Speakers for 20-30K - Page 3

I really want to hear some Sonus Faber.

Danley is definitely an innovator and worth learning about. The Synergy Horn is a pretty neat solution. Blurring pro-sound and hi-fi is an excellent goal that anyone who likes either should be able to get behind.

Oh, yes, I should have said that I'm not suggesting the GH60 for home use, though it might work well. It is certainly intended for large spaces relative to a home office. I was pointing it out more in reference to MKtheater's mention of creating an SH50 array.

I'm just DYING to hear Don's CBT work! Even the JBL stuff using those patents I bet is just friggin AMAZING.

BTW you guys are hilarious...

I don't think any married man could own such things!

Me...

I'm single!

LOL

someday...

(the line array not the wife)

You could have a line array of wives producing a very coherent "NO!"

OK finished watching Don's keynote... for the third time!

LOL

Sorry Jed, Dave and Dennis!

I now know with certainty what my next speakers are going to be!

Once you get an SO things change for the worse in this hobby

PE is going to ship CBT36 on my b-day.

I wonder how many back orders they have for it. What a deal at $2k WITH CABS!

Some Hi-fi pr0nz !!!







and the kit

Solid-State's been pretty on point. The value just isn't there with many of these esoteric hi-fi brands. There's no reason many of those $20k+ speakers are worth more then something like a Salk Veracity HT3 other then bragging rights. The OP should attempt to find a line array and listen to see if the sound characteristics are appealing.

Another thing the OP should investigate are reference active monitors, like these Genelec 1038B's. The capabilities of a speaker like this are unmatched by most everything outside of comparing max outputs, which the Genelec is still no slouch (124db @ 2m).

The polar pattern and phase contours brings tears to you eyes!

NO NEAR FIELD INTERFERENCE!

Incredible...

I guess it's just Audio Artistry Inc. and JBL that use this technology?

I second the Salk Veracity line and Jim and friends DIY lineage and pro audio backgrounds and honest product with ABSOLUTE STUNNING FINISH and TOP NOTCH COMPONENTS.

Screw all those big fancy European Royalty sounding BS names... including their BS amps that screw GTGs LOL

LOL

This hobby/industry is full of so much BS you need fishing waders to drudge through it!

This is funny when everyone starts walking around to test performance at various axis at =3m40s



It reminds me of this...

How about Vandersteen 5a carbon or Salk SS10

Two of the greatest loudspeakers available but I think I might go Array 1400 in that formfactor.

nahh...

I'd employ Selah and Don on some CBT project!

The dude said 20-30k right! How about Raal and Accuton CBT with ATI power and Ground Sound or Xilica active xover! OR heck with that kinda money... Dolby Lake!

So if an active crossover is used and takes advantages of its capability to time-align the drivers, then it's not hifi? I think you have this thread confused with the "Biggest myths in audio that tick you off/General things in audio that tick you off" thread. Talks about audiophile bias!

No I'm talking a plane jane DR200 for example without the time alignment and those cheap piezo tweeters powered by Beringer or something like that. The PA type systems you guys are suggesting are almost as overpriced IMHO as the boutique stuff! The Meyer Sound X-10 STARTS AT $30,000 DOLLARS A PAIR! Personally I think that's TOTALLY INSANE.

Hey guys don't get me wrong I love that stuff! I love pro audio! I have a family of artists that are musicians so I'm not a total pro audio dolt. Danley is FAMOUS in this regard I know... and is the Salk Sound of pro audio where as Meyer is like Revel or Vandersteen. No comment of what I really think regarding their prices or anyone that thinks a loudspeaker is worth over $20k for that matter. Unless the cabinet has gold leaf and mother of pearl inlays done by a famous artist/craftsman.

The 20k figure doesn't apply to high driver count active xover/EQ bi/tri-amped line array!

The rest IMHO is BS.

Well, my high-sensitivity suggestion was the active-crossover Klipsch Jubilee for under 10K. It's not 30K. It's not PA. It was designed as the successor to the Klipschorn. Heck, if you want to stay away from active crossovers, a pair of Klipschorns is around 7K.

Just get the Revel Salon2 for $15K delivered to your front door from an authorized dealer.
Named Speaker of the Year by Stereophile & Soundstage. Outstanding speaker measurements and sound amazing.

Or the KEF Reference 207/2 for $12K delivered to your front door. It was named Speaker of the Year by Stereophile & S&V Magazine. Outstanding speaker measurements and sound amazing.

Triad Platinum: http://www.triadspeakers.com/products/irplcr.html



15K / pair.

Dual Seaton Submersive HP's: http://www.seatonsound.net/



$2.2K /each

That setup will price out at about $22K with shipping. Then spend a little more to get Mark Seaton to set it up for you. If you would like to hear the system, and you don't mind driving, you're about 2.5 hours from me in Lancaster, PA.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

Craig

Edit: I forgot, you'll need the pedestals for the Platinum's. They're about $1.5K, so add that to the price.

The only thing I hate is...

