fttu has provided excellent advice. Speakers are very personal choices because everyone seems to "hear" them somewhat differently with preferences about range, tonality, timbre, etc. widely differing. You need to audition (not only stores but if possible area audiophiles willing to let you hear their systems) and research offerings in your budget range. And then there's available space and wife approval as to how they integrate in the room.

I've had numerous brands and speaker designs over the years. For me floor standing bipolar speakers have resonated such that my main stereo runs tweaked and subwoofer augmented vintage Magneplanar IIIa's and my Home Theater 7+2 system features Definitive Technology BP8B + C/L/R2002 (front -center).

Details here: https://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/320.html

quote:

Personally, my wife limited me to $2k for my speakers this last time since my integrated amp was $7k. I chose a pair of GoldenEar Triton 7’s, which I love, but I would have gotten the Triton 5’s if they didn’t just have the display in-house at the time. I just didn’t want to wait since they had to be ordered, and the 7’s were there.

Good luck and have fun in your search!

I have the Golden Ear Triton 2 Plus’s with their Super Sat 50 as a center channel. The 2+’s are about 10” taller than ftttu’s speakers… and the towers each have powered subwoofers.

Love them. Never regretted buying them. BUT I would not call them particularly “warm”… I would call them “accurate”… which is word I hear often when friends and acquaintances listen to movies or music through them.

Grab a few CDs that you absolutely LOVE and go to a store with a demo room. Listen to your favorites in their speakers and make upyour mind.

The hen, it will be to your home acoustics to deliver what the speakers can do.

Your ears are the definitive judge, the room is a big question mark until you place your speakers correctly.

Never listened seriously to Sonos stuff but methinks they’re on a completely different fame. Not serious music listening, more background stuff. Again, never heard them in a dedicated situation.

0-0

quote:

Originally posted by goose5:
To keep within my budget I bought used off of Craigslist.

^^ THIS ^^

Priority #1 for women after the wedding seems to be getting rid of the husband's floor standing speakers. I got an amazing deal on Definitive Technology speakers from a newlywed. I moved my old DefTech mains to the rear and put the new to me DefTechs up front.

quote:

Originally posted by 0-0:
Grab a few CDs that you absolutely LOVE and go to a store with a demo room. Listen to your favorites in their speakers and make upyour mind.

The hen, it will be to your home acoustics to deliver what the speakers can do.

Your ears are the definitive judge, the room is a big question mark until you place your speakers correctly.

Never listened seriously to Sonos stuff but methinks they’re on a completely different fame. Not serious music listening, more background stuff. Again, never heard them in a dedicated situation.

0-0

I believe I'm in the same neck-of-the-woods as Veeper so I'll say we used to have a couple great stores. Classic Stereo and Stereo Showcase which have been gone for at least 2 decades?
I've gotten Marantz, Polk, Klipsch, and Sony ES equipment from them in the past but I'm not sure if anything else is around that replaced or competed w/ them...
Now I'm seeing a Misfitz Audio behind Schuler Books. I'll have to check them out next time in the area. You might want to also, Veeper.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by goose5:
To keep within my budget I bought used off of Craigslist.

^^ THIS ^^

Priority #1 for women after the wedding seems to be getting rid of the husband's floor standing speakers. I got an amazing deal on Definitive Technology speakers from a newlywed. I moved my old DefTech mains to the rear and put the new to me DefTechs up front.

I've been thinking about moving my 6B's to the rear and picking up new front mains. Thought it might be overkill. But, since it's been done to your satisfaction perhaps I'll give it a whirl someday.

Look into Vandersteen. Then listen to them.

Paradigm Reference. But mine are a mix of V1's and V2's when the prices were more reasonable.

Soundbars and Bluetooth Speakers and Bose have killed good audio.

But modern AV Receivers and/or Processors using Audyssey or ARC have outstanding room correction EQ that helps any speaker sound better.

If I was starting over I'd go Martin Logan.

Much of this has been mentioned but nonetheless true.
Listening is your best choice.

However, there are extreme challenges including actually being able to hear a speaker.
Other factors in listening include being able to listen in your own environment which includes similar room acoustics, similar program material you you intend to listen to with similar equipment.
Actual experience listening can affect your choice as well ~ ie a trained ear of sorts.

Back in the day when I worked for an Audio Store (later transitioned to AV) we sold a wide variety of speakers.
A cheap line made with cheaper drivers, cabinets and built quality and sound.
MANY could not tell the difference and bought simply on price.
Others had a distinct sound that some wanted.

