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Hello, I've decided to look for some stand mounted speakers to replace my floor standers. I'll be driving them with a 35w CR Developments Romulus tube integrated. I have been out of the the Audiophile circuit for about 8yrs. and would like some opinions on what is good in that price range. I listen to just about anything. still in cd format. Thanks for any info.
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A seller has some Fostex F200A-based speakers on sale. These are floor standers but not large. I've owned the smaller sister speaker F120A for a long time, and also have the JBL LE-8 on which the F200A is based, in similar boxes. These are 90db full rangers, nice flat response, just right for about 20-35 watts. I've not seen much better for under $1000.
Another thing I'd try is some used Spendor LS3/5 stand-mount speakers, which you can find for about $700-$800 used. I haven't heard them but Herb Reichert raved about them a long time ago. I suspect it's about as good as you're ever going to get in this format, with the possible exception of a full range approach (F120A for example or JX92s) if you like that sort of thing.
You might find a pair of used Yorkville U15s for about $1000 if you are very lucky. These are big but a heck of a lot of speaker for not much money.
The Clue.....
They are getting universally rave reviews.
I was a vegetarian once for 15 minutes, until the main course.......Meat; It's the right thing to do. Romans 14:2
Where do you buy the Clue. Are they $1000 instead of $1500 now ?
Price certainly isn't everything but it isn't completely irrelevant either.
Imagine how boring the internet would be if folks were as civil here as they are in person.
Reference 3A De Capos, amazing clarity, good eff., around 1100-1500 for the i model
I thank all of you for all your recommendations! One thing I should have mentioned is my room size which is 20' x 20' with 10 ft. ceiling, so I'm not sure that the smaller bookshelve speakers will work? How would these work in the bass areas? Thanks again
In a room that big why would you want Standmounts. Standmounts have to sit on a stand - many a floorstander simply includes the stands and takes up no more physical space. Smallish standmounts usually sound anaemic in larger rooms. You're probably going to want an 8 inch woofer of some kind (in very general terms) so the De Capo or Audio Note K at a minimum and even then I'd probably want something "more"The advantage of a bigger room is that you don't have to make the compromise by buying small speakers.
$1000 pair - Go big or go home. ;0)
Edits: 10/09/14
RGA I think you are right on with your thinking and thats exactly what I needed to hear, thanks. With that in mind I may have to bite the bullet and spend a little more. In regards to a new floor stander I have been reading about the Kef R500 and the Ascend Sierra Tower. They are both around the same price just under $2000.
As a reviewer I will tell you that everything gets a good review by someone. You can look into any given $2000 well reviewed loudspeaker and prefer the sound of the above mentioned Cerwin Vega for half the money. The question will be did the reviewer of the $2k speaker compare it to the above mentioned CV (and vice versa) when making conclusions.
Most brands that you find in stores have good reputations - the key thing is what do YOU think of them when listening? I can say that probably 90% of everything that gets a good review(S) I personally wouldn't care to live with although they may be quite good for someone else.
Personally I have gravitated to loudspeakers that have had long proven lasting track records - not something that gets replaced with a new model every 3-5 years of a reviewing cycle or during the time when the product has reached the sales plateau point.
Besides speaker shopping is fun but you gotta put your own time into it. When I first started out I had about 5 speakers in my "have to get" list and now looking back I wouldn't like any of them now. All were well reviewed in various magazines from famous names.
Lots of good press, inexpensive, and you can try them at home.
Happy listening,
Jim
"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno
Yes, inmates have written that we can have a discussion with the Man himself and decide between M-Lore and Lore.
Happy listening
Bill
Most stand mount speakers are mid to low range effecient and 35 watts would not push them much. High efficient speaker are what you likely need. Check out Decware. They live in this space.
The Hsu HB-1's would be worth considering.
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/91-audio-theory-setup-chat/1710722-new-york-audio-show-2014-reality-check.html
And wouldn't you really be surprised if a $500/pr speaker with a built in Amplifier outperformed the ones other have mentioned here.
