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Started with $1k speakers … what now?

I got into this hobby during Covid, browsing YouTube reviews my first speakers were Polk L100s and Sonus Faber Lumina 1s. Not bad as an entry point, but wondering what would be the next level is where a speaker is built with fewer compromises in the drivers and crossover design.  My hope was that in the $5k range truer “hifi” entry points may be found in a small room system with a REL t5x. My source and amplification is already in the $5k range. 
 

I visited a hifi store recently but was overwhelmed by the amount of choice and unsure what would be an upgrade based on first listening impressions alone. 
 

Thanks in advance for any insights.

jdavis234
immatthewj
1,238 posts
 

For me, Andrew Jones new $3700 and $3000 speakers are way better than his or the OP’s $1000 speaker..

@jl35  , are you referring to the Sourcepoint speakers by Andrew Jones?

jeenam
131 posts
 

Ascend Sierra EX v2 w/ RAAL tweeters. Go to hifishark, create an account and set an alert to receive an email for when they become available for sale on classified sites. You will not be disappointed.

If you've got the cash spring for the Sierra EX Tower v2 w/ RAAL tweeters.

immatthewj
1,238 posts
 

@immatthewj , Yes, as of 2023/ 2024, guys like Andrew Jones, Danny Ritchie, etc have offered such insanely great sound at around the 1k price bracket that it takes a whole lot more of an exponential increase in price to beat such things (obtain a significant enough jump). 15, 20 years ago...yeah you got something worthwhile at 5k if you had something going on at 1k.

@deep_333  , it sounds as if you are saying that this is kind of inflation in reverse (at least when it comes to speakers)?

What I mean by that is:  20 years ago 1k sounded like more money than 1k sounds like today, but from what you have said, for 1k today, one would buy way more pewrformance than what one would have bought for 1k 20 years ago.

In my own case, going on about 30 years ago, I bought a pair of B&W 805 Matrix speakers that listed for $1600/pair. At the time, I thought I was spending a lot of money (I was just getting started in the audiophile game).  How much would I need to spend today to realize a significant upgrade in sonic performance over those older B&Ws?  Over the years I've upgraded everything (more than once) except for the sub and the speakers, and that was because I just always thought those B&Ws sounded great.  With that typed (and I am not saying this sarcastically) this was probably because I never knew any better.

jdavis234 OP
12 posts
 

@kennyc

Standmounts.

theflattire
132 posts
 

IMO, your space is going to define what speakers are an upgrade.

I sit about seven feet in front and my speakers, Klipsch RP5000s are less than four feet apart. 

I would upgrade them if I didn't feel it would be a waste of money, since the space I have wouldn't let more expensive speakers 'breath.'

I would call my apartment 10x12 and I can't imagine spending a lot of cash on speakers so that I can hear the sound bounce off four walls, five if you include the low ceiling (thankfully I have acoustic on mine!)

Space is a limiting factor for me.

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