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Want speakers for 700 but none sound good.

Hello all,

I apologize for asking a question which might have been asked many times before, but I have a small problem at hand. I need speakers around <$700 and I have auditioned quite a few incl B&W 602.5 S3, Triangle Titus 202, JBL S38II, Paradigm Studio 20 v2 etc. These are all good speakers I am sure but somehow don't do it for me. I am probably like the other guy who said he had 'audiophile tastes but a poor man's budget' or something.

The speakers above were auditioned at home. I have a NAD c350 amp, Cambridge audio CD player with Straightwire Maestro interconnects and apature speaker cables. The (small) listening room measures about 10'x12'x8' (LxWxH) w/ hardwood floors (I know bad!). The speakers are going to be replacing the excellent Boston Acoustics A70 speakers from the late 80s. Very very good for it's time but, sadly, dead with torn woofers and distorting tweeters. I may not get good replacements knowing the only mid-fi quality of current BA drivers (some may beg to differ).

Sorry for the longish post but I need help getting room filling sound with tight bass and good detail/imaging from speakers that you recommend. Not much concerned with playing too loud. New age electronic/ acoustic and some rock music.

Thanks a lot!
pranagas
lazarus28
339 posts
 
make that two votes for rega speakers. they'll surprise you.
bbtuna
96 posts
 
I put the Thiel's together with NAD (integrated and cd player) for one of the friends and it was great. This was a couple of years ago and one that lives close is still happy as a pig in mud.

The maggies may be just the thing I can't say because I haven't heard them but I have to believe that you would get better bottom end out of the Thiels.

I wish you could hear my Titus set up right now (also have a Cambridge 500se) and my 30w Blue note...if you didn't like this I would have to explore further what you are hoping to get out of your system.

Again I mention expectation because the speakers you mentioned (not just the Titus) are all good. Have you heard something else that is your standard? Do you have a friend or something that has a "better" set up? Just a thought. It is always hard to adjust when I come back from my friends place (a dealer) who has such great set ups and better rooms than I have.

Well, good luck.

cd
tweekerman
473 posts
 
Pran did you try researching the previous threads here on Audiogon. There are ton's of great suggestions, and you can draw your own conclusions.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
If you will buy used, then also look at the B&W CDM-1 I mentioned on the "poor man's" post. The original CDM-1 is still the best for music in my opinion; the CDM-1NT next, then the CDM-1SE which I would only consider for movies.
pranagas OP
7 posts
 
thanks Bbtuna, danheather and others. I will also explore the B&W CDM1. Yes, used is probably the way to go for my budget. I have bought used and not had any problem so far with the equipment.

I think the basic "problem" according to my wife at least, is that my mind is burned in with the BA A70 sound from all these years that I cannot get away from that. And so I am unconsciously rejecting every speaker. If that's true it's frightening and not a good sign although I doubt that theory. But anyway, she is not too happy with me bringing speakers in almost every week and leaving all these boxes lying around the house + obesessing about speakers. Yes, there is some pressure to make a quick decision here.......but that's another story.

I will look into all the speakers mentioned and also look at other threads. Most seem to know what they're (you're) talking about.

cheers.
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