Personal speaker evolution

Radio Shack DIY, ADS 310(?), Linn Kans, Activ Linn Kabers, Wisdom Audio Adreneline D75 and now the Magico V2.

When I was in junior high, I received a Christmas present of my first stereo: a Curtis-Mathes (they made TVs) with 8" two-way speakers. Terrible.

My senior year in high school, I scrimped and saved and bought by first "real" system, featuring Electro-Voice ETR-18 (12" three-way, four driver) speakers.

After graduating college, I upgraded to a pair of ADS 810 (dual 8" woofers), which served me well for about 15 years.

Then it was major upgrade to five Dunlavy speakers, SC-II's for the front left and right, with SC-1a's for center and surrounds.

Then, last month, the biggest jump yet. New electronics (Ayre) and Vandersteen 5a's for the front L+R. These will be my traveling companions for many years to come

Happy listening.

Dawg-Fish, love the 5a's. I keep thinking about moving to those, what a great speaker. But then I would have to change all of my upstream components too. Well, maybe that's a great plan, a whole new system!!

Macdad -- That's essentially what I did -- a whole new system in one rather significant bite. Seriously upgraded my two-channel capabilities with the Ayre stack and 5a's. Will say I got what I consider a screaming deal on demos from my local dealer. They've been "tuned" to my room now and I'm loving them.
Happy listening.

My first was a little cheap receiver and speaker system sold by JC Penny with their brand on it. It was awful sounding, even by standards back in the late sixties when I bought it. The speakers were small monitors, six inch two ways I believe.

1973-1979. Pioneer CS-R300 monitors

They were two way with an 8" or 10" woofer and horn loaded dome tweeter. They were mated with a Kenwood receiver and actually sounded pretty good. I could not quite afford the JBL L-100's that all my buddies either owned or wanted back then. The Pioneers in this series sported a brightly colored cloth grill covering the top half of the speaker and black covering the lower half.

1979-1994. Genesis Physics II+. Paired those with a Yamaha receiver. They sounded pretty nice, but were a tad bit boomy in the low end.

1994 to present. Klipsch KG5.5

After hearing a pair of La Scalas that I could not afford, I just had to have Klipsch, as I fell in love with their superior dynamics. Although at times the KG's can sound a little harsh in the upper mids, I have been quite pleased with them over time. They come with dual 10" woofers and the horn driver. They have been played with Harman Kardon, Yamaha, JoLida and now Emotiva receivers or amps, and actually sound quite a bit better now with the Emotiva power than any other used before.

I am presently shopping for a good deal on some new or good used speakers to replace the KG's. I am leaning toward Klipsch Cornwall III's, but I have not heard them before and won't make a purchase until I have done so. If anyone has any idea where I can hear them within the state of Texas, please advise.