Best Speakers For $2K USD

[theaudiohobby]

Usually when someone asks the "what's the best question", a brutal flame war of epic proportions breaks out...that hasn't happened...yet.

I was sorely tempted to dip my hat but since my main speakers costs USD7K it was kind of pointless saying that have reference class off-axis dispersion and impulse response , so I had to settle for a darkhorse.

MusicLG There are a variety technologies out there

1. Traditional Box speakers like AN, B&W, Paradigm etc.
2. Panels like Magnepan, Martin Logan and Martin Logan
3. Ribbon Hybrids such Elac, Precide etc.

I will suggest that you listen to the speakers across the technologies because the technologies the differing strengths and weaknesses, for example, the panels tend to the midrange thing very well but have narrower sweet spots and trickier positioning issues, the traditional boxes tend to better do bass and lower midrange dynamics better but rarely match the midrange ability and treble performance of the panels or indeed some hybrids at lower price points. Your choice will ultimately boil down to what compromises you are willing to live with.

[thepogue]

I'd also add a word of caution...anyone touting a particular brand of speaker as "The Best" (be it value or sounding) is giving you their opinion..... which has some value but is not to be taken as gospel...as we all know different strokes for different folks...so do yourself a favor and listen to as many types and brands as possible. I've put my ear on quite a few and as far as the "stats vs. box" type speakers each has a strength...when positioned correctly I heard Martin Logans sound as magical as I ever heard any music!! The huge down side was that the sweet spot was so narrow that only one person (maybe two at best) at a time could be in that "magic zone"...but with that said I WILL own a set of stats someday. (But will never have them as my only speakers) OTOH boxy type speakers just "kick" some types of music in a way that I've not heard any stats do...I've spent quite a bit of time listing to Linn's upper line, B&W 802's, and the full Revel line (and of course my Paradigm 100's) and as stated I don't think I'd so without a quality box speaker as I enjoy rock too much too fully move to stats...but I'd love to have a set of ML Prodigy's in the mix!!...woohoo...and to be fair I've not had the pleasure of listening to the upper end of Maggies line which I'd love to do at some point...in fact I would make that happen before I threw down the $$ for the Prodigy's....but I digress....bottom line...nobody here (or elsewhere) know what you prefer.........so get out there and make it happen...listen to all you can and don't forget to have fun while doing so!!


Peace out, Pogue

I was sorely tempted to dip my hat but since my main speakers costs USD7K it was kind of pointless saying that have reference class off-axis dispersion and impulse response , so I had to settle for a darkhorse.

MusicLG There are a variety technologies out there

1. Traditional Box speakers like AN, B&W, Paradigm etc.
2. Panels like Magnepan, Martin Logan and Martin Logan
3. Ribbon Hybrids such Elac, Precide etc.

I will suggest that you listen to the speakers across the technologies because the technologies the differing strengths and weaknesses, for example, the panels tend to the midrange thing very well but have narrower sweet spots and trickier positioning issues, the traditional boxes tend to better do bass and lower midrange dynamics better but rarely match the midrange ability and treble performance of the panels or indeed some hybrids at lower price points. Your choice will ultimately boil down to what compromises you are willing to live with.

[shokhead]

Always a crap shot this "best" or "vs" stuff. What somebody tells your are and what your ears hears will most likly be different,not to mention room setup,shape of room,reciever and all that jazz. Only good way to find best or what will work is to stay with proven brands and a lot of testing with your disks. Like thepogue said, caustion and dont rush it.

[drseid]

Always a crap shot this "best" or "vs" stuff. Only good way to find best or what will work is to stay with proven brands.

This I will have to respectfully disagree with... While I would agree that using a "proven" brand (such as B&W, for example) is a good place to *start*... I would argue that if you stay only with the "big boys" you may miss out on *a lot* of speakers you may prefer.

The brands I personally liked the most at THE Show and CES were not mainstream brands, for the most part (Von Schweikert being a notable exception)... That is not to say some mainstream brands do not offer superb sound (and may be the brand chosen)... It just is to say that you are missing out on *a lot* of stuff by sticking to "proven brands." I say let your ears decide which speakers "prove" themselves, and are worthy of your money (large company or small).

---Dave

[Buzz Roll]

There's one "alternative" design not mentioned that I'm always pushing which are the Ohm Walsh series. I've heard all of the above and feel that they are a nice middle ground between stats and "boxes." Huge, open soundstage, very easy to place, big sweet spot and the abilty to hang with heavy music. I really like the sound of Maggies and Vandersteens, but you really have to sit in a very specific spot to hear what they're capable of.

