Good looking Towers for < $2000?


Going to upgrade from my Paradigm Studio-20 V5s.  These are on stands. 
I've decided to go with towers this time.  I don't like stands that much.
Anyway, for living room 2ch music.  WAF and attractiveness are important for the living room.
Not looking for black rectangular boxes.
I tend to like moderate/soft levels.   Jazz, folk, classical, new age, some rock.

I am also looking for a bit more bass than the Studio 20s give me (54Hz low-freq).

Salk looks nice and gets great reviews (SongBirds, SongTowers).

How are PSB?   Any other good suggestions?

Thx,
Rob

albireo13

Sorry but you are trying to pick out speakers the worst way possible - by how they look, written reviews and asking for suggestions from strangers on the internet who will tell you what they have or want to have. But how does anyone really know if these are the right speakers for you?  Glad to hear you did go out and listen to B&W's though and ruled them out.  That's a positive step. 

All we really know is that you don’t like black boxes and your taste in music. But we don’t know what kind of amp you have? How do we know if your amp can even drive any of the speakers being recommended?

Let us know what amp you have and then a short list can be suggested for you to go out and hear them for yourself. Good luck!


I have Emotiva UPA2 power amp ...  SS with 125W/ch.  I listen to my CDP and streaming music.  Living in NH there is a shortage of nearby audio dealers to demo at.   
If you must compromise with functionality you should know what you are giving up. Try and listen to a pair of the latest Technology Vandersteen 2CE Sig II boxless design with Five As reflection free woven drivers. Imho its such a refreshment to the cookie cutter 6 in metal driver PC clone box.
Hey, when many wives experience the Vandersteens they like them so much they whisper in their husbands ear, 
"" I want these they sound the best.anyway""
 Best JohnnyR
 Vandersteen dealer 27 years
@Paraneer - although you make a decent point, you do so in a pretty condescending manner. Yes, the OP is asking for advice from strangers - who may or may not "tell you what they have or want to have". But that may also be the best way for him or her. Most of us don’t have the location luxury to audition many different types of speakers and, truthfully, almost every pair of speakers I’ve owned and enjoyed - save for a pair of Triangle Celius and Maggie 3.6R’s I first heard at a dealer - I’ve bought and enjoyed based on recommendations here or in Stereophile.

Why? Because like the OP, I’ve rarely lived anywhere where I can audition a lot of different brands.

The OP wanted speakers that are attractive and have more bass than his existing Paradigm monitors; and he’s received a few ideas - including sticking to Paradigms. And yes, he did listen to and rule out the BW’s, as you patronizingly pointed out. But BW’s are everywhere; most of the others are not.

And if he’s doing things "the worst way possible", then that worst way has worked out fine for me over the years, with changes in speakers coming from my own online and print research and from this board --  only coming about because of spatial or component changes or simple curiosity - not out of dissatisfaction with the speakers themselves.
Thanks for saying I made a decent point Simao.  But since it is about buying speakers, I feel I made excellent points.  Especially the part about asking what kind of amp he has first which is paramount in selecting any speaker.

And why is my comment about listening and ruling out B&W's patronizing?  I commend the OP on going out and auditioning them and said it was a positive step.

Perhaps you disagree but I still stand by my assertion that selecting speakers in this manner is the worst way possible.  It's akin to picking a vacation destination by throwing darts at a map while blindfolded.  And yes, it mostly results in a popularity contest.