[lonewolfny42]

check out the usher 6311's or 6371's both are in your price range and i am willing to bet you a case of beer the cat(s) will not turn them over.
you go to www.theehighend.com  to see the models and read some reviews. i can't the web site to come up.
email me and i can send you some reviews.

Here's the Usher web site.... http://www.usheraudio.com/  

[Music Maven]

Howdy!

Thanks to all of you for your replies, I'm checking out a lot of the ideas, slowly, because I haven't had too much time to devote in the last 24 hours. NEVER enough time to devote to this hobby!

I'll keep checking back, in case anybody has further input.

Have any of you heard the Dali Grand Divas, Opera Quintas, Phase Technology PC 9.1's, Pro-Ac Future .5's, Elac 570's, PMC FB1+, stuff from Source Technologies, Salk Sound? I've heard good about these but never auditioned...      

Jerry

[Dennis M. Clark]

  hello  check out ACI"s Panoramas 3 way, 60-70 lbs. apiece.  Very solid and very musical!  The Panoramas use stands that can be filled with sand, leadshot. or whatever (heavy and dampening).  The cat  is out of the picture with these and they throw a very good picture indeed!  Holographic!  Built in the U.S. Beautiful construction( different .solid wood exteriors). Scandinavian drivers!  Spreakers and stands at about 2/3 the 3,000 benchmark you have set.  Call Mike or Brenda at608-784-4570 or e-mail at audioc.com.  You will not regret!  Dennis M. Clark

[zane9]

Your listening environment, and musical tastes sound similar to mine. I'm on the upgrade path as well. I auditioned a pair of Mystiques the other night, from Neat Acoustics out of the UK  http://www.neat.co.uk. They were so good I was ecstatic. Now "good" means many things to many people...but for me, when the speakers disappear and the music is the only thing that you hear, then it works for me. I had also listened to the Kestrels, and a pair of Royds (RR1) as well: all great speakers and certainly within your budget. In fact, you'll have $ left over for some great cables.

J.

[doug s.]

jeez, there's prolly a hundred different choices that would work for you...  that said, i can heartily recommend the coincident research victory's.  i recently received a pair of these, won at an a-gon auction.  i was interested in them cuz they use an iteration of the hi-vi research tweeter used in the swan m1.2 that i thought was so fantastic.  well, the implementation here really *is* great.  these are really nice speakers, w/great soundstaging, detail, musicality.  and, w/14 ohm load & 97db/1w/1m efficiency, you will have fun playing w/different amplification, if you so desire.  the victory's retail for $5k, but can be found used for <$3k...

(this pic is in the previous owner's room):


doug s.

[hometheaterdoc]

Howdy!

Thanks to all of you for your replies, I'm checking out a lot of the ideas, slowly, because I haven't had too much time to devote in the last 24 hours. NEVER enough time to devote to this hobby!

I'll keep checking back, in case anybody has further input.

Have any of you heard the Dali Grand Divas, Opera Quintas, Phase Technology PC 9.1's, Pro-Ac Future .5's, Elac 570's, PMC FB1+, stuff from Source Technologies, Salk Sound? I've heard good about these but never auditioned...      

Jerry

Being a dealer for Phase Technology, yes, I have heard the PC 9.1s... they are on the warm side of things, infinitely listenable and make good music... I don't think I can say much more than that since I am a dealer and they like us to not comment on products we represent...

the Von Schweikert suggestion is not the best one given that you are in such a small room.  12 X 15 is on the small side for Vr-2s, and is definitely a minimum size to even attempt to make them work... they will overload the room if you want to listen at elevated levels... lots of bottom end response...

I know you've got active cats, but you have to be cautious on how much bottom end the floorstanders you pick up out have.... VR-4jrs from Von Schweikert can be found on audiogon used for your budget, but would blow you out of the room you are in because of how much bottom end they have....  try to find a very hefty bookshelf and tack it down to a weighted stand.

[Music Maven]

I'm still lurking and learning.

It's obvious there are an overwhelming amount of speakers out there, and many of them -as technology evolves- are very good. It's tough to choose "just one!"

I guess there's no point having a nervous breakdown when the point of the hobby is fun...but it's easy to get frazzled chasing down all the possibilities.

Anyway, thanks to all, including those who have included the nice pics, but I'm a glutton for punishment, so I'm happy to hear of more choices. I like to keep my options open, at least for the next couple of weeks.

Jerry

[byteme]

jeez, there's prolly a hundred different choices that would work for you...  that said, i can heartily recommend the coincident research victory's.  i recently received a pair of these, won at an a-gon auction.  i was interested in them cuz they use an iteration of the hi-vi research tweeter used in the swan m1.2 that i thought was so fantastic.  well, the implementation here really *is* great.  these are really nice speakers, w/great soundstaging, detail, musicality.  and, w/14 ohm load & 97db/1w/1m ef ...

