Favorite standmount speaker under $2,500

My next step up will be speakers. I have decided that I would stick with stand mount speakers. I like the OML1's over the RS6's due to less interference from the cabinets. I believe any speaker under $4-5,000 should be a standmount. I enjoy on some music the extra bass of the floorstander but the loss of detail is not worth the trade-offs.

I am not looking for speakers that are very highly efficient or work in a corner. Nothing wrong with either but my amp puts out plenty of power and I have things already in the corners. I am also not interested in panel loudspeakers again due to room size.

I have a local dealer who carries both the Reference 3A and Joseph Audio lines. They both have bookshelf speakers a little under my budget. I recently heard the de Cappo's and really liked them. I have not heard the Joseph Audio speaker but years ago I was impressed by an Infinite Slope bookshelf that had incredible imaging. Joseph Audio uses a refined version of the infinite slope crossover.

Imaging and soundstage layering is important. I do not like bright speakers. I like a speaker that can groove and sound funky when needed like the OML1's where the RS6's are more about the leading edge of notes and less about sustain and decay. I think that is why to my ears I would either get tired of the RS6's or miss the OML1's. Lately I have felt like the Mitt of the audio world.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

I agree with your budget choices: under $4K I'd probably opt for a really good standmount (or maybe DIY)....

My choice for $2.5K (including stands) is the Revel Performa M22 - at 85db they'd really appreciate all your Krell has to offer....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ajani

I agree with your budget choices: under $4K I'd probably opt for a really good standmount (or maybe DIY)....

My choice for $2.5K (including stands) is the Revel Performa M22 - at 85db they'd really appreciate all your Krell has to offer....

---

Nice suggestion Ajani and I will look to see where I can hear a pair. I have read much good about their floorstanders. Thanks

I won't try and talk you into floorstanders, because I might just be wasting my time. There is nothing wrong with standmounts as I can attest to. I will suggest the Dynaudio Focus 140 as the 160's have been released and the 140's will undoubtedly be reduced. Also the Usher BE-718 would be an excellent choice.

Omega Speaker Systems - Products > Super 8 Alnico Series

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack in Wilmington

I won't try and talk you into floorstanders, because I might just be wasting my time. There is nothing wrong with standmounts as I can attest to. I will suggest the Dynaudio Focus 140 as the 160's have been released and the 140's will undoubtedly be reduced. Also the Usher BE-718 would be an excellent choice.

---

I have thought about Dynaudio's and have always been impressed with the quality of their drivers. Usher is another good suggestion. I need to see if their are any dealers near to me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

I have thought about Dynaudio's and have always been impressed with the quality of their drivers. Usher is another good suggestion. I need to see if their are any dealers near to me.

---

I know my Usher dealer will ship to you if you have no dealer in your area. They've been Class A recommended by Stereophile since they were first introduced on the market.

Hi JM....the new Galo speaker will be released oon...in about a month per my dealer. I cant wait to take a listen. Don't know if you have a dealer near you but they are in your budget.

http://www.roundsound.com/images/pro...ngle/cl-21.jpg http://www.roundsound.com/images/pro...ngle/cl-22.jpg

Anthony Gallo Acoustics :: Satellite Speakers | Audio Loudspeaker | Speakers

I would see if I could get a pair of lightly used Totem Mani-2 sigs. My favorite standmount speaker! http://gadgets.softpedia.com/images/...speakers-1.png

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack in Wilmington

I know my Usher dealer will ship to you if you have no dealer in your area. They've been Class A recommended by Stereophile since they were first introduced on the market.

---

I appreciate the help. One thing I want to do is to find a speaker that I go a little crazy for. Years ago when I had my Smaller Advents I would go to the store and listen as I saved up for a system. Same thing when I bought my ADS speakers and later when I bought the NHT SuperOnes. I want to find a speaker I am excited about and then part with the cash.

