Need recommendations on speakers

[woodlander]

I am in the market for some new speakers. I would like to get any recommendations from the members here to narrow my search.

The speakers are for a small room - 12x14 feet. The rest of my system is: McIntosh MC402, MCD205, C46. My price range is about $5K tops.

I know speakers are one of the most important components, but I can't afford to buy the high end, at least not right now. Can anyone suggest speakers I should consider? Thanks in advance.

[Andyman]

$5K and a 12x 14 room?

I would say there's hundreds of choices for you.
I heard some very nice Harbeth's last week and they are right at your limit.

Harbeth (http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=14979)

But I'm sure you could also find something quite nice for less $$ out tehre too

[cubdog]

I'm not trying to be glib, but what do you consider "high end"?

cubdog

[woodlander]

I'm not trying to be glib, but what do you consider "high end"?

cubdog

High end would be McIntosh, Sonus Faber, B&W, and probably others I don't know about. Maybe I have spent too much time reading reviews, but there appear to be many speakers in the $10K and up. Top end McIntosh is about $90K for a pair. Waaay out of my league.

There must be something that sounds good (maybe even very good) for less money.

[dirtbag]

I just got a pair of DeVore Fidelity Super 8's to use in my second system.
Paired them up with a Mac MA6500 integrated to be used in a 15 x 15 room.
Great speaker, very detailed yet smooth, small size and beautiful veneer work, paid 4K but I think the prices just went up.

[woodlander]

I heard some very nice Harbeth's last week and they are right at your limit.



Thanks. That is a brand I had not heard of. They look good.

[cubdog]

My favorite speaker two years running at the RMAF were Wilson Benesch. Their bookshelf models might be in your range. Definately worth checking out.

cubdog

[similost]

wow.. 5k not being high end.. damn, I'd kill to be able to buy a 5k pair of speakers, but that being said, I believe there are speakers well under that price that can be considered high end too... I would like to think anything upwards of 5k could be considered esoteric.

[twitch54]

By the looks of your avatar I assume you like classical music, therefore well within your $$$ range and room size I'd suggest you take a look @ Vienna Acoustics.

[buddhadas]

I am using Sierra-1 bookshelfs made of bamboo (ascend acoustics) with a mc2105 with great results, and under a grand. My room is 14x26

Jim

[2DualsNotEnough]

Ive read very good things about Pioneer's EX line of speakers,which are derived from their TAD research.The 2-EX are listed at $6000 a pair,but there is no price listed for the 3-EX.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/Speakers/EX-Speakers/ci.S-2EX.Kuro

Jimmy

[Alaric]

You can get a pair of B & W 804S within your budget , as well as some Paradigm models . The Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus would be a good match for classical music , as well.

[Big Tuna]

Hi,
$5K huh? you could get serious sound for that kind of $$. with enough power to shake the earth, lol! 12X14 room+two HPM 500's+Pioneer SA7500II=the sweetest sounding setup:) unless you plan on going deaf, that will fill the room with more than enough sound between 45Hz& 35kHz. Amp is 45 WPC with less than .003% THD. My bedroom is 15X18 and that is what I have in there. Sweetest sound to my ears, next to my SX 1980 & Kenwood LS-408B's, lol! You can definitely get some nice sounding setups for your room, you just have to experiment a little, like throwing a basketball in a hoop, eventually you'll get one in, lol!. Chances are you won't find what I did for free, but you can get these for most likely less than $500. Good Luck:)

[darren]

Hi how about Vandersteen C2 or C3 nice sound

darren

[Art K.]

The Devore Fidelity speakers are fantastic...worth consideration at nearly any price range.

[Alaric]

You may have noticed how many good speakers there are by now! Best option , really , is to audition as many as you can and go with the one you like best. If you can , it's best to hear speakers with enough hours on them to be fully 'broken in' , as many speakers improve a lot after some time. Mine were upwards of 100 hours before they really opened up.

[Andyman]

Maybe I have spent too much time reading reviews, but there appear to be many speakers in the $10K and up.

There must be something that sounds good (maybe even very good) for less money.

You need to stop reading and start listening, as that really will be your final determinant. I'd also suggest that when you listen, you don't look at the price tags; you may be surprised at how nice some speakers sound that you may not have considered before.

If you can come to the AKFest; you'll see and hear more there than you can soak up in 2 days :yes:

[woodlander]

Thanks to everyone who provided input. I learned about a couple of new brands that I didn't know about. Since I live in a remote area, this will make it easier to do some focused shopping. As Andyman pointed out, I need to do some listening.

[240sx4u]

Imo keep watching audiogon for local deals on speakers. My mordaunt-short performance 860s were 5k or so new. I paid 1k for them used.

The best part? If I get bored with them I can easily resell them without losing my butt on them.

Evan

[80sKid]

Wow. At $5000 your options are endless. As others have said, I would love to have that kind of budget for speaks.

The top of my list at that price would be Martin Logan. Being a life-long fan of B&W (aka Bowers & Wilkins) I would urge you to look at them, too.

I would suggest you go to a library and find Stereophile's recommended equipment issue. (Or order it from their site.) That will quickly give you a list of "must hear" products in your price range.

The Audiogon suggestion is a superb one, if you're not in a rush. Especially in an area like yours, with a shortage of audio dealers, you may find something on the used market that is not available anywhere near you. Of course some patience is required, as it may take months for something suitable to show up on there in your area.

[jackfish]

Vandersteen 3A Signatures $4000/pair
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/128/
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/vandersteen_3a_signature.htm
http://www.vandersteen.com/pages/Pdffiles/3arvw1.pdf