[launche]

I'm looking to configure a temporary system for 2 channel and HT system to be used for a year or two as a second system.
The emphasis would be on 2 channel 70% and HT 30%.  I prefer a floorstander with a high WAF.  Also prefer something more warm sounding as opposed to something overly bright.  I'm not looking to invest alot so the budget would be 2k more or less for the entire package and I could even cheat on the surrounds.  Used gear is absolutely fine and maybe preferred in this case for me to get something of higher quality and meet the budget.

I'm familiar with the common internet direct brands: Rocket/Onix, Ascends, Swans and Axiom.  I've only heard the Ascends and Swans and they were solid performers to my recollection.  Are there any other brands I should look into on the used market that might be a step up from those brands such as:

Triangle
Dali
Monitor Audio
Epos
PSB
KEF
etc...

This system for HT would be driven by a Yamaha RV3000 which is about 100 watts per channel.  For 2 Channel listening I would use a 70 watt P/P tube amp so I would like something that would sound good with tubes as HT the performance just needs to be solid.

As a frame of reference my main system speakers are Gallo 3.1's which for me offer a good blend of form and function (but I'm not married to them.)  Something with a similiar sound is fine but maybe even with a more developed midrange.

Thanks

[mca]

Some budget speakers that recently got good reviews:

DALI Ikon 6
Monitor Audio RS 6
Revel Concerta F12

I got a listen to both the DALI and the Monitor Audio last weekend. For the price, I thought they were both great sounding speakers. Have not heard the Revel, but is getting some great reviews.

[MikeDuke]

Price range?

JM labs might be a good choice.  You can goto audiogon and get some sweet deals.  And they just love tubes.  Also, I was just introduced to Cantus speakers.  Really Really good stuff.
http://www.aurumcantus.com/
They sounded great with tubes as well.

[LadyDog]

You already have a good start.  Might want to check out

http://www.selahaudio.com/id114.html

Rick makes some excellent speakers and while I have not heard it, seems to offer a lot of bang for buck.  Might be able to get Jim Salk(salksound.com) to put you together something special too.

Best of luck.

Regards,
Jeff

[launche]

I looked at Salks website but didn't see anything that might fit the "bill" pun intended.

His HTS speakers look interesting but I can't do their bookshelf design as I prefer floorstanders and their are just too plain looking.

[launche]

Anyone heard the Triangle Bordeaux Altea ES or Dali 2.8 series speakers?

[Wardsweb]

I looked at Salks website but didn't see anything that might fit the "bill" pun intended.

His HTS speakers look interesting but I can't do their bookshelf design as I prefer floorstanders and their are just too plain looking.

I may have misread, but what do you fine plain about these speakers. To me, they are beautiful and having heard them, they are beyond reproach musically.

[outlawrocketman]

For 2 channel at a "reasonable price", I don't think you can beat the Acoustic Zen Adagios. I liked them so much I became a home reseller (in New England).  Acoustic Zen is also working on an HT set of Adagio speakers...

--Peter

[launche]

I looked at Salks website but didn't see anything that might fit the "bill" pun intended.

His HTS speakers look interesting but I can't do their bookshelf design as I prefer floorstanders and their are just too plain looking.

I may have misread, but what do you fine plain about these speakers. To me, they are beautiful and having heard them, they are beyond reproach musically.

Yes you misread 

And those things are just plain boring looking   I don't know why people continue to post pics of this speaker when all it does is make me want a pair.  Someone in my area was supposed to be having some built but that started in 2002, I was told Mr. Salk is still looking for the last piece of exotic wood so the seems of the woodgrain pattern align perfectly, so he can do his infamous close up side detail shot 

Again my meager budget for these units is around 2k, more if Jim can design something nice based off the HTS line but again "they" look plain, as they are more intended for in wall/in cabinet use I believe. The adagios are beyond reach.