I auditioned the Monitor Audio's from a local shop after a few auditions. I do not think I was as excited by them at the time as I should have been. I do think I was swayed by the review and Class B rating in Stereophile. Now I want to listen to 4 or 5 speakers on multiple visits and decide which one I cannot live wihtout. Then when I narrow it down to one or two I will take the OML1's with me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Geoffcin

I would see if I could get a pair of lightly used Totem Mani-2 sigs. My favorite standmount speaker! http://gadgets.softpedia.com/images/...speakers-1.png

---

We do have a dealer for Totem. I will try to give them a listen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frenchmon

Hi JM....the new Galo speaker will be released oon...in about a month per my dealer. I cant wait to take a listen. Don't know if you have a dealer near you but they are in your budget.

http://www.roundsound.com/images/pro...ngle/cl-21.jpg http://www.roundsound.com/images/pro...ngle/cl-22.jpg

Anthony Gallo Acoustics :: Satellite Speakers | Audio Loudspeaker | Speakers

---

Wow thanks so much I followed the link and found a dealer just about 30 miles away and a brand new audio shop I did not know existed.

I will try to talk you out of standmounts.

Think bout the reason most people buy standmounts? Price and size. But size is a non issue since you have to buy a stand - they they still take up the SAME footprint in your room. If you have to have a free standing loudspeaker then you have gutted most of the living space around the speakers anyway.

And you usually give up sensitivity, bass, dynamics, and volume with most standmount speakers. You say sensitivity is not an issue but even if you have a billion watt amplifier maybe one day you hear a really good system that changes your mind as it does for many and it would be nice not to have to dump the speakers. A HE speaker can be run with 1000 watt amps or 5 watt amps. You get more choice as a result.

Giving up all that for what? Take B&W - I would sooner buy the B&W 604 floorstander than an N805. Yes the 805 has a better tweeter but it's still not great - and the 604 has a much fuller range sound which hides it's tweeter a little better. It's far more open and engaging with weight and drive. The 805 is a grand more and light weight anaemic. Same footprint. Some designers are much better with their standmounts over their floorstanders of course so this doesn't apply to all but I would be looking hard at the floorstanders (don't need to buy a stand) and you may not immediately feel you want a subwoofer (which takes up yet more space).

There are very few standmounts that satisfy me when the price is $2000. I can accept no bass impact dynamics at $700 but at $2500 it better sound better than a B&W, Revel, Dynaudio, Paradigm.

I would look at a used set of Gallo 3.5 speakers - the footprint is very small they don't have high power demands though they can take big power.

How low do you want to go?

Coming from floorstanders are you compromising in the 50hz to 70hz range?

If so what about the Harbeth 7ES-3 or P3ES-5? I've read that they just disappear and give
you the most music out of a speaker. No analyzing, just enjoyment.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Enochrome

How low do you want to go?

Coming from floorstanders are you compromising in the 50hz to 70hz range?

If so what about the Harbeth 7ES-3 or P3ES-5? I've read that they just disappear and give
you the most music out of a speaker. No analyzing, just enjoyment.

---

The Harbeth's 7ES-3 are about $1,000 over budget. I would like to hear them one day.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RGA

I will try to talk you out of standmounts.

Think bout the reason most people buy standmounts? Price and size. But size is a non issue since you have to buy a stand - they they still take up the SAME footprint in your room. If you have to have a free standing loudspeaker then you have gutted most of the living space around the speakers anyway.

And you usually give up sensitivity, bass, dynamics, and volume with most standmount speakers. You say sensitivity is not an issue but even if you have a billion watt amplifier maybe one day you hear a really good system that changes your mind as it does for many and it would be nice not to have to dump the speakers. A HE speaker can be run with 1000 watt amps or 5 watt amps. You get more choice as a result.



Giving up all that for what? Take B&W - I would sooner buy the B&W 604 floorstander than an N805. Yes the 805 has a better tweeter but it's still not great - and the 604 has a much fuller range sound which hides it's tweeter a little better. It's far more open and engaging with weight and drive. The 805 is a grand more and light weight anaemic. Same footprint. Some designers are much better with their standmounts over their floorstanders of course so this doesn't apply to all but I would be looking hard at the floorstanders (don't need to buy a stand) and you may not immediately feel you want a subwoofer (which takes up yet more space).

