Thread: Need advice on speakers for $2-2500 speaker budget

Hi, am a 'newbie' but do have an ear for detail in music and am sick of our tinny sounding system. Want a 3 way, floorstanding pair, no surround, no subwoofer (hate that). Just want a really good pair of speakers in our budget.

Considering:
Focal Chora 826 (no atmos)
B&W 303s2
ELAC DF62 or Carina (though they are 2.5 way?)
DALI Oberon 9
Revel Concerta2 F36

Open to others, though I may not get to hear them around where I am. Not sure other options.

Goals: no high tinny, sharp trebles. Great mid-range - I want to hear those french horns in the very back of orchestra.

Favorite song: Fleurs du Mal by Sarah Brightman - and she gets played loud. I want to hear all of the fine detail in this song, every instrument, and I want to hear her soprano loud but don't want to lose my hearing.

Other: Pat Metheny, Georgia Fumanti, Michael Hedges, Pink Floyd, Weather Report, Michael Buble, and other big band styles. Oldies, rock, etc.

Room: we have a rectangle 15 x 20, one side opens to open kitchen, 8' ceilings. Carpet over wood, windows with blinds. Lots of fabric.


Do not have a lot of room to have them pulled out into the room. But perhaps could put on wheels and pull out for major listening days.

Thanks a bunch.

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

What electronics would drive the speakes?

Welcome to the forums.

Thanks for asking, that was my next question. LOL

Budget is about 2K. Want to hook up a cd player, and be able to play low-loss streaming.

Connect for a tv would be nice.


Suggestions there would be good too.

This is an easy one: the new Buchardt Audio S400 II.





These speakers have very good quality parts inside...including the crossover. No iron-core inductors, sand-cast resistors or cheap electrolytic caps. You'll get all air-core inductors, high-quality poly caps, high quality resitors, and Miflex copper capacitors in the crossover, and quality wire.



About $2100.

Buchardt Audio

A pic of the crossover....it is very unusual to see parts of this quality on a mass-produced speaker at this price point.

Originally Posted by Mikado463

Steve, I think the Op has gone MIA, regardless I get your point . Stephens recommendation is one I'd like to hear !

Yeah, me too. Actually considered buying a pair.

Probably the best speaker you can buy with that money

High End Floorstanding Speaker Venere 2.5 | Sonus faber

Sonus Faber Venere 2.5

Originally Posted by Spock

Probably the best speaker you can buy with that money

High End Floorstanding Speaker Venere 2.5 | Sonus faber

Sonus Faber Venere 2.5

My understanding is this speaker has been discontinued from production.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

My understanding is this speaker has been discontinued from production.

I think you're right.I hadn't noticed.
I heard them not so long ago with Devialet and found them fabulous.
These speakers can rock

If you're alright with open baffle I really enjoyed the Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S speakers. I liked mine so much I sold them and ordered new M4 Sapphires with Sapele baffles.

Keep an eye on usaudiomart and audiogon for a used pair for around $1800. You will need to pull them out from the front wall but 28-32" should do it. My room is only 14x14 with 18' vaulted ceiling.

I've never heard them but curious about the Walsh 200 (use to be Ohm) that Steve Guttenberg reviewed on YouTube. Omnidirectional and only need 8" from the wall. If you can audition those as well.

Originally Posted by a.wayne

Seems like a nice setup , pretty complex xover for a 2way design thou ..!
Regards

It's as complex as it needs to be and no more...

Hallo Auntarctica

I totally understand your quest. So I am going to do you a favor and transport you a few years a head in time.
Don't waste you money on commercial products. Some are good, some are bad, yet all of them are overpriced.
Take the jump and search for Troels Gravesen DIY Speakers.
There are among us professionals who are constantly building insane stuff but do not need to pay taxes, employs and other bills... The same drivers and components that are being used in 20-50k Speakers are also available to the DIY person.
I can guaranty you that a well made DIY got way more attention to detail and love from the person who builds it compared to a worker in a factory which builds 20 pair of them every single day.

+
From a 2k Speaker, chances are that you get 200D worth of drivers and crossover parts. In our world, it means that this speaker will have be built in China and in huge numbers to get a profit out of it.

In DIY Speaker, those 2k are going on components alone. and 2k are a lot money.

I've been where you are years ago. Took the plunge, and have never ever even considered paying for a commercial product since.

And to prove my point
Here is a project of mine.
Troels Gravesen- NEXT4 DIY Loudspeaker Project - YouTube

And with some luck you can find what your looking for here:

Used troels gravesen for Sale | HifiShark.com

The only downfall of diy is re-sail profit. which is for now... your advantage.

I looked at building something similar but on a smaller scale. The problem is most folks don't have the space, skill and tools to attempt this kind of project. However, you do get great value for the money and time invested. Very nice work.

Hi Dave, Thanks for to compliment!

Yet,
I am fully aware that is totally time\tools\talent dependent... That's why one can go on the internet ''hifishark'' and find some crazy stuff that other talented people made. For example:
Troels Gravesen Scanspeak Illuminator 7751 floor standing speaker For Sale - UK Audio Mart

This speaker uses state of the art components of scan-speak! The industry can't compete with this kind of stuff for this kind of money. This speaker would be an easy 18k+ if been done from any of the high end leaders.

If the budget is tight, DIY is the way to go.

Hi Dave, Thanks for to compliment!

Yet,
I am fully aware that is totally time\tools\talent dependent... That's why one can go on the internet ''hifishark'' and find some crazy stuff that other talented people made. For example:
Troels Gravesen Scanspeak Illuminator 7751 floor standing speaker For Sale - UK Audio Mart

This speaker uses state of the art components of scan-speak! The industry can't compete with this kind of stuff for this kind of money. This speaker would be an easy 18k+ if been done from any of the high end leaders.

If the budget is tight, DIY is the way to go.

If I was going to spend $2500 on a pair of speakers I would build the Jager speakers from Bottlehead. However, they are $300 over your $2000 - $2500 price range but well worth it.

Nice thread and timely

Brad225, thanks a lot for the compliment! The next4 was about 4000€... which is a lot of money for a pair of speakers. Nelson Pass (pass labs) did design a similar speaker with the same drivers. I think it is called the sr1. And that came at about 25000$. I was able to sell the next4 for 6000€. And currently working on a new project, the TL2, from Troels Gravesen. If you want you can follow the progress here:
Building process- The loudspeaker 1 | diyAudio

Thanks Brad, yes I'm confident they gonna sound amazing. And with the looks, I'm confident as well. They deserve it!