What is the problem you have with beryllium drivers? Beryllium is toxic as a salt or oxide; the metallic form in the drivers is not a big concern as far as safety. In the manufacturing process, the metallic form is dangerous because of the manufacturing process.
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@larryi Just not interested in having them near me. Don't want to always be thinking oh I hope they don't break or someone doesn't poke them. Since there are so many other great speakers why bother? I am not telling everyone to shy away but its just my personal preference. @erik_squires legacy is a good point definitely worth considering.@mijostyn: I prefer dynamics just for how much more rugged/durable they are and the dynamic sound. @infection Will look into those thanks. |
@smodtactical Perhaps you could list your amp and source? That might help focus the recommendations. Rugged, dnamic box speakers helps some, but there are still a *lot* of options out there in that price range. Also, new or used price range? I'd personally be tempted to try used big tannoys or classic audio, but I err on the side of sensitivities in the mid-90s. |
In that price range - there is little, if any, that can match the sound of the Legacy Audio Aeris - the Focus SE's are close (both with AMT tweeters). The only ones that might be better are those from GT Audio Works - superb (planar drivers and ribbon tweeters). Few speakers at any price can match these. |
You can't go wrong with ATC speakers.ATC SCM50 Passive, Music Direct ATC SCM ASLT Active, Music Direct or used at Reverb ATC SCM50 ASL Powered Studio Speakers in Rare Finish | Reverb |
@smodtactical I see you are still on the hunt for speakers. Last year, we spoke of the Yamaha NS 5000 and your audition at Kennedy HiFi and also the Personas. I may still get the Persona 9H for another room but in the next few months I will be putting some cash down on the Yamaha. That speaker finally came to the USA and it was available at a local dealer for me to demo. Your comments on the NS 5000 helped me make the effort to do an inconvenient drive and have a listen. It was a crappy demo room but I could hear the potential in the speaker. I may do a home demo to confirm my feelings or maybe just get it without the home demo. Thanks for the correspondence on this. |
Peter Breuninger has been reviewing the world's best audio gear for many decades, and recently he reviewed a $15,000 speaker that he says is a "breakthrough" speaker and the best he's heard. You can see his review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma7dvPyr5T0 I contacted the Chicago dealer today, and he said they offer a 60 day money back guarantee. |
Go to sanders sound website, and speak directly with the designer/owner you will pleasantly surprised at how honest, and knowledgeable Roger is. He has a 30:day in home trial, if your not satisfied (YOU WILL BE ASTONISHED) send the back. He is one of the premier designers/owners/inventors of the Sanders sound speakers and amps. the Sanders Magtech amp (stereo) or his brute force Monoblocs will satisfy your every need, there is not any speaker the Magtech will succumb to, a little pricey, but they are truly world class. invesigate his website and reviews. The amps will drive even the most demanding speaker. Read the MBL sanders review, even a Carver sunfire was partially owned by the MBL radiostrhaler monolith speakers. as soon as I get the scratch, I’m going full Sanders sound audio, they are that good! |
smod! There is no dynamic loudspeaker as tough and durable as the Sound Labs. Literally you can not blow them up and they can go VERY loud. They are also harder to hurt physically than dynamics. Your 3 year old can kick them all he wants. He'll break his foot before he hurts the speaker. Quads were very fragile and gave ESLs a bad rep. There is no and I mean no dynamic loudspeaker that can come close to matching the Sound Labs for shear accuracy. Distortion is an order of magnitude lower and there is no cross over to screw up phase relationships. Room acoustics are much less of a problem because Sound Labs are dipoles so they do not radiate sound to the sides, up or down. There are much fewer loud early reflections. Don't believe me. Read the reviews. Ask Atmasphere and Audiokinesis. If you add subwoofers down the line you will easily hit 110 dB. They are right in your price range. Once you hear them you will never look back. You will die laughing at people who spend $250 K on Wilson's. |
Most 30K speakers are huge by comparison (think room dividers) and are very heavy. Shipping costs are many hundreds of dollars, and likely will require help to unbox and set them up Also it sounds like this is a shared room. Many uber high end speakers need to be well out from the front wall (~ 6ft+), so just keep those things in mind when deciding what to buy hth |
