Speaker Search List

[Mr Peabody]

Stan, although I'm not a big B&W fan, Blackraven may have a point about trying a different front end. All of the Denon CD players I've heard have been.... bright for lack of a better description. I would find them fatiguing when listening. You could try adding a DAC and just use the Denon's digital output. I can't stand an overly warm or slow source either. I try to find players that have a natural sound to me. I thoroughly enjoyed my Audio Note DAC. I still have it, just not in my main system. The NAD Master series SACD player has a very good sound. I guess maybe it's warm, I'd say more of a dark sound but I really liked it. You can find those around on special for $1k. You still may end up wanting new speakers but if that 3930 is your source I'd certainly address that before spending a lot of money on new speakers. I've also always found Arcam CD players very good. They tend to be detailed and dynamic.

[mlsstl]

Just curious, what's the deal about "no more than three years old"?

Seems a rather curious and arbitrary cutoff to me, especially given some of the legendary speakers from many years ago that still have people clamoring for them.

[manlystanley]

Just curious, what's the deal about "no more than three years old"?

Seems a rather curious and arbitrary cutoff to me, especially given some of the legendary speakers from many years ago that still have people clamoring for them.

It is arbitrary. I just didn't want to spend thousands of dollars on a speaker that would shortly develop problems (like my Maggies did).

[mlsstl]

It is arbitrary. I just didn't want to spend thousands of dollars on a speaker that would shortly develop problems (like my Maggies did).

Sorry if I missed that post, but what problems did you have with the Maggies? I had a pair of 1.6QRs for a number of years with zero problems. The speaker I had before that - a set of tri-amped TL KEFs - ran for over 20 years before I changed (and not because they failed.) Here, 30 years later, I'm using the small mid/tweeter boxes as an LS3/5a clone for my desktop system.

There is nothing insulating about three years if a speaker has a manufacturing defect. The other big cause of speaker failure is abuse. Once again, that is a completely separate issue from age

The only two specific age related issues are drivers with foam surrounds and capacitors. You're looking at 20 plus years for those to set in and both are quite fixable. And, many speakers do not use foam surrounds so don't even face that issue.

[manlystanley]

Stan, although I'm not a big B&W fan, Blackraven may have a point about trying a different front end. All of the Denon CD players I've heard have been.... bright for lack of a better description. I would find them fatiguing when listening. You could try adding a DAC and just use the Denon's digital output. I can't stand an overly warm or slow source either. I try to find players that have a natural sound to me. I thoroughly enjoyed my Audio Note DAC. I still have it, just not in my main system. The NAD Master series SACD player has a very good sound. I guess maybe it's warm, I'd say more of a dark sound but I really liked it. You can find those around on special for $1k. You still may end up wanting new speakers but if that 3930 is your source I'd certainly address that before spending a lot of money on new speakers. I've also always found Arcam CD players very good. They tend to be detailed and dynamic.

That's the joy of hanging around you guys, I learn so much. When I finish fixing the Magnepan's I'll do a series listen to both my CD player vs. my turn table. Should a turn table naturally sound warmer?

Best Regards,
Stan