2. speakers
  3. 1256707536

Looking for New Speakers - Suggestions

I am finally actively looking for a new speaker setup for use primarily as 2 channel but will also be used for HT. I prefer to build the system around my front to channels.

Here is my story. I have been in the AV biz for 12 years. I have heard 100's of speakers and never really fell in love with them. I have owned the following

B&W 805's
B&W CM4's
Paradigm Atoms
Paradigm Studio 60's
Energy Take 5 (college)
KEF KHT 6000
Monsooon FPF600's
Martin Logan Clarity's

I have actively sold Monitor Audio, Krell, McIntosh, Paradigm, B&W, Sonance, Def Tech, KEF, Vienna Acoustics, JBL Synthesis, Polk, Velodyne.

I really enjoy music loud. Like U2 360 concert loud. I just can't get enough of a dynamic system. I blew the drivers out of our floor model Krell LAT-2's one day demoing them when we first got them in. I listen to jazz, classical, etc. quite a bit but for the most part I listen to indie rock and electronic music.

I really have never found a home speaker that was dynamic and exciting but could also quiet down and let me enjoy some old jazz vinyl I picked up from my father.

I was thinking about going to line array based speakers or Maggies but wondering what other products might be out there.
skent12
ck
101 posts
 
Check out a pair of Cerwin Vega CLS-215. A very good review
in one of the mags. Dynamics out the wazoo and very easy to drive.

Cheers!
dmailer's avatar
dmailer
235 posts
 
You may want to check out a speaker that uses a variation of the Altec 604 duplex driver. This driver has been used as monitors for recording studios as well as in PA systems. They have extreme dynamics and can go as loud as you may want without distortion. They also happen to be very musical. The down side is that they need rather large cabinets to have the proper bass reinforcement. There are several on the market and many DIY versions out there. I own a pair from Serious Stereo which are by far the best speakers I have owned. Shindo makes one although it is rather pricey.
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,687 posts
 
These do not sound like typical horn speakers,they are very smooth in the treble range.They would be ideal for your "high volume" listening preference.Ty Lashbrook,the owner of the company,is one of the best folks in the business.Call him,he will make sure you are satisfied.Link to info below.Good Luck.

Tyler Acoustics
brauser
530 posts
 
Sounds like it's time for some big DUNLAVYs!!
jax2
3,031 posts
 
What's the rest of your system, particularly your amp? Budget? The answer to those may get you more specific responses.

Just in general, nothing is as fast and dynamic as horns that I've heard. Maggies certainly wouldn't be my choice. I've listened extensively to 20.1's and 3.6's and neither would be my idea of dynamic powerhouse speakers. When you say you don't like Klipsch, have you heard the Heritage stuff like Khorns, properly set up, or are you talking about their current AV offerings? Plenty of other horn options out there though the good ones are pretty large and expensive - Oregon's suggestion to attend one of the shows is a great idea. I was hooked on the dynamics of horns for a long time. Eventually I went to a smaller listening room in my home where horns didn't pass the WAF so I spent a long time trying to find something as fast and dynamic. Everything else was a compromise, but I have ended up with a pair of Coincident speakers that satisfy me in that way (Super Eclipse III's). I also like listening relatively loud, though not to the same music you mentioned. These speakers do a fine job and are lightening fast and dynamic (though, again, horns are in a different league there, though these come close). Of what you mentioned, the only ones I've liked and would have thought fit your criteria very well are offerings by Vienna Acoustics (their Beethoven's and Motzarts come to mind as very good choices).

Good luck!
More to discover