Speakers that can beat or match proac studio125 below 1200$

[hertz]

Need your thoguhts on this...
Recently I had the pleasure to listen to the proac studio 125's.Those speakers just blew me away !Now they are my bench mark. The sad part is that I can't afford the proacs right now.I know proacs are expensive and there are a lot of people who say that they are over priced. Has anybody out here done an extensive comparison of other speakers to this ? I am looking for something in the range of 1200$ or less which campares or even beat the proacs ? I know there are so many giant killers out there and some of them are not hyped up also.I loved proacs because there is absolutely no boom in the bass (very tight tunefull bass) and the highs and mids floated into the room. Very addictive and musical sound !
I am a pure stereo guy. Listen to classic rock and Jazz.Need good dynamic attack in the sound without being aggresive and harsh.16 x 20 ft room and plan to run it off NAD seperates or the roksan kandy amp.

[Buzz Roll]

Proacs are definitely nice speakers. I was into the Studio 100s for a while, but when I started getting into time coherent designs, the 100s starting sounding really boxy to me. It's funny because a recording engineer that I know through a mutual friend used to sell Proacs. He'd send you a demo model to hear at home, and get you a good deal on a pair. Well I noticed that a quote from him is at the top of the list in the new Green Mountain Audio brochure. Somewhere along the way, he also got hip to time coherent speakers.

If you don't mind monitors, try a pair of Green Mountain Audio Europas. If you want to stick to floors, then try the Ohm Walsh series (excellent for rock and jazz) that I'm always talking about, or something as natural sounding like a pair of Meadowlarks (try for a used pair of the original Kestrels).

Two reviews, just to give you an idea about Ohm.
http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/walsh/micro.html
http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/ohm/ohm.html

[hertz]

Thanks.
I will go through the reviews and check out the medowlarks and europas. I know there are a lot of speakers out there with less hype.I am trying to get as much info on this..)
keep' em coming in.

[Shwamdoo]

If your looking for a great speaker, like the ProAC, but you can't afford your taste I recomend a DYI kit. It may be a little work, but I think its a fun experience and you can get some great sound for a low price. I recomend Madisound kits. They are a highly regarded speaker parts company and they have some affordable kits. The Cygnet, in particular, uses Seas drivers and I highly recomend it.

If you don't want to build it yourself, Epos makes some great speakers for the buck. Try their M5 or their M12.2 depending on which meets your needs.

Those are the two greatest values that I can think of that have still had impressive sound. However, I'm in the same market as you and if you would like I can share more of my findings later. I'm a bit pressed for time now though. I hope that helps.

[RGA]

Try some AN speakers some time they are time aligned to a master curve and their speakers are upgradeable.

[46minaudio]

Try some AN speakers some time they are time aligned to a master curve and their speakers are upgradeable.

Yea but but you said they must be placed in corners to sound their best...Vandersteen are time aligned and can be placed anywhere...

[Geoffcin]

Need your thoguhts on this...
Recently I had the pleasure to listen to the proac studio 125's.Those speakers just blew me away !Now they are my bench mark. The sad part is that I can't afford the proacs right now.I know proacs are expensive and there are a lot of people who say that they are over priced. Has anybody out here done an extensive comparison of other speakers to this ? I am looking for something in the range of 1200$ or less which campares or even beat the proacs ? I know there are so many giant killers out there and some of them are not hyped up also.I loved proacs because there is absolutely no boom in the bass (very tight tunefull bass) and the highs and mids floated into the room. Very addictive and musical sound !
I am a pure stereo guy. Listen to classic rock and Jazz.Need good dynamic attack in the sound without being aggresive and harsh.16 x 20 ft room and plan to run it off NAD seperates or the roksan kandy amp.

Your very lucky because you've found a speaker that blows you away. I know ProAc, and it's my educated guess that any of the speakers mentioned, although good speakers, will not be in ProAc league. Life is just too short to settle for less if you don't have to. Audiogon.com is the place to look for great deals. Here's a set of 125's for you in YOUR price range; http://forums.audioreview.com/newrep...wreply&p=71350

[RGA]

Your very lucky because you've found a speaker that blows you away. I know ProAc, and it's my educated guess that any of the speakers mentioned, although good speakers, will not be in ProAc league. Life is just too short to settle for less if you don't have to. Audiogon.com is the place to look for great deals. Here's a set of 125's for you in YOUR price range; http://forums.audioreview.com/newrep...wreply&p=71350

Why would you say that --- I have heard Proac 125 --- Commercial Electronics has a used one right now going for about $4kCdn. A Response series I believe it was the D25 Can;t remember that was a whole two weekends back. Certainly better than most stuff I've heard lately. I'll leave the league comment because it's silly.

[Geoffcin]

Why would you say that --- I have heard Proac 125 --- Commercial Electronics has a used one right now going for about $4kCdn. A Response series I believe it was the D25 Can;t remember that was a whole two weekends back. Certainly better than most stuff I've heard lately. I'll leave the league comment because it's silly.

ProAc has been setting the standard for small "monitor" speakers for 30 years or more. My relationship with them goes back nearly that far. My first experience with them was in a major NY recording studio that was using them as their reference monitors. Also, several of my friends, all professional musicians, have them in their audio setups. While I like my Maggies better, I can appreciate the dynamics and pinpoint imaging of the Proacs. One day a set of ProAcs will make it into my office system....(Im still having fun with the Von Schweikert FPS so that will have to wait for a while)

[RGA]

You don't have to convince me I liked what I heard --- nevertheless, I never really go for the arguments that musician friends or recording studio speakers use them therefore they are better. Plenty of musicians and Recording studios like Audio Note --- One of the big folks at Chesky for a start and memebers of the Victoria Symphony and all of this can be said for plenty of speakers we don't like I bet as well.

I think the important bit is do you like em or not...this poster likes Proac -- if it excites you I say go for it...you can always be looking around the corner for the next best thing. I onl listened to the Proac for about 10 minutes --- sometimes that;s all it takes to know it's doing it right. I'm not going to make a trade --- but the Proac was certainly nice and apparently tube friendly which makes it nicer.

[Geoffcin]

You don't have to convince me I liked what I heard --- nevertheless, I never really go for the arguments that musician friends or recording studio speakers use them therefore they are better. Plenty of musicians and Recording studios like Audio Note --- One of the big folks at Chesky for a start and memebers of the Victoria Symphony and all of this can be said for plenty of speakers we don't like I bet as well.

First you say that you don't "go for" my argument, and then use the same type of argument to promote your personal choice. In case you haven't been reading my posts, they are not based on what other people are saying, but on what I've heard myself with my own ears. When my friends, some of whom are professional musicans, choose a speaker that I also like, it's not like saying some guy at Chesky likes these speakers. Do us all a favor and let the rest of us post without adding extra commentary.

[46minaudio]

--- I never really go for the arguments that musician friends or recording studio speakers use them therefore they are better.

Plenty of musicians and Recording studios like Audio Note --- One of the big folks at Chesky for a start and memebers of the Victoria Symphony .

Toooo funny....