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Speaker Quest Revised

Hello Audiophiles. A while back I posted about looking for speakers. Seems that my requirements have to be revised. While making up my mind, I bought a pair of Wharfedale Sapphire 88 speakers (6" woofer,6"mid, silk dome tweeter)from Ubid for $79.00 apiece. After reading reviews about dynamics and realism I bought some Klipsch KLF-20's(horn tweeter,mid and two 10"woofers). Well guess what? These cheapo Wharfedales beat the Klipschs in almost every catagory that's important to me(timbre, holographic imaging,smoothness, etc.) The detail is just as good, the bass suprisingly better and they seem to bring the vocalist right up front like headphones do. I can't get over how much better these $79.00 speakers sound to me. So now like a good audio junkie I want more of this more musical sound.My question is again, which speakers should I be looking for in the used $1500.00 price range? Suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated as I don't drive and the nearest decent audio store is over 20 miles away.
say811
kirk930's avatar
kirk930
285 posts
 
jm lab electra 920 or 915 used. right here on audiogon. no they are not mine , i just think they are very good.
abstract7
541 posts
 
Unfortunately, the new Klipsch speakers aren't much to listen to. I owned older pairs back when Paul Klipsch owned and operated the company. They were terrific speakers for what they did--dynamics with almost no power. But they never did image very well.

The Vandersteen is a good suggestion. I think you could also find a B&W 803 or maybe even an older 802 near or perhaps within your range. I personally like Electrostatics due to their transparancy and imaging. However, they have some issues to consider, such as: the electronics being used with them is very critical (and can be costly), the bass is limited (in some cases severely), and they can be difficult to place (very dependent on room interactions).
audiokinesis
2,737 posts
 
If your priorities are timbre, holographic imaging, and smoothness, the Vandy's are a very good suggestion.

Maggie 1.6's will give you excellent timbre and smoothness, but will not give you pinpoint imaging. To me, it's a worthwhile tradeoff - I personally find the boxlessness of the Maggies to be magical. I don't sell them, but I admire them a lot. The Maggie 1.6's draw me deeper into the music than anything else in their price range, with the exception of a good pair of old Quad 57's. But then the Quad 57 is a highly specialized loudspeaker.

If you have a Maggie dealer in reasonable driving distance, consider making the pilgrimage. If not, consider taking Magnepan up on their MMG offer - for $550 they will ship you a pair of MMG's. You can return them for a full refund within 60 days, or trade them in up to a year later towards a bigger pair. Aside from the MMG's being the best $550 speaker out there, it's a great way to find out what Maggies sound like.

You might find a used pair of Innersound Isis speakers in your price range - this hybrid electrostatic has superb imaging, but a fairly narrow sweet spot. It has better resolution and dynamics than the Maggie 1.6's, but the Maggies have a smoother and more forgiving tonal balance. Depends on your personal preferences.

Best wishes on your quest!
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