It is not clear whether you are doing a wide-ranging search from scratch, or whether you have narrowed your interest to a certain type of speaker or type of sound. Are there other none sonic requirements, such as those dictated by limited options on placement of the speaker, no top heavy models that might be a danger to children, size of speaker, etc. Also, success with certain speakers require particular types of amplifiers, so it would help to know what you have and whether or not changing amps is a possibility. The following list offers a wide array of speaker types and sound, but, I like them even though few of them actually fit my ideal: Panel speakers: Magneplanars--any model in your price range and tolerance for size will deliver room-filling, realistically scaled soundscape. Sanders Sound (electrostatic/dynamic hybrids that deliver a lot of dynamic punch. Soundlab-great electrostatic speakers, but they are huge in size. Conventional Dynamic speakers Any Audio Note model in your price range. If it is desirable to have the speakers in the corners, Audio Note speakers are designed for that placement. They are in the very warm and musical sounding camp, not the lean and "detailed" sounding camp, but, unlike some other warm speakers, they don't sound sluggish. DeVore Orangutans -- in the warm and mellow camp. YG Acoustic Carmel-- very much NOT in the warm and mellow camp, but, with the right electronics, they deliver the goods--very good with instrumental timbre. Vandersteen Quattro -- kind of a Goldilocks speaker -- not too lean and analytical, not too warm. SoundKaos 42 -- a two-way speaker that utilizes a full/extended range driver with a ribbon tweeter on top. A very musical sounding system. Unconventional Speakers: Charney Audio -- Shockingly good for the money single driver speakers. This is the only implementation of a single driver that I thought did not have problem areas that made them ultimately unacceptable even though the dynamics and liveliness of this type of speaker is incredibly appealing. They don't deliver really deep bass, but, everything else is done quite well. The sound depends on the choice of driver--I personally like the AER driver. Custom Design: Deja Vu Audio -- Deja Vu Audio is a Washington DC area audio dealer that also makes its own electronics (all tube) and speakers. $30 k is at the bottom of the custom-built range, but even the bottom is really quite good. Most speakers are made utilizing vintage drivers, typically a large dynamic woofer, a compression/horn midrange, and dome tweeters. |
A lot of good suggestions. Not knowing your musical and listening preferences or your associated equipment, I'd suggest Vandersteens as a general suggestion (Quattros or perhaps even a used Model 5A), and one no one has mentioned are Nola speakers--their Metro Gold References should work well in your room, especially good with tube amplification. But they have ribbon tweeters, not sure if you want the kids poking their fingers around those. |
Go to your dealer and get a pair of Maggies. Take them home and listen to them (your dealer will set them up for you.) If your gear is not top notch, you will probably not like what you hear on the Maggies. This is the sound of the GEAR, not the speakers. If you don’t care for them, it really does not matter what speaker you buy. It will be a box or electrostat and distort and cause listening fatigue. You may also find that most all "better" speakers today are about 6' high. Wonder where they got that idea??? Remember that your room is the most important part of your system, so work with your dealer to make sure it is at optimum listening quality. Most of all, enjoy the MUSIC. That is what this is all about. Cheers! |
That's a huge price range. That's like saying I am looking for a car between and Chevrolet and a Mercedes. Which one would be best. If you choose soft dome tweeter, they could destroy much easier than beryllium. Ribbon would also be as fragile. How old are your children? Perhaps build a chicken wire fence around them or wait until they get older. |
Hope this is a fun process for you. I second the idea to narrow your options based on what your room is used for--and kid-friendliness. Another consideration is the kind of look you want--in other words, do they dominate the space or do they also fit in with what else is around. And, simply, do you like the way they look? If I were buying a speaker for your size of room, at your budget and assuming it's also used for other things, I'd buy the Harbeth 40.2s. But that's just me--there are many good choices depending on what you like and the needs of your family. |
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My room is 12x16x8 ft. Looking for floor standers.))) With a multiple of 2 and close to a square room, I would suggest going asymmetrical. Then you can easily deal with the uneven bass response the room dealt you with the Analog Room compensation adjustments of the Vandersteen Kento or Quatro as the solid performance solution. Best, JohnnyR |
Guys thanks so much for all the thought provoking suggestions. Some more details about My listening or that I listen to a variety of genres of music including jazz come, classical, ambient, techno and folk/Celtic/medieval music. Right now my system consists of a audio HD he9 preamp, denafrips terminator dac, dual bryston 4bsst2 amps. The most intriguing speakers to me right now Are the YG, Joseph perspective, vandersteen, legacy, And the Yamaha and nS 5000. I am located in Ontario Canada so most of these speakers are not available for audition. I am also open to some of the panel speakers you guys are recommending and will look into them. |
