Just checked the local SD Craigslist.
Oh my. I must never go back there.
In any case, I still have boxed up my Rogers LS3/5A speakers from the 80’s. Paid $550, now worth ca. $3500 on eBay.

quote:

SVS would almost certainly be the brand I would get

I have two SVS SB2000 subs in my basement for the home theater. I love the sound and feel of the non-ported enclosure that SVS makes. When they brought the 2000 back for a short time, I just had to pick a second one up.

quote:

Originally posted by ridgerat:
Look into Vandersteen. Then listen to them.

This. For your budget ($2k), look for some used Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures. A bunch of them pop up on the used market for well under that. The speaker has been continuously produced for something like 45 years now (with continuous upgrades), so it must be good if it has that staying power.

They are just about the only thing at that price point that is phase coherent. Richard Vandersteen’s philosophy is that most manufacturers spend 20-40% of their budget on aesthetics, so he just wrapped his in a big sock and some wood trim to pour the entire budget into audio quality.

Make sure you get the stands, and then fill them with lead shot. Get a copy of the manual and ensure you set the proper tilt for your listening position. Play around with speaker position, and have fun!

Hmmm. They look like a serious brand. I’m not sure I disagree with the other manufacturer’s choice of budgeting a larger percent for aesthetics or exterior design. I guess I would compare it a bit to muscle cars, etc: while you make the purchase for what’s under the hood and how it handles when you’re driving, certainly wrapping the car in a cardboard box exterior (to spend more on engine components) wouldn’t necessarily increase sales.

Still. I wish more of these were available for a listen locally. I can see why brand recognition is so important, and also why B&W were idiots to slap their name on a cheap Bluetooth speaker and HP Laptops.

The nice thing about the SVS towers (both Prime Pinnacle and Ultra) is they have a 45 day in home trial.

https://www.svsound.com/produc...r?variant=9532245379

https://www.svsound.com/products/prime-pinnacle

Crutchfield is also a good place to try things out with a 60 days trial, but for towers, there is a $75 return fee PER PAIR.

If you're willing to go more towards neutral, the Paradigm Premier 800F are a good set, and Paradigm builds all their own stuff in Canada.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_...Espresso.html?tp=185

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_...ss-Black.html?tp=185

By far the best loudspeakers I have ever heard were the original Quad electrostatics. The "sheen" of the violins was the most realistic I had overheard. Of course I was in high school then in 1961. Doubt I would be able to hear "sheen" on anything now.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
By far the best loudspeakers I have ever heard were the original Quad electrostatics. The "sheen" of the violins was the most realistic I had overheard. Of course I was in high school then in 1961. Doubt I would be able to hear "sheen" on anything now.

Like the MartinLogan electrostatic speakers?

You have received many excellent suggestions for speakers - just go with what your ears and heart tell you.

My contribution is what NOT to buy!

You will see cables advertised for stupid high dollar amounts… do not waste your money, because the high cost cables are essentially snake oil!

An excellent choice for power, interconnect and speaker cable is a small company named “Blue Jeans Cable”.

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/

While not as inexpensive as ZIP wire, they are cost-effective. The terminations are excellent and their cables simply do the job as well or better than any available on the market.

That said, go with their legacy cables. They recently introduced a much higher priced series that I do not (!) recommend. There is simply no advantage in spending more money!

My weaknesses, in descending order of expenditure, in my life:

Fine firearms
Audiophile electronics and speakers
Motorcycles
Excellent wines and cognacs

The rest of my money I wasted…

Bald1 - I, too, like bipolar. In addition to Magnapan, I have owned these:

Quad 57s, 63s, 2809s
KLH Model 9s

and finally, just bought Sanders 10e; these based on the Robert E. Greene review in Absolute Sound.

https://www.theabsolutesound.c...ostatic-loudspeaker/

I’ve seen a video where the difference between two cables - zip cord vs high end cables, was played, and even at full volume, was inaudible.

