[rustneversleeps]

I am looking for a pair of good quality new speakers that cost about $500 to $550 (I've already have the MMG). It has to be tower type, not book shelf monitor. Are there any available at this price range?

If not, I would have to clone my own, I have enough parts to clone a pair of new large Advent, Advent/1, or KLH 6, just need to build the cabinets.

[plaf26]

rns,

How do you like your MMG's?

[ajzepp]

You already have the best $500 speaker on the planet. Just out of curiosity, what don't you like about it?

[gjs_cds]

Ditto on the MMGs.  Short of a DIY project, I don't think there's a better value out there.

But as far as your request, as a DIYer, I think that's the only way to go re: getting the best bang for your buck.  There are any number of commercially available kits that allow for great results even if you're a novice.  (Kits come w/ pre-fab enclosures; XO designed by some of the best out there...  So if you can solder, you can assemble these kits.)  The only issue is that most of these kits in a "bookshelf" format.  (Although they're really designed for speaker stands.)  Here is one such option:  http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=302-950

Note:  If you feel like doing the woodwork, you can pretty easily make your own tower cabinets, provided you keep the same internal Volume and front baffle width.

[Matt__P]

Since getting my T7 Ive been dying to upgrade the speaker potion of my chain. I'm currently running some Onix XLS's and for the money I think they're great but
Mithat has a pair of prototype Biro's that he said he sell me for a good price so I think i'm going to go that route.

[Zheeeem]

I am looking for a pair of good quality new speakers that cost about $500 to $550 (I've already have the MMG). It has to be tower type, not book shelf monitor. Are there any available at this price range?

If not, I would have to clone my own, I have enough parts to clone a pair of new large Advent, Advent/1, or KLH 6, just need to build the cabinets.

Well, I personally think the MMGs suck, although I'll also admit they are probably the best speaker in the price range.

Your criteria - new plus tower are a real challenge, and probably impossible if you also want "sounds OK".

If you are handy, you might consider building one of Martin King's quarter wave designs and using a full range driver.  A Fostex is probably well within your price range.  http://www.quarter-wave.com/

[Zheeeem]

Mithat has a pair of prototype Biro's that he said he sell me for a good price so I think i'm going to go that route.

I had a pair of L/1s for about 10 years and was always quite pleased.  Adding a REL Strata III helped a lot, though the biros w/o sub are eminently listenable. 

[Matt__P]

I'm not even sure what they are yet. I just know theyre not L/1's as hes saving all remaining inventory of those parts for any replacements due to the drivers being out of production. I'm kinda going with blind faith on this one.

[gjs_cds]

I'd love to hear why. 

(Granted--room acoustics, speaker placement, and amplification power/quality are huge issues.  They also produce a very delineated "sweet spot", which makes casual listening an annoyance...)

[Wayner]

I see Madisound has a kit for around 550 including cabinet from Zaph Audio called the SR71. It features Seas drivers from the new Seas Prestige line. I haven't heard them, but I always like Seas drivers.

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35_40_402_408&products_id=8306

Just an idea for you, Rusty.

Wayner 

[stereocilia]

Audio Advisor has the Boston VR-2 on sale.  I have had a pair for a few years in my video setup and I think they are over-achievers, especially at that price.  No part of the frequency spectrum seems to stick out more than another, except perhaps the bass if they are too close to the back wall.  If anything, the sound stage is a little closed it, but the midrange is very clear.

[Zheeeem]

I'd love to hear why. 

I assume you're asking why I think they suck, not why they are probably the best speaker in the $500 price range.

1.  They are highly coloured.

2.  They don't play bass, at least not below 50 Hz, and are difficult to integrate with a sub (which, of course, then drives the cost of the speakers up into the range of decent speakers).

