What speaker could safely be ordered without hearing it first?

Omega speakers are very musical. 

@OP, we (Dutch & Dutch) are currently working on an in-home demo program which should be off the ground within the next few weeks.

The 8c, an active speaker, might not be for you, but it’s one of the most accurate (in-room, not just anechoic) speakers available, work exceedingly well in untreated rooms. With that said, we do feel that the only way to properly evaluate whether a product is right for your situation is in situ.

Hey,

Von Schweikert VR-4 's . One of the hidden best sounding speaker you could get today.  Thanks.

Visit Next Level Hi Fi in Wayne, IL. They are a Borresen Dealer. The X-3's will stun you at $11,000 pr.

mtbiker29 Chicago is in a great area for used equipment. I live in SC and most of my gear is used and came from your region. I picked up the A3s from Kenosha WI almost new for 60% of retail. They weren’t even broken in yet. Amp from Chicago, DAC from Indianapolis. Whatever speaker you finally decide on, with a little patience, you can find used at a good price (unless it is a launch model. I find US Audiomart a very good source. I’ve also used the Canuck version of the mart twice with success. Good luck!

Hi everyone,

Great to see so much participation, thanks much for this. I just want to reinforce of course I want to listen first, but as many of you have acknowledged it’s not always possible. Heck I live in Chicago and there are some brands that you can’t get near without flying. Also I totally get buying used and then flipping out of them if it doesn’t work. Many have asked about budget. So far I’ve not been blown away by much but that’s a story for a different thread. I’d say 10-30K.

Some strong votes for Joseph, Magico, Harbeth and even Montior Audio. My current MA’s shine as noted below.....I’m surprised I didn’t get anyone voting for Wilson.

I do also want to add that my room is VERY well sorted. Have had the main Axpona setup guy from my local award winning dealer over and he said my setup was "near perfect" and that "I’ve seen people spend a lot more and get a lot less" than I am getting out of my current setup. Just because you don’t have some fancy diffuser on the wall doesn’t mean you can’t use furniture for first order reflection, as an example.

I’ll try to take some of the comments and feedback and answer as best I can.

@falconquest forgot about Legacy and you are correct, nearly universal praise.

@ltmandella and good reminder on ProAc....getting a lot of love here but reviews seemed to indicate very bass heavy. Good looking and great fit for my room size wise.

@fertguy thanks for compliment on table. I grew up with that heavy thing and shifted it back home when my step brother passed.

@hysteve recently heard the Magico A3 and really liked it, but that’s also a story for my other thread. A bit low on WAF but not out of the question. the ones with color are really neat.

@mbmi your post made me look up the X3...and a local dealer has them and some Focal’s I would like to hear. Thanks for this that does look like great value.

@wsrrsw on the bluesound upgrade I hear you...but demo’d a Lumin at home and the sound was marginally better but the user experience atrocious. Have my eye on HiFi Rose.

@phishhhhh4 2 nights Alpharetta this weekend, very much looking forward to it.

@kennyc "If the OP is asking for the the best choice without trying, then maybe it’s a probability question aka maximizing the probability of success by choosing a popular seemingly universally appraised speaker." Nailed it! This is the crux of the question.

@soix shout out to you for suggesting a very fun song.

@panzrwagn using MA Silvers today...and paired with my very friendly room noted above i’m having a hard time....some demo’s that should rock my world don’t because the dealer rooms don’t always cooperate and speakers that should be a clear upgrade leave me wanting more. In home might be the play?

@jayctoy no decisions yet. But have to say i’m intrigued by something like this, which is a good example of "not able to listen first".

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisb5bd1-raidho-td-3-2-speakers-full-range

Thanks all, more feedback welcome. Again shocked I didn’t get a vote for Wilson on this one.

Where is the OP now? Did you decide which one?

@grislybutter Castle is UK based. So these speakers show up on the local classfields in Europe for rock-bottom prices because the brand recognition is low (you can thank Castle for that). 

With caveats and a basic understanding for room size (no LS3/5a in large rooms) placement (no Magnepans up against the wall), and power (MAs are esy to drive, moderately efficient, Maggies need more) I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with Monitor Audio's current line up, especially the Silver series or Magnepans. The Wow/$ ratio is just too much in thri favor.

