If you had to buy new speakers....

[xrayjames]

It is fun to read about what everyone has for speakers. Many of us are using speakers from the 70's and 80's, but what if you had to purchase brand spankin' new speakers today? What brands & models would you like to audition? I'm thinking traditional stereo speakers, not a full surround setup, but you can include it if you wish.
Let's divide it into affordable entry level, mid-range and high-end (for the dreamers).

[Elite-ist]

For me, it would be these classics, still being built today: Klipschorn Heritage Series.

Nando.

[xrayjames]

I can appreciate it would be difficult to purchase speakers these days, particularly since the demise of the local 'hi-fi' shop. Without them how would one ever audition speakers?
Those who live in large metropolitan areas have the advantage, to be sure, but those of us who by choice, or by accident of birth, live in 'rural' areas are at a disadvantage in this area. In my case, I live an hour and a half from the nearest audio dealer which is not bad, I suppose. But would they let me borrow some speakers to take home over the weekend? Hmmm...

[Pacific Stereo]

I am really liking these Golden Ear Triton Twos (http://www.goldenear.com/products/triton-two-tower).

[Warped Bezel]

I still prefer to repair or homebrew and many speakers I can find are through trades, thrift stores or local classifieds. I recently found Pioneer CS-33A's for 15 dollars, CS-A31 free and a single Minimus-7 for $3.

[vinyldavid]

Cost no object?

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/product.php?mode=view&pid=15

In 2006, $85,000 US for a STEREO BB5/XBD Stacked system including all amplifiers, electronic crossovers, wiring and setup in your home by PMC/Bryston.

http://www.mediaandmarketing.com/PMC-US_PR/PMC-USA30_AES_Preview/Images/PMC_BB5-XBDA_1800px.jpg

[Warped Bezel]

Yeah, but we've all seen what you can get for FREE or close to it. You could rock a stadium till noise curfew.

[shadowlord]

i'd stick with Elac (http://www.elac.com/de/index.php)

i grew accustom to their sound signature, but i would try to switch to floor standers if space is of no concern.

[Socal Sam]

Vandersteen 2Ce Signature or whatever it is called today.

Sound Labs if you are into electrostats which are also true dipoles.

Jamo R909 is a dipole with dual 15's. The R909 is on my audition list but unfortunately at $6000, far too rich for me.

One more... I'd like to hear the Focal Grand Utopia which has a Beryllium tweeter like my favorite NS-1000M.

[Rat44]

I was looking at Vandersteens at the time the AR9's popped up.
The other new ones that caught my ear were the Magnepans I heard at Magnolia.
I wouldn't mind having a set of K-horns again either.
Who makes the equivalent 'new' AR9 type speaker ?
I have never been to an audio show or high end store so my speaker knowledge is very limited.

[jdwk1]

Probably B&W 803D's.

[390FE]

The problem is it seems like the old low end speakers (and stereo equipment in general) out do most of if not all the current mid/Hi FI speakers (& equipment) of today & today you have to upgrade to entry level High End speakers to get something good. Though there are some/a few exceptions.

I will keep my vintage Mach 2, Optimus 45 & 50, Minimus 7 & 77, Optimus 2 speakers or look for vintage ones that need new foam.

The last time I was in Best Buy (and that was several years ago) they had crap literally for stereo gear. High distortion values, wrongly rated wattage (IE. a reciever listed as a 500 Watt reciever when it actually should have been described as a 100W per CH x 5 ch) & no weight to any of it. I would not even hesitate putting a '80s vintage 30w or 50w reciever up against the new "100w" units today.

Even the local High End stereo shop is disgusted at the recent & current Sony ES gear & it's quality. Though they are sill happy with the McIntosh gear & say their quality has not changed.

[gamve]

Vintage
single full range driver in horn loaded box
Goodmans Axiom 80's... have to heard to be believed
Can't afford or find some decent ones...Doh

Modern
On open baffle
Supravox 215-2000 EXC field coil drivers
Have scored some good secondhand units and will be mounting
them shortly.

[Bob Boyer]

If I was going to use the same amp I have (Exposure 2010s), and didn't just get another pair of LSA 1s, I'd probably look into some Spendor SP3s. If I was going to add some power in the amplifier department, it would definitely be Magneplanar 1.7s.

[ke4mcl]

altec rereleased the vot7 not long ago. that's what I'd buy

[Warped Bezel]

I'd still build them.

[stereorob]

i dont follow new gear, so i guess it would be nothing.

