Speaker polyamory -- or, stories about getting a second set to alternate with your primary

Hey, as long as you're not hurting anyone, who are we to judge what you like to do with your gear during 'alone time'...

Weird use of the word "polyamory." If you’re that close to your hardware you may need a little more time with your shrink.

I'm polyamorous with my usage of "polyamory." I can't cotton to puritanical parameters, pops.

Weird use of the word "polyamory." If you’re that close to your hardware you may need a little more time with your shrink.

Lest folks get the wrong impression, I do love the idea of having a variety of loudspeakers to listen to, and I do set up other speaker sets in my main listening room at times for fun.    I still enjoy the ML SL3s, NHT 2.5is, and Elac Debut F5.2s.

Give me $20k and I'd load the room, Magneplanars for sure, probably Golden Ear, and other stand-mounts or floor-standers. I totally get the 'variety'.

For me, none of my five old, very old (29yrs avg), motorcycles stands out; all are fun though.

In speakers, nothing I own holds a candle to my current mains and I don't have near enough money to try another sound and get close to what they do in ALL areas of musical presentation.    But for fun, I'd love more, just to goof off.

I have Harbeth M40.1 speakers in my main floor system.  In the basement system, I switch between Klipsch Cornwall IVs and Sterling Broadcast LS3/6 mounted on Skylan stands.  I'm thinking of getting a pair of Magnepans 3.7 for a 3rd speaker in the basement.

I imagine that having alternate amps is a given for folks, here, eh? Especially if you have tube amps? You have a SS as an alternate?

I have Klipsch Fortes (First Generation),Recently upgraded. Just purchased a pair of Fritz Carbon 7 MK2. My room is dedicated and well treated, After an hour or so of the Klipsch I switch to the Fritz.

I can't afford a mistress. It was bad enough when I had a pair laying around but to be torn between two speakers, feeling like a fool,....

All the best,
Nonoise

I have stayed with box speakers which I have as floor standers for serious listening and bookshelfs for more casual locations.

Over the years, I have been intrigued by both planars and horns for their reputedly better performance in certain aspects.  But I didn't go with the planars because of their size, volume restrictions, and bass output.  And I didn't choose horns because of their size, WAF impact, and high frequency extension.  I recognize these concerns are mainly my personal prejudice, and I could be wrong about performance issues.

I wish I had had more time and money to actually explore these.

I'm with manogolf. I have a pair of Daedalus DA 1.1and GR Research X-Statics for floor standers. and monitors that I swap out frequently. A pair of REL subs that are sometimes needed and sometimes not. My current monitors are T+A Criterions.. I love to rotate the stock and listen to what each brings to the table.

@mesch  Nice to hear from you. I'm also curious about the LRS speakers. I've heard the XA25 has much more power than officially claimed. 

Also glad to hear from the motorcycle folks and others with multiple forms of hobby gear. I love music, but I love gear, too. I love the technology and the variation it can bring to experiences of music. There is no such thing as an Ur-presentation of food, wine, transportation, etc. I'm amazed people can settle on a single divinity. The polytheistic ancient Greeks and the Hindus keep things fresh, IMO.

My main system resides in a medium sized bedroom dedicated to it. Currently I have two speaker pairs which I switch out, Tannoy Sterlings and Esoteric MG-10s. I will likely move the Sterlings into a living room system and replace with something else. Would like to try Maggie LRS+ as I have never had a pair of Maggies. At some point I will likely be looking to replace the MG-10s with another 2-way stand mount. 

One issue with trying out different speakers is amplifier requirement for then can vary greatly.  I use a Aric Audio Transcend tube amp with the Sterlings and a Pass XA25 with the 10s. I feel I would need a more powerful amp for the Maggies. I would also like to try out a used pair of Joseph Audio Pulsars, also needing more power than the XA25 provided I believe. 

There are many on this forum that have been in this hobby for many years and have had access to many systems and therefor have a focused idea of the presentation they prefer. This can lead to refinement towards a single goal (system).  In my case I have been involved in audio for over 50 years however with rather limited access to diverse systems. This leads me towards exploration, which I enjoy. I guess my time has finally come.

I am down to one motorcycle (VFR750) but up to @70 pushbikes and 30 saxophones (plus mouthpiece collection)!!! Speaker -wise you need at least one spare pair for reference/ emergency/ the sheer hell of it 

Likely in the minority here however I actually enjoy switching between speakers regularly. Using the same source I can listen to the floor standers, or the monitors with subs. Reading an opinion that the best offense for room correction is another set of speakers is worthy. I  will cue the mains without subs or the monitors with subs or crash the room with all of the above. 