Polk R-700 from Crutchfield... if you don’t like ’em, you can send ’em back! Yes, they have easy return policy.

Yes, kinda, as in you're rolling some dice.  It may work out grear or at least very good.  People do it a lot and have verygood luck very often.  But it isn't quite as certain as hearing them first.

Important to remember, though, that even hearing them in a shop is not a guarantee.  As has been pointed out, different setting, electronics, cables (even though they don't matter at all) etc.

@kokakolia I spent hours to find Castle prices. There is nearly zero current pricelist or seller contact, and the ones I found are 2 years old from Australia. Castle's map on the web site for where you can buy it is completely broken. It's a joke in terms of how and where to buy them. Have a freaking link that works!

You can make a car better than a Porsche for half the price, if you don't have a "buy" button, it doesn't exist

@8th-note

Bottom line, there is no way I’m going to restrict my audio purchases to gear that I can audition at home. I just bought a Jay’s Audio CDT3 Mk III transport that was shipped from China. There is simply nothing else on the market like this transport and I was willing to believe the reviews and take a chance. I totally love this thing. If I restricted myself only to gear that I could audition I would have missed out on this incredible component and many of the best components in my system.

"The best transport" is an ongoing thread-theme, here, and there are a handful of other highly-regarded transports that are mentioned repeatedly.

In fact, I bought one of them, the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 from TMR and ended up returning it due to the ergonomics. At that point, the best alternative unit fitting my budget was not available for purchase with a return policy and in a rare exception, I opted to break my own self-imposed rule.

This nearly turned into a disaster as the unit was quite forward sounding in my system. Fortunately, I was eventually able to tame the sibilance and fatiguing highs via cable and footer swaps. BTW, my speakers, DAC and integrated are all on the the warm side of neutral and none of the various reviews I’d read mentioned the forward quality of the unit in question. I only came across references to this "after the fact", courtesy of a forum member who happens to be a dealer.

You must naturally follow whichever path works best for you but in my case, the experience I’ve described underscored two things; 1) buying gear I can demo at home and return if necessary is the best way to go and 2) reviews cannot be wholly relied upon. 

I would suggest some of the youtube reviews by some of reviews with high traffic. Old timer story......In 1970 or so the only place you could buy stereo equipment at a discount was out of NY with ads in the back of Stereo Review. Being from a small town in Minnesota, mail order was your only option. I bought a pair of Altec Lancing Santana speakers, monsters with 15" woofers, walnut cabinets and slate tops, large end tables really. You had to tear out an order form, fill in your stuff, add up the cost, write a check and send it off to NY and then wait. I had them shipped by freight (only option) and my mother took me down to the local train depot and we picked them up in dad's truck. I think I paid under $400 for the pair with shipping. Ahhh, nostalgia!

If you find Castle speakers on the used market for a few hundred bucks, then get that. That may as well be my final answer. You'll get real veneer and decent drivers/parts.

Some sellers are so desperate that they even give away the optional wooden stands for free. Unlike with JBL or Klipsch, you won't get any recognition from the audiophile community.

But you won't overpay for something that's "just fine". Castle is like the most uninspiring brand with the least curb appeal.

Castle is just like Harbeth without the name recognition and the same bland design. That's great for your wallet. It's kind of like a buying an Infinity on the used car market. The depreciation is insane because nobody cares. I see beat-up Honda Civics sell for more. 

Speakers are the most subjective link in the music chain of all, even tge moreso by being placed in a different room than whatever "typical" room they were designed for, and whatever electronics they may have been voiced for. To that end, after many years of making and building customs for others, I finally built my endgame speakers. 

People seem to like them, but I have no doubt they don't conform to anyone's idea of what great measured performance is, and that's on purpose. I listen subjectively.  So any speaker may be safe for you to buy unheard, but it's also a safe bet IMO it won't be exactly what you wanted in your own system in your own room.

Tannoy Legacy or GR speakers, end of game...

Human Speakers model 81 DK ... aprox $1250 / pair

Quad 57 from Electrostatic Solutions. 