Example: Cerwin Vega ~ boomy, loud and loued by rockers.
Acoustic Research ~ more accurate but less efficient and loved by those with better equipment, classical music especially but not exclusively.

As a salesmen we had time to listen to a LOT of speakers and not everything is for everybody.
Sound profile, budget, intended use (music), supporting equipment all play into how we presented and sold the speakers.

Ultimately getting a recommendation/reviews can only go so far - listen if you can.

Additionally, Craigslist is a great source for higher end speakers at a great price ~ a lot don't listen anymore, wives don't want them in their living room, they are big and harder to resell except locally.

Keep in mind also many of these companies have commercialized their products from initially being a technically sound product.
Not that there isn't any redeeming value but some are including Klipsch and Bose and others ~ so be aware.

Agree - listening over specs and recommendations is best.

I have at best a rudimentary technical knowledge. But I've had the benefit of having a number of acquaintances who considered themselves audiophiles with never ending pursuits of improved components and such. Personally never understood spending so much money but their choice (to my benefit ).

I've come to realize what types of sounds I like and don't like -- you can't tell from paper specs and reviews. And accuracy and personal preference, for example are two different things. Components work together with the room and source content leading what you may or may not actually hear. For example, as I've aged, I think I'm losing high frequency hearing. So while that may have mattered to me 20 years ago, it matters less now in component and speaker selection.

Depending on where you are, Craiglist may be a great source. In 40 years, I think I've only bought new speakers from a store once (except for a sub that was bought recently). I've always bought used off craiglist with good results except for one instance involving an energy home theatre set (the set was in great condition; I just didn't like the sound but I bought it based on reviews w/o listening to them first).

I've discovered what sound I like and I search patiently for it to become available. In my case, I like the sound from Integra receivers / amps and Paradigm speakers. There are other options but that's what I seek out first.

Everyone is different. What you hear may be different from what someone else hears because your ears are different. The way I think about it - some people are color blind. They may look at a painting or a car and have a different opinion than you. Maybe not so dramatic but enough to result in different opinions.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Additionally, Craigslist is a great source for higher end speakers at a great price ~ a lot don't listen anymore, wives don't want them in their living room, they are big and harder to resell except locally.

Any advice for vetting used speakers? Often times, I'll find a model I would probably like but I can't audition it - you meet someplace public like a coffee shop. Many of the speakers I look at are 10-15 years old. I could look for obvious mechanical issues (ie - cone material tears and such), but other than that, any suggestions? Or can one assume that if the cone/dome mechanicals looks good, the speaker is probably good? I'd rather not have to replace components, cones, domes, foam and such.

The only used speakers I ever bought without inspection and audition were my Magneplanar IIIa's in December 1999.

I knew if there were problems I could ship them to the factory in White Bear Lake, MN for refurbishment and those costs plus purchase price were still very very attractive...too good to pass up. Young owner was moving for a new job and his new digs wouldn't be big enough for them. He had no local interest and was rather desperate to sell. He provided credible history / documentation including details of a replaced ribbon tweeter. And he was willing to deliver them in person from 6+ hours away (on his way to his new home). All in all very fortuitous transaction. I had been looking for MGIIIa Maggies for several years. As an aside first heard Magneplanar (Tympani model in this case) speakers in the mid '70s and lusted after Maggies after that.

Turned out to be a huge bargain. Yes I did mod the crossovers (not needed but such was widely touted as a significant audible improvement) within 2 years which included new higher quality capacitors but still....

They're still in service today. No delamination or other issues due no doubt to the low humidity in this area.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bald1,

Wow I’ve had a huge week with the kids starting school, and didn’t get back to this as quickly as I’d like. (4 kids at 3 different schools.)

Thank you so much for all the replies so far. I did neglect a few details and for that I apologize. I’m looking to spend around $1000/ea (that’s “ish”) for two speakers, if that is indeed the prudent path forward.

The current setup in my living room is two Sonos Play5 (2nd Gen I believe) and a Sonos Sub. All of which can be appropriated elsewhere if it makes sense to do so. I’ve been playing with the Sonos TruePlay a bit, as well as placement of the sub. The Play5 speakers are actually mounted on a wall, in the midst of a “photo wall / shelves” that my wife had me build. They look great, but I’m not above some patching and painting, if need be.

