$40.000 speaker advise. Check out my list

Jkalman, Being able to mod a component of lesser value to perform better or as good then more expensive components is been widely known by many audiophiles who want more better sound for less. Look at all the forums and hype on modding a oppo 981 for less then a thousand and those who have done it say it's in the area of $4000 to $7000 cd players. Rick Shultz does amazing things to the oppo.

As far as pride in owning a Jaguar then a modded chevy has been the fall of man since the beginning. Mans obsession for material is strong. Not my prejudice just the way man is. Our nature is we want to out do the guy down the street. Material is a status item to this society called America.

Chadnliz,

They sound like cheap studio monitors "to me" in comparison to other speakers I heard at the show (including those Dynaudios). I'm sorry if that upsets you... You don't have to agree with me, that is fine. I'll live.

I'm not the one making absolute statements about the sound quality of speakers. You however are... To boot you are personally insulting my hearing now (*you forgot to clean your ears*), as if your perception or opinion of "what sounds good" is the "only" correct one. Grow up!

As per your original post:

And the Vandersteen 5A sounds better than both Wilson & BW.

All my statements have been phrased as personal, subjective opinions, not fact. I would say someone who states their opinions as subjective, and not as fact, has more credibility than someone who posts like his/her opinions are facts (as you did in the above quote). I compared them to cheap studio monitors, because they share a lot of the same sound characteristics as the Samson Resolv 80a monitors I own ($400 per pair). What do you care if I don't like how they sound? If you are so happy with them, then it shouldn't bother you if other people don't like them...

Jkalman, I'm glad that you enjoy your Wilson's, but understand that others have different musical tastes/values. I would choose the Vandersteen 5A over the Wilsons anyday, but I understand that others will feel differently

Yes, and that is exactly why every post I made was expressed as an "opinion" and not as "fact." Thanks for noticing....

If you can't figure out how this line of posts evolved from me recommending the Maxx 2 speakers, justifying why it is OK for the original poster to spend $40K on speakers to the people who were criticizing him for spending that much, and expressing my opinion about a speaker (Vandersteens) that someone else stated as a "fact" sound better than Wilsons and BW[sic]. Then I'm afraid I can't help you. This line of posts didn't occur in a vacuum. Don't forget to criticize your buddy Chadnliz for posting his opinions as facts just because he shares your love of Vandersteen speakers.

I also understand that neither one of these speakers belong in this thread, as they are not considered contenders by the thread originator, Maxx1973. So there really isn't any need to stray down this path.

Certainly the Maxx 2 speakers do belong in this thread, as well as the W/P 8s, because depending on what country he is in, the pricing is different!

Perhaps you can start a thread of your own about Wilson speakers.

My sentiment to the original poster has always been: "listen for yourself and make your own mind up based on what you enjoy most." If he likes Vandersteens more than any other speaker he demos, all the power to him. I wouldn't try to talk him out of buying them. It is his money, his ears and his system. I personally don't think they sound so great, so when someone states that they sound better as if that is an objective truth and not a subjective opinion, it bothers me. You can bet I'm going to express my opinion if it differs from that poster's opinion, especially when that person's opinion is expressed as a "fact." :D

Funny, I didn't see the Wilson Maxx 2 on Maxx1973's original list of 6 speakers. I also did not see Max ask for folks to expand on his list.

Are you a Wilson dealer or something Jkalman? Why are you pushing Wilson so hard?
Why enter the thread and try to change it's direction?
Settle down, pour yourself an adult beverage and enjoy your system.

Cheers,
John

BTW, I didn't realize it until I just read the Vandersteen website, they use Kevlar driver material on the 5a. No wonder I felt them to be grainy sounding in comparison to the Wilsons. I had a similar problem with the B&W 802D Kevlar cone material, and that is a major reason why I upgraded from them to the Wilsons. The B&W mid-range was often raspy/grainy to my ears, much like the Vandersteen 5a speakers I heard. I just don't seem to get along well with Kevlar drivers...