Think they are now $6K.

I have owned Tannoy Westminster Royals, ATC Anniversary 50, etc.

Once you hear the tone and transparency of 57s there is no going back.

If I’m you I’d do all the research I can and then buy used as others have said. If they don’t work out you can sell and move on for little/no loss if you buy wisely.  Also hard to see going wrong with Fritz if he offers a return policy.

@phishhhhh4 I tried to get my band to play “Backwards Down the Number Line” that I think is great and would be fun to play, but they’re idiots who have their heads stuck in 70s - 80s rock. Very frustrating.

None can be ordered “safely”.  Speakers are part of an audio chain whose job is to create “subjectively” pleasing music.  I’ve spent years demoing the best speakers I could find, then tried to replicate the favored sound within my budget.  
 

If the OP is asking for the the best choice without trying, then maybe it’s a probability question aka maximizing the probability of success by choosing a popular seemingly universally appraised speaker.

@mtbiker29 , no. Just no.

As others have mentioned, there is no substitute for auditioning candidate speakers. Case in point: I was intrigued by a certain open baffle speaker vendor's product. Reviews are mostly positive and the quality seemed to be good. Then last year I heard a pair at PAF and was sorely disappointed in what I heard. And it wasn't just the room. They just didn't sound good to my ears.

The moral of the story here is, if you do order up some speakers, I'd be very clear on what the return/exchange policy is.

Good luck and... Happy listening.

Love the graphic next to your screen name

Phish is great!

Best of luck

I would say any speaker that is returnable for a reasonable amount of time.  You must be willing to lug the speakers back to the store or to a shipping center, and possibly pay return shipping and/or a restocking fee.  FWIW, I bought my current speakers, Ohm Walsh 2000s, without hearing them first.  I based my decision on carefully reading the lengthy thread on Ohm speakers here on the 'gon.  As I read, owner's descriptions kept pushing all of the right buttons for me.  So, with Ohm's 120 day return option, I took a chance.  Plus, since I don't live too far from Ohm's Brooklyn, NY, headquarters, if I wanted to return, I could bring them back by car.

That was in late 2009.  Once they broke in, I fell in love.  Still have them, and have never had a desire to upgrade.  To do better, at least IMHO, I would have to spend way more than I could possibly afford.  Plus, over the last dozen years, they have responded quite well to upgraded electronics, tweeks, and cable upgrades.  Life is good.  Having more time to listen would make it even better.

I love headphones and have a great headphone system as well as a 2-channel system.

Headphones will never, ever, sound like speakers and speakers will never, ever sound like headphones. They're not meant to, and most people who use headphones do not expect them to; they are two entirely different ways of experiencing music. 

With few caveats, loudspeakers from Legacy Audio may be safely ordered without hearing based on reputation, reviews, build quality, cosmetics, etc. As OP, @mtbiker29 , already mentioned, room size and existing (or planned) gear must be considered. For example, I agree with @falconquest about the Focus SE; however, as a long-time owner of various Focus models, I can tell you that they are not ideal near-field monitors. Ear to tweeter distance must be at least ten feet for all six drivers to fully integrate. If you are in a 15 x 10 ft room, you probably don't have space for them to perform optimally. Buy one of Legacy Audio's smaller models instead.

A few folks, including Randy (The Cheap Audio Man) claim that Legacy Audio speakers have had an issue with sibilance based on auditions at audio shows. I would take observations like this with a grain of salt since a lot of factors come into play, including what music happened to be playing at the time. Put more trust into observations from folks with long-term experience listening to Legacy Audio speakers.

Apart from that, I've not found anyone who had anything negative to say about Legacy Audio. They have been around for a long time and are kind-of a sleeper brand. Not the most cutting-edge brand name, but Bill has been continuously innovating and improving his time-tested designs with better parts and technology. I've owned four different versions of the Focus loudspeaker over the past 23+ years and each one has been a substantial leap forward from its predecessor. I'll probably be a Legacy Audio customer for life.

I’d very seriously consider upgrading the bluesound and steaming supporting components first/too. You could be amazed. 

