Speaker Search List

[manlystanley]

How about Audio Physic?

http://www.audiophysic.de/index_e.html

I'll chek it out, thanks.

[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]

So, I've spent a lot of time reading various reviews and trying to find local shops that had speakers that I could listen to that are on the list of speakers that you guys were kind enough to help me with. What I'm leaning to is the PSB Synchrony One Speakers. The only problem is that used they seem to run about $2,800 - $3,000. I'll keep on looking and see what happens.

Best Regards,
Stan

[Mr Peabody]

Was any one carrying Dynaudio?

[TheHills44060]

So, I've spent a lot of time reading various reviews and trying to find local shops that had speakers that I could listen to that are on the list of speakers that you guys were kind enough to help me with. What I'm leaning to is the PSB Synchrony One Speakers. The only problem is that used they seem to run about $2,800 - $3,000. I'll keep on looking and see what happens.

Best Regards,
Stan

I really like the Synchrony one series, i even like the Imagine series too. I'd have to hear them side by side though to see which i thought was the better value.

[manlystanley]

Was any one carrying Dynaudio?

Hello Mr. P,
There was none that I could find locally. The dynaudio speakers that most interested me was the Contour 3.4 and Focus 360. These seemed to be in my used price range, but are very seldom on the market. I'm looking for an opportunity to test them, but so far no luck.

Of the Focus and Contour lines, which ones do you recommend?? I see that you own a Contour, correct?

Best Regards,
Stan

[Mr Peabody]

The Contour I have are discontinued. It seems Dynaudio took the Contour up in price and basically slid the Focus in their place. I would be going crazy trying to choose between those two. The Focus is a very impressive series. They do have a slightly different sound than the older Contour. The Focus is a bit more polite and some darker. The newer Contour I haven't spent as much time with . I remember thinking though I like the older Contour sound better. The newer Dyn's are still dynamic they just seem to have a more smooth sound. The Confidence series are the ones to dazzle you. They're more like what the old Contour sounded like. They can play aggressive when needed without being offensive. I will tell you though I have a thing for the 110's. I know they are the Focus entry level and just a bookshelf but they are incredible. Maybe the room they have them in is just right or something but I can just sit and listen to those on end. I forgot what Ajani heard them with but he says he didn't care for them. I personally think it was a bad set up or something.

I know where there is a pair of Focus 220 for $2600.00 not broken in yet. The dealer sold them and the guy brought them back and traded up within two weeks. Not that the 220's were bad, he really wanted the 360's and just didn't do what he wanted in the first place. I think 220 is the model, the set that sells for around $3500.00 new?

[Ajani]

The Contour I have are discontinued. It seems Dynaudio took the Contour up in price and basically slid the Focus in their place. I would be going crazy trying to choose between those two. The Focus is a very impressive series. They do have a slightly different sound than the older Contour. The Focus is a bit more polite and some darker. The newer Contour I haven't spent as much time with . I remember thinking though I like the older Contour sound better. The newer Dyn's are still dynamic they just seem to have a more smooth sound. The Confidence series are the ones to dazzle you. They're more like what the old Contour sounded like. They can play aggressive when needed without being offensive. I will tell you though I have a thing for the 110's. I know they are the Focus entry level and just a bookshelf but they are incredible. Maybe the room they have them in is just right or something but I can just sit and listen to those on end. I forgot what Ajani heard them with but he says he didn't care for them. I personally think it was a bad set up or something.

I know where there is a pair of Focus 220 for $2600.00 not broken in yet. The dealer sold them and the guy brought them back and traded up within two weeks. Not that the 220's were bad, he really wanted the 360's and just didn't do what he wanted in the first place. I think 220 is the model, the set that sells for around $3500.00 new?

Actually my findings of the Focus 110/140/220 are similar to yours (just a different conclusion)... I thought they were too smooth and polite.... Heard them on Arcam/Rotel Gear...

Unfortunately for the Focus, I was comparing them directly against B&W CM1s and 805S which are exciting (and bright) speakers... So the Dyns just seemed subdued by comparison...

However, if I actually had to choose between the CM/805 and Focus for longterm listening sessions, I'd choose the Focus... I found the B&Ws sound irritating in long sessions (mighty impressive short term though)....

