What speakers give the most bang for the buck?

planet10 · « **Reply #20 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 06:33 am »

Quote from: Freo-1 on 22 Sep 2008, 11:36 pm

OK, all you audio gurus out there:

What speakers give the most bang for the buck?

My personal vote for the best bang for the buck speakers are the Polk Audio LSI series.

Best bang for the buck has to be a proven full-range project you diy yourself... even truer if not much money is involved...

In the late 70s i sold Polks but haven't heard many recently. i attended a Polkfest last year and a set of diy Fonkens outclassed a set of Polk LSi9. $225 for full zoot drivers + cost to build the boxes.

Of course i 'm predudiced, but it seemed the general concensus from the attendees.

Associated gear always has to be considered -- and the room too...

dave

2gumby2 · « **Reply #21 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 11:11 am »

I consider the Usher Audio V series of speakers to be a great value. After hearing the V-601 and Be 718 side by side at RMAF a couple of years ago, I bought the V-601. It sounded MUCH more pleasant to my ears than the 4X more expensive Be. Tyler Acoustics and Selah Audio also have some very nice sounding high value offerings.

Imperial · « **Reply #22 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 12:23 pm »

In the Nordic planes of existence I would say that Audiovector M3 Sig's are really alot of bang for the buck.
They have been around for years now (must be 10 years now I think!!), and they are easy to get hold of used as well.
They are upgradable in many ways and just play lovely! Can be amped all the way up to one amp pr drive unit!!
Tri-amped that is. There is even an active filter for this use.
This is a speaker that in my ears are one of the very few that have a perfect tweeter!! On par with the best from Dynaudio this!
Or Scan Speak then.
The Audiovector M3 Signature tweeter is, and I have always thought this to be true, on of the top 5 tweeters ever made!! IMHO!!
The later version have a downfiring bass port, so it's a bit more compact than the older types. Now it's better than ever I'd say!

It's one of the speakers that will just always work - almost with any amp there is actually! So I say it's a bang for the buck!!!!
Right Now'adays they are called Audiovector S3 Signature by the way. The S series replaced the Mi series a while back.

Imperial

strider · « **Reply #23 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 12:31 pm »

I've been very impressed with my Fonkens so far, even without taking cost into consideration. The very natural tonality and precise imaging were things I expected by reading about them. Where I was wrong was thinking they'd be my "girl with a guitar" speakers, having a pair of Polk SDA monkey coffins
to rock out with. Of course they shine with Diana Krall and Billie Holiday, but I've never heard live 'Dead sound so right.

To think the things cost about $160 makes me smile. Unfortunately, I don't think they'll be welcome at this years Polkfest though. Oh well, more for me.

Scott F. · « **Reply #24 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 01:01 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 23 Sep 2008, 02:39 am

I've heard a few speakers......

In the $500.00 to $600.00 range....Green Mountain Audio Europa....and Odyssey Epiphony...

Two good buys...

+1 for the Odysseys (I haven't heard the GMAs)

Another one to toss into the mix is the Aperion Audio 6 series (I don't have any experience with the 4 or 5 series). If you enjoy front hall sound, these are very nice sounding and affordable speakers. Don't forget the smaller ACIs and Ushers either. The are quite good too.

Actually, there is no shortage of nice sounding sub-$1000 speakers on the market. There's something out there for just about anyones personal tastes.

ebag4 · « **Reply #25 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 03:07 pm »

I am surprised I haven't seen Ed's Horns listed yet, 1 vote for the Hornshoppe Horns.

A couple of entries in the DIY genre, Hawthorne SIs with Augie and the GR Research OB5s.

I have direct experience with all of these speakers and enjoyed each very much.

edit: my experience with the OB5s is only my modified version but even in the stock version these have to be some of the best "Bang for the Buck" speakers around if you can do a bit of DIY, highly recommended.

Just my $.02

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #26 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 03:27 pm »

For under $1K, NHT Classic 3's. $1K-2K Magnepan MG12's, 1.6QR's, NHT Classic 4's.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #27 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 03:44 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 23 Sep 2008, 02:39 am

In the $500.00 to $600.00 range....Green Mountain Audio Europa....and Odyssey Epiphony...

Two good buys...

Couldn't agree more.

Goosepond · « **Reply #28 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 04:42 pm »

Interesting idea, "bang for the buck".

The consensus seems to be that this would imply relatively inexpensive speakers.

I disagree. I paid my bucks ($2500) and continually enjoy a bang all out of proportion to the cost of my SP Tech Timepiece Mini's.

Way to go Bob!

