Personal speaker evolution


OK, so here is a thread I haven't ever seen here: What speakers have you owned? starting with the earliest, price paid, new/used, and perhaps the models that really impressed you (for the price) in CAPS.

Rat Shack Something or others, $120, new
Fisher Something or others, $280, new
ADS L710's, $550, new
Snell A2i's, $1100, used
BEVERIDGE SYSTEM 3'S, $1000, used
Martin Logan CLS, $1400, used
MARTIN LOGAN SL3'S, $2300, used
pmwoodward
1. zenith allegro speakers 10 inch woofer with horn tweeter amazing sound. FREE ages 5-15
2.Yamaha bookshelf first new speaker 106.85
3.a/d/s mv40 800.00
4. Vandersteen 2ce sigs 1500.00
5. a/d/s l710, l780, l500, l990, and much more none over 400.00
6 ess heil from 70s free
7.symdex sigma and omega best there is 400.00
8. Note Perfect alpha pro se. Australian speaker traded equipment.
all of these within the last 2 years. Nothing i have tried can come close to the symdex. except the vandy 5's but 400 vs. 12,000 not that much better...
Some cheapo Aiwa system's speakers
Allison 1
Duntech mini monitors
Thiel 2.2
Proac Response 5
Kharam CRM Focal titanium tweeter 2.3 (current)
DCM Time Frame TF350 S$800
Totem Model 1 S$1500
Vandersteen 2CE Signature S$3500
Cabasse Baltic/Thor II S$POA [coming soon]

Always bought new. Started out with the DCM time frames back in 1990. They are a cheap and good pair of spks and the thing is, they're still in good working condition playing in my Dad's house.

The Totem monitors were imaging kings. Still love them, but hated the treble hardness which couldn't seem to go away with different amps. One of the hardest to match.

With the Vandersteens, I got lots of bass and very nice mids. Seemed to work well with anything and hard not to like. Treble [again] was problematic and could sound harsh when pushed. Imaged even better than the Totem(!). Wasn't as fast as high efficiency single driver type spks.

Looked for high efficiency spks which could reproduce the full freq spectrum without throwing away anything and NOT sounding boxy. Needless to say, this upgrade would be the most significant for me. I also own a pair of Cabasse Farellas for HT and loved the tweeter. So investigated their eyeball spks - starting with the iO paired with the Thor II sub. I was amazed at how these spks disappeared and the music was so natural it didn't seem like I was listening to hifi, just music. So I've taken the plunge and gone for the bigger Baltic II/Thor II.
Jensen who-knows-whats?
Klipsch Forte
Legacy Focus
Von Schweikert VR-4 III HSE
Merlin VSM-Milleniums

These would be over the span of the last 24 years....
Tandberg Studio Monitor, bought in Belgrade, new, 2.000$ (still have them)

KEF Concerto, bought for 30EUR at a second hand store this year

Wharfedale E 30, bought for EUR 45 at a second hand store

Bose 301 Series II, bought for 5EUR a ta flea market, woofers needed replacement