[zybar]

For 2 channel at a "reasonable price", I don't think you can beat the Acoustic Zen Adagios. I liked them so much I became a home reseller (in New England).  Acoustic Zen is also working on an HT set of Adagio speakers...

--Peter

Not sure $4300 is a "reasonable" price.

Especially when the poster has a budget of $2000.

BTW, I can think of quite a few speakers that could potentially beat the Adagios and for less than the $4300.  But I'll save that for another thread.

George

[MaxCast]

I'd get a Rocket package.  If you no like, send back.

[JLM]

A few of us here listen to these for primarily audio, but also HT:

http://www.geocities.com/rbrines1/

I'm referring to the FTA-2000's (floorstanding, $1600/pair, custom built, 30 - 20,000 Hz in room, 89 dB/w/m, 8 ohms).  The single Fostex F200A driver is heavily built with an alnico magnet and is a distant cousin sonically from other Fostex extended range drivers.  Bob uses Martin King's mathcad software to design the mass loaded transmission lines (MLTL) with.  Every audiophile needs to hear MLTL bass (deep, fast, musical), the advantages of active (one amp per driver) speakers, and the natural warmth/detailed sound of alnico.  This remarkable speaker is man amoung single driver speaker boys.  They'll work with 10 wpc, but start opening up with 40 wpc (chip amps very welcomed), and NuForce reportedly synergizes exceptionally well, but being single drivers they're an easy load.  BTW Bob also sells them in a variety of kit options. 

If you need greater efficiency the LT-2000, with a bit less deep bass (for the same price) is the ticket.

Both are great values, as half the cost is in the drivers, and have been compared to $5000 speakers.  When I try to look for, IMO comparable, multiple driver speakers in the same price range invarably I end up with stuff like two-way standmounts that don't go as deep and usually are less efficient like ACI Sapphire, Ellis 1801, Onix Ref 1, and Von Schweikert VR-1.

BTW I use Ascend Acoustics CBM-170's in my HT (much lower priority) system.

[launche]

I'd get a Rocket package.  If you no like, send back.

The Rocket line is kind of a failsafe, it's usually one the the first options you come across.  I've heard people speak of them more for HT use than for 2 channel listening and I need something more musical and then HT servicable.  They are nice looking speakers though and do fit the budget.  I've only heard the Onix Reference 1 Monitor (I believe) and that was next to a pair of Ascend 340 SE's and in that instance I would have bought the 340 SE's. Sad to say that since that time, I have never even seriously considered anything from the Rocket/Onix speaker line.  Maybe I owe them another listen.

The Axiom Audio line looks interesting as well but I hear they are one the bright side and I just can't do bright and seeing the double tweeters in the M80's scares me. Even though I heard it's a nice speaker.

The new Swan Diva line is a nice looking speaker IMO and the older 6.2's I heard casually sounded fine.  (Not that it's the most important thing) but knowing the price of that tweeter alone just gets under my skin a little (I know it's a common practice).

So I was looking beyond the Initial ID companies at first to see about any other brands that are in my price range, well respected for music but just happen to have mated a center and surround speaker for the mass market appeal.

[outlawrocketman]

Hi George,

Oops, sorry, missed that $2K target price. Ahem.  I hate when budget gets in the way.

I use Rockets as my HT and find them to be great price performance.

As to speakers that beat the Adagios in their price range, I listened to quite a few well regarded / well reviewed speakers before settling on the Adagios. Some came close but nothing, to my ear, was as good. If there was something better I would have gone with them. I'm not the only one who feels this way - check out the 6moons review by Chip Stern for example:  http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/acousticzen/adagio.html.

For 2 channel at a "reasonable price", I don't think you can beat the Acoustic Zen Adagios. I liked them so much I became a home reseller (in New England).  Acoustic Zen is also working on an HT set of Adagio speakers...

--Peter

Not sure $4300 is a "reasonable" price.

Especially when the poster has a budget of $2000.

BTW, I can think of quite a few speakers that could potentially beat the Adagios and for less than the $4300.  But I'll save that for another thread.

George