the big one: how do you choose speakers? By what features, data?

My two cents: figure out what you like, not what reviewers like. Define what you like as much as you can. Do you like laid back smooth sound or higher detail, do you like huge sound stage, are looks important (for me for sure), what’s your budget, etc. Then demo, listen at dealers, buy, return, and sell until you are satisfied—being satisfied for me will last just as long it takes to get accustomed to my system and then I want to change something!

I’ve had a huge variety of speakers—vintage Marantz, Polk, Cambridge, Q Acoustics, Dynaudio, Tekton, and Sonus Faber. For me modern Sonus Faber is my choice. Sensitivity matters most if you have low powered tube amps.

 

w123ale

72 posts

05-11-2023 at 07:24pm 

My two cents: figure out what you like, not what reviewers like. Define what you like as much as you can. Do you like laid back smooth sound or higher detail, do you like huge sound stage, are looks important (for me for sure), what’s your budget, etc. Then demo, listen at dealers, buy, return, and sell until you are satisfied—being satisfied for me will last just as long it takes to get accustomed to my system and then I want to change something!

+1. There is no short cut. You will have to put up the work and the time. As long as it’s fun, and not a chore, it’s all worth it

@w123ale @thyname 

Understood. It's fun. It's just that there are 70+ hifi speaker companies to choose from, price narrows it down to about 40, looks to another 20 and then I have to find a way to filter it further as to which ones I listen to. 

@grislybutter : I understand. You just take the leap of faith for the first pair. And you go from there. Gradually. I have had 9 (nine) pairs of speakers over the past 20 years since seriously in the hobby. And I can’t really say my current speakers are my last. I sincerely cannot possibly know. With a few misses, everything so far has been a worthwhile journey. The key is to enjoy the hobby. Not be a chore. And time, interest, exploration, exposure, and of course, discretionary income 🤷‍♂️

I’d add that larger speakers have been my preference as they throw a bigger sound stage and are more likely to disappear.