[krisjay]

From what I can gather if I was to buy new speakers, in my price range I would probably go with some Infinity Primus floorstanders. Which I just may do when the holiday season is over.

[Robroy]

From what I can gather if I was to buy new speakers, in my price range I would probably go with some Infinity Primus floorstanders. Which I just may do when the holiday season is over.
In my case, I'd build my own from Parts express. If I had to go new, that is.

[Mr_rye89]

Altec Valencias! oh wait not new.......

[El Monte Slim]

I haven't paid any attention to "new" speakers for years. That being said, I'd probably look at something from the JBL Professional Line.

[Kent T]

For me, Stirling Broadcast BBC LS 3/5a speakers without doubt or a pair of other modern LS 3/5a types.

[LesX55]

Sony APM 4
sONY apm 6

[DaveInVA]

http://www.braveknight.com/images/ESL122511A.jpg

Why buy when you can build something way better for the money? My entire speaker system is DIY even the Electrostat panels. I could never afford to buy something already built of this quality.


Dave

[oldaudioscho]

If they don't have to be new, these Infinities will do just fine.

[Soul Music]

I have a pair of Q Acoustics 2020 speakers *bigthumbup**bigthumbup**bigthumbup* for the price they are excellent (about £120) http://www.whathifi.com/review/q-acoustics-2020i The Q Acoustics 2010's are reputadly very good also (a bit cheaper, a bit smaller with less bass). They are "bookshelf" speakers but the 2020's are really a bit too deep to fit on a bookshelf.

[aolderguy]

I would go with a pair of Legacy Focus in Rosewood if money was no object or a pair of the new ESS amt speakers in the best bang for the buck category.

[Maximillian]

Cost no object?

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/product.php?mode=view&pid=15

In 2006, $85,000 US for a STEREO BB5/XBD Stacked system including all amplifiers, electronic crossovers, wiring and setup in your home by PMC/Bryston.

http://www.mediaandmarketing.com/PMC-US_PR/PMC-USA30_AES_Preview/Images/PMC_BB5-XBDA_1800px.jpg

*drool*


Those woofers sure look to have similar design as my Cerwin-Vega Stroker 18 inch. With the visible spider in the front:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/Hoodcom/IMG_0882.jpg

[Warped Bezel]

Just conventional, well built 2 or 3-ways. Otherwise I'll find tweeters, mids and woofers I like and make my own, as always.

[Warped Bezel]

altec rereleased the vot7 not long ago. that's what I'd buy

I've never heard and VOTTs but I'd go for those.

I haven't heard K-horns in nearly 35 years but I'd get them if I ever could.

[Scorpion8]

.... but what if you had to purchase brand spankin' new speakers today? What brands & models would you like to audition?

Paradigm. My last pair of "new" out-of-the-box speakers were Paradigm 7SE Mk.III's, and I'd go look at what the latest version of those same speakers are today. Or bigger. But my vote goes to Paradigm.

[Parnelly]

I would probably have to say that id end up buying a pair of 901's if i was going to buy something new. Being that i havent used a set of home speakers since i was a kid other than 901s. Dont really know whats out there as far as new stuff.

[oldaudioscho]

If I could afford a new set, I'd probably go to Bill Watkins and have him build me a set. I own a set of Infinities, Studio Reference Mointors that I purchased from Finger's Furniture, in 1981, when I lived in Houston and these have the Walkin's 12" woofer in them. They still sound just as good today as when I purchased them. Plus I have other Infinity speakers that still work well with my vintage gear so it will probably be a while before I make that plunge. My only other concern would be if my existing gear would work well with new speakers, considering the advanced technology that is used today.

[skeetdaddy]

Just bought a pair of Goldenear Triton 2's..........Setting them up tomorrow....

[Big Tuna]

I have had newer speakers. The last pair I bought new was in 2001, a pair of JBL E80's. They sounded nice, clean & full. Quite surprising for a new speaker, I thought at the time. Before that I bought a pair of Cerwin Vega E-312's in 1999. I never used them until 2010 when I sold them to a friend, they were 11 year old NOS basically, and I was blown away at how nice they sounded on my SX-1980. Very strong, very solid, very large soundstage and imaging that left you thinking the musicians were right there in front of you. Not harsh or shrill at all.
Basically, I grew up listening to late 70's gear and speakers, and I will always love that era of gear, no matter what they come up with nowadays.

[StereoGaryo]

Just bought a pair of Goldenear Triton 2's..........Setting them up tomorrow....