The Victory's got pretty well panned by Srajan in a 6Moons review - http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/coincident/victory_3.html - he also reviewed the Odyssey Lorelei's - http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/odyssey/lorelei.html

And had this comment in THAT review about the Victory "When manufacturers push against my better instincts as unfortunately happened with Israel Blume of Coincident Technologies, the outcome may not be what they hoped for."

As the other two Lorelei owners have said - I love mine!!

[Marbles]

The VMPS RM30's will be able to tell you the musical "truth"  (for better or worse).
The Lorelies will just have you digging the music without even thinking about it.

[doug s.]

The Victory's got pretty well panned by Srajan in a 6Moons review - http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/coincident/victory_3.html - he also reviewed the Odyssey Lorelei's - http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/odyssey/lorelei.html

And had this comment in THAT review about the Victory "When manufacturers push against my better instincts as unfortunately happened with Israel Blume of Coincident Technologies, the outcome may not be what they hoped for."

As the other two Lorelei owners have said - I love mine!!

yes, i read that review.  i had awreddy fallen for the sound of the hi-vi ribbon tweet, so it was a risk i was willing to take.   glad i trusted my *ears*!    but, if i needed positive reinforcement of the press to yustify my satisfaction, i can get that here:
http://www.coincidentspeaker.com/victory_bfs_review.html
http://www.coincidentspeaker.com/victory_review_avg.html
http://www.coincidentspeaker.com/total_tier_review.html

another reason why i wanted to try these is that their top mode, the $11.5k total victory, is basically the same speaker, but elevated 10", with four side-firing 10" woofers crossed over at 80hz.  at some point, i will pair these w/my vmps larger subs, crossed over at 60-80hz, elevate them 10", & have a true world-class sound.  (i hope! )

doug s.

[byteme]

Doug,

I don't doubt they're fine speakers and they're working great for you.  I've read Srajan before and concluded that we have similar goals in sound and what we like to hear, how our systems "should" sound so that's why I put a little trust in what he says.  I realize reviews are a crap shoot and you need to trust what you hear.

I was sold on the Lorelei's as soon as I hear that at Cpt. Humble's place.

[doug s.]

Doug,

I don't doubt they're fine speakers and they're working great for you.  I've read Srajan before and concluded that we have similar goals in sound and what we like to hear, how our systems "should" sound so that's why I put a little trust in what he says.  I realize reviews are a crap shoot and you need to trust what you hear.

I was sold on the Lorelei's as soon as I hear that at Cpt. Humble's place.

well, i re-read the srajan piece, & his main criticism ot the victory's  - their leanness - is yust not at all applicable in my case.  i'm sure amplification *does* play a large part - having 180wpc of pure tube triode in my loaded-to-the-gills m.a.r.-modded melos mat-180 amp certainly helps here, imo!      and then there's my penchant for subwoofers.  even tho i am not presently using my vmps larger subs due to present room constraints, i *have* to have subs!     my pair of yamaha yst-305's, each w/a pair of servo-driven 8" drivers, work splendidly in my present ~15x22 room.  of course, i *am* now also tempted to try a pair of watt-challenged set-amps!  will it ever end?  

regards,

doug s.

btw - one other thing - i have heard the original iteration of the avantgarde duo's, & i'm with srajan here - these *are* amongst the most amazing speakers *i've* ever heard...

[mcgsxr]

Not sure if you read the post in the Critic's Circle about a set of Salk speakers - might be of interest, as you mine for the Right set for you.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=13522

Mark in Canada

[Red Dragon Audio]

Howdy!

Thanks to all of you for your replies, I'm checking out a lot of the ideas, slowly, because I haven't had too much time to devote in the last 24 hours. NEVER enough time to devote to this hobby!

I'll keep checking back, in case anybody has further input.

Have any of you heard the Dali Grand Divas, Opera Quintas, Phase Technology PC 9.1's, Pro-Ac Future .5's, Elac 570's, PMC FB1+, stuff from Source Technologies, Salk Sound? I've heard good about these but never auditioned...      

Jerry

I have heard the Dali Grand Divas briefly but can't really comment on them because of the lack of time spent in that room.  However, I did listen to the Opera Quintas at the 2003 CES for about 3.5 hours (I spent more time in that room than any other).  They were paired up with the now famous Unison Research UNICO hybrid integrated amp and the matching UNICO CDplayer.  I have to say they are a warm and inviting speaker.  I could imagine living with the Quintas and never fussing over anything.  I'm sure there are more "revealing" speakers out there but the Quintas just felt like music.  If you can audition them that would be great.  Or just do what I usually do; take the plunge, buy them used and try them out in the best place possible; your own home.  The quintas are an ideal choice if you are into music and not "hi-fi".  So if you want to just sit back and enjoy your music instead of tweaking your system forever, go for them.  How's that for an enthusiatic endorsement?