3.  The frame is not massive or rigid enough, which reduces detail.

4.  Dipole effect (which results in roughly 50% of the output being reflected.  Reflected sound is distorted sound, bose advertizing notwithstanding)

5.  Beaming.

FWIW, I've owned a pair of Tympani I(u)s for >30 years and they are still in use in my HT.  So I'm very familiar with maggies.  I owned a pair of MMGs for about a year.  They sucked.  But at least they were cheap.

[saisunil]

Raw acoustic Speaker Kit:

http://rawacoustics.com/item__LX_II_Speaker_kit_,810.html

ok they are $699 (Regular $1499) - more than 50% off the kit. This is a great deal.
I say that if you are able to increase your budget by $200 - you are in for a great treat - this may not be just a budget speaker but a great speaker that you can enjoy for years to come.

Then there are kits from GR Research for OB-5 and OB-7  for $795 and $895
http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2

You never know someone here at audiocircle might have bought a kit and wanted to sell.

Other option would be to look for used speakers on audiogon.

I have a pair of VSX from Von Schweikert virtually new with blown woofers only 10 hours on them. PM me if you are interested, I can make a deal with you on them for less than $500 (Retail $2000 for a pair) -- of course you will have to get the woofer replacement.

Good Luck
Sunil

[gjs_cds]

Well, I personally think the MMGs suck, although I'll also admit they are probably the best speaker in the price range.

I'd love to hear why. 

(Granted--room acoustics, speaker placement, and amplification power/quality are huge issues.  They also produce a very delineated "sweet spot", which makes casual listening an annoyance...)

[rustneversleeps]

I like the MMG for the most part, and you guys already know about what don't I like about the MMG, no bass slam, etc. I've been wondering why Magnepan hasn't build some kind of brace for their speaker frames.

Speaker kits are pretty much taking your chance, you have to buy it, build it, if they don't sound good, then you are stuck with it.

Building on the past is low cost, and gurantee to work, or maybe even better than the original.

Paying over a grand for a pair of monitor is simply craziness.

[ricmon]

Paying over a grand for a pair of monitor is simply craziness.

Very subjective.  Have you heard any monitors for more than a grand? Or is this just............. subjective?

[ajzepp]

I like the MMG for the most part, and you guys already know about what don't I like about the MMG, no bass slam, etc. I've been wondering why Magnepan hasn't build some kind of brace for their speaker frames.

If you don't know whether "braces" exist for Magnepan speakers, you must not have spent much time learning about your MMGs. 

And Zheeeem, you loved your Maggie Tympanis enough to keep them over 30 years, but you found that the MMGs suck?    To each their own, I guess!

People need to realize that Maggies are not just a plug and play speaker. If you aren't willing to take the time to learn about them and set them up properly, then you're better off not even bothering.

[maxwalrath]

You could try Hornshoppe Horns, there's a pair for sale here for $460.  They are amazing with corner placement in my opinion. 

[rustneversleeps]

If you don't know whether "braces" exist for Magnepan speakers, you must not have spent much time learning about your MMGs. 

I know Magnepan doesn't make any braces for their speakers. Some guys makes some homemade stuff that look kind of ugly.

I do expect a company that sell product that are plug and play, is it wrong? Other than the placement for the Magnepan, I don't expect that I have to spend a ton of work to get it to work right.

[ajzepp]

rust: I can see why you would want to tailor your purchases toward products that are more plug and play if that's what you prefer, but to say that you would expect a company to make such products? I don't really understand that.

Since we're in a Van Alstine forum, I'll use Frank's gear as an example. If you pair one of his amps with some Maggies and compare that to Maggies with some receiver, it'll be a night and day difference. Maggies need lots of clean current to get the sound off the panels. Though I don't own a Van Alstine amp, it's always one that I recommend to prospective Magnepan owners cause 1) I've read through Frank's forum and website quite often, and 2) I know a lot of Maggie owners love the Van Alstine stuff.

But anyway, I think the Maggies are a great example of a product that you can't just purchase w/out regard to the rest of your system.