Why do you like your speakers?

Im kinda taking a liking to the old EV stuff now too. Those old EVs, do rock .

I'll throw in my 2 cents:

I have a number of pairs of speakers but my two favorite are the B&W 808 speakers and the Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers.

The B&W 808 have been in my systems for 22 years. They roar when they are called upon, whisper when asked, and always reveal the heart and soul of what ever is being played.

The DQ-10 are much like the 808 in my mind although without the shattering bass and in a much more form friendly size. I have two pair. The first is the base-line and the second are undergoing a recap plus mods of better wire, better fuses/no fuses and maybe a few other things. Once I see how that goes, the baseline pair gets a balls-to-the-walls upgrade with North Creek inductors, Duland resistors, really good caps, better wire, and the bi-wire conversion. We be powering them with 2 recapped and overhauled Sony TA-3200F amps then.

All I do know is that I'm going to need a much larger home with more space for listening rooms.

Despite the ration of s#!t that usually goes along with writing about current JBLs here, I'm particularly fond of the more recent JBLs, which in most ways are significant advances over the so-called Golden Years of JBL and IMNSHO superior to most products in their market segments.

Allowing that entry level consumer stuff rates from fair to poor regardless of who makes it and that "bang for the buck" or "great for the money" are easy ways to rationalize product insufficiencies, entry level JBLs meet that criteria along with many others. If saving a hundred bucks or so on a speaker at that level is important--and that's reality for a lot of folks--then one probably can find something that's $20-80 a pair less than the JBL ES Series and sounds as good, better, or at least different. But the ES Series is great for the money and offers a lot for bang for the buck. :lol:

In my home my mutli-channel music-only system is the JBL Performance Series, consisting of four-way stacked towers, a center, and dual subs. The towers have the highly regarded LE14H-3 14" woofer, 8" Ti inverted dome mid-bass, 4" Ti inverted dome mid, and 1" Ti dome tweeter in a waveguide. The subs are 12" anodized Al cones in sealed enclosures. For all but the lowest notes, it's all Ti all the time: pure, clean, spacious, articulate, powerful, natural sound. Pure bliss!

My HT is the JBL Synthesis® One Array system, and as much as I've mocked horns over the years, the SAM1HF horns are unbelievable--not like honking horns of the past, including most vintage JBL horns IMO. With Al and Ti compression drivers, they have pinpoint precision and imaging, excellent presence, and great clarity without slapping you in the face or drilling into your forehead. The impressive dual 8' anodized Al cone woofers provide compelling, detailed, effortless sound from soft to inordinately loud, and the 18" subs will shake your booty for you, even when seated. In addition the unique surrounds create a sense of spaciousness and directionality that has to be heard to be believed.

Of course with Synthesis®, in home calibration is part of the deal, and the extensive room treatments I installed beforehand completed the trifecta of home audio excellence: top quality components, room treatment, and calibration. So in addition to liking my speakers because they sound great, I also like them even better because of where they are--a proper environment.

Speakers have been few. My first decent set was a two channel M&K sat/sub combo for a smallish room in 86. In 98/99 I built my current M-L stats/Velodyne HT system. I'm getting too old to invest in quality speaker gear. I am considering selling off the HT system for a final two channel rig. I'm concentrating on headphone rig(s) for lifestyle/space considerations. Portable systems are getting very, very good. For quality listening, I enjoy my home hp rig. Ripping to drive makes listening so much more enjoyable. Convenience.

What's old is new again and we have a thread resurrected.

I maintain that I'm no audiophile. Not by any stretch. I've owned my share of electronics and too many speaker brands to name. Mostly common market and entry level stuff not worth mentioning. Yet as with all endeavors, a maturity sets in, a measure of design and intent that distinguishes mere dabbling from an earnest pursuit.

For me, that occured about 6 or 7 years ago. One winter morning I woke up wanting a more refined system with a speaker that was both harmonically detailed and seductive aurally and visually. The catch, naturally, is that said speaker would have to accomplish this given my modest earnings. I needed a speaker that performed like a $5,000 speaker for a quarter of the price. Impossible! Before it had begun my quest was over...or so I thought.

Walking down College Avenue along the Berkeley-Oakland border, I stumbled across a small shop that had a pair of used Wilson Benesch in the window. There were other speakers and electronics visible, as were two customers. Curious, I stepped inside.

One of the customers was holding a Rega Apollo, while the other was standing next to a pair of beautiful rosewood floorstander speakers. I quietly perused the store's inventory, eyeing the speakers and eavesdropping somewhat on the discussion between the customer and the diminuitive sales clerk:

"...only owned them for 2 months, but I'm thoroughly impressed..."

"...trading up for possibly the Sonatas...audition..."

"...Silverline Audio ...best kept secret...great reviews..."

"...we'll take in the Panatellas and test them first, if that's ok...?"

At which point, the clerk asked the customer if he minded if he cashed out the gentleman with the Rega CD player first, and tended to any questions that I might have before getting started. My only question was whether or not they minded if I listened in on the auditioning of the Silverline speakers.

They didn't mind and I spent the next hour or so listening to everything the store clerk and the customer (his name was Tom Coltrane, as it turned out; no relation to John) had and a few of my own CD's as well. I was thoroughly impressed, but the Coronas, Sonatas and the Sonatinas were well out of my price range. Even the Panatella II's, which according to Tom sold for $2500 new, were much more than I had intended to spend.

I don't know who spoke first, the sales clerk or I, but Tom's used Panatella II's were my only hope. The sales clerk offered to call me once the owner had assessed the speakers and priced them for sale. True to his word, he called me midweek with an offer that I couldn't refuse. I've owned the Panatellas ever since.

Do I plan on upgrading? Sure. As soon as I can find a speaker that performs like a $10,000 speaker for a quarter of the price.

I love the live presentation that my Magnepan 1.6's present. Since adding my hybrid tube preamp and DAC they present a very wide sound stage and transparency that amazes me every time I listen to them. I also love to see the look of amazement of people that hear my system for the first time.

I'm a big soundstage kind of guy and my speakers do a great disappearing act. Sound great whether sitting or standing and I can listen for hours at decent volumes with no ear fatigue whatsoever.

The cabinets look pretty classy too so that's a bonus.

My current speakers are Dynaudio Contour 1.3 SE monitors. UNBIELIEVEABLE! These speakers are out of this world. Yes? They were a bit pricey but after you experience what they can do you would not complain. If you can find a pair of these used, buy them, and hold on to your seat! No, and I mean NO(!) mid-level floorstander can hang with these in either bass, mid., nor treble reproduction. The Contour 1,3SEs are a magical pair of speakers. They are not good at jazz, classical, nor rock, but fantastic with all generes of music. The true hallmark of a great speaker!

Try a pair. If you can find them.