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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
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Andy,

Omnis are worth thinking about. At your stated price point, I'd suggest a used pair of MBL 101s. This is a different (and striking) sounding speaker.

Some folks feel that they're acceptably neutral in balance, but they may also sound (to others) a bit mid bass heavy and forward through the presence region (as they do to me). If this is the case, consider a pre-amp with room correction (like the Integra pre-pro), and you'll still be about on-budget.

If you're looking for a different flavor, this will provide it. Obviously, auditioning would be a good idea. A variation on the theme would be a biamped Ohm/subwoofer system like I use. The MBL is a more dramatic sounding system than the Ohm+subs, but it is more expensive and less neutral (IMHO).

For your budget, MBLs (with or without correction) would seem to be appropriate. For my money, moving from the Ohms to the MBLs isn't really justifiable. I have thought about this one, but never quite pulled the trigger on the expenditure and doubt that I ever will.

Marty
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,951 posts
 
Having heard mbls and liking them and also having owned OHMs for years now, if I had the means and the proper room to house them, I'm not sure I would jump from OHM to mbl either. I'd probably use the money elsewhere (like to build a bigger better listening room for the OHMs).
unsound
7,318 posts
 
Marty, we seem to think alike. I was thinking that pairing the Huff's with actively bi-amped TacT gear with integral, room correction and cross-overs for the subs might work nicely.
blindjim
3,092 posts
 

I'd build a deck, screened in porch, some Blue Ray discs, a new suit or two, some shoes to go with them, some CDs, DVDs, maybe another SS amp, some speaker cables, and a pair of preowned Andrea IIs.

OK... with the amp... scratch the deck.
vav
7 posts
 
Wilson Sasha.
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