which floor speaker up to 1500.00

Vapor1,

"The 1C isn't exactly a great example of quality components and contruction in a floorstander for under $2k. Retail price for all the drivers and crossover components used would be under $200, and the cabinet certainly isn't resonance free. The point I made in the first post is still totally valid."

With regard to that statement, I don't know how you would know how all those separate components used would add up to somewhere under $200. Maybe you're right; if you could even find them all used. What I really want to know is how you go about judging the resonance of the cabinet? Did you measure it? Did you compare it to other cabinets? What was the process?

I'll be completely honest with you. I question how accurate your info is. I've no problem at all with your opinion, and if it differs from mine. Reading your posts, though, it looks like you are going beyond opinion and are getting into fact territory. That's just how I see it. If I'm wrong, or just not reading your post as you intended, I apologize.

To the OP,

Rlwainwright offers an excellent piece of advice. He states: "Remember, quality speakers have a lifespan of decades, buying something 2-3 years old is the smart thing to do..." I couldn't agree more. (Not so much with the part about buying used. That's up to you. Its a personal choice.) If you take the time now, and be sure you like whatever speakers you end up with, you may not have to go through this process again for a while (hopefully). Its not the easy way to do it, but you're the one that has to listen to them, not us.

Zd542 - I suppose I should clarify the position I made above. When I owned the 1C's was when I was beginning speaker design, or more appropriately at the time ... tinkering. I know because I had the 1C's completely disassembled many times. I rewired the internals, added extra cabinet bracing, and replaced some of the crossover components with better quality parts, and removed the polyswitch fuses. Those things helped somewhat, and they also improved when I ran them "naked", without the sock and chopped off the dowels and top plate. But the Vifa D25 tweeters and P21 woofers are both inexpensive parts, although solid performers for the price.

To my knowledge the design is the same now as it was 10 years ago, but if I'm incorrect in thinking that, I apologize.

03-31-13: Vapor1
I'm clearly not trying to hide behind a screen name.

I would disagree, you were certainly not being transparent. It's customary for manufacturers and dealers to identify themselves when posting on these boards. I welcome your participation, but your bias does need to be noted and presented.

I agree that in a room your size, a good pair of monitors is the way to go. I don't agree though that a good pair of floorstanders cannot be purchased for $1500 brand new. I can name many good ones that use quality drivers and pay attention to cabinet design to reduce resonance at this price point. Whatever construction and components are use, they still have to sound good to you and be the best the speaker for you - not us. So asking a bunch a strangers in a forum for a recommendation is really pointless. Instead ask yourself these questions.

1. Whats amplification do I have or plan on getting? Does it have a large enough power supply (not watts per channel) to drive low impedence speakers of 4 ohms or less? Should I even be looking at low impedence speakers with sensitivity ratings in the low to mid 80's or should I stick with 8 ohm, more efficient speakers witrh ratings in the 90's?

2. Whats my room like besides its size? Are there a lot of hard, reflective surfaces? Window? Hardwood floors or carpeting? Or is there a lot of plush soft furnture and drapes that can absorb sound.

3. What kind of speakers, particularly tweeters, do I like the sound of now? What have I heard that has already impressed my ears? Do I have a baseline for listening? Tweeters come in all differenet types - soft domes made from different fabrics, hard domes made from different metals, ribbons, ring radiators and compression horns. All these types sound different from one another. At the same time, they can all be good. So the trick is finding out what sounds good to you.

I would start asking myself the above and then go out and start auditiong speakers by type (not brand) to narrow down your driver preference. Also bring along source material that you are very familar with. One you have made a short list of actual models you have heard, then come back and ask forum owners about the specific models you are thinking about. Most will be glad to tell you what they like or dislike about them. Good luck in your search.

I have dozen of speakers in small rooms (11x11) and medium size (12x16) in the past 12 years... dynaudio, vandersteen, magnepan, b&w, martin logans, psb, DIY... I do have a pair of rega rs5, and these are the best compromise imho.
I would take a good listen to those. I have enjoyed Vandersteen tremendously, but they are bulky.