Mid-size speaker recommendation

[valnar]

I haven't bought speakers in over 10 years as I currently love my bookshelf/sub combo for my home theater system. I now want to build a music-only stereo system and am looking for used everything.

I'm looking for a pair of speakers that I don't believe are too popular anymore these days. They are mid-sized - bigger than bookshelf but not quite floorstanders. They would usually sit on short wood stands.

In the past I've seen them in Boston Acoustics and Paradigm, but almost anything will do as long as they are of high-quality and feature soft-dome tweeters. I'd prefer sealed or passive radiator options over ported. A speaker of that size should get into the 50-60Hz range, which is fine for me. 'tis better than a boombox.

What are some of the good speakers of the last 20 years I should be looking for on the auction sites? I'm willing to spend up to $800 for the pair, so that should open up most classic combos of reasonable quality.

[Mr Peabody]

With your budget and wanting best bang for the buck I would look for a set of Dynaudio, Audience 60 or 62 are a slim, low profile, 2-way floorstander, you would even be very pleased with the 52 which is a bookshelf. Dynaudio does great bass. Important would be what you plan to drive these speakers with. Revel just came out with the Performa 3 series and you could probably pick up a Performa 2 series at a deal, I actually prefer the 2 series.

For $800.00 you should consider used speakers by brands like Wharfedale or Golden Ear. There are a lot of options out there.

[valnar]

With your budget and wanting best bang for the buck I would look for a set of Dynaudio, Audience 60 or 62 are a slim, low profile, 2-way floorstander, you would even be very pleased with the 52 which is a bookshelf. Dynaudio does great bass. Important would be what you plan to drive these speakers with. Revel just came out with the Performa 3 series and you could probably pick up a Performa 2 series at a deal, I actually prefer the 2 series.

For $800.00 you should consider used speakers by brands like Wharfedale or Golden Ear. There are a lot of options out there.

I've heard a lot about Dynaudio over the years. I do indeed prefer a 2-way, which is why an extended bookshelf is deal. I suppose there are indeed 2-way floorstanders, but I just don't want anything that big for this particular room.

The (old) receiver of choice is a Nakamichi, probably an AV-8 or AV-10 as they come available on eBay since I used to have one and I know their amp section is excellent. They probably only handle 8-ohm speakers though.

[Mr Peabody]

You should check out a Audience 62 it would take less room than a speaker like you are talking about on a stand.

[blackraven]

Take a look at NHT Classic 2's and 3's, Wharfedales, Quad 12L, Dynaudio, PSB's, older KEF's

Speakers at Music Direct

The PSB's are ported but come with foam plugs that allow you to tune the bass. Saturd

I think the Quad 12L's would fit the bill if you can find a used pair.

L Classic Series Quad

[frenchmon]

I haven't bought speakers in over 10 years as I currently love my bookshelf/sub combo for my home theater system. I now want to build a music-only stereo system and am looking for used everything.

I'm looking for a pair of speakers that I don't believe are too popular anymore these days. They are mid-sized - bigger than bookshelf but not quite floorstanders. They would usually sit on short wood stands.

In the past I've seen them in Boston Acoustics and Paradigm, but almost anything will do as long as they are of high-quality and feature soft-dome tweeters. I'd prefer sealed or passive radiator options over ported. A speaker of that size should get into the 50-60Hz range, which is fine for me. 'tis better than a boombox.

What are some of the good speakers of the last 20 years I should be looking for on the auction sites? I'm willing to spend up to $800 for the pair, so that should open up most classic combos of reasonable quality.

If you move fast, there is a pair of Paradigm studio 40's on audiogon that would be right up your ally.

Paradigm Studio 40 v3 | Monitors | Willoughby, Ohio 44094 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community

[valnar]

Hmm. Those are the right size for sure. I remember when they came out.

Aren't Paradigm's quite forward though? Do they have metal tweeters?

[frenchmon]

This is what they said about the tweeters:

G-PAL™ Gold-Anodized Pure-Aluminum Domes. Exceptionally rigid low-mass domes with treated textile suspensions ensure remarkably uniform and instantaneous power response. The elevated position of the dome provides better ‘air’ and frequency response that is smooth, pure and clear.

those tweeters are very good. I've never had a problem with Paradigm studio tweeters. The monitor series is a different story.

As far as being forward, thats more of a cabling issue in my opinion.

[blackraven]

Give a listen to Wharfedales, they have that softer tweeter sound that you are looking for and the overall sound is more laid back than forward. Same goes for PSB speakers.
Saturday Audio has B-stock on PSB's at great prices.

[valnar]

After googling enough, I found the speakers I had 20 years ago that I loved! They were the Boston Acoustics A120's. I'm not sure if I should find them again because time was probably not kind to the foam surrounds, but I remember liking that "sound".