I have hearing damage due to concerts, shooting, race cars, jets, etc, but at all critical listening of fine cables vs others, I’ve never been able to discern any difference between any grade cable.

Still, I’m into the hobby, so I was good looking cables with good connectors.

on the cable topic

yes there is serious diminishing returns and lots of snake oil, but they pretty to look at. there are subtle differences between the metallurgy OFC vs OCC vs silver but a normal persons system is not resolving enough to hear a difference, mine included

can't go wrong with anything from mogami, its what I run almost exclusively. Furutech has some good products also if you want to DIY the connectors

mono price interconnects and wire is very affordable.

Bluejeans uses Belden wire

Veeper, just take out a mortgage and get these. I’m sure the sound will be hard to beat.

It is on my bucket list to hear a pair of these in person.

When pricing these, please remember, they are sold by the each, not the pair. Be sure to have some friends available when delivered. They’re only 6’ tall and 600 lbs.

https://www.focal.com/us/high-...grande-utopia-em-evo

Right now on the JBL website, you can get the Studio 580 speakers for $299.00 each. You can't find a better deal on some great sounding speakers.

https://www.jbl.com/loudspeake...nt&cgid=loudspeakers

I personally go old school/used. Right now I'm refurbishing a pair of JBL 4312A Control Monitors and listening to some Dahlquist M907s, but these are "bookshelf" speakers and need stands.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Veeper, just take out a mortgage and get these. I’m sure the sound will be hard to beat.

It is on my bucket list to hear a pair of these in person.

When pricing these, please remember, they are sold by the each, not the pair. Be sure to have some friends available when delivered. They’re only 6’ tall and 600 lbs.

https://www.focal.com/us/high-...grande-utopia-em-evo

I’ve heard them. They go very loud. You would need a quite large room in order to get the most out of them. Probably best suited for large scale orchestral music. Reeeeaally big soundstage.

I've got Focal Aria Front and Center Speakers, and they're so good I want to keep exploring their beryllium tweeters to see how much better they get.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
I've got Focal Aria Front and Center Speakers, and they're so good I want to keep exploring their beryllium tweeters to see how much better they get.

I have Sopra 3’s. Sopra sides and center, Dome flax for surrounds. Absolutely amazing

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
I've got Focal Aria Front and Center Speakers, and they're so good I want to keep exploring their beryllium tweeters to see how much better they get.

I have Sopra 3’s. Sopra sides and center, Dome flax for surrounds. Absolutely amazing

My HT is 7.2.4 all Focal Aria with Dome Flax mids. My subs are Rythmik 15”. It’s great at both movies and music. I can’t always decide between them and my Triton Ones upstairs which ones I like better.

Sopra 3s are on my shortlist for my upstairs two channel setup, but I’m pretty sure my wife would divorce me if I bought a $20k pair of speakers.

Yep. My only hope for upgrades are either used Kantas or older used Electras, and to do that right now would require filing for bankruptcy which defeats the purpose.

quote:

Originally posted by Milliron:

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
I've got Focal Aria Front and Center Speakers, and they're so good I want to keep exploring their beryllium tweeters to see how much better they get.

I have Sopra 3’s. Sopra sides and center, Dome flax for surrounds. Absolutely amazing

My HT is 7.2.4 all Focal Aria with Dome Flax mids. My subs are Rythmik 15”. It’s great at both movies and music. I can’t always decide between them and my Triton Ones upstairs which ones I like better.

Sopra 3s are on my shortlist for my upstairs two channel setup, but I’m pretty sure my wife would divorce me if I bought a $20k pair of speakers.

I paid 12,5 for my pair. They were loaners while a customer waited on his utopias

My subs (2) are REL212sx

I’m using monitor audio radius 90’s and 250’s I already had from years ago for rear heights and rear surround in my 7.2.6. The Trinnov Alt16 processor works great applying EQ curves and room corrections. 2ch is Pass Labs

You guys are way beyond where I’m going to be, and I’m completely at peace with that.