There are very few standmounts that satisfy me when the price is $2000. I can accept no bass impact dynamics at $700 but at $2500 it better sound better than a B&W, Revel, Dynaudio, Paradigm.

I would look at a used set of Gallo 3.5 speakers - the footprint is very small they don't have high power demands though they can take big power.

---

The reason I would want standmounts is smaller cabinets and less resonance. The OML1's are both horizontally and vertically braced and have minimal cabinet vibrations compared to the RS6's. I like a rigid cabinet and I think it is easier to find in a small speaker in my budget than one with larger cabinets.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RGA

I will try to talk you out of standmounts.

---

Huh? Aren't all the speakers by your favourite brand (with the exception of the AZ one and two) stand mounts? Even the AN-E has a stand to get it to a proper height (if I'm not mistaken)...

The AN J and E are standmounts but compete with full range floorstanders - no other standmount that I have heard does that for anything remotely an affordable price. All standmounts I have heard sound like puny ass little speakers and for small money that is fine but at ~$3k it's too much money IMO to live without a huge spectrum of sound.

I prefer meat on the bones to my sound even if it comes with a little bit of grit.

The Reference 3a MM de Capo and and Audio Note AN K/SPE is about the bare minimum in bass and dynamics that I would be willing to accept and reason both are in my favorites in the price class. The K/Spe is a sealed box infinite baffle design and is not strictly speaking a corner loaded design. Though because it's sealed it works well in corners. The Decapo has more frequency response issues but a darker sound makes them more inviting with poorly recorded music. The K/Spe is not nice to lesser equipment so I only recommend them in certain situations.

When Hi-Fi Choice did their blind level matched sessions with the AN J the bass simply destroyed all the other speakers in the test so they had to pull it out and put them into their full range floorstander sessions - the AN J still won amongst the many listeners and they all commented that the bass still bettered the floorstanders. So while technically they are standmount speakers because they require a stand to get the tweeter at the correct height they ought to be considered floorstanders with regards to performance. This can't be said for the likes of the B&W N805s and all speakers that size and general shape - none of them ever even remotely perform like floorstanders.

There are some big standmounts from Harbeth like the M40 that have about the same general bass depth of the AN J. But it costs three times more money and is physically a lot larger - nice sounding IMO though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

The reason I would want standmounts is smaller cabinets and less resonance. The OML1's are both horizontally and vertically braced and have minimal cabinet vibrations compared to the RS6's. I like a rigid cabinet and I think it is easier to find in a small speaker in my budget than one with larger cabinets.

---

Well that is true of some makers but the Gallo 3.5 has no such cabinet issues.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RGA

The AN J and E are standmounts but compete with full range floorstanders - no other standmount that I have heard does that for anything remotely an affordable price. All standmounts I have heard sound like puny ass little speakers and for small money that is fine but at ~$3k it's too much money IMO to live without a huge spectrum of sound.

I prefer meat on the bones to my sound even if it comes with a little bit of grit.

The Reference 3a MM de Capo and and Audio Note AN K/SPE is about the bare minimum in bass and dynamics that I would be willing to accept and reason both are in my favorites in the price class. The K/Spe is a sealed box infinite baffle design and is not strictly speaking a corner loaded design. Though because it's sealed it works well in corners. The Decapo has more frequency response issues but a darker sound makes them more inviting with poorly recorded music. The K/Spe is not nice to lesser equipment so I only recommend them in certain situations.

When Hi-Fi Choice did their blind level matched sessions with the AN J the bass simply destroyed all the other speakers in the test so they had to pull it out and put them into their full range floorstander sessions - the AN J still won amongst the many listeners and they all commented that the bass still bettered the floorstanders. So while technically they are standmount speakers because they require a stand to get the tweeter at the correct height they ought to be considered floorstanders with regards to performance. This can't be said for the likes of the B&W N805s and all speakers that size and general shape - none of them ever even remotely perform like floorstanders.

There are some big standmounts from Harbeth like the M40 that have about the same general bass depth of the AN J. But it costs three times more money and is physically a lot larger - nice sounding IMO though.