Ultimately my vision, if warranted, is to replace the Play5 speakers. I love the Play5. They sound fantastic. They don’t resonate like wood speakers though, and I’m not sure I can exactly explain how there seems to be a bit of life missing from music, and that’s what this setup is built for exclusively. I have no TV in this room and no plans to ever use these for TV or movies. When I read or work in this room, I want to listen to music, and I want the music to sound as I believe it should.

I don’t want to get into all the minutia of sources, or FLAC, or LP, etc. I know source can mean a lot when it comes to audio reproduction.

quote:

I believe I'm in the same neck-of-the-woods as Veeper so I'll say we used to have a couple great stores. Classic Stereo and Stereo Showcase which have been gone for at least 2 decades?

What a huge loss that was, right? Unfortunately I was too young, and too footloose with my finances to appreciate these places when they were alive. Heck, even Circuit City, Best Buy, and ABC Warehouse had “listening” rooms where you could go drool over the speakers and gear. When I worked at Best Buy in the 2nd half of the 1990s, I had my eyes on some speakers there but the name escapes me. I helped set them up for the demo area, and a guy had brought in his home amp to “see what they could do” and they were incredible.

I’ve been leaning heavily into Polk R700 reviews and details, if that helps with budget and focus. One thing I can’t find though is whether anyone has used a Sonos AMP with these speakers, and whether they’ll be serviced at least moderately properly by this device.

I hope this helps a bit. Thank you again for all of the replies thus far.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Veeper,

There's always Joly speakers.
I chuckle every time I read their web page.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

Any advice for vetting used speakers?

Often times, I'll find a model I would probably like but I can't audition it - you meet someplace public like a coffee shop.

I'd rather not have to replace components, cones, domes, foam and such.

Besides a listening to know what you want ~ the downside of older speakers I have found is the deterioration of the surround.

Bad crossovers and blown drivers are not generally an issue.
Cabinet damage can be overlooked in many cases as it can be repaired or ignored as it doesn't affect the sound.

The real question is you find a good deal and you don't know how it sounds - a true dilemma that is almost impossible to overcome but you can guess.

The bad thing is that same good deal you got is also harder to resell as pointed out before - big bulky and shipping kills it.
Unless the speaker is relatively new and you can listen in a store to have an ideal how it sounds.

Still, sometimes people on Craigslist just want to get rid of it despite their original cost.

All a gamble of sorts but you never know.

Yea. In general, I keep it to less than $500 a pair. And less than 15 years old. I probably miss some really good deals. But I hate to be cheated out of more. Some deals are great - speakers may not even be fully broken in. Used sparingly at low volumes for acoustical stuff. Some seemingly deals may be bad - overused, loud volumes rock or metal. Material fatigue.

I guess law of averages. Take the risk and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Veeper: Nope that you've provided the budget, the best choices for a warm sound are either the Dynaudio Emit or Sonus Faber Lumina.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_...mina-III-Walnut.html

https://www.safeandsoundhq.com...ZQzXirYaAiL0EALw_wcB

The Polk R700 is another idea:

https://www.safeandsoundhq.com...tanding-speaker-each

But since your Sonos Amp is 125 watts into 8 Ohms, you should be putting out almost 200 watts at 4 ohms being perfect for entry level Dynaudio.

Wait until they go on sale (Black Friday, + Xmas time) and buy them at $399-499.

https://www.harmanaudio.com/lo...kers/STUDIO+590.html

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Wait until they go on sale (Black Friday, + Xmas time) and buy them at $399-499.

https://www.harmanaudio.com/lo...kers/STUDIO+590.html

Wow that brings back memories. I had a set of JBL HLS bookshelf speakers and center channel when my wife and I got married and moved into our apartment. Along with an H&K AVR65.

Theives broken in and stole the HLS speakers, my P226, and left the AVR.

Those were some nice speakers.

I'm partial to Bowers and Wilkins. I have a full surround sound setup that has served me well for almost 30 years. I have the discontinued cdm9t series. But they have a price point for every budget, for music or movies, or music and movies. Their Nautilus line are up there in the am I buying a house or a speaker price range. They have a rich history of making fine speakers.
https://www.bowerswilkins.com/...peakers/loudspeakers

When I first got into home theater, I was a very active member of AVSforum. I went to several member's houses to audition subwoofers. From those listening tours I settled on a direct-to-consumer start up company that only sold subwoofers called SVS Sound. They were home theater aficionados that started their own sub company and they are just tremendous. Subs that rock the house apart, quite literally, check the youtube videos. I have 4 of their subs in my room right now. They are now a full speaker company, and if I were to change my tower speakers, SVS would almost certainly be the brand I would get.
https://www.svsound.com/