Maybe pair them up with that fancy new DK Design Group VS-1 integrated amp.

Toma has a set for http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1101846667">sale.

[Dennis M. Clark]

Take the leap sir!  Dennis M. Clark

[Music Maven]

You folks amaze me with your passion and generosity, I have lots of ideas, and thanks for the great links...

I thought I might quickly share some of the other speakers I own or have owned, to give you a bit about my taste.

I LIKE speakers, and while I realize that the ideal to be attained is "transparent and accurate" sound that transforms your listening room back to the recording studio or the concert hall, it won't really truly happen. A good facsimile, yes, but there's no real way to duplicate all the nuances of the original space and instruments. Too many variables and "steps" from the software to the interface of all the replay hardware.

So...my great joy is just changing from one speaker pair to another by merely unplugging my trusty bananas. No component more changes the personality of the system.

Some of you as old as me (sorry) might remember the old-fashioned "schools" of American acoustics. You were either in the East Coast (mellow, reserved sound) camp or the West Coast (vibrant, bright) camp. Ah, the good old days...

Anyway, I'd LOVE to own $50,000 speakers, but I won't rob banks and just can't figure any way to do it. I console myself that even the world's most expensive  speaker screws up somewhere and a child or pet could STILL destroy a driver.

So, no speaker I've ever owned has retailed much over $3,000- and I've chased "B" stock or demos and paid less.

I own a pair of Gershman Avant Garde speakers from Canada, probably my finest pair. Nice! Truly "underground" yet they have the advantage of some name recognition. Brand exposure helps if you ever want to sell something. I think the only "drawback" to these is that they have a wonderful gloss "piano black" finish, whereas I prefer great cherry wood, rosewood, and some exotic veneers. In my experience, probably no-one will work as hard with a customer to provide a very personalized, exotic wood than Jim Salk of Salk Sound- although there are MANY companies offering very pretty loudspeakers.

Another favorite that I have is the French speaker by JM Reynaud, the model Euterpe, recently discontinued. Great sound, nice looks although lighter woods like beech aren't usually my first choice. I like the "nobody else on the block has these" appeal, because they're more deliciously obscure than the "easier" French choices like JM Labs... and they're also good speakers!

Or how many of you have heard of PE Leon? I own a small little tower called the "Enzy" with Seas drivers. Not very expensive, not really rock-and-rollers but I don't need Cerwin Vegas. Just very great value for money. A low-profile company with design and major components from France but assembly in Canada. French-Canadian. Now THERE'S attitude!

I've also owned along the years wonderful speakers from John Sollecito, a genius designer who owns Source Technologies in Connecticut but will probably forever be more famous for his gig with the legendary company Infinite Slope, which later turned into Joseph Audio.

Another great designer is/was Dave Fokos, formerly of the Synthesis division of conrad-johnson. I had the LM-200 small tower that looked like a Vandersteen with the sock-wrap. He went on to create Icon Acoustics, his own company, but I lost all track of him, sadly. He was also a very very polite, kind person.

Does anyone remember the Innovative Techniques company? Yep, I also owned those, in an attractive walnut. They were mighty nice.

And I owned the venerable Rega ELA loudspeaker, probably the "middle" version from about ten-twelve years ago, with the odd steel bars that screwed into the sides (not real well) to keep them upright. What can one say? Just really classics. Limited in output and frequency extremes but unbeatable in the right context and with sensible associated components.
Most people feel that these older ELAs well outperform the current very different looking speaker.

Heck, I've been at this over 30 years, over half my life! I've owned two pairs of AR speakers, two pairs of B&W's and probably a couple of others.
I'm NOT rich, just crazy. It's an addiction but I'm blessed with it...

Anybody still awake?

Jerry

[satfrat]

AR-3a by any chance? That was my first 2 sets for bookshelves back in 1971. Even back then, I had to have a loudspeaker in each corner.    Regards, Robin

[Music Maven]

Nope, mine was the AR-91, kinda looked like a wooden tombstone with the bevelled top edges. My more recent ones were the AR Holographic series, M-5.

Jerry

[doug s.]

i was a pig-in-shit happy 13-year-old back in '69 when i bought my first pair of *real* speakers - bose 901's!   kinda embarrassing, these days!  

doug s.

[Music Maven]

We all grow...faster than our wallets, usually.

One of my first memories of "serious" audio was taking a commuter train to downtown Chicago (lived in that area as a kid) and wandering into this audio salon (you know- rather stuffy, fancy carpeting, a real "aura" not just a stereo store) and gawking at the old fashioned Bang & Olufsen Beomaster receiver. That captured my imagination, still remember it today. You know, low-slung, those funky transparent plastic control sliders, sleek teak case. Some WOMEN aren't that gorgeous! LOL!

Jerry