What are the best used speakers for around 13K?

mcullinan · « **on:** 9 Jun 2008, 02:13 pm »

Im looking to get some added value, so I think used/demo/slightly used might be an option. What do you think? Just looking for opinions.

Mike

Kevin Haskins · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 02:23 pm »

For that much money I'd hire someone to come out to your house and design something around your room/needs. At that price point you are not bargain shopping so set your priorities and go looking.

TomS · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 02:31 pm »

I can't resist an opportunity to live vicariously through others' bank accounts, but 13k aa

I'd probably take a long hard look at the Vandy 5A's like George has, maybe wait to see what Jim Salk cook up to somehow top the HT-3's, or chat with Rick Craig at Selah about some ultimate line source/subs.

I'd still start out with making sure I had a great room, properly treated and spend less on the hardware.

bpape · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 02:31 pm »

There are so many choices with that kind of budget it's hard to say. Most critical things to consider would be a speaker that works well in YOUR room with how you can set them up, and a speaker that excels at the type(s) of music you listen to.

Bryan

woodsyi · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 02:32 pm »

Quote from: Kevin Haskins on 9 Jun 2008, 02:23 pm

At that price point you are not bargain shopping so set your priorities and go looking.

Kevin,

You are vastly underestimating the power of value hunting for cheapskates. If I am paying 13k I would expect at least an item that sold for 30k initially.

Kevin Haskins · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 02:43 pm »

Quote from: woodsyi on 9 Jun 2008, 02:32 pm

Quote from: Kevin Haskins on 9 Jun 2008, 02:23 pm
At that price point you are not bargain shopping so set your priorities and go looking.

Kevin,

You are vastly underestimating the power of value hunting for cheapskates. If I am paying 13k I would expect at least an item that sold for 30k initially.

At 30K people are just slapping prices on product anyway. Sure... they put a lot of work into it and buy top-notch parts but much of the price is based upon intangibles.

I guess the question is whether you want to buy something just to feel good about what kind of deal you got, or if you are looking for the best sound for a given budget.

mcullinan · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 02:45 pm »

Hehe.. Im not sure about 30K but a speaker in the 20K range... Are speakers better in that range or are they just saying "Hey Im a 20K speaker... love me cuz Im expensive. IDK. I guess its expensive bargain hunting... thats funny.
But its like a car, it loses half its value.. blah blah.

Modified part.. If there is nothing to gain quality or partswise. At what pricepoint do you think diminishing returns really start to hit hard? Maybe I should start there and then, invest in better room treatment.

Mike

TF1216 · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 02:51 pm »

If you have the DIY bug you can try building your own pair of ESLs:

http://www.eraudio.com.au/

If you don't have the DIY bug you can look into a pair Quads 2905 or stacked US Monitors from this guy:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrplan&1214919716

If that is not your flavor I would figure out what type of drivers suits your liking the best and have Rick Craig concoct a 4-way for you. Mmm...if I win the lottery I would go with AudioTechnology drivers with a Scan-Speak tweeter. I hope your room is big!

If your room isn't big enough for a 4-way to operate at its potential,

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 03:01 pm »

Here's a search from $8k to $13k at A'gon. Not too shabby selection!!!!!!

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/srch_fs.pl?PRIC=1&PMIN=8000&PMAX=13000&CTGSK=spkrfull&submit=Go

So, what's your flavor? Exotic horns? 500-lb 5-ways? The world is your oyster!

If it were me, I'd get two sets of speakers for a total of $10-$11k and spend $2-3k on room treatments (assuming all other aspects of the system are in place)

HAVE FUN!

Kevin Haskins · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 03:08 pm »

Quote from: mcullinan on 9 Jun 2008, 02:45 pm

Hehe.. Im not sure about 30K but a speaker in the 20K range... Are speakers better in that range or are they just saying "Hey Im a 20K speaker... love me cuz Im expensive. IDK. I guess its expensive bargain hunting... thats funny.
But its like a car, it loses half its value.. blah blah.

Modified part.. If there is nothing to gain quality or partswise. At what pricepoint do you think diminishing returns really start to hit hard? Maybe I should start there and then, invest in better room treatment.

Mike

Define better.... People buy things in that price range based upon a lot of intangibles. Looks, reputation, perceived performance etc...

Definitely start with your room. You will gain the most, by starting with a good listening environment. Talk to Bryan (bpape) about some room design stuff and integrate that into your plan. Then, rather than trying to find a bargain, find something you like that fits your budget. I would ignore the price as long as it is within your budget and fits your needs (size, looks, sound etc..).

mcullinan · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 03:29 pm »

Quote from: Kevin Haskins on 9 Jun 2008, 03:08 pm

Quote from: mcullinan on 9 Jun 2008, 02:45 pm
Hehe.. Im not sure about 30K but a speaker in the 20K range... Are speakers better in that range or are they just saying "Hey Im a 20K speaker... love me cuz Im expensive. IDK. I guess its expensive bargain hunting... thats funny.
But its like a car, it loses half its value.. blah blah.

