Speakers - Your "Safest" Choice

I'd spend $1000, go the NYC for a few days, listen to speakers, then buy a pair of $19,000 speakers...otherwise the best I can come up with is few seem to actively dislike Vandersteen, though many don't particularly like them...there is no totally safe brand or model...

@jl35

+1!!!! Road trip!

No way, unless you know your tastes and the major speaker house sounds should you consider buying speakers like that on a guess.

If you are going from something like $5K speakers and go to $20K speakers, then you are really likely to be really happy… but it is really likely you will be far from getting the sound quality that match your tastes.

Call audio places, have a detailed talk to the owner / head dude / guru explaining your system and tastes. Make an appointment. They should come up with two or three choices of speakers and use electronics roughly the character of your system and have it set up when you get there. I would dedicate two or three hours per shop. Expect to have your head swimming… but if you spend most of the time listening to music… not listening to the speakers… then one should emotionally grab you… that is what you want. Speakers with nothing but details and slam are great to show off, but typically you’ll get bored with after 45 minutes… every time you listen.

For what it is worth, I am a Sonus Faber fan. I have upgraded twice, and if again I’ll go up another level. My values are natural presentation and musical.

As mentioned by others, if I was going to spend 20K on a pair of speakers I would not do so unless I auditioned them first, unless it was a pair of PS Audio FR 20s (+- 20K), and that’s only because I am familiar with their voicing and have auditioned them. At least to me, speakers are a very personal thing, nut much different than clothes or furniture. People will make suggestions based on their level of experience and taste, and not your own. No matter what suggestions you get, unless you try them yourself you don’t really know and would be taking a gamble. I would maybe try some from vendors that will give you 30 days or so of in-home trials, but you’d likely be responsible for shipping one way or both.

"I'd spend $1000, go the NYC for a few days,"

Planning on sleeping on the subway? 😉

No way subway !!! There are quite decent under $200 hotel rooms in Manhattan