2. speakers
  3. 176623-171174

Boutique or Big Brand?

Good evening everyone! I am looking at new speakers in the $5k, maybe $6k range. My electronics and room dimensions are on "my system" posted on my profile so I won't repeat them here. I currently have Tekton Impact Monitors, but feel they do not have a good low end (I posted my review on another post so won't bore everyone here). That said, they were the best I could afford at the time and above 40Hz sound good to me.

Now I am ready to upgrade and am faced with a decision... Do I go boutique with a bigger pair of Tektons, or maybe the Salk Song3 A or BeAts; or something from Zu or Devore? Or do I go with a Big Brand like the Sonus faber Sonetto V, B&W 702, or Focal Arias?

I have heard the Tekton, Sonetto V, and B&W 8-series (not the 7 in my price range). I want a slim tower because I feel a lot of them have the same footprint as a pair of standmounters and have better bass extension.

So, what are the benefits of boutique over big brand and vice-versa? It seems in my price range boutique may be the way to go? Thoughts? Any other recommendations?

Because of the pandemic I had to move to a place that doesn't have the audio stores that N.Y.C. and Columbus, Oh. did when I lived there, so I am asking your opinions. Please keep it positive and constructive, thank you.

l1975r
erik_squires
16,838 posts
 

Try the Fritz with the Revelator mid-woofers. 

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,642 posts
 

It sounds like a sub or 4 would do it.

doyle3433's avatar
doyle3433
349 posts
 

Check out Tyler Acoustics. He has quite a range of options. Excellent customer service and return policy and he's a heck of a guy to deal with. I'm totally smitten with my Timekeeper monitors. His speakers have had some positive mentions in some of the press, mostly from audio shows. 

missioncoonery
1,250 posts
 

Repeating expecting different results should be the first thing to come  into your mind...you have some good suggestions and buying used makes more sense to me at your price point...5 to 6 grand used  is a good place to be , no need to compromise on inferior builds

l1975r OP
28 posts
 

Thank you all for your responses. A lot to think about here.

@missioncoonery &  @mofojo I agree and am tempted by getting a "better" speaker, and a used pair of Sonus faber would allow me to move up the line from the Sonetto V I am considering new, but my concern is that I have been burned before on used online audio (and watch) purchases and this would be a lot of money (for me anyway) to get burned for if it didn't work out again.

I really was saving for the B&W 805 D3. I heard them in Columbus hooked up to the McIntosh MC152, which I have and fell in love. I just couldn't afford them at the time. Now I see used pairs for about $4,500 and am tempted, but I don't want to get screwed again with online used. The new 805 D4 are now $8,500 and out of range. $6,500 for the D3 was doable with saving, but I do not (read shouldn't) want to spend $8,500 on speakers as I have other responsibilities in life.

@audioman58 my room is only 10' x 11' with an 8' ceiling. I know that would normally say 2-way monitor and be done. I feel (and may be wrong) that monitors on stands have the same footprint as a slim tower and If I get a quality slim tower it will probably have a wider frequency response. It is a small dedicated listening room, only the system, some room treatments,  and a chair are in the room.

More to discover