---

Fair enough.. We don't disagree in major way on this one... I do generally prefer floorstanders and closer to fullrange sound...

Also, I wouldn't buy the B&W 805S as I feel they are too bass light and bright... However, there are monitors that deliver bass comparable to a small floorstander (not fullrange and likely not as impressive as the AN J but still much better than the the usual monitors)... The Dynaudio Focus 140 mentioned earlier will deliver good bass (though I really don't like the tweeter - way too laid back for me)... & the Revel Performa M22 will provide good bass for most types of music as well... At $2.5K (including stands) I could live with the bass of the M22, above that I'd have to save up for $4K Towers...

So there's actually a gap in my buying range at the moment - up to $2.5K, I could live with Monitors (just not the really bass deficient, wimpy ones)... Above $4K I'd buy nothing but Towers... And currently between $2.5K and $4K, there's nothing I'd buy...

I'll take a pair of Salk Song Towers, PSB Synchrony ones's and two's or a pair of Theil CS 2.4's for under $4k any day of the week, and not to forget Magnepan 1.7's.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blackraven

I'll take a pair of Salk Song Towers, PSB Synchrony ones's and two's or a pair of Theil CS 2.4's for under $4k any day of the week, and not to forget Magnepan 1.7's.

---

PSB Synchrony 1 is $5.5K - so well over the $4K budget... Synchrony 2 is $3.5K, so almost a $4K tower (never heard it though)... I've not heard the Thiels or the Salks... and Maggies aren't my cup of tea...

I vote Be-718 and I think they have more than enough base for most music, if not you can always add a sub for more dynamics.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1291758938

I should mention that my room is 12x15 ft. and the speakers will be in front of the 12 ft. wall. That is not a lot of space and I have to be somewhat considerate of my neighbors below. Oh and my budget is still$2,500.

Thanks for the responses so far I have been looking up the speakers and checking for local dealers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

I should mention that my room is 12x15 ft. and the speakers will be in front of the 12 ft. wall. That is not a lot of space and I have to be somewhat considerate of my neighbors below.

---

Sound like a Monitor is the best choice...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

Oh and my budget is still$2,500..

---

LOL... my apologies for derailing the discussion...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

Thanks for the responses so far I have been looking up the speakers and checking for local dealers.

---

Cool... I hope you get to carry the Krell along for the auditions... I will be very interested to see what speaker you settle on....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

My next step up will be speakers. I have decided that I would stick with stand mount speakers. I like the OML1's over the RS6's due to less interference from the cabinets. I believe any speaker under $4-5,000 should be a standmount. I enjoy on some music the extra bass of the floorstander but the loss of detail is not worth the trade-offs.

I am not looking for speakers that are very highly efficient or work in a corner. Nothing wrong with either but my amp puts out plenty of power and I have things already in the corners. I am also not interested in panel loudspeakers again due to room size.

I have a local dealer who carries both the Reference 3A and Joseph Audio lines. They both have bookshelf speakers a little under my budget. I recently heard the de Cappo's and really liked them. I have not heard the Joseph Audio speaker but years ago I was impressed by an Infinite Slope bookshelf that had incredible imaging. Joseph Audio uses a refined version of the infinite slope crossover.

Imaging and soundstage layering is important. I do not like bright speakers. I like a speaker that can groove and sound funky when needed like the OML1's where the RS6's are more about the leading edge of notes and less about sustain and decay. I think that is why to my ears I would either get tired of the RS6's or miss the OML1's. Lately I have felt like the Mitt of the audio world.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

---

I have SA Aura 1's in the Ebony finish. Frenchmon has been auditioning them for the last month or so. Maybe he will provide his impressions of the speaker.

Here is the link to SA.

SA aura 1

Has anyone heard the Nola Boxer? From reviews I have read I think I should hear that speaker.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RGA

I will try to talk you out of standmounts.

Think bout the reason most people buy standmounts? Price and size. But size is a non issue since you have to buy a stand - they they still take up the SAME footprint in your room. If you have to have a free standing loudspeaker then you have gutted most of the living space around the speakers anyway.

r.

