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With $20,000 in your hand, what speaker would you

I've recently gone into retirement. I am a 52-year-old diehard audiophile. I've had just about every statement level speaker the American market has offered over the last 10 to 15 years. The speaker I have found the most satisfying overall is my presently owned modified pair of Maggie 3.6R. I've also had their 20s and started with the Mg 3A. for my second favorite speaker I would have to pick the Avalon radian HC, and not the Eidolon( I had problems with the ceramic midrange distorting with dynamic vocals and the base was not perfect). I had dozens and dozens of conventional and electrostatic speakers so many I could bore you with the list. So let's just say I've been around the block a few times.

Let's assume that I made no mistakes meeting the speakers with the proper equipment, power conditioning and acoustical environment treatment. I have been mostly a tube person but I switched over to the new passlabs equipment because I found that I am
the equivalent sound or better than my reference tube amplifiers, without the heartbreaking experience of blowing up and $2000 tube replacements.(As I said I am retired now, I can't afford the maintenance fees anymore.

What I'm asking of my fellow audiophiles that have been listening with reference great audio systems is that they e-mail me back and give me their opinion on what conventional loudspeaker they would own if they had say $20,000 or so to spend(20,000 retail). Semi-full range down to say 35 Hz or so.

I'm going to keep the Maggies but, they don't feel the need when it comes to wanting a more compact/dynamic speaker that I could also drive with my Belcanto SET. Although, they don't need to be ultra efficient.

I would really appreciate anybody's input, I would find all of your input invaluable in making my decision.

by the way what do you all think of the Grand Veena 3A speaker. Is it better than anything for under $20-$30,000?

Thank you very much for all of your help,

Regards,
Andrew

thanks again,
Andy

PS I am still keeping the Maggies.
acollen
mozartrules
42 posts
 
Should combine the virtues of dipole and being more dynamic than the typical panel speaker. It would be my second choice (auditioned at an owner in MY) to my 2805s, the compromises of the Quads are better suited to apartment living (can't play loud anyway). I do by the way drive my Quads with a Pass amp (Aleph 30) which I surprisingly preferred to a tube amp.

Problems are (1) that they cost a lot less than $20k and (2) you no longer need you beloved amps.
lapierre
547 posts
 
Avalon Indra
Analysis Audio Epsilon
Soundlab
Magico V3
david12
1,454 posts
 
I am just about to retire at 61 and I can't put down $20000 on speakers, or anything else, where did I go wrong? Oh yes, I forgot, I still have 2 kids in college. I go back to work the day after, part time, but it was worth it, I think!
steveallen
54 posts
 
One of the Apogees.There is a company called Octave that is bldg. Apogee type speakers and they can probably eat up your money. When I enquired about a replacement for my Stages I was quoted a price of 11 or 12k.
mtdking
157 posts
 
Andy,

I can tell you the Avalon Eidolon Diamonds are the best speaker I have ever heard and you know I have heard just about all of them. I heard your Maggies and they sound very good in your room but if you ever heard the Diamonds your jaw would hit the floor. No box speaker sound like Avalon's and most maggie owners don't like box speakers.

The Andra's sound good but they need a sub or two. They don't compare to the Diamonds but the diamonds cost $14,000 more.

Mark
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