Speakers for 20-30K - Page 2

My budget was a little higher than yours when I was looking about 20 months back, I auditioned several speakers but the ones that stood out most were the Focal Scala Utopias, Revel Salon2, Magico Q3, Hansen Prince and Rockport somethings (can't remember the name but they were about 40k/pair).

The Focals, Revels and Magico stood out the most: I eventually ended up with the Salon 2s because they were the most accurate and also had the best vertical integration between the drivers (smooth, seamless wall of sound). The Scalas had amazing bass and sounded very good as well. Keep in mind however that the Revels and Magicos are somewhat hard to drive so a commensurate amount of money will have to be spent on the associated amplifiers/electronics. The integrated amp you listed at 400WPC might do the job but I have found a dedicated amp to do best when powering speakers of this caliber.

I'm looking to audition the Magico Q5's next based on all the rave reviews - the madness never ends

I know everybody thinks I'm crazy when I mention this. LOL

I'd also get my cerumen (earwax) removed at the doctor before I did any serious auditioning. Doctors will tell you they should leave some inside the ear but if you've never had it done before I'd get him to blow all of the wax out with water.

I know people don't believe this is affecting their hearing especially older gents. It's those older gents that have the most problems as well! I was at a major trade show and while we were looking at speakers and gear I glanced into the ears of some of these older AV guys... DUDE...

They have so much wax you can even see it from the outside... Most of the guys over 55 have a LIFE TIME of wax buildup!

Totally OBLIVIOUS it's affecting their hearing...

DUH!


BELIEVE

If you don't want to go to the doctor to have it done this product will work. http://www.doctor-easy.com/

I seriously wonder how much of Presbycusis is actually BLOODY EAR WAX for males over 50!

PS place some olive oil in your ears the night before so the wax softens. 4-6 drops will do in each ear

I would look at Focal Electra, Kef Reference, Dynaudio Confidence, or the high end Revels.

In all honesty I have no bias as I represent no line card and don't own ANY of the products. I can only go with experience hearing similar designs and having a DIY layman understanding of loudspeaker design as well as building various kits.

If I was in your price bracket I'd employ Rick Craig, Don Keele and Marshall Kay on a line array job or I'd employ CLD on a conventional design.

Please take the time babak147 to research these options as I'm most certain you will be impressed with what they can do for you.

Work on the weekends too eh? Bummer.

cheers,

AJ

Below your budget at around 10K (inclusive of active crossover), but I'd arrange to hear some Klipsch Jubilees with someone that owns them if I were you.

I've done the tour..............

Aerial 20T V2's..................

Good lord that looks awesome!

Well I'll post some line arrays to counter...

LOL

And here is a URL to Craig's custom work...

http://www.selahaudio.com/id198.html

Just think about it babak147 you could be in that list!

There is no way in hell you're getting your money's worth with the big names. Especially the Dynaudio C2s at over $12,000 for an MTTM.

IMHO you can't justify a speaker that costs the kinda money some outfits ask unless it has the driver count and active xover to go with it.

I would look at the jubilees, the Danley offerings, but I have to agree with solid state on this and check out the CBT line arrays with raal tweeters and pick the best woofers. I have heard a $50k per speaker line array and it was awesome, and I would guess these would be better based on the drivers. Someday I am trying out those symmetricas myself!

How about the new Procella P860 ...



Cheers,

omg an avs forum first!!!

Someone that actually agrees with Solid-State!!! And manages to do so without putting me down or indirectly insulting me. HUH you must not be involved in AV sales or distro!

ROTFL

I never thought I'd see the day!!!



Here is Don's site with technical stuff worth researching OP.

http://www.xlrtechs.com/dbkeele.com/CBT.php

Checkout this vintage picture of Don



Reminds me of one of my most favorite vintage computer ads.



And Don appears to have a great sense of humor and has np making fun of himself! I bet he's just a great guy to meet!

I am basing this off of a couple of things. Don Keele reviewed one of my favorite HT speakers back when and liked them, the M&K S-5000! I have heard a line array that sound awesome so I figured with his experience, tastes, driver selections, and my experience these would be killer! I have always liked pro linearrays which uses different drivers an these CBT's remind me of those but with excellent drivers. The Danley SH-50 is designed to be an array as well so I wonder how that would do with like 3 of them in an array! Limitless spl and dynamics for sure but not that pretty.

My bad man. I misunderstood. I thought you meant installer/designer.
Then I agree 100%. With money like that you could have someone build you exactly what you want.

I actually don't think your crazy. I'm only 28 and have been talking about flushing my ears for a few months now. It supposed to be amazing once it is done and I guess it make a big difference.

That PA stuff isn't even in the same realm/galaxy as the stuff I'm talking about. That stuff is designed for active xover with signal processing for time alignment, EQing and all kinds of stuff and the amps required and their power requirements is RIDICULOUS. Plus it's 70V gear with transformers and autoformers. I think you PA suggestion guys are NUTS if you think it compares to "high fidelity".

TOTALLY NUTS OR HAVE POOR HEARING OR BOTH (I'm needling ya guys take it easy man)

IMHO it's not even in the same galaxy let alone solar system...

solid-state, what are you running for speakers and sub set-up? I'm guessing a line array. Just curious. I like the look of some of them the only ones I don't like are the ones that sit directly on top of the bass driver. IMO, it doesn't look right to me. Some of the others are pretty cool looking though. I'd like to hear one sometime.

