Favorite Two Way Speakers
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
Randy Myers
Well-known member
I thought the article was a very good read. $20k for a two way... ouch... but sure they are great. I 100% agree with him on the LS50s. Absolutely love mine! Pair with a little REL sub... very nice combo...
- Thread Author
- #4
Interesting...not a fan?
I've heard them demoed many times. Could never figure out what the fuss was about (sorry Randy). The $599 ELAC's spank them. When you have manufacturers standing up at an Andrew Jones demo with a room full of people and saying, "Andrew my friend, when can I get a pair?" - you know they are good for $599!
As for KEF, I like the Blade 2's with Parasound JC1's!!!! With the Bel Canto stack, they sounded less than desirable.
As for the Magico S1 mk2's...I absolute love them. Again, something magical about a great two way. I've had more positive comments after listening sessions about the S1 mk2's than any speaker in recent history.
Mike
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Not a worry Mike... when any piece of equipment gets as much press as the LS50's there are bound to be a lot of people coming down on both sides, so to speak. I have heard LS50's not sound their best (really bad room acoustics) at a recent club meeting. And I have heard them sounding pretty dam good! I think I would be hard press to find a speaker in their price range that I would like better in my room situation.
I know the ELAC have some very nice reviews (TAS loved them). TAS also gives the LS50 an Editor's Choice award. If I had the opportunity to listen to them against my LS50's I would take it. Unfortunately that is not possible...
I know the Blade 2's were displayed with W4S at RMAF and the combo was very well received. EJ liked the sound with KEF so much that he purchased a pair of Reference 3's to use in his demos. These should be with him at Newport. I had an opportunity to listen to them in W4S test sound room and they are fantastic!
I would love the Magico, however $20k in not in the cards now. And honestly, if I were able to go that level I believe I would pick up a pair of KEF References and call it a day. I guess I am just loyal when I find something I really like. KEF grabbed me back in the 1980's and won me over
....
I know the ELAC have some very nice reviews (TAS loved them). TAS also gives the LS50 an Editor's Choice award. If I had the opportunity to listen to them against my LS50's I would take it. Unfortunately that is not possible...
I know the Blade 2's were displayed with W4S at RMAF and the combo was very well received. EJ liked the sound with KEF so much that he purchased a pair of Reference 3's to use in his demos. These should be with him at Newport. I had an opportunity to listen to them in W4S test sound room and they are fantastic!
I would love the Magico, however $20k in not in the cards now. And honestly, if I were able to go that level I believe I would pick up a pair of KEF References and call it a day. I guess I am just loyal when I find something I really like. KEF grabbed me back in the 1980's and won me over
....Just wanted to chime in a clarify a few things:
To be perfectly clear, I have zero issues with the KEF LS50's. What I *do* have problem with is the reviewer claiming that there is nothing else in the entire world that can 'touch' the LS50 at the $1,500 USD price-point. Subjectivity aside, that statement is so ridiculous that it nearly boggles my mind. Maybe I simply expect more from the guys and gals who take it upon themselves to serve as a hi-fi scribe.
As for the Magicos.. I recall telling Mike that the S1's were, by far, my favorite Magico speaker within the lineup. I haven't heard the new and improved S1's, but I have no doubts that some inappropriate things would happen if I were left alone in a room with em'.
To be perfectly clear, I have zero issues with the KEF LS50's. What I *do* have problem with is the reviewer claiming that there is nothing else in the entire world that can 'touch' the LS50 at the $1,500 USD price-point. Subjectivity aside, that statement is so ridiculous that it nearly boggles my mind. Maybe I simply expect more from the guys and gals who take it upon themselves to serve as a hi-fi scribe.
As for the Magicos.. I recall telling Mike that the S1's were, by far, my favorite Magico speaker within the lineup. I haven't heard the new and improved S1's, but I have no doubts that some inappropriate things would happen if I were left alone in a room with em'.
Mivera Audio
Banned
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2016
- Messages
- 414
I have a client with those and he loves them. I think they would be very hard to beat for a 2 way floor stander.
M
mauidan
Guest
KeithR
Active member
The Dynaudio C1 has always been a fantastic 2-way with bass that's hard to believe for the category.
jdandy
New member
The best 2-way speaker I ever owned was the Sonus faber Guarneri Memento. Remarkable speakers and true magicians at the disappearing act. When I added the Bryston 10B Sub active crossover and a pair of McIntosh XLS112 powered subwoofers the combination was fabulous. I would still own that set up if the SF Amati Anniversario's had not presented themselves at a great price.