I have B&O, Kef, Ohm, Klipsch and, gasp, Bose 901’s.  Each has endlessly fascinating response to the rooms they are located.  I don’t regard one better than the other, only marvel at the differences.  Switching hardware has similar results and impact.  I will commonly listen to one track in one room, then hustle to another room with a different setup, and listen again to that track.  I never tire from this comparison.  I’ll also swap speakers in the same room and enjoy that comparison.  I could not be happy with just one setup…I’m spoiled for sure.

Interesting divergences here. Some think that speakers are seeking to get the sound "right" and so there's no reason to have a system B. (Some think I'm asking about replacing their "A" system. That's not the question.)

Others see sound presentation the way many see food -- Italian food one night, Chinese another -- their differences can both deliver excellent dining and one cannot eliminate the other. I'm in this camp. Give me variety in food, music, audio, movies, novels, etc. This is art, not science (for me).

Speaker wise, both Tannoys and Eminent Technology LFT 8's are on my list. Also, Devores.

I'm curious about the punchy "liveness" of horns, the efficiency of concentric drives, the spatialization of planars and ribbons.

Only at night watching TV through the system could better hear the big bass and explosions with the big boxes. Although not really into changing the speaker cables.

Recently switched from $30K floorstanders to Quad 57s. 
95% sure I will sell the big speakers. Most of what I listen to is small scale that sounds magical with the Quads. And how they pull you in compared to big boxes that throw the music at you. The more I listen to the Quads, the less I want to hear boxes.

I have a minidsp between my pre and power amps, For my usual quite high volume listening it is in and set to get rid of some really bad room bass. Further by small very excellent Audio Physic Sitara 25 have the bass restricted to above 60Hz and the ports plugged. The bass is performed by 2 subs attached via the minidsp. If, when we have family or guests for any period and I do not use the volume so aggressively (and actually change the music I play), then the dsp comes out as do the plugs in ports. At the lower volume I don't have the horrendous base boom, its like having two completely different set ups.

It took me eleven or twelve years to find out just how good my speakers really are. Now that I know, they're not going anywhere.

Regards,

Dan

Audio is a bit different for me than other hobbies like art, music, film, literature, but motorcycling is the easiest hobby to compare.

I love motorcycling and am down to five motorcycles, all very different (and very old but reliable). For motorcycling I don't think any particular bike 'presents roads' in whatever may be deemed the only correct manner.

BUT, in music I believe the goal is the single most accurate presentation of whatever source is being played. I don't think there are a bunch of 'correct' ways to present the source or the music the artist intended.

So, for me, having a second music system of lesser or different quality would make me second guess the 'A' system. I don't need a 'classical' system and a 'rock' system. All music should be played accurately. (I would like louder speakers :-).

That said, I'd love spare speakers to fool with like DQ-10s, Pulsars, Magnepans, etc! Many give me pure joy because of the accomplishment for the cost (my Elac Debut F5.2 floorstanders and bookshelves in the TV room come to mind.)

I’ve had my B&W 802d for about 12 years after working my way up the line starting with CM1 bookshelf.   I am getting the itch to grab a pair of bookshelf’s to add but they need to be bi-wired for my set-up.

I have a search for Klipsch Palladium monitor/bookshelf but they are very rare.  Of course I can get the tower version for a good price.  Harbeth seems to be a good choice.   My budget is 1500 or so and I am open for suggestions.

I use a T&A Dac 200 for my pre, Spectron mono blocks and have a VPI Classic with Ortofon Cadenza red, Ear 834p.   Stream Roon/Qobuz

i think the bookshelf’s will be mainly for vinyl.

Currently, using Eminent Technology LFT 8's. My Martin Logan ESL's are jealous even though 2 months ago, I sold my QUAD ESL 63's... Yes I like panels...

Soon to order some Tannoy Autograph Mini's.

Call it what you will, but there will always be Wharfedale Diamond 220's as my Marantnz PM8003 B speakers.

Great topic. Currently own a pair of Magnepans and Klipsch heritage horn speakers. For me, there's no point to having multiple "lovers" if they're a lot alike. 😉👍🎸🤘✌️

Worked my infinity way up to a pair of RS111b’s liked them so much I bought another pair 4 column style. Years later added the necessary space, amplification and set up an IRS Beta system. So Knocking out a few walls adding a chunk gave me entertainment and dedicated music rooms. 80’s 90’s modded, tweaked vintage with parts in storage, all are happy !

@hilde45 

[Well, it seems like you & I could agree with a post on Sunday, by kenjit about speaker design (linked in a box below the end of this message). I found it very disappointing that so many negative posts were received on that thread. It appears to me that this forum is plagued by inexperienced posters, who take issue with subjects that they have not fully understood.] 

