Opinions on these speakers

Looks like a good list. Have fun!

Of those, I've auditioned the b&w 804s, Focal (6 models amongst all of their lines. None that you listed though. Didnt know they had 936 or 927 be.), and the PSB t8. I've auditioned a total of about 25 speakers so far. For the moment, I am heavily leaning toward the b&w's. Martin Logan electrostats have me hooked in a bad way, but tough to pull the trigger on those due to mid-bass issues, price, and difficult loads.

My opinions in a nutshell. Of these three lines, I personally found the Focal line to be either the most forward and/or ear-fatiguing. The 1037be is an awesome speaker, however. Very generally speaking, if you can swing it, I recommend getting the largest size of any line you choose from focal. For instance 918 is missing too much oomph compared to 928, or the same for the bookshelf 1007be, obviously. Even heard the ($90k Grande utopia). Profile line is too forward for me. Choral line is very nice, but just not quite enough detail for me. The Be tweeters are unbelievably unforgiving with old recordings.

PSB t8 has probably the largest soundstage (3x 8" woofers I believe). Issues with undefined/boomy bass several times. Otherwise, pretty balanced, detailed, spacious, just most barely forward. You should be able to find these at much, much less than msrp.

the b&w's are the most linear to my ears. Detractors say they are too bright? They weren't any brighter to me than the psb, and less forward than most of the jm-labs lines. The b&w's midrange and bass has excellent speed, linearity and definition to my ears. The higher registers could use a bit more "richness" or some sort of warmer coloration at times imo, but are very open, with most excellent separation. Sometimes I found some passages to be a bit of what I call "nasal", and Ive used that term for the Be speakers as well. The speaker can find it itself to be forward at times, and it can be surprising when it is the mid's that are so, but rarely.

I would love to hear sometime all of the other speakers you listed.

bqv1910

Try this thread about Dali speakers. Helicon 800 vs 400 depends on your room size. Most questions about Dali can be answered there.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...highlight=dali

Your EAD PM2000 would be a excellent match for these speakers.

All very different sounding speakers (at least the ones I've heard), but not a "bad" choice among them. Looks like a pretty big price spread though. At a glance I'm guessing you've got speakers representing a spread between about $2k to $6k, unless you're considering used.

Scott

Ah. That makes more sense. The only ones on that list that I've heard first hand are the Revels (both the F32's and F52's) and the Paradigm 100's. I've heard stuff in the Dynaudio Audience line, but not the Contours. Same with the PSB's--heard the old Stratus Golds but not the Platinums.

I can't say enough good things about the Revels, but take that with a grain of salt because I am admittedly a big Revel fan. But, if I had to say something negative about the Revels (particularly the F52's) it would be that they can be BRUTALLY honest. I find them to be very accurate/uncolored, which I count as a plus, but not everyone would. If you're looking for a more descriptive opinion on either, I'll be happy to go on and on...

The Paradigms are another great choice, but not it's not really fair to compare a $2k list to a $6k list speaker. Plenty of silky smooth highs and mid's, but if I had to nit pick, I'd say that they can sound a bit boomy on the bottom end. But, that's really nit picking...

Wish I had more first hand experience on some of the others to share...but such is life.

Scott

For $2,000 the Strata Mini is highly recommended.

bqv1910,

You may want to add the NHT Classic Four's to your list.

Actually, no. I have the Concertas right now. I'm a little reluctant to buy used from places like Audiogon (even though I know many, many people have great experiences) and wasn't quite ready to plunk down the money that it would have taken to get me into a full Performa setup.

Don't take it so much as a comparison as a suggestion to listen to them all and see what you think. With the stuff you have on your short list, you're in for a good time...and possibly a really tough decision.

Enjoy.

Scott

Last week I started a search for speakers in the $4k range. So far I've listened to the B&W 804, the Gallo 3.1, and the Audio Physic Tempo. I liked the Audio Physic the best, then the B&W and the Gallo was a distant 3rd. The search continues.

While I am always hesitant to blame a particular "material" because I think that many materials can be well executed if the design is good, I would offer forth my thoughts on the issue of people who are looking for detail, without being bright.... crispness, without being edgy.... forwardness, without being "in your face".....
DON'T assume that because some people think some speakers are too bright, you will neccesarily feel that way, but DO take care to listen to a variety of recordings for an extended period of time to hear if "fatigue" is an issue for you.

