Speakers I have heard and liked

[Florian]

Buy a V12 and move to Germany :-)

[RGA]

I'd upgrade the P2 before the speakers.

The Dulcet doesn't have the bass. Maybe look at the Legacy Audio Standmount - $1600 a pair is pretty awesome - 8 inch woofer with ribbon tweeter. Worth a try.

[JohnMichael]

I'd upgrade the P2 before the speakers.

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If you are speaking of my Planar 2 it is not a P2 and feel free to check my signature for all the upgrades. My Rega is performing quite nicely.

I realized I need to stop asking advice on speakers and get out and listen. I really love the musicality of the Dulcets and maybe I need to hear the Veena's. I need to travel to a major city where I can listen to many speakers and create a short list.

[JohnMichael]

Speaking of speakers I received my new Stereophile and saw the RX6 were in their Class B recommended components. The RS6 was also Class B in it's day.

[RGA]

One guy at Stereophile chooses what is in which section of the list. John Atkinson. Nobody else. It is NOT a list made up of 10 people each having a vote and the thing that gets the most votes goes into class A. If a different reviewer makes the list (one with better ears like Art Dudley) the list would be a completely different animal. As Art Dudley said about the AN E speaker that it should get A++. That ain't where it is. (which is why it's more important to read the reviews than the lists.

I bought stuff based on their list before and man was it mediocre - meanwhile there is stuff 10 times better that isn't even on their list.

The upgrades you made to the Planar 2 are good and pretty much what people seem to always do to them - I just think you can transfer most of those upgrades and put them on a better turntable.

If it comes to speakers - it really comes down to the legwork - you are correct - no way around the listening. The reviews, lists are all fun to read but nothing replaces the audition.

Von Gaylord speakers were not even a blip on my radar until CAS. They proved to be some of the finest I've ever heard - it ain't on no list but it's better than 95% of every speaker I have heard in a Stereophile/TAS list I can tell you that!

[JohnMichael]

The upgrades you made to the Planar 2 are good and pretty much what people seem to always do to them - I just think you can transfer most of those upgrades and put them on a better turntable.

When I do look at better tables I tend to look at ones with which I can transfer my tonearm. The Incognito rewire and Michell Technoweight are upgrades that I would want to continue using. The motor upgrade and power supply really deserve to be heard. I have enjoyed the evolution of my turntable. I am afraid it would cost me several thousand dollars to better the level I have achieved.

[JohnMichael]

Von Gaylord speakers were not even a blip on my radar until CAS. They proved to be some of the finest I've ever heard - it ain't on no list but it's better than 95% of every speaker I have heard in a Stereophile/TAS list I can tell you that!

Yes I would love to spend $13,000 on a two way stand mount speaker. Yes I think they should be good for that sum. Maybe I will save up for YG Acoustic Carmel's. I should remind that I am an underpaid homecare provider. Suggestions that are accesible to the OP might be better.

[RGA]

My point wasn't to recommend the $13k Von Gaylord but that the "lists" you read have IMO and IME completely inferior sounding speakers for several TIMES the sum of money. It's not on the radar. I said the same thing for 15 years about the Sugden A21a which Stereophile never revieweddespite it being the longest selling integrated amplifier in the world.

They finally did a semi-review because I and others badgered the magazine to cover it. John Marks finally did - I pressed him on AA and he said it is the best amplifier he's heard for the money. Yet for 20 years Stereophile had a lot of other "much worse" sounding amplifiers that received class A and B status. Oops - granted you can't cover every amp but to miss the longest selling integrated amplifier is a big miss IMO especially when you were recommending amps like the Arcam Delta 290 which I bought and it's laughably bad in comparison. But it got the coveted Class B rating. Bah.

The YG Acoustics speakers I heard at CAS were marvelous - Given what I see as your preferences this is probably the better avenue for you than Von Gaylor or Acoustic Zen. I'd also add MBL which blends great staging and unbelievably tight grip and can play very loud indeed. They have more affordable options.

If we're in the $1k -$2K budget range it's a matter of choosing compromises. You might want to look at the Air Motion speakers that Martin Logan has put out - they sound better than their panels for a lot less money. They're well under $2k The speakers sound better than their panels for a fraction of the price.

MartinLogan Motion® Series, Premium floorstanding home theater speakers

[Byron4]

Von Gaylord speakers were not even a blip on my radar until CAS. They proved to be some of the finest I've ever heard - it ain't on no list but it's better than 95% of every speaker I have heard in a Stereophile/TAS list I can tell you that!

My wife heard these speakers at one of the Stereophile shows when they were still called Legend. It was her favorite because the music played sounded like music to her. She even had me go listen to them and I really liked their natural sound.

[JohnMichael]

My wife heard these speakers at one of the Stereophile shows when they were still called Legend. It was her favorite because the music played sounded like music to her. She even had me go listen to them and I really liked their natural sound.

I would love to hear a pair plus retune my ears to what top of the line speakers offer. Then look for a pair with similar qualities, but not all, in my price range. I have two pairs of speakers that I can listen to but I want one pair I could love.