There are different types of speakers. Horn, electrostatic, powered, regular and menthol to name a few. If I was to buy with no prior hearing I would at least know what flavour I prefered. Naturally the room will color a great deal.

Big Magicos, Focals (fast) or maybe Big Sonus Fabers might land well in my new upcoming treated room. I like those brands that I have been able to hear. Many folks like what they have or hanker for. I’m a big proponent of subs.

Fot a big purchase like killer speakers get thee but out (even far away) and check out some speakers. You could be a horn man or not!

I bought my Volti Razz without hearing them previously. 

Original plan was to attend an audio show to audition them. That plan fell though. 

I arranged with "Greg the creator" to come and visit and have a listen. It was a drive sure, but I've driven plenty to go look and sometimes buy sports cars... so what's really the difference I thought?? If I'm not satisfied or turned off in anyway no big deal, I just keep my money and keep looking. (just like hunting for a special car). 

In the long run taking the drive to meet Greg, listen to his amazing creations, visiting the super cool shop floor, and having some tasty Mexican was more economical than going to a show anyway. For me the experience and the hunt was a wonderful memory.

I'd like to put it out there. If you are interested in hearing the Razz, or even say my current set up. (Margules ACRH3, Line Magnetic LM 24 CD, MoFi Ultradeck and Parasound JC3 jr. pre and you live within a decent drive of NE Ohio, I'd be happy to host. And no, I'm not an Ax murderer.. 

For sure when i spoke about buying speakers on reviews analysis , i spoke about relatively low cost speakers...

i dont have the money to buy high cost speakers anyway...

What i know is in many cases it is better to buy relatively low cost good speakers with acoustic basic knowledge in a dedicated room than to buy high cost speakers put in a living room... 😊

Speakers design matter yes, but is of no great use in a living room sometimes... No living room is the same for sure but...

Speakers/room relation for me was the discovery...not just the speakers design...

i always looked for speakers/room soundfield filling the room out of the speakers plane with the intimacy and details of headphone... And i always look for an headphone with a soundfield filling the room out of the head and with speaker like realism...

the headphone case is the harder bill to fit acoustically... Almost all headphones are failure... At least the 9 i bought, save one...I never listen to 5,000 bucks headphone, but reading the reviewers attentively dont put any shade on my AKG K 340 the most mythical flagship of AKG history... No it is not the K1000... Because headphone must have very deep bass too to be speaker like...

i know because i succeeded to reach these acoustic level to seme satisfying degree in the two journey speakers and headphone ... Acoustic basic knowledge beat most price tag..not all but most... 😊

Recommanding brand names is usdeless, because there is many very good speakers brand name... But there is only one room : the owner room... And his ears will be in the obligation to couple and pair the speakers to the room...nevermind their brand name...

Any speaker can be safely ordered provided you can return it.

I can't hardly imagine buying a new (unused) expensive pair of speakers ($10k+) without hearing them first - or at least a model by the same manufacturer. If someone has a budget like this then they should be able to swing going to an audio show or making a trip to a dealer.

But when you get into the clouds regarding a speaker upgrade it's not practical to audition them at home with a return privilege. My favorite speakers at this point are MBL 101 E Mk II (I've heard them at two audio shows) and the nearest dealer is over 1000 miles away. Even if they would let me do this I wouldn't take them up on it. OMG, what if I damaged one? Not to imagine the hassle of uncrating them and then repacking them if I wanted to return them. Who's going to pay the LTL freight of over $1000?

On the other hand, if you are buying from a dealer and you can offer them a low friction transaction (no audition, no return privilege, no delivery or home setup) then you should be able to ask for a significant discount. If you can drive to their location and pick up the speakers it's even better. If you are buying mail order then you you can shop for the best price. If you are buying a large heavy pair of speakers used then the seller is probably requiring local pickup. In this case you can at least make sure they work before you pay for them and you are getting a substantial discount from new price.

Bottom line, there is no way I'm going to restrict my audio purchases to gear that I can audition at home. I just bought a Jay's Audio CDT3 Mk III transport that was shipped from China. There is simply nothing else on the market like this transport and I was willing to believe the reviews and take a chance. I totally love this thing. If I restricted myself only to gear that I could audition I would have missed out on this incredible component and many of the best components in my system.

