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Exceptional value in speakers today?

I'm looking for "sleeper" speaker companies - brands that aren't well known and offer exceptional value.

For years I have been a fan of ACI speakers - the company only sold direct, didn't advertise, but their speakers were consistently compared favorably with speakers costing many times more - in both "professional" reviews and end user reviews.

I am fortunate to have some of their speakers, as the company is no more. Which leads me to my question - there must be a similar company (or several) doing something similar today. Since these tend to be small companies that don't advertise, I thought I'd ask here for some pointers. The big guys are easy to find...

Thanks in advance.

(BTW - my current shopping list is for a pair of monitor speakers for a recording studio. I'm looking for un-powered speakers of exceptional quality (and at a price point <$1k). I need speakers that are good at revealing any flaws in the mix. I already have some high end professional near field monitors (Genelec) and am looking to augment those).
mark_scrivener
mark_scrivener OP
15 posts
 
I hadn't even considered benchmarks like Magnepan, Vandersteen , or Martin Logan - thinking everything they made was too big (and too expensive) for this project.

Some surprising finds:

Magnepan Mini Maggie - a bookshelf ribbon speaker! About $1500 (includes sub)...I need to check these out.

Vandersteen VLR1 (about $1k pr)- bookshelf with coaxial driver.

Martin Logan LX16 ($800 pr) - bookshelf with folded ribbon.

Thanks Robsker! Now to find somewhere around San Jose where I can audition these.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
If you're thinking of stretching your budget, consider the NOLA Boxer ($1500) and the new GoldenEar Triton Three ($2K).

Oh wait! I just remembered my own speakers now available on an insane closeout, the Mirage OMD-15, a reasonably sensitive floorstander presenting a reasonably easy load, with a modest footprint, honest timbres, and room-filling sound. These originally listed at $2500/pair and sounded it. Now they're on closeout. Get the rosewood finish and save another $200. I've had a pair of these for 3-1/2 years and love them. At $800 they're insanely good. I paid twice that and have no regrets.
curriemt11
220 posts
 
LSA1 Standard monitors right at $1K new retail. I use their Statement models in my home theater. Outstanding value for money, in my opinion.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
I think Duke's speakers at Audiokenesis would fall into this group;worth checking out and Duke is one of the good guys in audio as well.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
Sorry missed the 1k price point on my earlier post.
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