Brussels Sprouts

and

Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Michelle Malkin uhh...

Nuclear reactors...

Bad breath!

uhh

The only electronics I HATE is CHEAP PC cases that you cut yourself on like a stuck pig!

owhh and Steven Jobs... God rest his soul...

ROTFL

Regarding subs... for that kind of money I'd go to Salk Sound and get him to built me two of Brian Ding's direct servo subs. I could almost get TWO for the cost of the Seaton.

http://www.salksound.com/salkrythmik%20-%20home.htm

In case the OP doesn't know of Rythmik Audio

http://www.rythmikaudio.com/

If I really wanted crazy bass I'd go BFM Tuba HT or Danley DTS 20 again over Seaton and again CHEAPER.

Personally though I'd go A370-XLR2 with sealed 15" x 2 Salk Sound custom.

Fantastic choices but I just love helping people "stick it to the man" meaning large operations owned by HUGE holdings outfits worth millions if not billions and the dealer/middle men that ding 60% margin on there... and trying to sell $500 dollar power cords!

LOL

For those kinda dollars the line array is so much more value IMHO

Plus who wants to be like everyone else!

THINK DIFFERENT!

I just read Don's manual for the CBT36k and it's absolutely the BEST DIY MANUAL/PLANS I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!

KUDOS DON!

I like the sound of the Salon 2 from Revel. Also listen to the Martin Logan SummitX with a good sub cost approx. 17000. Another value to me would be the Klipsch LaScala for under 8000. Someone else mentioned Genelec and I agree on that front as well. Focal and Aerial would be good choices to audition.

Now SolidState has raised some good points and a different way of looking at things for sure. I agree that up to 60% of a high end consumer brand speaker cost is cabinet materials, limited production of the form factor etc not the speaker components.

However if you put mark up and margins aside the speakers suggested by those here in this thread sound great and that is not for debate. So if the OP wants to pay whatever if he feels it sounds the best and the OP has the coin so be it.

I had the same situation as you, granted not as much cash to piss away, but similar.

Variables;

Critical Listening, i.e. very picky about quality

Medium sized room, for now. I'm guessing the HT room is larger.

Music, for now. To be incorporated into an HT.


With the boutique and ridiculously expensive 2 channel systems, you lose the ability to properly incorporate them into an HT. You need a great 2 channel system with the ability to purchase matching speakers for the center and surrounds down the road.

I purchased S8's and upgraded from there. BTW, don't disregard the effectiveness of multichannel music. It's amazing and completely engulfing. It's also the future, so a matching set of surrounds and center will be important to you at some time.

With your budget, I would look into B&W 800's with the capacity to fully expand. But with B&W you will need some serious amps, especially the 800's. There are other brands with the same expandable options, look into those. You should be looking at the big picture, just my opinion.

Also, just from my experience, my Paradigm setup is nothing short of amazing in my 400sf. Full beryllium clarity, oozing with delicate tones and chest thumping mids and finished with 2 wonderful Rhythmic SE12's. I spent money on acoustic treatment's, speaker location and exterior noise cancellation. Probably the most important part, more so than the speakers.

Put simply, you don't have to break the bank.

I see your point.

I've bought Salon2. Almost bought KEF 207/2, but didn't have room, so settled and bought six KEF 201/2 + dual Rythmik subs instead.

So I know what the OP might be thinking. Might. Possibly.

$20K is a lot of money. No question. So there are a lot of factors involved here, not just value. At least to me.

Both KEF & Harman International are giant companies with millions in research, etc.

Having 6 professional publications saying things like "best speaker I've ever heard" and being named "Speaker of the year" & "Product of the Year" doesn't hurt.

Great aesthetics doesn't hurt.

Other things to consider. Don't know if it makes a huge difference to OP.

Salon2 are made in Mexico, and KEF 207/2 are made in England. The 207/2 is also $2-3 K less expensive. 207/2 cabinet is 27" deep, so placement might be issue. Salon2 is like 18" deep.

If I'm spending $20-$30K, I want 3rd party measurements and reviews and I want ultra accurate flat on-axis and off-axis frequency responses and other measurements as well. I want to listen to the speakers in person. Not just word of mouth. I want the whole enchilada. I want everything.

I definitely would not spend $20-30K on speakers that can't even measure better than the $300 Infinity P362 on-axis and off-axis FR.

I would seriously check out the Vandersteen 5a's or Carbon. They do pop up used on audiogon but I would stick with 5a's or better. Here's a Vandersteen dealer in NJ.
http://www.audioconnect.com/

+1 on Salk. The SoundScape 12 should be on the OP's short list.

The exact speaker I was going to recommend. I'm considering a pair myself to go with a Boulder integrated.

I would also check out Vienna Acoustics The Music for $27,500. The may be a little too current hungry for the Peachtree though.

From HTM:

"Vienna Acoustics Music’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +3.49/–6.02 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 48 Hz..."

http://www.hometheater.com/content/v...-labs-measures

I wouldn't spend $27,000 on speakers with that poor frequency response.