I am not trying to be a shill for Stereophile, but I starting out looking at the Recommended Components for a good start. I bought my ONLY speaker without  listening to them. They were Quad S2, and love them. They are not my primary speaker, but I do, play them on my second system often with a SET amp. Just wonderful sound.So, IMO, anyone can design a expensive speaker that sound good. But, its harder with cheaper alternatives. Just a guide, but I figured the class sections helped me.

@mtbiker29 

What price range would be acceptable for you?

I have always felt comfortable buying B&W speakers without hearing them and have done so several times but I agree with many above who say don't buy speakers without auditioning them first.

Anything Sonus Faber. 

a smart person will never do that, but the mind comes with experience... unfortunately most audiophiles make their purchases based on the opinions of people they don't even know (critics from advertising articles, sellers from electronics forums) .... then disappointment, sale and buying new devices...
after a few years, such people themselves give generous advice to beginners))) - they sell their scrap metal to them and get cursed ...

Since I like to 'compare and keep', I bought an SVS center speaker so I could compare with my current and took advance of they really 'no questions asked' try at home police. Ordered. Tested for 2 weeks. Put back in box. Received return label. Mailed back. Refund. Super easy. 

This is like ordering a mail order bride! Don't do it!

I think this is an important thread, because the reality is that for many of us, it is very difficult to audition speakers in your home with your equipment, the only way to really be "safe."  While that is certainly the best approach to a major purchase, if you deem that it is not feasible, you have received a lot of good advice for alternatives. Listening at a show, or probably better, at a dealers store would probably be worth a bit of a trip.
You are probably safer, meaning, the result will be more predictable, if you buy high quality speakers from an established manufacturer, such as Sonus Faber, Focal, Magico, Wilson, and many others. These brands are more likely to have a predictable house sound. Obviously, something a little more esoteric will be less predictable.

This topic is one more reason to lament the shrinking number of high end, brick and mortar Audio stores. 

Vandersteen

Rockport of course. Check out the reviews and comments on the forums. Universally praised as some of the best speakers made. Good luck !

The speakers you choose will have the single greatest impact on what your system sounds like. Last time I brought speakers for my main system, I drove 3.5 hours to listen first. Yes, your room will make a difference, yes, your other components will make a difference, but no single thing makes as much difference as your speakers. 

I'd strongly recommend that you do one of 2 things, choose to listen to what dealers around you have or take a trip. As others have said, there are many many excellent speakers on the market, there's probably something near you that will fit the bill, but I'd not, take a trip with your wife. Go to a city with multiple stores. Take her out for a nice dinner and listen to some speakers. 

+1 petaluman. Never buy any hi fi product without listening to it first - preferably in one's own system.

The correct answer is "none".

Take Klipsch, Quad, Magnepan, & KEF - all with 50+ years longevity, loads of admirers here, radically different approaches, sounds, amplification needs, optimal room locations...

Or Infinity, Genesis, Thiel, Vandersteen, Linkwitz, Wilson - visionary creations of legendary designers with dramatically different & different sounding products.

There are many, many reputable speaker makers out there.  Your question is not frivolous, but the only "safe" general answer is to confine your choices to the speakers that you've already heard.

However, the more context you give, the more likely folks here can give you specific suggestions of speakers to track down & hear before deciding.

As you have a Luxman amp, send them an email asking what they suggest...

If safe is your goal in both performance and budget (and checking out your room) the latest generation of Mission 770 or Wharfedale Heritage line big baffles are well made MidFi all-rounders. I confess to being a fan of the Peter Comeau IAG designs. This company doesn’t get much play among golden ear audiophiles but the products they’re producing under the English brands they now own are selling very well worldwide for a reason. Wharfedale Heritage Lintons are amazingly musical at any volume.in my high current Mogami cabled system for less than $1.5k for the pair. Took about 100 hours of listening, some DAC tweaking and interconnect clean up but they have exceeded expectations.

Stealthcraft Mute Specials.

Never buy speakers without listening first.  Nor any other component.