B&W Matrix 801-S2's
I've owned many speakers over the years (i'm 53) and I bought these used in 1997 for $2200. I've tried several times to replace them with other speakers in the 5k-10k price range, and they've all left me unsatisfied. I'm not saying these are perfect... I hear deficiencies in them, but still they have the right balance of qualities for me... Dynamics, neutrality, imaging, LF extension (slightly bloated, but in a nice way). AND they just happen to mate with my room just right. They also need the right amp to drive them... in my case a Bryston 4B-ST. My crossovers are not stock anymore... I've upgraded the caps, bypassed the protection, and reoriented the inductors, to great improvements. I've also tried the North Creek crossovers, and I did not like them at all. These speakers are now 30 years old, and amazingly, not one snag on the gill cloths!
I've owned many speakers over the years (i'm 53) and I bought these used in 1997 for $2200. I've tried several times to replace them with other speakers in the 5k-10k price range, and they've all left me unsatisfied. I'm not saying these are perfect... I hear deficiencies in them, but still they have the right balance of qualities for me... Dynamics, neutrality, imaging, LF extension (slightly bloated, but in a nice way). AND they just happen to mate with my room just right. They also need the right amp to drive them... in my case a Bryston 4B-ST. My crossovers are not stock anymore... I've upgraded the caps, bypassed the protection, and reoriented the inductors, to great improvements. I've also tried the North Creek crossovers, and I did not like them at all. These speakers are now 30 years old, and amazingly, not one snag on the gill cloths!