Ready for my first expensive speaker purchase

[smooth]

Check out some B&W's.

Thank you. I will do that.

I should have been more clear in my question, however: one of the main things I would like to know is the difference between the 72SE, 82, and Mark 2's.

Does newer necessarily mean better? so, for example, are the 72SE's better than the 82 since I can have them for approx. the same price?

Since this is our first nice speaker purchase, listening to them may help us decide, but I also may inadvertantly pick a speaker that sounds closer to my KLH $200 dollar specials since that isthe quality I've listened to my whole life.


So at issue is that I can have the 82s for a demo price. or the 72se's or the contour 1.3 mark 2's at a special price since they are silver finish or something. Now, the 72SE's I read have a number of contour parts in them. Does this pretty much guarantees that they'll have better sound than the audience components in the 82s?

And what are the pros and cons of grabbing the Mark 2's over the 72SEs?

[NickWH]

To my knowledge the Contour 1.3 MkII is no longer in production. I would have my doubts about it "putting the Audience line to shame." The improvement may not be in proportion to the increased cost. The exception to this is probably the Special 25.

I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the Dynaudio models you have listed. Just keep in mind that you will need some serious amplification, and source components will be critical to the final outcome. Also keep in mind the size of your room. The Audience 82's will probably overpower it, it's a pretty big speaker. Most Dynaudio speakers like to be out away from room boundaries as well.

It sounds like you are headed in the right direction. Just audition them all and try to decide what fits your room and budget the best. Definitely add the Audience 52 SE to your audition list (uses many components from the Contour 1.3 MkII at a much lower price, but then your dealer should know this.).

http://www.dynaudiousa.com/products/...se/aud52se.htm

[NickWH]

Does newer necessarily mean better? so, for example, are the 72SE's better than the 82 since I can have them for approx. the same price?

No.

Since this is our first nice speaker purchase, listening to them may help us decide, but I also may inadvertantly pick a speaker that sounds closer to my KLH $200 dollar specials since that isthe quality I've listened to my whole life.

None of these speakers are going to sound anything even remotely like KLH.

So at issue is that I can have the 82s for a demo price. or the 72se's or the contour 1.3 mark 2's at a special price since they are silver finish or something. Now, the 72SE's I read have a number of contour parts in them. Does this pretty much guarantees that they'll have better sound than the audience components in the 82s?

I'm not one to really care too much about the finish. Pick the speaker that YOU like the best based upon the SOUND. The 72 SE borrows components from the now out of production Contour 1.8 MkII. I haven't heard nor read any reviews on this speaker, but I do know that the regular 72 is probably the least successful speaker from the Audience line. Bottom line, there are no guarantees.

Again, audition the Audience 52 SE. For $1400, I think you will really like it.

[smooth]

To my knowledge the Contour 1.3 MkII is no longer in production. I would have my doubts about it "putting the Audience line to shame." The improvement may not be in proportion to the increased cost. The exception to this is probably the Special 25.

I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the Dynaudio models you have listed. Just keep in mind that you will need some serious amplification, and source components will be critical to the final outcome. Also keep in mind the size of your room. The Audience 82's will probably overpower it, it's a pretty big speaker. Most Dynaudio speakers like to be out away from room boundaries as well.

It sounds like you are headed in the right direction. Just audition them all and try to decide what fits your room and budget the best. Definitely add the Audience 52 SE to your audition list (uses many components from the Contour 1.3 MkII at a much lower price, but then your dealer should know this.).

http://www.dynaudiousa.com/products/...se/aud52se.htm

Thank you very much Nick.

One of the problems I anticipate is that we live in a fairly small complex. I don't want to drown my neighbors. But I also only want to make a single purchase in the near future. Once we leave this place in a few years, we will be moving into a larger home. So I was thinking the 72SE gives me some good compromise. The dealer may not have said "put to shame" but he was really selling on the contours. One quote I did remember him saying was that the 72SE and 82 would be a choice between bigger or better sound.

Could someone please tell me what reasons I would want a stand speaker instead of a floor speaker, or vice versa? I would appreciate that distinction.

[NickWH]

Could someone please tell me what reasons I would want a stand speaker instead of a floor speaker, or vice versa? I would appreciate that distinction.

Standmounts are usually associated with better imaging, cleaner midrange performance, fast mid-bass, but at the cost of deep bass. They require the added cost of good speaker stands, but are more flexible with placement and obviously are much less obtrustive in the room.

Tower speakers, having bigger cabinets and bigger and /or more drivers will have an advantage in the deep bass department. Good towers can also do midrange and imaging very well (Dynaudio is in this category).

In either case, these speakers will need to be out around 2 - 3 feet away from the back and sides of the room. They will also require at least 50 quality watts per channel for the standmounts and upwards of 100 watts per channel for the towers. Preferrably double these numbers.

Given your desire for absolute accuracy over bass exaggeration, I think you are better off with standmounts now and adding a subwoofer later if you desire when you have a larger room to work with.