What Audiophile Grade speakers should I audition.

proudx · « **on:** 16 Jun 2004, 06:59 pm »

I am considering new speakers under 2000 each used or new. I am in the camp that the speaker should be as flat as possible and just be a transport for the sounds.

This will be in my dedicated theater room so the line must include decent rear speakers. My room is 13X18X8 with columns 6D"x12W" columns every 5 feet or so.

Carlman · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 07:10 pm »

What's the gear? Is it all Odyssey w/ a Denon processor? Do I recall correctly?

Any way to audition stuff to see what sounds like a flat speaker to you? ProAc and Thiel sound flat to me but not to others.

proudx · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 08:20 pm »

yelp. odyssey with Denon processor.

Marbles · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 08:31 pm »

Plenty of great speakers, just look at most of the manufacturer and a few owners circles here!

Hantra · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 08:31 pm »

You sound like a perfect candidate for Revels. What do you think Carl? I saw Stereo Trading Outlet has M-20's new for $1250 now. You could possibly get some F-30's for that sized room and be fine, and under budget if you go used.

Honestly they are the flattest I have heard that still sound good. . . Thiels are flat as well, but I thought they lacked bass, and were a bit lifeless. Could have been the accompanying gear.

Carlman · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 09:24 pm »

I would characterize Revel F30's as lively sounding. They are a bit more 'forward' speaker and upper midrange and highs are on the edge of being 'hot' but they aren't. However, they measured a near flat response curve from 33Hz to 20k in my room when measured by 8th Nerve.... even without room treatments.

If you're in a room that leans a little to the dead side... (wall to wall carpet, large room) I'd say the Revel F30's would be my first choice. For a dual purpose HT/Music system I'd pick it first.

Proudx's room seems like a perfect candidate but again, my idea of flat or forward or whatever is going to be different.

I thought the Revel's reproduced an experience with emotion, excellent sound stage and perfect bass (excellent impact with control and detail). I hated selling them when I moved.

If your room is lively and mostly untreated, I do not recommend them.

Without any reference from proudx, it's hard to say anything would be a good choice.

DVV · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 09:36 pm »

What exactly is an "audiophile grade" speaker?

How is it different to a non-audiophile speaker?

I'm not trying to start a fight here, but I am baffeled by the concept of "audiophile grade" in general, not just in speakers. I have seen the term used for capacitors, for example, and in official company literature, too.

Being the slouch that I am, I believed there were three general classes of device standard and quality - commercial, industry and military.

Where do I stick in the audiophiles? After the military? Before or after NASA?

Cheers,
DVV

F-100 · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 09:55 pm »

Quote from: proudx

This will be in my dedicated theater room so the line must include decent rear speakers.

Rocket by Onix from www.av123.com. Give them an audition, you'll be in for a big suprise.

proudx · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 10:16 pm »

I am very interested in this time and phase concept I have seen on thiels website. How important is a time and phase speaker?

The rockets look great, but I am not sure they offer the same features as the Thiels, although the time and phase stuff may not be that important...

My roon is rather dead and I haven't even applied sound treatments yet! I have acoustical tile drop ceiling with carp and 1/2" thick foam pad underneath, columns every 5ft, here are some pics..

http://gallery.avsforum.com/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=2731

the room is fairly narrow so the speaker will have to tolerate being 2ft from the sidewalls and 3.5ft from the frontwall.

neilr11 · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 10:25 pm »

Take a look at the Green Mountain Europas, phase & time aligned, very musical, made from marble cast resign, uses excellent parts like sonic caps and audio magic wire, best off, only $880! Most musical speaker I have heard to date and I have owned many inc 5 pairs of maggies, norh 7.0s & 9.0s, N805s among dozens of others. One of the best bargins for speakers, right up there with the maggie mmg.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 10:39 pm »

Quote from: proudx

I am very interested in this time and phase concept I have seen on thiels website. How important is a time and phase speaker?

The rockets look great, but I am not sure they offer the same features as the Thiels, although the time and phase stuff may not be that important...

My roon is rather dead and I haven't even applied sound treatments yet! I have acoustical tile drop ceiling with carp and 1/2" thick foam pad underneath, columns every 5ft, here are some pics..

http://gallery.avsforum.com/show ...

If Thiels interest you, also take a look at Vandersteens. The Model 3A Signature at $3500/pr new would fit nicely into your budget. Used ones run about $2200-$2500, depending on finish and age. For HT Vandersteen makes a couple of great subwoofers and center channels, plus some nice wall mounted surrounds. Or you could use a pair of Model 1C or 2Ce Signatures as surrounds. Or you could go for the real gusto, 4 3A Signatures.

proudx · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 11:38 pm »

I have always prefered the full sound of towers so green mountain will not work.

So the Vandersteen and Thiel, and maybe rockets will def be on my audition list.

The vandersteen are SO big and ugly. I mean they are HUGe, keep in mind my room is only 13X18.

So the vandersteens 3a outperfrom the thiels generally?

Tyson · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 11:44 pm »

You might also want to check out VMPS speakers (they have a forum here). They use phase coherent (1st order) crossovers and wide band ribbon technology.

proudx · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 11:46 pm »

cool.

talking vandersteen, wouldn't the vandersteen 3a be a little too big for my 13X18 room?

What about the MODEL 2Ce? More appropriate fit?

Hantra · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Jun 2004, 11:58 pm »

Quote from: proudx

So the vandersteens 3a outperfrom the thiels generally?

I'd say so. I like every Vandersteen I have ever heard, except for the 5's, but that was likely a Musical Fidelity problem, and not a Vandersteen problem.

Quote

What about the MODEL 2Ce? More appropriate fit?

13 x 18 is not a small room. I believe 3A's would work. 2Ce's are the better value if you intend to get sub(s) later. I think the 3A has the same tweeter as the flagship though. Not sure. . .

gary · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jun 2004, 12:27 am »

For about $3k you could get a pair of Onix Ref 1's and the Perpetual Technologies P1-A with speaker correction software (SOCS) for them along with a matching UFW-10 subwoofer (I'm sure they would give you a package deal). I've got the same setup, minus the sub, and it's absolutely amazing IMO. You might check audioenvy.com to see if anyone in your area has Ref 1's that you could audition.

Gary

ericstev · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Jun 2004, 01:32 am »

Proudx

I would suggest giving Meadowlark Audio a listen they are very musical. I got hooked on them when I first gave a pair of Kestrel Hot Rods a listen. I could not believe the sound that came from those rather small speakers. Currently I have a pair of Blue Herons they are stunning I have had many people comment that they have not heard any better. They are on the polite side with the treble, the bass is incredibly tight and fast and the mid range is to die for.

Good luck with the speakers looking for a pair can be a lot of fun

mca · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Jun 2004, 02:09 am »

You may want to look into Silverline for a good sounding floorstander. Also a couple of companies on this site, GR Research and Selah Audio.

Carlman · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Jun 2004, 02:35 am »

Between Vandersteen, Thiel, Revel, Green Mounatin Audio, and Onix you have a fairly wide variety of speakers. Each one of these brands sounds so completely different from each other.....good luck.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Jun 2004, 04:05 pm »

Quote from: Hantra

Quote
What about the MODEL 2Ce? More appropriate fit?

13 x 18 is not a small room. I believe 3A's would work. 2Ce's are the better value if you intend to get sub(s) later. I think the 3A has the same tweeter as the flagship though. Not sure. . .

If you want 2 pairs of speakers then yes, the 3A Sigs might be a little too big. It really depends on what else you have in the room, how full it is with other stuff. In that case 4 2Ce Signatures (with sub(s) for HT) could be a good alternative.