---

A speaker stand and a tower speaker may have the same footprint but a tower speaker takes up more visual space. Interior design is important to me and I live in a smaller space. I find a standmount on dual front and back column speaker stand to take up less of the room visually. The OML1's on the Sanus SF22 stand is less obtrusive than the RS6 floor standers. I have to keep the audiophile and interior designer in me happy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ajani

PSB Synchrony 1 is $5.5K - so well over the $4K budget... Synchrony 2 is $3.5K, so almost a $4K tower (never heard it though)... I've not heard the Thiels or the Salks... and Maggies aren't my cup of tea...

---

You can occasionally find the Synchrony 1's for $3500. A good friend of mine bought a pair from audiophile liquidator for $3500 2 yrs ago.

PSB -$3,599pr, down from $5,500

Psb Synchrony One Tower For Sale | AudiogoN


PSB B-Stock Sale

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

Has anyone heard the Nola Boxer? From reviews I have read I think I should hear that speaker.

---

Hey John, I've heard the Nola Boxer at a local shop and it had a enchanting sound to say the least. Fit and finish were first rate also. One thing to consider is, that this is a HE speaker with a 90 db sensitivity. The shop I heard it at was running it off a 20 watt tube amp. But next to it was a speaker that I forgot to mention before. They had a pair of Dali Helicon 300's that were being fed by a Musical Fidelity amp. They sounded so good. It was that kind of sound that when you walk into the room, you start looking for a nice comfy chair, cause you know you're going to be there awhile. I think new they're like $4000, but I just saw a mint pair on Audiogon for $1475.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack in Wilmington

Hey John, I've heard the Nola Boxer at a local shop and it had a enchanting sound to say the least. Fit and finish were first rate also. One thing to consider is, that this is a HE speaker with a 90 db sensitivity. The shop I heard it at was running it off a 20 watt tube amp. But next to it was a speaker that I forgot to mention before. They had a pair of Dali Helicon 300's that were being fed by a Musical Fidelity amp. They sounded so good. It was that kind of sound that when you walk into the room, you start looking for a nice comfy chair, cause you know you're going to be there awhile. I think new they're like $4000, but I just saw a mint pair on Audiogon for $1475.

---

The Boxer sounds interesting. When I wrote about high efficiency speakers I was thinking of speakers designed primarily for HE. 90 db should not be a problem. The Dali sounds interesting. I think a local dealer may stock some of the Dali's. Now I just need some time to follow up on some good suggestions.

As I am shopping I need to listen to both Paradigm and PSB speakers. Odd that I have never heard either. I would also like to hear the Vienna Acoustics bookshelf speaker. Oh and Bose 901's are stand mounted and in my price range. ;-)

JM, here's the PSB Synchrony sound in a nut shell. Smooth and airy with deep but tight bass. Warmer sound with articulate but laid back treble. Plays well with SS and tubes. The new Image and Imagine line has similar sound due to the trickle down technology.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

I should mention that my room is 12x15 ft. and the speakers will be in front of the 12 ft. wall. That is not a lot of space and I have to be somewhat considerate of my neighbors below. Oh and my budget is still$2,500.

Thanks for the responses so far I have been looking up the speakers and checking for local dealers.

---

Likely this kit from Parts Express, (here), based on Usher drivers, would compete will against speakers up to $2500. $700 for a pair. They look easy to assemble; there is no soldering.

http://www.parts-express.com/images/.../302-953_l.jpg

Add a pair of these Dayton speaker stands, (here), for $77 and you'd be all set.

http://www.parts-express.com/images/.../240-754_l.jpg

Those crossovers look like they would be easy to swap out the caps for some nice Mundorf Oil Caps if you decided that you don't care for the sound.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Feanor

Likely this kit from Parts Express, (here), based on Usher drivers, would compete will against speakers up to $2500. $700 for a pair. They look easy to assemble; there is no soldering.

http://www.parts-express.com/images/.../302-953_l.jpg

Add a pair of these Dayton speaker stands, (here), for $77 and you'd be all set.

http://www.parts-express.com/images/.../240-754_l.jpg

---

Nice speaker suggestion but I do not want to buy a speaker I have not heard before. The OML1's use quality drivers in a quality enclosure. The front baffle is 1 inch thick and the rest 3/4 inch thick plus vertical and horizontal bracing. The cabinet does not contribute to the sound the way the cabinet of the RS6 does.