- Thread Author
- #11
The best 2-way speaker I ever owned was the Sonus faber Guarneri Memento. Remarkable speakers and true magicians at the disappearing act. When I added the Bryston 10B Sub active crossover and a pair of McIntosh XLS112 powered subwoofers the combination was fabulous. I would still own that set up if the SF Amati Anniversario's had not presented themselves at a great price.
I bet they were wonderful sounding with the 275!
a.wayne
Well-known member
I was a big fan of the Electa amators ...
http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/874/#8fT9i47s4L4G4Px2.97
http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/874/#8fT9i47s4L4G4Px2.97
jdandy
New member
Mike.......I actually drove the GM's with two MC275's in mono. You just can't see the other amp on the bottom shelf of the rack but you can see the bridging jumpers on the top amp (black and blue Kimber). By using the Bryston 10B Sub active crossover and the XLS112 subwoofers I was able to free the Guarneri Memento's from trying to reproduce the lowest octave. This improved the lower midrange clarity and dynamics on the GM's and gave me the deep robust bass the GM's weren't able to deliver. I am not saying the Guarneri Memento's don't have decent bass because they do, but they begin to roll off at about 45Hz fairly rapidly and the subs picked up the bottom very nicely. The Sonus faber Guarneri Memento's literally disappear when reproducing music. They are astonishingly good 2-way speakers.
- Thread Author
- #14
I actually owned a pair, and I agree! The old master built some incredible speakers. Not sure I'm a big fan of the new SF sound. Franco knew how to build a great speaker.
jdandy
New member
I agree with you about Franco Serblin's contributions to creating the speakers he made famous. The new Sonus faber direction is exactly why I did not consider the SF Futura as a viable upgrade to my Amati Anniversario's. The Sonus faber Amati Anniversario's are spectacular.
I don't want to hi-jack the topic since we are actually addressing the best 2-way speakers.
jdandy
New member
Here is another 2-way speaker that is unbelievably good, especially when you consider its price. The Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers designed by Andrew Jones. They feature a 4" mid-bass driver in a ported cabinet and a 1" soft dome tweeter. The cabinet's side panels are tapered to the rear where the port is installed along with a decent pair of threaded metal terminal posts that will accept spade terminals or bare wire. Each speaker weighs just over 9 lbs.
I have a pair of the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers in my workshop and they are impressive. The bottom end is rich in texture despite its inability to reproduce frequencies much below about 48Hz. The transition between the mid-bass driver and the soft dome tweeter is very smooth and the mid range and above is exciting and clean. I added a Dayton 10" powered subwoofer and adjusting its crossover to 50Hz filled in the bottom octave in a pleasant manner that extends the overall performance to near full range. Even though the SP-BS22-LR's are rated 85dB/1w/1m with a 6 ohms impedance, my NAD 710 receiver in the shop is able to drive them effortlessly to an enjoyable volume level with power to spare. The real shocker is these small speakers are only $129.00 a pair. They perform well beyond that price point. I consider these speakers an excellent purchase, a tremendous value at a ridiculously low price. My vintage shop sound system has never sounded better.
jdandy
New member
bzr
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,033
:hey::wave::hey:
Here is another 2-way speaker that is unbelievably good, especially when you consider its price. The Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers designed by Andrew Jones. They feature a 4" mid-bass driver in a ported cabinet and a 1" soft dome tweeter. The cabinet's side panels are tapered to the rear where the port is installed along with a decent pair of threaded metal terminal posts that will accept spade terminals or bare wire. Each speaker weighs just over 9 lbs.
I have a pair of the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers in my workshop and they are impressive. The bottom end is rich in texture despite its inability to reproduce frequencies much below about 48Hz. The transition between the mid-bass driver and the soft dome tweeter is very smooth and the mid range and above is exciting and clean. I added a Dayton 10" powered subwoofer and adjusting its crossover to 50Hz filled in the bottom octave in a pleasant manner that extends the overall performance to near full range. Even though the SP-BS22-LR's are rated 85dB/1w/1m with a 6 ohms impedance, my NAD 710 receiver in the shop is able to drive them effortlessly to an enjoyable volume level with power to spare. The real shocker is these small speakers are only $129.00 a pair. They perform well beyond that price point. I consider these speakers an excellent purchase, a tremendous value at a ridiculously low price. My vintage shop sound system has never sounded better.