KEF Reference MODEL 205/2 or MODEL 207/2 might be worth a look. I heard the 205/2 while demoing some McIntosh equipment... Quite nice...

I think its more than fair to compare speakers of different costs. Some speakers are very expensive because of their exotic cabinets and finish, like when you buy furniture, is a $6k couch more comfortable than a $2k couch?

I wish some of the reviewers wouldn't get so hung up in the prices for speakers either. A $2000 pair of speakers with a vinyl finish can sound better than a $4000 pair in a nice wood veneer. After listening to many speakers though, I personally think you need to spend about $2k list or more for a great pair of speakers (so at least $1000 each speaker). Every set of speakers I've heard below that has had some weakness or the other when compared to a reference type speaker. After $2k, the differences get much smaller.

One thing I have noticed for the most part (and this is just my observation), I would rather have a most companies' high-end speaker in the $1-2k range, than several other companies' low-end speaker in the same price range.


And these are what, $10k? Now your really getting up there. Its not that their not worth it, but there are just so many great sounding speakers in the $2-$6k range.

No but sometimes the differance might be just $300 , in which case I might go for the real wood veneer.


Keep listening to higher-end gear, your tastes will likely improve. While there will certainly be more speakers that DON'T impress you given their high price, there will undoubtedly still be some that do seem worth every penny....of course only if you can imagine having that many pennies.

A few months ago I concluded about 8 months of auditioning by purchasing a pair of Revel F-52's.

From your list here are my comments:

B&w Nautilus 804 <- seemed to me to be poorly defined; better choices for the $$$
Focal jm lab Electra 936/927Be/1027Be <- to hot on the HF, wimpy on the bass
Revel performa F-32/F52 <- F52 was neutral, low distortion and capable of vast dynamic range. The F-32 not as capable on the low end but still nice.
PSB Platinum T6/T8 <- more distortion than some other speakers, sound image not well defined
Von schweikert VR4jr/Sr <- didn't hear
Dali helicon 400/800 <- didn't hear
Onix Rocket 1000/ Mini Strata <- didn't hear
Whaferdale Opus 2/3 <- didn't hear
Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20 <- ok, maybe not as dynamic as some others. good for the $$$
Dynaudio Contour 1.8-Mark II <- didn't hear
Paradigm Studio 100v3 <- a little hot on the HF, not as refined as some other, but good for $$$

In this category you should listen to the Energy Veritas. I almost bought those, except I didn't like the cosmetics.

I've compared the B&W 804 and the Revel F50a when auditioning speakers for my home. Both were setup on a McIntosh MA6900 and Audio Research CD7. Both are great speakers but the Revels give much better detail, especially in the bass region. I also listened to them on a Classe system, forget which one exactly. You can't go wrong with either, but I found the Revels much easier on the ears especially for extended listening (listening for a long time, they won't tire you). My setup was a Mc MA6900, Pioneer DV-59AVi, and Cary 303 with Harmonic Tech cables. I have since sold the Mc and Cary but the Revels are a fixture. =D

Paradigm Signature S2, S4, and maybe S6 are in your price range.

Used B&W N802 also in your price range.

Thiel CS 2.4

NHT xD (you could sell your amp to push this into your "range".

Just want to toss out the Usher 6 or Compass series...

Great looking and sounding speakers.

Ty

Thiel CS2.4 are very nice but for larger rooms. You need about 8' between you and the speakers for the drivers to integrate very well.

Since my room isnt large enough, I went with the B&W 804s which I felt made all of my music sound good at less than 8' distance away.

I didnt like paradigms as much as they made my ears hurt after 3 minutes of listening. This was the studio series through the Signature series (V1).

bqv1910,

It's pretty important to hear your speakers - reviews and word of mouth only get you so far. What exactly is your budget? See if there is a local HT get-together club in your neck of the woods. You may be able to borrow speakers for in-home auditions...

Also, can you describe your future HT room? That will help determine proper speakers, placement, and possible acoustic treatments.

I have a Vandersteen surround setup in my room. I have heard friends' Paradigm, Magnepan, and Martin Logan home theater setups, and they all were excellent, too.

Good luck in your search!

- Steve O.

Whoops! i thought they were around $4000..

Yes, and the reverse as well, but it may be a moot point when your wife laughs at your suggestion of a speaker covered in shelf paper to sit beside her beautiful furniture.