I don't need a second pair of speakers, because I have found that I get the sound change I (very occasionally) need, by implementing a very simple, but effective change. I bypass my pre-amp and pug the XLR DAC cables direct into my power amp and control the volume on my DAC. Providing the DAC volume control is of very high quality, this change provides a slightly more detailed and dynamic sound (depending on how wet my grounding system is and how clean the main power supply is) with a slight loss of musicality and emotion.

I also find this change is sufficient to stimulate my perception of hearing and, effectively "wake up' my brain to figure out the new sound. I know this factor is playing the largest part in changing the entertainment value of my music. 

Thank you,

BP

Great responses so far. @bobpyle mentions that he's hit audio nirvana and doesn't see why he'd have a second pair. Posters have mentioned a bit about why they like the variation which comes with a second speaker -- seems like tonality, dynamics, and soundstage can vary enough that there is a refreshing difference which can be introduced by a second set of speakers.

I'm pretty sure that there is a second set of speakers out there that would do greater justice to the symphonic music I listen to -- so that's another reason for swapping in a second pair -- to make another genre of music come to a fuller potential.

Could not afford new equipment, so began to explore vintage.

I have five pair and a lengthy list of others I’d like to own and spend time with; IMF RSPM MkIV and IMF SACM are my grails.

Walsh Ohm 2s and 4s, Infinity, Dahlquist, Magnepan, backed by a pair of RELs.

Every so often I move the current pair out and set up another.

It fascinates me the way speakers present a soundstage, and all of the imaginative attempts through the years to get it right.

I learned to dislike two-way speakers because of mid-range suck out: those I would sell, they never satisfy, but the others are like musical instruments to me - they become part of you after you spend time with them, like a guitar - and I’ve learned a lesson by the dozens of comments I’ve read that all say the same thing: I had a pair of those, I wish I never sold them.

So I have ‘too many’ speakers, but that’s OK.

I run ESL57s with Orelle Orators (very nice smallish 2 ways) in front of them and switch between the two depending on mood/ music 

Never done that and won't be doing it now I have found audio nirvana.

However, I would be interested if you could articulate the advantages / disadvantages that such a strategy provides, please.

Kind regards,

BP

I used to only have one system and was buying and selling and swapping gear. After a while, I had enough to make almost a second system. While my primary system has always been conventional 2- or 3- or 4-way, my second system became both a mix of high sensitivity full range speakers and electrostatics. I believe there is a way to fall in love with all three of those types of speakers for both their strengths and weaknesses. It's similar to cars - would I prefer a Porsche GT or Bentley Continental? Both incredible machines that deliver very different driving experiences.

The primary system at the time was largely a full Modwright stack hooked up to Legacy Focus SE. The second system became a low-watt experience in a 10x20 room with a PS Audio BHK Pre, alternating a Bottlehead Kaiju, Modwright Ambrose A10 (only one ever made) and Atma-Sphere S30 with Oris 200 Horns and Quad 2805 electrostats. It was very difficult to consolidate back down to a single system.

I have done this before. I stick to boxes but horns and or panels are fun to have around once in awhile. 

@artemus_5 - It wasn’t me. I have never been involved with high-performance cars. Indeed, since I moved from North Carolina 12 years ago, I tried to change my user name on Audiogon, but for security reasons, they allow that only by closing the old account & opening a new one, thus losing all feedback. Anyway, thanks for asking -- and happy trails to you!

@mike_in_nc 

A curious question. Did you post on the Corvette Forum (C6) at one time? Maybe still, under the same name.

I owned ML SL3s as mains 16 years and stlll have them, hence Maggie interest but Janszen has intrigued me and I'm sure they are great.

I heard large three-way Harbeth's in a good set-up playing classical and although I'm not a classical guy much, I could not leave the room the sound was so stunning.   

My older used Raidho D2s are an end-gamer aside from one aspect, high volumes. I mostly play nicely and they are fabulous in every other single way, BUT,

I'd love a nice $5k used quality floorstander with huge dynamics.  Every once in a while, rarely, loud and clean are still plain old fun. Even if only for a short time.

(A big set of Maggies might really float my boat though for another sound.)

Thanks, Mike. I know my curiosity is piqued by electrostatics (e.g. Eminent) but also by the British speakers. 

I’ve practiced serial monogamy in this respect, but if I had the space, I’d buy another pair of speakers. I am now using Janszen hybrid electrostatics; the second pair would be monitors in the British tradition (Harbeth, Spendor, Stirling, Graham).

Come to think of it, I have a pair of Harbeth P3ESR in my second (desktop) system. I enjoy listening to them very much, but there is a special way that the main system -- with the Janszens in a quiet room -- can transport me.

I’ll be interested in what people say!