Personal speaker evolution

.....then to now.....merlin vsm..~$3k.new.....aliante model one pininfarina..~$5k.new......vonschweikert vr5 hse..~$7k.new....piega p10..~$12.5k.new....i'm staying put for a long time because these are the best speakers i have heard.

Acoustic Reseach small bookshelf model - 1971
Micro-Acoustics large bookshelf - 1976
First satellite/subwoofer system (passive sub), can't remember brand - 1980
Boston Acoustics - 1982
Vandersteen 1Bs - 1983
Spica TC50s & Magnepan MG1Bs - 1983
Acoustat 1 + 1s w/ Janis subwoofer - 1985
Unity Audio CLA1s - 1990
Proac Response 2.5s - 1997
Am now thinking about JMlab Micro Utopia and REL or Velodyne sub. I love my Proacs but need more efficiency and an easier load for my Air Tight 300B amp.

I started in 1987 with a

JVC rack system $900.00
Jamo Concert 11 $3600.00
Revel Ultima Salons $19000.00

Almost speakers:

Hand-me-down mono hi-fi console by Emerson (from older brother) tube sound, wow! So little volume I would press my ear against the front where the "driver" was (may explain my deafness to some).
Hand-me-down stereo hi-fi console by Clairtone from older sister (in fact I sawed the two ends where the speakers were, to have separate boxes, neatly unfinished on one side; well two if you count the masonite back, but the back looked better than the off-side. Later sold them to a bass playing friend who hooked them up to his stereo and loved their sound. For some reason they played loud. Tube amp also, geez I was blessed.)

Speakers:

Dynaco A-25s
Pioneer HPM 100s
Allison:Ones
Thiel CS 3.5s (which I still have)
Paradigm Studio 100 v2s

A bunch of bookshelf systems for use elsewhere in the house or for ambiance channels, by Infinity, Acoustic Research, Celestion and Mission.

Candidates:

Listened to a number of speakers over the years, often in less than ideal conditions. The ones that still stick to my mind and may find their way into my system, weather and finances permitting: Vandersteen Fives, Dunlavy SC IV-A, Dynaudio Contour 3.3s or Confidence 5s. Speakers that I would like as an alternative to dynamic box speakers but that I still can't see as replacements for the aforesaid boxes: Magneplanar 3.6s. Speakers that I would like to audition: Thiel 7.2s and Verity Fidelios.

I bet I can win the prize for the weirdest starting point. At age 12, after reading about the new "acoustic suspension" speakers (yes, your prelate is revealing his age), I got two very heavy wide-mouthed five gallon jugs and two 4" drivers from an old Telefunken short wave receiver. I glued the drivers onto the necks of the jugs (with Duco Cement, anyone remember that evil stuff?), making sure I got a nice, air tight seal.

You can imagine the sound....

Come to think of it, I should have drilled holes in the bottoms of the jugs. Then I could have sued Michael Barnes over at nOrh for theft of intellectual property.

will