As far as stands I have two pair of Sanus stands and one pair of Pangea. They are 22, 24, and 26 inches tall. So I am set for stands.

I also have a pair of Ascend CBM 170's in the closet that I liked at first until I realized they were too forward for my tastes. If I find a speaker I like I plan on listening to them on multiple visits to the shop before I make the purchase.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

Nice speaker suggestion but I do not want to buy a speaker I have not heard before. ...

---

I can't argue with wanting to hear the speakers first, although I will insist that listening in the store vs. at home cannot be a definitive test.

Of course it's ideal if you can borrow speakers home, or at least buy them with free return.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack in Wilmington

Hey John, I've heard the Nola Boxer at a local shop and it had a enchanting sound to say the least. Fit and finish were first rate also. One thing to consider is, that this is a HE speaker with a 90 db sensitivity. The shop I heard it at was running it off a 20 watt tube amp. But next to it was a speaker that I forgot to mention before. They had a pair of Dali Helicon 300's that were being fed by a Musical Fidelity amp. They sounded so good. It was that kind of sound that when you walk into the room, you start looking for a nice comfy chair, cause you know you're going to be there awhile. I think new they're like $4000, but I just saw a mint pair on Audiogon for $1475.

---

I have a pair of Nola Mini's which are similar to the Boxers I assume...and have heard the Dali Helicons as well...no match whatsoever...I would snatch a pair of Helicons in a heart beat if I had the coin. That is an outstanding speaker that no one I know of even knows about....but very popular out on the east cost.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnMichael

As I am shopping I need to listen to both Paradigm and PSB speakers. Odd that I have never heard either. I would also like to hear the Vienna Acoustics bookshelf speaker. Oh and Bose 901's are stand mounted and in my price range. ;-)

---

I've heard Paradigms studio's and Sig series and they have a very good midrange that draws you in. The Signature series has that Be tweeter thats very good. Some say the studio series are bright....I find them neither bright or boring but lively speakers...very engaging. They are not forward, but if you want something that is laid back...then PSB may be more to your liking. If you can, you should go and take a listen to them. Its the type of speaker you have to listen too. I suspect the Sig series may be more to your liking, but they may be out of your price range I assume...I know about 5 years ago a pair of Paradigm Reference Signature S2 cost tops about $2200. Dont know what a pair would retail today. Oh...RGA....please no Paradigm bashing...we know your stance on Paradigm.

Let me know if you go take a listen to the Paradigm....They are a beautiful speakerhttp://www.paradigm.com/components/c...ings/o/572.jpg

And I wonder if you have a Wharfedale dealer in your area? I am very interested in these puppies as well. Its the new Warfedale Jade 3. They are a 3 way stand monitor with great balance. They go for $1900 a pair. Very little reviews sense it's new but I think What Hi-Fi did a review on the Jade 7 floor speaker and said they where really good but need power to make it come alive....You will have no problem with the Krell.

http://www.hifi-trade.ru/products_pi...cherry_big.jpg http://www.avsale.ru/pbi/Wharfedale-...-Black-new.jpg

Here's Focus Audio FC 6 II. Classic Series II, and FS 6 ll Signature Series II...both in your price range.

http://www.focusaudio.com/2011/Classic2/FC6_2.jpg http://www.focusaudio.com/2011/Signature2/FS6_2.jpg

And here is FP 60 SE http://www.focusaudio.com/2011/PrestigeSE/FP60.jpg

and FP 50 SE http://www.focusaudio.com/2011/PrestigeSE/FP50.jpg

If interested in the FP 50 or 60, you may have to check pricing at

Focus Audio - High End Audiophile Loudspeaker