As RGA has mentioned many times, and something that I discovered with Ohm's in home demo, is the A/B test. It's very difficult to run from store to store and properly evaluate sonic differences. With the speakers in the same room, the differences become very obvious.

[shokhead]

This I will have to respectfully disagree with... While I would agree that using a "proven" brand (such as B&W, for example) is a good place to *start*... I would argue that if you stay only with the "big boys" you may miss out on *a lot* of speakers you may prefer.

The brands I personally liked the most at THE Show and CES were not mainstream brands, for the most part (Von Schweikert being a notable exception)... That is not to say some mainstream brands do not offer superb sound (and may be the brand chosen)... It just is to say that you are missing out on *a lot* of stuff by sticking to "proven brands." I say let your ears decide which speakers "prove" themselves, and are worthy of your money (large company or small).

---Dave

I would say true if you know what your doing and maybe not true if you dont. If i'm getting something and not up on it,i'll stick to the well known brands. If i know what i'm doing,i'll check everything.

[drseid]

I would say true if you know what your doing and maybe not true if you dont. If i'm getting something and not up on it,i'll stick to the well known brands. If i know what i'm doing,i'll check everything.

I would hope each individual would know what sounds good to *them*. To me, that is all the experience required. :-)

---Dave

[dvjorge]

I have years visiting this forum almost all days. Nobody will tell you which is the best speaker around $2000. You will get 200 different answers and might be any of them is right for you. Go and listen, we can suggest you, but you have to choose acoording what you like. By the way, I have heard Magnepan many times at my dealer show room and I don't like them for me. Don't allow anybody to push any brand to you.
Good Luck,
Jorge

[MusicLG]

Thanks for the collective wisdom...it's helpful. I'm going to search...with an open mind (and wallet) and listen and listen and listen and listen and listen and listen to both the well known brands as well as some of the obscure ones, too, including boxes and ribbons. I'll keep ye posted.
MusicLG

[bjornb17]

Get MTX Monitor series loudspeakers.....

why are you guys looking at me that way

[risabet]

Thanks for the collective wisdom...it's helpful. I'm going to search...with an open mind (and wallet) and listen and listen and listen and listen and listen and listen to both the well known brands as well as some of the obscure ones, too, including boxes and ribbons. I'll keep ye posted.
MusicLG

Try some Martin-Logans, great sound and, IMHO, much better looking than the Maggies.

[Lord_Magnepan]

A very good speaker for (Giant slayer) is this one



I think its around 1300$ its the VMPS QSO 626R

[MusicLG]

Hey Lord M...I thought you were a die hard, Maggie man only...what gives?

[bargainseeker]

I suggest that you include Amphion on your audition list.

[theaudiohobby]

I suggest that you include Amphion on your audition list.

If you like the Amphions, then you really should also listen to the Genelec, the superior cabinet construction and optimal amplifier coupling of the Genelec 8000 series make a hugh difference.

[Lord_Magnepan]

Hey Lord M...I thought you were a die hard, Maggie man only...what gives?

Well i sold the MG 3.6R and i am gonna order this one next. I guess i never stop learning. But the 3.6R will kill most box speakers below 10K in quite a bit of areas. But they need a large room.

PS: I am gonna make a new username too, since i cant get that changed.

[Florian]

Ok so here is my new name and account plus equipment.

[theaudiohobby]

Well i sold the MG 3.6R and i am gonna order this one next. I guess i never stop learning. But the 3.6R will kill most box speakers below 10K in quite a bit of areas. But they need a large room.

The morale of the story, fanatical attachment to components is unreasonable. The maggie will excel in its areas of strength and fall down in its areas of weakness, there will always be trade offs, it is up to individuals to choose what suits best.

[Florian]

Thats true, but eventually i had to go out and spend 2000$ more. For th price the MMGs and the MMGW (299 a pair) is a killer. I dont know of a box that can beat that. But i move on.

[theaudiohobby]

Pas problemo, at least you were bold enough to come to terms with your dilemna i.e. finding a pair of speakers that work for you in your current room. In recent times, IMO the Genelec 8050 has redefined what is possible from a medium seized bookshelf at the USD3.5K mark, I suppose it is the combination of an optimised inert box, optimal amplification and an active crossover that cause it to eclipse the performance of the many of its domestic brethren at a price that is almost embarassing. Of course, it is not for everyone, for me however I love it's midrange presence and tonal integrity.

