Average Price Spent for Speakers

~ 1999 - Acoustic Research 303 - $400
 - 2001 - Vienna Acoustics Haydn - $900
 - 2002 - Infinity Intermezzo 2.6 - $1,600
 - 2004 - B&W N804 - $3,000
 - 2006 - B&W N802 - $5,500
 ~ 2010 - Vienna Acoustics Bach Grand ($600 pair), Mozart Grand ($490 pair), Waltz Grand ($150) - picked up floor models cheap when Best Buy dropped the line.
 ~ 2010 - Thiel 2 2 - $1,000
 - 2012 - Thiel 3.7 - $7,000 (never getting rid of these)
 - 2014 - ATC SCM110 - $5,000

Many of these were trade ins, I traded my way up and rarely spent more than a few grand.  I got the ATCs because I'd always wanted a pair and they came up in a classified at a price I knew I'd never see again.

you should also be thinking of where you want to place your speakers.  Generally rear ported speakers need to be placed away from the front wall.   Maggies need to be away from the wall and need an amp that can deliver current.   Its my understanding that ohm speakers work well up against the front wall.     I recommend sealed enclosed speakers which generally sound well up against the front wall.    Efficient speakers need less power from the amplifier.   Class D amplifiers need less ventilation and can be placed into tighter spaces than class A/B amplifiers..

Choosing a veneer that matches your furniture helps in the overall visual appeal and WAF.    Keeping your wife happy and involved should be your number one priority.   No stereo is worth a divorce.  

If you live in an apartment or town house keeping your neighbors happy should be another consideration.   Bass notes generally penetrates walls more so than treble notes.   If that is your living situation than you need a speaker that works well with low level listening volumes such as the Harbeth P3ESR which comes in many different veneers.   If you're looking for specific brand then I recommend using Hifi shark https://www.hifishark.com.   

Everyone reading this, please respond if you will. What is the average price you spend on a pair of loudspeakers? What determines that expenditure amount? Earlier in your hobby life, what determined how much when you were a neophyte?
Also, for non audiophiles, if there are any reading this site, what do you spend, and what determines that amount?
In the absence of non audiophiles, everyone out there, what do your non audio friends spend for speakers (if they do buy)? Where do they shop? What is the determining factor in HOW much?
Thanks for your response.
Larry lrsky04-06-2004 1:22pm

Not sure whether to answer the questions as if it is still 2004, or, well, 17 years later. Phrases like "Earlier in your hobby life" could still be 10 years after the question was posted. Weird. Not as weird as asking my non audio friends what they pay for speakers, I guess. I'll try to check back in 2038.

I don’t know what to call myself — the equipment I purchased since January 2020 is definitely higher than mass market, but the $8,000 or so total is much less than the $20,000 and up that some here have invested for their total system.  Not to mention, they have much more experience with various equipment than I.

I bought my new pair of Martin Logan 60XT tower speakers for $2200 plus tax last year.  I have neither the room nor acoustics to go with the electrostatics, though I am curious about their vaunted sound.  I hesitate to go to hifi stores to listen to their equipment when I have no intention of buying from them and don’t want to waste their time.

Magnepan offers the best values in speakers.
For beginnings, the LRS at $650 per pair.
If you can afford it, the 1.7i's for $2,100 per pair. 
If you can afford more, the 3.7i's for roughly $6,000 per pair.
They do require a lot of power.so you'll need an amp with at least 
150 watts per channel.