Legacy Studio HD

I own a pair of Studio HD for about 2 years now. Purchased used for about $1k—in perfect shape.

Use them near-field small room listening only. They sit on weighted 24” stands. I drive them with a 60 watt tube amp or a 400 watt D-sonic SS amp depending on my mood.

Build quality is 1st rate, really unbelievable for the money, beautiful wood finish (walnut in my case). Top notch hardware as well.

They replaced a pair of Paradigm S2 v3 monitors, which were high quality but I never warmed to them for music.

The legscy’s are smoother and sound more integrated (coherent?) compared to the Paradigms, which I always found a little brittle and too bright. Re: Legacy’s AMT tweeter is so much more mellow without giving up any of the fine detail that I prefer.

Rear ported so maybe not the best choice on my part for a small room but I don’t listen to overly loud music, usually aucustic jazz/female vocal/classical piano mostly, so don’t ask a lot of bass from the HD. I suspect they can play very loud if you wanted them to.

Hope that helps

Sure. Just be aware that 50 watt tube may not push them where you want them to go depending on your taste in music.

If you like it loud and loads of dynamic range,  like symphony or rock, you may want to look elsewhere. I listen largely to voice, aucustic and solo instrument like piano, cello and violin and couldn’t be happier. But IMHO the mid-range / woofer driver, while really well mated to the AMT tweeter, is hard to drive to high volume without a far amount of power on tap.

I think they are a good value because as monitors go I don't know why you'd ever purchase another. That said, at the $1750 price point there are so many choices, especially if you are also open to used. 

I hardly ever see them on the used market--maybe one or two pairs in several years of scanning audiocircle, usaudiomart and audiogon. 

As a total aside, and not in the same price range, I am starting to look at Clayton Shaws stuff (M4 Triode Master Open Baffle speaker in particular). I used to be a Maggie owner and always preferred the sweetness and openness of the 'boxless' sound and think OB speakers might work in my small room.....had to get rid of the Maggies back in 2012 when we downsized....hence the move to monitors

Steve, did you purchase a pair yet?

Send me your contact info if you’re interested in chatting—Jay.levine@outlook.com