One drawback is you get double the cords leaving the loudspeakers.
One advantage is you do not have to purchase heave loudspeaker wires.
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
I ended up buying the Adam F7 instead. To my ears, far more accurate and natural sounding speaker than the JBLs and still under $1k. They too are actives, so no amps required.ADAM F7 Nearfield Monitor Features
•ART tweeter
•7” carbon/paper-midwoofer
•Tweeter: 40W (rms) A/B amplification
•Woofer: 60W (rms) A/B amplification
•Automatic stand-by
•Gain and 2 shelf filters on the rear panel
•44Hz - 50kHz
•XLR combo (jack) + RCA connectors
•113dB max peak SPL per pair
•H x W x D: 321 x 225 x 266 mmFront slotted vent so easier to place as well.
Bass is very good and the mids and highs are great.
Edits: 10/09/14 10/09/14
huh, the cheap JBL plastic with shitty bass cannot really be compared to hifi speakers.
and there's usually a fine selection of previously owned monitors here at the Trader or over on AudioGon.
Knowing what you want is paramount though patience, diligence and good timing are a necessity.
Fun process any way you look at it!
Something to keep in mind.
That said, I'm crazy about the Reference 3A Dulcet I bought off of Agon for a grand!
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" - Michael McClure
I would look into these. About as good as they sound. I have them and have NO desire to ever change.
charles
I have both the AX Two and the KEF - with your amp - probably the AX Two will work better. $1k.
The AX Two can be run with 7-10 watts quite well. Nothing to look at. In Hong Kong I saw them on a shelf beside a bunch of other speakers and it reminded me of the scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy has to choose the cup of Christ. All the shiny beautiful gold cups and then the ugly wooden cup (the cup of a carpenter).
Part of this depends on space - going from floorstanders to standmounts may have you give up bass. If your room is big be mindful of the limits of standmounts. Bass is tough to give up. The AX Two has pretty good bass for the size though and so does the KEF.
Audio Note AX II . Check it out.
$1500 range is teeming with very good speakers lead by the KEF.
Good listening!
Bill
If you can swing a bit more money KEF LS50's are unbelievably good.
bigshow
I own both.
I'll be doing a write up in a day or so.
"We are all in God's hands... and God is a malign thug."
-Mark Twain
The peachtree is better than the LS50 ?
I believe so and I own both.
Smoother high end, lower and tighter bass, better imaging.
Not night and day (the LS-50's are a fine speaker) but if I had to choose one it would be the D5's, hands down.
"We are all in God's hands... and God is a malign thug."
-Mark Twain
I've always wondered about the Class A rating on the LS-50. If they truly are class A, then why buy any other bookshelf speaker of that size that costs over $1500 ?
Yeah, seems funny to me, too.
Another speaker in that price range I prefer to the LS-50 (again, by a hair, but for sure) is the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2. Wonderful speaker for $1500 with a world-class ribbon tweeter. (Not a big fan of ribbon tweeters as a rule, but this one is VERY good).
"We are all in God's hands... and God is a malign thug."
-Mark Twain
I love ribbons, but I can't find any information about the Sierra 2 such as sensitivity and frequency response.
-reub
Click on "Specifications" on the linked page provided by mbnx01 (above).
I would give a listen to the new Martin Logan Motion 35XT. The Motion bookshelfs that I have heard have a very detailed and clear sound with great air and transparency due to their folded tweeters. Bass and midrange are very good. The 35XT is a new model with a bigger tweeter.http://parttimeaudiophile.com/2014/09/03/cas-2014-soundscape-martin-logan-and-a-300b/
Best Buy Magnolia stores carry them.
Music Direct has a sale on these Epos Epic 2's along with some Dyn Audio's and Focals, all very good speakers.http://www.musicdirect.com/c-612-bookshelf.aspx?pagenum=2&sortfield=Price&sortdirection=DESC&perpage=24&BrandFilterID=0&CategoryFilterID=612
I am a big fan of Dyn Audio and love their sound.
Edits: 10/17/14
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