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Curious what people think is the best "value" high end speaker (~5K to 15K)

I am on a long search for speakers and just curious what people think is the best value both new or used in speakers ranging from around $5000 to $15000? I have a set of Paradigm S8's (V1) and love them but looking for another set for another set in a different listening area (25 x 20?, maybe larger).  I love the full sound of JBL's and looking for something in that range (it also helps that JBL's seem to hold their value better than most, which will be a consideration). The only drawback to JBL is footprint.  I prefer a smaller footprint which is why after reading I hope to listen to several B&W 800 series but open to suggestions across the board.  used Watt Puppies? Revels?  I am curious about peoples experience with McIntosh XR100's. 
gene3x

Showing 4 responses by taww

taww's avatar
taww
80 posts
 
Ah I missed how big the room is. Legacy speakers move a lot of air and are great values, but their character (big and a bit forward) isn’t for everyone. Since everyone is already beating up on them, much preferable to B&W. :)
taww's avatar
taww
80 posts
 
Silverline SR17 Supreme ($7500 new). It’s been a long time coming but review forthcoming.  Competitive with (and IMO often better than) most of what I heard at RMAF up to $20k or so.  

If you like the 2-way monitor form factor, new Sonus Faber Electa Amator 3 ($10k) is hard to ignore. For something completely different, AudioKinesis Azel ($7k). Thought both of these sounded more “right” than the vast majority of what I heard at RMAF.

Cheers,
TAWW
http://taww.co
taww's avatar
taww
80 posts
 
This is getting interesting. A speaker company [B&W] with a long tradition of building really esteemed products gets more than just one "not my kind" response on this thread. Again, no haters but just not impressed ones. I thought I was the only one out there. I guess it is time to come out of the closet. Maybe higher models are significantly different?

FWIW I have never cared for B&W speakers, ever. :) Always thought their sound was cold, hard and shallow. When they first started using metal tweeters, the treble was downright unlistenable. Over the years they have gotten better at controlling the resonances but they still can’t match a 20 year old Dynaudio Esotar in naturalness, to say nothing of something like a good AMT. 

There is a B&W I like - one of the cheapest ones, the 686. I think it’s a fun little speaker that sounds more natural than their expensive ones - I have always preferred it to any of the 800 series.

BTW I can vouch for @audiokinesis - Duke knows what he’s talking about. His room was one of my absolute favorites at RMAF 2018 - it was the one I wanted to keep coming back to, so good. (Duke, I still owe you a shout-out for that, coming soon!)

Cheers,
TAWW
http://taww.co
taww's avatar
taww
80 posts
 
At CAF today I heard the TAD ME1 speakers and they were incredible.
@lancelock what were they using to drive them? I’ve heard the TADs a couple times but I don’t think they had the right gear, the sound was very dry.
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