Incredibly, not one mention of JBL. For that $$$$$ you are definitely in 1400 Array territory, with $10k or so to spare. I have the K2S9900, which is $44k plus, but I've heard the 1400 Array and it's hard to beat at its street price. I've attended several shows with brands featured here, and they all sound various degrees of okay to pretty darn good, but the 1400 Arrays kick their butts. Now at $22k for the Revel Salon2 speaker pair, it's a real contest. If I had less than $20k the 1400 Array is the answer. Up to $30k or even $40k, then the Revel Salon2 is the "are you kidding me" choice. I don't own Revel Salon2s, but if I couldn't afford the K2 S9900s, I would have the Salon2s right now.

Okay, the Array 1400 is a bit of an ugly duckling, but are you after the best sound or the prettiest girl?

Definitely agree on the Salon2, I really wanted to take home the Magico Q3 or the Focal Scalas to a lesser extent, but the Salon2 is an outstanding speaker that hits way above its price range. Not the prettiest looking speaker (but better than the fugly JBL's LOL) but it's definitely a look that grows on you. One lady friend commented that it looks like a "robotic phallus"

May be I'll scratch my Magico itch with the Q5's next...

That is Mr. Ed Meitner's GOLDEN REFERENCE.

My good friend Kevin tells me Ed thinks it's one of the best loudspeakers ever designed.

I've heard them in Calgary a while back.

FRIGGING AMAZING

PS I'd still take Don's line arrays over it

Lyric Hifi on E. Post Rd. in White Plains had the Revels, Focals and Hansens on display when I was last up in Westchester, I would definitely start there. They also carry Mark Levinson, Esoteric, Simaudio Moon and Audio Research which are the electronics brands I use for the front end.

Im sure the line array speakers are cool, I have never heard one, but I can under stand the science behind the design.

I get you have a passion, but I don't get the apparent hate for Dynaudio. Dynaudio is not the best speakers I have heard, but in that budget, it is. Revel Salons are awesome too. TAD were the best Ive heard regardless of price, but almost double. Not everyone will like the same speakers. Best thing the OP can do is audition recommended brands and decide whats best for him.

Nope I'm POOR and have yet to make my mark in this field.

I've built various budget bookshelfs and played around with the cheaper drivers. I did build one of Jed's Dynamic series speakers but it's the older design using XT25. Bob Carver uses/used that tweet. I think the best way for someone to know what kinda speaker they like is to be familiar with the properties of various drivers/transducers that are out there. I haven't done any xover work/cabinet design and have entirely relied on the work of others as public domain DIY projects. I have though used active DSP xover. As a learning tool it's STELLAR as it really helped me to understand what parameters correlate to what acoustic affects I heard. I have so so much to learn and I wish I had a mentor.

All I can say to any audio nut... once you go down this road you'll NEVER EVER LOOK BACK EVER!

For the kind of money some of these outfits are asking I could go to a clients house, built him a 600 square foot workshop, equip it with a CnC router, band saw, table saw, drill press and a stack of MDF and various veneers

AND

have money left over to built a few projects using even bloody Scanspeak! Perhaps not Accuton though :giggle

At the 2011 RMAF Peachtree was demo'ing the Grand integrated with the Sonus Faber Elipsa SE (23k) and it sounded outstanding. One of my favorites at the show honestly.....

I will also throw a vote in for Revel. Very well balanced. Heard it with an all Mark Levison front end. I would most certainly make sure to audition them if I were you. I also thought the Wilson Sasha's were very good too. A lot of outfits used them at RMAF as well to good effect.

You are really at a sweet spot for speaker choices and as can be seen from such a variety of recommendations opinions can vary widely, just find what makes you happy and enjoy......

You hit the MOTHERLOAD brother audio nut!

When in NY hookup with Jed Kunz or checkout his wares at Clearsound Audio on Long Island. He one of the most respected designers in DIY and I believe he's now gone PRO!

I'd love to have you hear his speakers for comparison to others like the beloved Salon2...



Duet 10 vs. Salon2...

FIGHT!!!

PS EJ loves his wears so much he used his speakers to feature Wyred for Sound gear at recent meets! That SAYS A LOT as EJ was mentored by Nelson Pass and currently has the BEST Sabre32 DAC on the market and prob the best preamp as well!

Duet 10 using AirCirc 6600, C90 and W26 (kitted it cost as high as $3500 for parts alone. A Jed custom for that prob... under $10k ?)



It's about as flat as SASKATCHEWAN !!!

MY GOD THE C90 IS ONE AMAZING DRIVER!!!

Latest designs use Raal not the 6600 as well so one can only imagine the performance.

Can you guys only imagine what could be done with a well to do client, the C90 and Raal, and one of the GURU line array guys!

With TacT active xover DSP digital domain "power DAC"!!!


I think that could take on the best in the world at any price... In fact I don't believe I've ever seen an array of C90s yet.

Eh, needling aside, you are way off base here with regard to the Danley line. Virtually none of your description has anything to do with their design. At all. You are literally dismissing them out of ignorance which isn't a good thing.

Now, this isn't to say that your suggestion of a properly designed line array isn't a good idea. It is. Not all line arrays are great. For example, I never thought that the massive Dali Megaline sounded worthy of the praise it received. Good, but not "OMG, sell the house!" awesome. I would love to hear the ones you've listed, the curved CBT36 in particular.

Back to Danley, they have a unique line array solution called the GH60. Similar in function to the CBT36 (or any properly configured curved line array), but effectively from a point source.

Your right guilty as charged. I'll EDUCATE myself about their product. Being point source is great for a large venue but home use? Excuse my pro audio ignorance. You'd have to have one hell of a home theater in terms of size.

The CBT36 is so intriguing for a DIYer and the price is EXCELLENT from PE.