Maybe you should stick with Vandersteen. I've heard most of the popular contenders in this price range and just bought the latest 2CE Sig IIs. I couldn't keep ignoring that I was missing the realistic note decay that I only ever experienced with Vandersteen speakers (the cheapest ones at that - 1Ci). The Maggie 1.7s are capable of faster bass transients but that's the only advantage they had over the cheaper 1Cis IME.
Demo'd a few sets of speakers over the past 2 weeks...
Today I heard the Magnapan 1.7s at my local Hi-Fi. I was interested in hearing the new Maggie LRS, but this is the closest they had. It was good but didn't wow me. Big sound stage, but didn't have the punch and dynamics and bass extension I want. Don't think I will pursue the Maggies any further...
I also heard the KEF LS50s. I think they sounded more Dynamic than the Maggies, big sound stage and good imaging for such a small speaker. Great speaker for what it is, but again, didn't wow me.
These speakers were connected to an anthem tube amp and a rogue audio tube pre-amp with built in phono stage (same electronics as with the Maggies). I think this could be a nice pair for a computer desk for near field listening, but just a tad bright for me. Again fantastic for what they are.
Last week demo'd the Golden Ear Reference Towers (about 10K for the pair) and McIntosh electronics in the neighborhood of 15k total. I found it to be musical, but something seemed off tonally couldn't put my finger on it. I was left wanting more.
Lastly, I demo'd the Klipch RP600M as those had been getting rave reviews (folks saying the brightness had been tamed in this model). I still found the treble too bright and fatiguing so I will not be pursuing these any further either. Too bad, as I was hyping these up in my head.
I'll keep looking, but the current set in my living room are still my favorites (Vandersteen 2Cs from 1989). These speakers can still wow me, but want to see if I can do better for not a high cost.
Next, I would like to hear a pair of 3A sigs and Tekton DI. The later my be extremely hard to get a demo without buying them and doing an in-home trial.
I also heard the KEF LS50s. I think they sounded more Dynamic than the Maggies, big sound stage and good imaging for such a small speaker. Great speaker for what it is, but again, didn't wow me.
These speakers were connected to an anthem tube amp and a rogue audio tube pre-amp with built in phono stage (same electronics as with the Maggies). I think this could be a nice pair for a computer desk for near field listening, but just a tad bright for me. Again fantastic for what they are.
Last week demo'd the Golden Ear Reference Towers (about 10K for the pair) and McIntosh electronics in the neighborhood of 15k total. I found it to be musical, but something seemed off tonally couldn't put my finger on it. I was left wanting more.
Lastly, I demo'd the Klipch RP600M as those had been getting rave reviews (folks saying the brightness had been tamed in this model). I still found the treble too bright and fatiguing so I will not be pursuing these any further either. Too bad, as I was hyping these up in my head.
I'll keep looking, but the current set in my living room are still my favorites (Vandersteen 2Cs from 1989). These speakers can still wow me, but want to see if I can do better for not a high cost.
Next, I would like to hear a pair of 3A sigs and Tekton DI. The later my be extremely hard to get a demo without buying them and doing an in-home trial.
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You seem to really like the Vandy sound, so why not just go up the line with something like the 5a available here now? https://www.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-vandersteen-5a-coveted-revered-2014-01-11-speakers-9170... |
I haven't heard them in a long time, but you jogged my memory of how Involving the Vandersteen's are, with no listening fatigue. I nearly bought some way back when. For years I used to go to audio Shows in NYC, listen, listen, monster systems, OMG, Impressive, but never heard anything more involving than my existing speakers, (3 horns and 15" woofers, 16 ohm, super efficient). Until, finally, I heard JSE Infinite Slope Model 2's. Had them for years, then re-coned my old one's 15" woofers, new Rosewood enclosures, gave the JSE to my son. I would say the JSE are measurably more accurate than my old ones, but, I never forgot the sound of those old ones, and still drive them with the Fisher tube amps they were paired with back in 1956. When you cannot forget something you heard (that you can afford hopefully) you will know it! |
If you have an Eminent Technology dealer near you, consider giving their LFT-8b a listen. It has a pair of magnetic-planar midrange drivers (similar to those in Maggies, but with magnets on both sides of the Mylar, for push-pull operation, hence lower distortion) for frequencies 180Hz to 10kHz (with no x/o in it's range!), a ribbon tweeter for 10K up, and a sealed-box dynamic woofer for 180Hz down. An 8 ohm load to the MG1.7's 4 ohms, so a better match for a tube amp. The LFT-8b is also more punchy, dynamic, and full-bodied (less "wispy"). You can read a very comprehensive review of the speaker by Robert Green in TAS on the ET website. Another way to go is to get a pair of the new LRS (only $650 plus shipping) and some subs. That combination may provide you with what you find lacking in the 1.7. |
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