[Mr Peabody]

I've heard the Focus on several amps but Arcam probably the most. So that's cool we have a common reference Hopefully an Arcam CDP as well.

[manlystanley]

Got back home and found 3+ feet of snow... Wow, I'm not as young as I used to be. Anyways, the short list of speakers are:

Dynaudio 3.4s (Used) $3500 (These are two months old, new $6,500)
Dynaudio 220 mk-ii (Used) $2600 (New they are $3600)
PSB Syncrony (Used) $3,000 (New: $5,000)

I'm leaning towards the 3.4s. What are your guys thoughts. Is the 220 Mk-ii a safer (warm) bet??

Thanks,
Stan

[manlystanley]

Can someone help me understand the dynaudio pricing. When I look at the bluebook I see:

Contour 3.4:
-- Introduced 2003
-- New List: $5000.00
-- Used avg: $3670.00

Focus 220 Mk II: released 2009
-- New List: $3500.00
-- Used avg: $2050.00

So, a couple of questions, I take it that the 3.4's have increased in price by 30% in 7 years? Or is this a different 3.4?


Thanks,
Stan

[frenchmon]

Hey Manlystanly....You need to put some Canton speakers on your list. For the money you are willing to spend, I'd see If I could audition some Canton Vento Reference or someCanton Ergo speakers. I think you would be surprised at what they can do. They have a real life-like sound with great musical dispersion. You may be able to find a dealer in you metropolitan area, or a dealer on line who is willing to let you listen.

frenchmon

[manlystanley]

Hello Frenchy,
I listened to Cantons a while back, I personally didn't care for them. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Best Regards,
Stan

[Mr Peabody]

Yes, Dynaudio's prices have gone up over 7 years as everything inflates over time. I'm not sure if the increase is as much as 30% though.

The 3.4 sounds like the best deal, not even broke in and there would be improvement in refinement over the 220 but $1k worth is a hard call. I think you'd be happy with the 220's if wanting to save. Just a few weeks ago I heard a pair of 220's driven by a T+A system and they were quite impressive.

[frenchmon]

Hello Frenchy,
I listened to Cantons a while back, I personally didn't care for them. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Best Regards,
Stan

Sorry to hear that...what modle did you listen to? I love my Cantons. What did you not like?


frenchmon

[manlystanley]

Sorry to hear that...what modle did you listen to? I love my Cantons. What did you not like?
frenchmon

I don't know what model it was. But, I was at a local stereo shop listening to some B&W's and they had Canton's as well. The imaging was very poor and the sound didn't appeal to me. Maybe it was a lower model??

Best Regards,
Stan

[frenchmon]

I don't know what model it was. But, I was at a local stereo shop listening to some B&W's and they had Canton's as well. The imaging was very poor and the sound didn't appeal to me. Maybe it was a lower model??

Best Regards,
Stan

Wow...that does not sound like Canton. The imagining is one of their strong points. Canton even recommends that you don't toe them in. They usually have a very wide sound stage with great imagining. They disperse the music very well...better than most speakers. they have a great mid range. I betcha it was more on the set up and placement of the speaker more than the speaker it self. Theres a local shop here in St. Louis that does a very poor job of setting up its speakers as well. Sorry you had a bad experience with them because they real are a very good speaker with a great wide sound stage if set up correctly.


frenchmon

[RGA]

I'd also add Acoustic Zen to your list. I heard the bigger brother of the Adagio but used you might be able to get them http://www.acousticzen.com/adagio.html

The adagio's new list price is $4300 - but they also don't have the name brand weight (YET) for as easy resale.

couple of reviews
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/a...en/adagio.html
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue31/adagio_az.htm

[manlystanley]

I'd also add Acoustic Zen to your list. I heard the bigger brother of the Adagio but used you might be able to get them http://www.acousticzen.com/adagio.html

The adagio's new list price is $4300 - but they also don't have the name brand weight (YET) for as easy resale.

couple of reviews
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/a...en/adagio.html
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue31/adagio_az.htm

Hello RGA,
Interesting. There is a V1 and then a V2 version? What would the re-sale value of them be? I see them for sale around:


-- V2 (used): $2,300
-- V1 (Used): $1,800

Is there a big difference between the V1 and V2??

