Personal speaker evolution

Ok, here is mine:

1. pre 1988: Tower speakers - no idea of brand/price, 15" woofers
2. 1988-1990: Advent bookshelfs - ~$100
3. 1991: Yamaha YST-A10 (I think) bookshelfs - ~$89/each?
4. 1992: Infinity SM115 - $500 for the pair
5. 1992-2002: Infinity Kappa 8 - $700 used (mains, then surrounds)
6. 1993-2002: INFINITY KAPPA 9 - $1280 new
7. 2002-: INFINITY IRS BETA - $4050 plus shipping and refoaming
8. 2002-: Infinity IRS Gamma - $2500 (needs new woofers)
9. 2002-: INFINITY IRS BETA - $3000 (I couldn't pass up another pair)
10. 2002-: INFINITY IRS V - $24000 (gotta hear it for brand loyalty!)

I think I am done "evolving" my speakers, but I need some lower end ones for the rest of the house...

Mrpoindexter: Please don't tell us you're using the two pairs of Betas as surrounds with the IRS as the main front speakers in an HT set-up!!! What's your listening room, Royal Albert Hall??

My listening room is really too small for what these speakers need. If you would like to see some pictures, I could email them. Send me your email and you can see how big speakers look in a small room. I can't even use my projector right now because the IRS V blocks about 30% of my screen.

I have the IRS V set up as mains and am using the Gammas as my rears for the moment. I need to pick up a couple more amps and then will move the dual betas into the surround position and the gammas will lay on their sides and become the center channel.

If I decide to matrix a center surround, I will split the gammas and get a pair of modulus for the ceiling effect speakers.

If infinity made an IRS Center and IRS Surround, then I would have had them instead, but unfortunately the didn't, so I guess I am stuck with betas.

2 pair stacked large advents $275
ar 3 $200
bose 901 series 2 $250
rectilnear 500 $400
a/d/s L810 $400
magnepan mg2 $275
magnepan tympani 1d $400
magnepan tympani 4a $1600
soundlab a3 $3000
soundlab u2 $5000

IMHO, my list reflects a distinct learning curve, in terms of an ongoing search for greater detail, finesse, and enjoyment. Each new selection has enabled me to listen THROUGH the music better, and to stay involved in it longer and more thoroughly. And this, my friends, is what this whole obsession is all about--even if we don't always hear things in the same way.

Aiwa -- part of mini rig when I was a kid $200 or less??
JBL -- small monitors to replace the first that I blew $200
Rat Shack -- something or other 3 way floorstanders $300
Phillips -- something or other 3 way floorstanders $750
Klipsch KG5.5 -- $770
Von Schweikert VR1100's -- $600
Von Schweikert VR2100's -- $800
Martin Logan CLSII's -- $1400
SILVERLINE SR15's -- $800 some of the smoothest I've heard
MARTIN LOGAN CLSIIz's -- $4350
Dunlavy SCIV -- $3800
VON SCHWEIKERT VR4.5's -- $1500&$1350 (went through 2 pair)
Mission speakers in current HT rig -- $2550 (top of line)
MEADOWLARK HERON -- $2250
Magnepan MG1.5's -- $1200
Vandersteen 4A -- $1800
Magnepan MG1.6's -- $1000 (no patience for maggies)
CAVER AMAZINGS -- $800 modded to bi-wire
MARTIN LOGAN ODYSSEY -- $6200

I think I only recently figured out that Logans are best for my listening tastes. But, (1) I will never get rid of my Carvers, too much of a bargain (2) There will always be a need for cones around here.