[Florian]

I would definetly try the DEQ works wonders with speakers in weird rooms.

[theaudiohobby]

You should, it will make your VMPS sound even better.

[RGA]

Genelec seems interesting in that they are geared to home theater. All of their speakers seem to be home theater focussed. The sheets look good for a small monitor speaker. I gather you prefer the 2-3db rise in the 1khz-2khz band and the added emphasis in the high treble from around 10khz which the Genelecs possess. This is perhaps a reason why we don't like generally the same speakers because I would refer a speaker to have a slight frequency dip in both of those regions. The harmonic distortion is a little high for my liking here at 2% at only 85db which will cause an addittive effect to the 1-2khz band.

I will look for em at the CES next year because I like the fact they offer much sound from a small box and are obviously designed for home theater

I would suggest looking at PMC which seems a lot cheaper and offers a deeper bass response It is used in recording studios world wide. Still a bit zippy in the highs and not all day listenable but very good measured results geenrally.

I'm shocked Lord Magnepan changed from Maggie - My Soundhounds dealer had the big 20.(something) flagship and he changed 4-5 years ago.

It's hard to find something you're going to like long term - many people seem to change their brand with every new audition. Boredom sets in and onto the next speaker amp or what have you. I used to do that and have grown weary of this is best or that...You find what you like at the end of the day - not everyone hears it the same way is a boring conclusion but one which I'm growing in to.

Good luck with the new speakers - Hope to see you post a review as to what you think the new ones do better than the 3.6.

[Buzz Roll]

To describe Genelec as a H/T speakers is also how I hear them. Despite their pro associations, Genelecs are from neutral and/or accurate. The brightness RGA describes has left me with less than stellar mixes when using these speakers. Extremely overpriced.

The Adam booth happened to be right across from Genelec's at NAMM last week so I was able to generally compare the two - the Adams were clearly a better sounding monitor. And yes, PMC are among the best, particularly the AML1.

The VMPS floorstanders remind me of the Red Rose Music (Levinson) Classic Ribbon Speaker. If they sound anything like them, I understand your choice. I too like Maggies, but I found the Levinson presentation more to my liking.

[RGA]

To describe Genelec as a H/T speakers is also how I hear them. Despite their pro associations, Genelecs are from neutral and/or accurate. The brightness RGA describes has left me with less than stellar mixes when using these speakers. Extremely overpriced.

The Adam booth happened to be right across from Genelec's at NAMM last week so I was able to generally compare the two - the Adams were clearly a better sounding monitor. And yes, PMC are among the best, particularly the AML1.

The VMPS floorstanders remind me of the Red Rose Music (Levinson) Classic Ribbon Speaker. If they sound anything like them, I understand your choice. I too like Maggies, but I found the Levinson presentation more to my liking.

I am not making any sonic judgment about the genelec since I have not heard them - and there is more to a speaker that flat frequency response. A lot of pro monitors simply don't cut it for home audio - they are designed for a different purpose. The silly thing is plenty of speakers are used in studios - studio owners have a budget just like everyone else - and it is a fallacy to think a studio speaker is any better than a home speaker. PMC and Bryston haves successfully made the transition from studio to home. I could spend the same money on a PMC/Bryston system - that I will spend on an Audio Note speaker/amp set up.

There is no question which one I prefer. The PMCs are very durable for banging around and work well near field - but I'd grow a bit weary of them all day. The amps are really no better than a lot of cheaper SS amps but you get incredible customer support and bulletproof reliability --- two things critical in a studio where downtime is unnacceptable.

And the other huge thing about studio speakers is that they have a logistic need to be small and easy position firendly. The treble is a tricky thing and if it's going to go up or down 2db in the long run for musical enjoyment I prefer that it to be down 2db because it meshes well with our hearing. That added zing is prominant at 1khz is something I'm not a fan of. UHF wrote a bot about the frequency dip being desirable for home listening a few years back as well.

Home theater speakers are out for a different purpose in my view - for a big action picture(and this is how they sell H/T to people) I think it would be desirable to have a pronounced treble. The sell H/T based of Saving Private Ryan and Star Wars kind of movies. The added zing helps those movies stand out and wow you.

I'm gonna go to CES next year and I'll be looking up a lot of the newer expensive Home theater speakers - maybe genelec if people who I trust tell me they're worth my time.