sole purpose of listening to and appreciating music, everything from modern top 40 rock to 80’s/90’s metal to classical. Here’s hoping someone can relate to my description and provide advice.

I just picked up a brand new Yamaha RX-V2700 for $700, which I think was a pretty good deal.

I do some home studio work (totally amateur) and have some decent Dynaudio nearfields on this setup. When I listen to these I’m listening for a totally different reason and I’m analyzing the sound, not necessarily appreciating it. This is what these monitors are for and I think they do a great job of it.

Basically here’s where I’m at. I’m in my 30’s and feel I’m just beginning to appreciate and really listen to music like I never have before. Thus I want to add 2 really nice speakers on my home stereo set up to do this. I have a cheap PolkAudio 5.1 speaker system which is fine for our DVD watching etc. Yes I want to upgrade this too eventually, but for now, I need some music speakers.

I’m searching around and WAY overwhelmed on the number of brands, models etc. Holy smokes! Great to have options, but seriously! I have no issues with used speakers. To add to that I want to listen to Vinyl and will likely be seeking out an old tube Hi-Fi amp for music listening also. But again down the road.

I’m looking for people to provide maybe a handful or two of speakers I should seek out on the used market? Like JBL L5’s etc. What are those tried and true speakers every music listener to should have? What are the work horses? Anything under $1000 is game, cheaper the better and I'm a budget watcher (if that's possible).

You are going to get many good suggestions. Take what you can from the suggestions and audition every darned speaker you can because, as you probably know, everybody's ears are built a bit differently
Having been in the market for speakers recently, I arrived at speaker information overload very quickly so I can empathize with your situation. Good luck!

Nick

 

[earsintraining]

Nick,

Oh yes. I spent most of the weekend on this. I always take everything and make my own judgement.

At this point I'm leaning toward a complete HT 5.1 set up, using my current Polk audio subwoofer for now if I can.

Things are starting to narrow..

 

[ParadigmDawg]

That's how I did. Asked for suggestions to narrow down the list from a million to the top ten and then started auditioning. That was supposed to be the fun part but it was a little stressful! Once you get down to the top 2 or 3 is when things get difficult!

 

[jcPanny]

Onix Ref 1's

Another Fanboy plug for the Onix Ref 1's. I have these setup in a 2.1 system with an SVS sub. The Ref's do pretty well on their own, but the sub helps for movies. Also, unlike paradigms, the real rosewood veneer is fabulous.

Check out audiogon for good deals on quality used gear. Got my refs on there for less than half the retail price.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Look at JC providing an unsolicited attack on Paradigm.

They are kind of ugly though…

Another Fanboy plug for the Onix Ref 1's. I have these setup in a 2.1 system with an SVS sub. The Ref's do pretty well on their own, but the sub helps for movies. Also, unlike paradigms, the real rosewood veneer is fabulous.

Check out audiogon for good deals on quality used gear. Got my refs on there for less than half the retail price.