Has anyone listened to Legacy speakers?

09-18-08: Sthomas12321
Legacy rocks! All this and a 10 year warranty!

There is no doubt that Legacy rocks....and does it very well. I lived with Legacy speakers for over 13 years, so I know. However, as I aged (DAMMIT!!!!), I also found my musical tastes changed too. I became more interested in listening to jazz, blues and folk (vocals). Since that time, I have found speakers that perform better in the midrange than the Legacy speakers do.

However, they are still my top recommended speakers for rockers!

Cheers,
John

Jmcgrogan, it's interesting how your preference in music changed, along with your equipment. I think this is pretty common. Do you recall your rig when you had the Legacy's in it, and your rig now? It would be interesting for us to see them both listed, to have an example of what you're talking about. You obviously have been in search of a rich midrange. What did you put together as far as a system to satisfy your change in musical taste?

Hello Douglas_schroeder...or should I just call you Doug?
Great question! I would say that through most of my years with the Legacy's (2+, 1's, Focus) I used SS amplification. Many big names here, PS Audio 200c, Classe CA-200, Threshold T-400...etc.

As my tastes started to change, first I went to Vienna Acoustics Beethovens, and then the Strauss. Now I'm using Verity Audio Parsifal Encore's that are heavily modified. I've also switched from SS amplification to tube amplification. At my peak I was using a BAT VK-75SE that was highly modified (and also currently for sale). I am now downsizing due to family and economic reasons, and I've gone to a used VAC Avatar Super integrated amp.

I also plan to sell my analog rig, but I will not get out of analog totally, just downsize. I love it now, but did not do analog through my Legacy years (1987-2001). I'm also using a Marantz SA-11S1 w/ Ultimate mods from pcX for digital.

Hopefully this answers all of your questions, but please feel free to ask more if need be.

Cheers,
John

Jmcgrogan2

I listen to jazz on my focus 20/20's, when I said Legacys rock, I was using the meaning, they are awesome.

I am a proffesional saxophone player, and love great music, old jazz, modern jazz, R&B, blues, funk, you name it. I also love to hear ballads.

At least in my setup, my focus 20/20's make beautiful music. I actually find them to be specially good at smooth jazz recordings. Modern recordings sound rediculous, while even bad recordings arent to bad. I for one feel the opposite then some on here. A expensive speaker should make all music sound its best, not just good recordings. Ive owned these types of speakers, and I just dont get why anyone would only want to get good sound out of 5% of there collection. I also actually find my 20/20's to sound better with good recordings then every other speaker Ive owned besides maybe, and I stress maybe, the martin logan ascent i's I had. But without a sub, the legacys still destroy the ascent i's even with good recordings. (The logans sounded horrible with bad recordings and have terrible bass output, that also seams to have a little phase issue's.)

On top of everything, the focus 20/20's have been easy to place in 3 different rooms so far. My Logan Ascent i's would have taken forver, and no matter where they were placed there was always one area that was weak.

WHen my musical tastes started changing away from mostly rock, I went from the Legacy Focus20/20 to the Whispers. It was about midway through my my "Whisper Stage" (apx 18 mos.) that I also went from SS(McCormack DNA-500) to tube (VAC Phi 300.1) amplification, having always used a tubed preamp). I found that the tubes gradually made me search for even more resolution and better imaging as my musical preferences continued to broaden yet my expectations continued to rise.
I then got introduced to Von Schweickert speakers and now my speaker journey is over, at least for the forseeable future. I had to pay a LOT more money to get that extra performance I was after. I guess my point here is that the Whispers shouldn't be ignored by those wishing to upgrade from the Focus - they are also excellent speakers and better than most people realize. The weakest part during my ownership was the Steridian equalization box, but I believe that has been resolved by Legacy with a new 3rd-party piece. Hope this helps your decision-making.

P.S. - I still have my 20/20's - they are now being used as rear speakers for my home theater.