Modified part.. If there is nothing to gain quality or partswise. At what pricepoint do you think diminishing returns really start to hit hard? Maybe I should start there and then, invest in better room treatment.

Mike

Define better.... People buy things in that price range based upon a lot of intangibles. Looks, reputation, perceived performance etc...

Definitely start with your room. You will gain the most, by starting with a good listening environment. Talk to Bryan (bpape) about some room design stuff and integrate that into your plan. Then, rather than trying to find a bargain, find something you like that fits your budget. I would ignore the price as long as it is within your budget and fits your needs (size, looks, sound etc..).

Your right its not so easy. ..better to me would be sound and build quality. But then sound is a personal quality. Id use words like live, natural, dynamic, detailed but not analytical. Thats pretty much how Ive geared my system so far. As for room size, its 12 x 17 with a 12 ft vaulted ceiling and Im set up on the long wall. The room is pretty well damped, and Ive had some bass traps in the room, which did nothing much.

Im not a big fan of electostatics, and I wouldnt have enough room anyways. Beyond sound, design and build are also key. I love the wood, craftmanship that goes into the effort.. so I guess that would rule out super modern designs.
My present system is in my signature...

Mike

saisunil · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 03:38 pm »

These could fit your budget as NEW: Usher BE-10.
I heard their big brothers BE-20 and I still recall the sound.
These were (for me) one of the best, if not the best, sounding speakers at the HE Show in NY last year or the year before?

Another one (perhaps more suitable to your room size) that I have been eyeing are: Ridge Street Audio Sasons -
http://home.comcast.net/~rothakoustic/SasonLtd2005.html

For that kind of budget and your room size - you could have it all from source to speakers with electronics and cables...

Good Luck

Imperial · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 03:40 pm »

I see a set of Gershman "Black Swan" in the listing there. My bet for the best you could get at this price!!
I see a pair of Eggleston Andra II's, Proac D80's-(But they may require a bigger room than you have, it's on the bleeding edge..) also.
It might be smarter to get a good stand mount speaker in this 12X17 room you use... I mean if you already have bass problems and so on..
Other than that, "Black Swan" would be VERY hard to beat at that price in the listing there!!! - but It might be a bit big for the room.

Edit: Actually, I see a speaker in the listing there: A pair of Peak Consult Incognito X's ... Those would fit like a glove!!!

Imperial

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 03:41 pm »

Quote

Your right its not so easy. ..better to me would be sound and build quality. But then sound is a personal quality. Id use words like live, natural, dynamic, detailed but not analytical. Thats pretty much how Ive geared my system so far. As for room size, its 12 x 17 with a 12 ft vaulted ceiling and Im set up on the long wall. The room is pretty well damped, and Ive had some bass traps in the room, which did nothing much.

Im not a big fan of electostatics, and I wouldnt have enough room anyways. Beyond sound, design and build are also key. I love the wood, craftmanship that goes into the effort.. so I guess that would rule out super modern designs.
My present system is in my signature...

Mike

what about these?
http://www.proac-loudspeakers.com/d80.php
Only $11k used, here:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1217175572

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 04:39 pm »

With that kind of budget don't be too dismissive of the lesser expensive options. It would really suck to blow that roll and realize you could have had something better for le$$.

bluemike · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 05:07 pm »

I second the Sason's they would fill the room very nicely

I have a room similar in dimensions to yours 13x18 and the Sason's put a smile on my face everytime I sit down to listen

Steve and Robert and RSA do customer service right

Hogg · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 05:33 pm »

I'd suggest Verity Parsifal's.

Jim

Marbles · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 05:38 pm »

Quote from: bluemike on 9 Jun 2008, 05:07 pm

I second the Sason's they would fill the room very nicely

I have a room similar in dimensions to yours 13x18 and the Sason's put a smile on my face everytime I sit down to listen

Steve and Robert and RSA do customer service right

I've never heard a better speaker. it takes the right room though. In the right room they are magical.

If I had the right room for them, I would own them.

drphoto · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 05:54 pm »

I'll put in my vote for the Sasson's also. Rob says he doesn't have the right room, but they sounded damn good to me at his house. (although, I think he means he can't leave them pulled out away from the wall, as much as they need)

When demoed in my crappy sounding photo studio w/ loads of slap echo they weren't able to shine, so I also agree w/ the importance of having a properly treated room.

Even if I had unlimited funds, they'd still be my choice, along w/ a pair of top quality subs.

A nice bonus, is they maybe one of the coolest looking speakers out there.

Marbles · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 06:08 pm »

Joe, I heard them both at Ridge Street's World headquarters and many times at Eric Hider's.

Eric has the right room, The Ridge Street Headquarters also has a great room for them.

My room pales in comparison to the above mentioned ones, but you are correct, with 3 teenagers and two big dogs, I just can't bring speakers out into the room the way the Sasons need to be.