Gene

WerTicus · « **Reply #29 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 04:48 pm »

Tyson · « **Reply #30 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 04:53 pm »

Any speaker you love so much that you keep long term is good "Bang for the Buck". For example, my VMPS RM40's certainly were not cheap, but I've had them several years and have no plans to sell them in the near or intermediate future. That got me off the "Speaker Merri-go-round", which saves me a lot of $$ in the buy-resell-buy cycle. My advice - listen to a lot of stuff, and buy what you truly love, regardless of cost. It will make you happier in the short term and give you better bang for the buck in the long term.

lazydays · « **Reply #31 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 05:02 pm »

under a thousand dollars, I still would go with a good used pair of Meadowlarks Kestrel hotrods without any hesitation. The Soliloquy 5.0 monitors are nice and work well with low powered amps.
gary

lazydays · « **Reply #32 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 05:09 pm »

Quote from: timind on 23 Sep 2008, 01:37 am

I owned the Polk LSi-15s for nearly a year. They are very nice speakers but ultimately couldn't keep me entertained.
As for best bang for buck though I have two favorites. Vandersteen 1Cs are a really hard to beat for the $, either used or new. My personal favorite in the best bang for the buck though is the Meadowlark Audio Kestrel hot Rods. Of course they are only available on the used market but still a pure joy too listen to.
You might note that both of those speakers have time aligned drivers and simple 1st order crossovers. I believe that's what does it for me. They offer a smooth 3 dimensional sound I have trouble getting from other designs. My listening room is only 12X13 so large speakers are out and monitors have never thrilled me.
My first pair of Kestrels were purchased five or six years ago when the company was still operating. Since buying them I have owned speakers priced much higher and would let the Kestrels sit in the closet. Every time I would tire of the new sound (always happened) the Kestrels would come out and amaze me. A few months ago I sold my Proacs and am sticking with the Kestrels.

I replaced a very nice pair of hotrods with the new Odysseys, and the difference took a lot of getting used to. Mostly in the bass (they'll go down to 25Hz). For vocals nothing beats those old Kestrel hotrods period! I was in the hunt for a pair of Herons, and missed a new pair at the factory closeout by minutes! So I bought the Odysseys instead ($2800 I think).
gary

lazydays · « **Reply #33 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 05:13 pm »

Quote from: byteme on 23 Sep 2008, 03:36 am

Odyssey has to be mentioned here in bang for the buck. Depending how big the buck is the Lorelei's are silly.

if you listen to rock the Odysseys are hard to beat. They do acoustic jazz very well too. So much bass that you'll be looking for the subwolfer.
gary

dweekie · « **Reply #34 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 08:24 pm »

Bang for the buck could be interpreted in several ways. From a pure performance-to-price perspective, the cheaper speakers easily win. The AV123 X-LS and ELT525 come to mind as some great complete speakers with influence by Danny Richie. From a parts markup vs the competetion, the Hawthorne Sterling Silver Iris wins fairly easily. While the price of the Hawthorne is several thousand dollars, there is no one close to offering the same level of parts at anywhere close to the same price. For diy, I think just about everything ties for best bang for the buck since you get exactly what you want.

jose · « **Reply #35 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 08:56 pm »

Under $300: PSB Alpha B1
Under $3,000: Odyssey Lorelei

(Musical preferences here: classical.)

Wayner · « **Reply #36 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 09:26 pm »

No one has mentioned a vintage speaker, such as my 2 pair of Dynaco A25XL's. A 2-way system with a 1" soft domed tweeter and a 10" ported woofer, all made by SEAS of Norway back in the early 1970's. These speakers will conquer most under $1k in imaging and speed, though the speaker technology of the day may have their dynamic range slightly less than today's design. Still, for about $250, wow!

Otherwise many of you have nice suggestions. I do like my more commercial Paradigm Studio 40v.3's (now 40v.4's) that can be had for alittle more than $1k.

I would have to say if I had a little more of a budget, I would buy the Salk Songtower. Plenty-o-speaker (full range), good looks, and superbly engineered and built.

Wayner

Builder Brad · « **Reply #37 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 09:45 pm »

Build/buy the Linkwitz Orions:

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/

forget about all of the other constraints/limitations and minimise room effects of the traditional box design.

There are probably better performing speakers out there, but you would be hard pushed to better these at the price point.

Brad

jono2channel · « **Reply #38 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 09:47 pm »

There is no value like DIY. Is that a part of this conversation? My Selah 3-ways are killer. Very inexpensive compared to similar commercial offerings.

AmpDesigner333 · « **Reply #39 on:** 23 Sep 2008, 09:54 pm »

Danny of GR Research (http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2) has kits, and the A/V-3 looks very much like a pair I built from a no-longer-available Madisound kit ("Big AV", very good but $810/pr). The A/V-3 is only 339/pr. Yes, semi-DIY.