Replacement for current speakers suggestions


Greetings! I am 64 years old and started the hi fi journey at 19. I am thinking of replacing my current speakers. I have a pair of Von Shweikert VR 2's driven by a Mcintosh MA 250. Analogue sources are a Clearaudio Emotion Red with a Hana EH cartridge, the second deck is a Technics SL-1200 GR with a Clearaudio Maestro Cartridge. My VR 2's sound outstanding with the Mac however, they are sounding clinical these days. I realise that at 64 with all my health issues hearing changes for the worse. Diabetic for 39 years, Cardiac issues, (massive MI in 95, double bypass in 05) and the latest is stage 4 cancer, no remission possible! I like a warm sound that recreates music in great detail without sounding clinical, not sure if that makes sense! Disability does not pay all that well! The days of affording 3k to 5k are done! Looking at some Wharfdale towers, Maggies and possily Monitor Audio. I want to stay abour or below 2k.I will appreciate your opinions!

Thanks, Bogiedr

bogiedr1

I have the Monitor Audio 500 speakers. The sound is very accurate and lush. You won't need a sub. with these. I got an open box deal from Safe and Sound for $2100 a pair. I am also using a KT88 tube amp that I paid $2000 for and drives the MA 500's at 30 watts.

The Maggies may be picky about the listening position.

Good luck and take it a day at a time.

Thanks everyone for the responses, very helpful and your warm welcome is awesome! Sheridanmartin hello neighbor, I am in Carrollwood, Tampa. I will be visiting Brian probably Friday. You are right, after 18 years of doing business with him he's never steered me wrong. I am proud to call him a friend. I will be auditioning the 1.7's and Linton's, closely priced.

I did listen to Monitor Audio's today and the tweeter was excellent! The low end powerful but, after five minutes the sound hurt my ears, loose and almost rattling. The mid was confusing, not very clear, I was a bit surprised. After listening to my Schweikert's for 18 years and my vintage system's Polk Audio SDA 2B monitors I am spoiled by great sound. The Schweikert's sounded absolutely stunning today Listened to Dizzy Gillespie, Eddy Gomes, Dexter Gordon and Gentle Giant, great sound. I think they feel me looking so they will behave.

PJB, I understand your statement but as retired Operations Manager for 38 years, career cut short due to health issues, I learned early to be understanding of what folks wanted or needed. The venom is because in my first impression he comes across as a pseudo intellectual. There are nicer ways to communicate and I for one do not tolerate condescending statements, we all are here because we love music. Good equipment is the vehicle delivering good sounds so we can hear the music, not the system! Enough talk about MC, I am sure a he is a very nice person, approach me in a different tone and we are good!

Enough for tonight. Thanks you for all the great input and well wishes, I feel very welcomed here. I will post after my next audition until then, Cheers! Time to listen to my vintage beautiful vintage system!

Recently heard founder Paradigm floorstanders-$5k. Maybe their standmounts are cheaper. Also heard small Dali ?? at $800 each and was amazed. Good luck.

My speakers are on wheels!

Hello Bogiedr2  Great hearing back from you like to know how the 1.7i audition went I am not a box speaker man don`t 

 

want to listed to one it could be Magico, Wilson`s Dali, Kef LS50`s Wharfendale Linton`s etc.etc.  I don`t care would`nt waste my time.  Listen Bogie I don`t know if you`ve every been to a concert hall with great acoustics sat 7th row back center seating and really listen if you have`nt go to a good concert hall clean natural music know rock concerts nice listening none destorted music then go home and listen to your BOX speaker I would ask you after you have listen do you think the sound of the concert hall sound as if was coming from a box speaker?   I am positive your aswser would be hell to the NO.   The concert hall sound its omnidirectional like the design of the Maggies not even the copies like Martin Logan`s come as close as the Maggies.  So before you make the drastic mistake of buying a box speaker I would immediately go see Brian for a pair of the 3 series Maggies if you don`t have the room for 3 series then I would go for the 1,7i`s I sincerely hope you do.  Bogie when I arive home from the concert hall and began to listen to the best speaker I`ve ever heard under $15,000 USD sit in my sweet spot close my eye`s sounds like I`m in a minnie concert hall; In fact when I get the $$$ I`ll be looking for the Maggie 20.7`s in which I don`t think I have the room for them to radiate if I don`t when I get the $$$ I will build a audio room, a add on to my home 35x35x12ft.ceiling to accomadate them that`s how much I love maggies I would go to that extreme. I`ll give Brian a call and tell him to give you my tellephone number I rather not do it over the internet those smart scientific hackers are a pain in butt I beleive and also others beleive that use this furum think they`ve hack this website.  Maybe at some time we can get together after you hear the big Maggies you may want to add on to your property😄 Best regards, Martin

Hi Martin! My wife and I have listened to Tony Bennet, the late B.B. King, Alan Parsons, Pat Metheny and others at Ruth Eckert Hall! Also istened to Pat Metheny and the Lincoln Jazz Center at the Tampa Theater. We also lietened to Trombone Shorty outdoors in St. Petersburg. Due to covid and my cancer, we avoid crowds these days! We do love live music, I have listened to too many artists to name, but a few are, Bruce Springsteen in St. Pete in 1978, Gino Vanelly in 79, gosh, too many to name! Iwill visitt Brian tomorrow and see if I have enough room for the 1.7's. I will also listen to the Linton's. I have been a Maggie fan forever, but never had the room. By the way, the Shweikerts sounded awesome today. I told them I was shopping and they seem to get their act together real quick!! Let you know what I do. Thank you my friend, I'll make sure to get your number from Brian, will call you to chat as soon as I feel ok. Thanks for you reccomendations!

Cheers, Bogiedr2