You're going to love the T 2's.
Just remember to give them at least 100 hours or so break-in time.
The active woofers are very tight at first and need to loosen up so the deepest bass will form.*bigthumbup*

[Squank]

i'd go for a pair of Klipsch La Scala II's in cherry finish...'cause life is too short and you have to make the most fun out of it,plus they look awesome!!!

[spacedust]

They don't a lot of hype, but Rega speakers are great values . I have the r5's, replaced by the RS5's currently and absolutely love them. Fast speakers and get the timing right. The bass is great as well. They a considerably better all around than my Vandersteen 1C's, for a frame of reference.
Magnepan's in their respective price points are a good choice as well, provided you have them room and amplifier.

[Naknut]

I have to think within my budget which is non existent at this time but, here are two that I have auditioned and like very much.
Magneplanar 1.7s and the Thiel CS 2.4.

[skeetdaddy]

You're going to love the T 2's.
Just remember to give them at least 100 hours or so break-in time.
The active woofers are very tight at first and need to loosen up so the deepest bass will form.*bigthumbup*


For the money, they are terrific.....All the accolades were right on the button on these speakers......The bass is already noticebly better in approx. 10 hrs......What setting are you using for your sub?

[BlazeES]

New

entry level

Insignia Coaxial 2-Way -
almost impossible to find since the beginning of the year, these bookshelf Best Buy speaker shocked audio-heads and produced a following of modders who made them shine beyond belief - on the cheap. Build quality was impeccable for sub-100 a pair, rumor was they were fabricated in a KEF factory in Asia. Even without a married sub, these puppies rock like nobody's business.

mid-level

Martin Logan Motion 12 -
perhaps on the high side of mid-level pricing for some, these are nice designs and have good spacial presence/voicing.

pie-in-the-sky, money is no object, high-end

Pioneer S-1EX -
what can I say but "Oh Wow"




Pre-owned

If I still had a classic, seventies setup based upon - say - a Pioneer SX-1980 or comparable Sansui or Technics rig, I'd have to go with finding a pair of -
Pioneer HPM-100's or HPM-150's

To go with the wall of ES I presently live and breath, I would upgrade to a pair of -
B&W CDM-9NT's

or perhaps do a switch-a-roo back to my previous long standing love affair with KEF, springing for a pair of -
Reference Series Model Four's



:)

[oldaudioscho]

I would settle for a set of Pioneer TZ-7 or TZ-9's if I could find them at a reasonable and affordable price. I almost bought a set of the 9's about a year ago, but the price was a little higher than I wanted to spend.

[Rat44]

New

entry level

Insignia Coaxial 2-Way -
almost impossible to find since the beginning of the year, these bookshelf Best Buy speaker shocked audio-heads and produced a following of modders who made them shine beyond belief - on the cheap. Build quality was impeccable for sub-100 a pair, rumor was they were fabricated in a KEF factory in Asia. Even without a married sub, these puppies rock like nobody's business.

:)

I have a pair I picked up for $50 and they are decent speakers.
They serve as my front room/TV speakers.

[BlazeES]

I have a pair I picked up for $50 and they are decent speakers.
They serve as my front room/TV speakers.

Awesome. It was crazy how BB was rolling these out for a spell, a few years back, for like 40-ish. I picked up mine early last year for just under 80. I am still pleased as peach, even for that amount. They provide tunes upstairs on a mini-component/bedroom system and we are floored by how well they perform.
I put em up against Polk and Boston bookshelf and there was no comparison; and those speakers were WAY more expensive. It was an easy decision to stick with the Insignia's and save serious coin in the process.

Did you mod yours?

[eddisc]

Blumenstein-Ultra-Fi.com or K-horns... maybe LaScalla's

[Rat44]

Awesome. It was crazy how BB was rolling these out for a spell, a few years back, for like 40-ish. I picked up mine early last year for just under 80. I am still pleased as peach, even for that amount. They provide tunes upstairs on a mini-component/bedroom system and we are floored by how well they perform.
I put em up against Polk and Boston bookshelf and there was no comparison; and those speakers were WAY more expensive. It was an easy decision to stick with the Insignia's and save serious coin in the process.

Did you mod yours?

Mine are still untouched.
I remember all the buzz about them back then.
Mine are sitting on homemade TNT stands at ear level and sound just fine.

[StereoGaryo]

For the money, they are terrific.....All the accolades were right on the button on these speakers......The bass is already noticebly better in approx. 10 hrs......What setting are you using for your sub?

10 o'clock.