Thanks,
Stan

[RGA]

The only one I've hears is the latest Crescendo at $14k. I am not sure about v1 or v2. You could send them an e-mail or ask the reviewers at those magazines which one they reviewed. A v1 and v2 could be cosmetic changes or rather big audible changes - sometimes for the better sometimes for the worse.

[blackraven]

My vote are the PSB Synchony's. I believe they are a stereophile class A recommended speaker for what thats worth. My good friend has them and they have this luscious warm sound with excellent tight, deep bass , detail and clarity. Every time I'm over at his house I am astounded by the sound. I think that they would mate well with your Emotiva amp. He's using a Belles Hot Rod 125wpc amp with an older Acoustic Research hyrid preamp and a Marantz SA8001 cdp.

[manlystanley]

The only one I've hears is the latest Crescendo at $14k. I am not sure about v1 or v2. You could send them an e-mail or ask the reviewers at those magazines which one they reviewed. A v1 and v2 could be cosmetic changes or rather big audible changes - sometimes for the better sometimes for the worse.

Bummer. Feel into a deal where I could get a brand new Acoustic Zen Adagio speakers (MSRP $4300) for $2300--direct for the company. Hard to explain how I wound up there. But, the reviews all say: phenomenal speaker, but a little to bright. Which will not work for me....... Double bummer.


Best Regards,
Stan

[frenchmon]

Bummer. Feel into a deal where I could get a brand new Acoustic Zen Adagio speakers (MSRP $4300) for $2300--direct for the company. Hard to explain how I wound up there. But, the reviews all say: phenomenal speaker, but a little to bright. Which will not work for me....... Double bummer.


Best Regards,
Stan

Stan have you heard the Acoustic Zen? Dont let some ones opinion of "bright" run you off unless you are not able to hear the speaker with your own ears.

frenchmon

[RGA]

Yeah they very well may be a little bright. I'm not a huge fan of ribbons because for me that generally have a fatiguing quality to them. I have usually liked the ribbon matched to a dynamic driver even less - the Crescendo and the Sonist have been the only exceptions but both were being run with SET amplfiers which don't possess the brittle two dimensional artificial sound of SS - which the ribbons would pass on to your ears more-so perhaps.

You could look into Audio Note kits or used AN J (my speaker) or several Harbeth speakers - but both are standmounts but make standmounts with more bass than most floorstanders for the same price - so it depends on your reasoning for the floorstander which is why I suggested floorstanders. If it is an issue of bass then add them - if it is an issue of looks then of course don't.

The price range is tough to get real good speakers - and brightness is caused by a few things - for me it is poor crossover, room related, and driver characteristic. Every driver material has a certain sonic way about creating its frequency range. The way a soft dome silk done paper metal etc sound different - and two very unlike drivers in a two way corssover sound from woofer to tweeter - if the crossover is poor you hear the gap which draws your ear possibly to the treble and it will be bright. Subtle is a decent crossover but a metal tweeter to a paper woofer - that over time can cause fatigue. One drivers (either lowther or panels) generally don't cut the mustard at either frequency extreme nor do they have the balls to do justice to any amplified music, synthesizer, drums, organs, piano, and often lack dynamics. There are some exceptions.

If you have the space the KingSound Prince II is a $6,000 brand new price panel - IMO it is the best value to sound of any panel I have ever heard. But they're a small company and finding used ones will be tough. Plus they're real big which may pose problems.

My AN J is difficult to beat at $5k new - and you will have no problem with brightness. They are very big standmounts.

A floorstander that often goes under the radar are the Tannoy Prestige line - these sound absolutely beautiful, I was particularly impressed by the Kensington SE II but it goes for $8k - so whether it would drop to $2.5k might be tough but like the AN's they have a very nice timbre and tone presentation are also easy to drive opening up your future amp choices and sound coherent and natural.

A tougher to drive but non fatiguing elegant sounding speaker maker is Gershamn Acoustics out of Canada and they make some speakers that may hit your budget - the X1/Sub 1 combination is very nice - a poor man's Wilson in looks - but the cabinets look better.