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Best speakers in the 50-60k range ?

Some context: I’ve recently had to downsize my speakers. However since I got inot this hobby 2 years ago I’ve always been looking ahead, to see what my next big item purchase is. I’ve got a budget of about $60k for the speakers.

I have a superate budget for amp, dac, but regardless of the type of speaker I wind up with, I will get a electronic front end that makes sense for the speaker. I think it’s a bit backwards to be considering amp before I’ve selected the right speakers.

I  like pop, rock, metal, grunge like Rush, Metallica, Cranberries and Taylor Swift as much as I like better mastered music like Diana Krall.

Oh. And I like horns.

Here are the options I’ve been considering so far;

Purchasing another pair of JBL 4367. This option makes a lot of sense if I wanted to spend 100k on electronics instead. I was thinking Mcintosh (MC611) or Spectral (DMA360) amplification, or Pass Labs (XA200.8) as for preamps I could go with the Mcintosh C1100, the matching Spectral preamp, or the Pass Labs XP-30 or XS preamp. 

But I want to try Wilsons, or Avantgardes... see below.

Sasha DAW or Alexia Series 2. The former allows me to budget for a matching high power amp, the latter would require purchasing a lower end power amp until I’ve saved enough for a better one. Another option would be to wait until early 2020 before purchasing anything. The dealer I wanted to do business with carries both Mcintosh and Wilson... an audition for the aforementioned speakers is of course mandatory, and upcoming this summer. I’ve no doubt in my mind I’ll be impressed with what I hear but if im not I always have the JBL or other options.

Avantgarde Acoustics Duo XD or possibly Duo Mezzo. Yes I love horns. I am almost certain I would greatly enjoy these. I just love love horns. Another advantage is that these are self powered bass section speakers so I could use a low powered 2a3 tube amp with them. (I love 2a3 amps) which is significantly less expensive cost wise compared to the solid state beasts I’d need for the Wilsons...

Anyway that’s what I’ve got so far. I’ve asked around on another forum called audiosciencereview and the advice the few people I spoke with so far was that I’m better off getting another pair of JBL. It does seem logical. And I’d have a huge budget to play with for all manner of electronics... but the audiophile in me wants to get Wilson, or AG... 

Ill also be auditioning the Magico S5MKII but based on my research so far I don’t think I would like the sound of those speakers.
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ssg308's avatar
ssg308
9 posts
 

I listen same type music as you do and after long search and spending a lot of $$ I got 4367s and my journey ended! Im biamping them with 2 thresholds s500 and if I could do any change I would change one of the threshold fron series two to series one with optical bias. It works the best for high dynamics and crisp thrash metal highs. I found on my way of long trial and error that your preamplifier will do a lot of fine tuning.  The JBLs are the best speakers for the money and I did compare them to a lot of speakers much more expensive and to me 4367 destroys everything in class and above. Word of advise, do not buy warm sounding amps they will never produce sound you looking for...


larryi
1,972 posts
 
This is a nice price range to be shopping; I hope you can budget for making trips to hear some of the candidates.  I like a lot of suggestions made above, such as the various JBL Everest speakers.  I certainly think that Avantgarde is worth hearing too.  The Classic Audio suggestions are also among the speakers I like.  My tend to favor speakers that are lively sounding and have good dynamics, even at modest volume levels, and these speakers fit the bill.  

I cannot begin to guess what speakers will fit your particular taste, so I will start by mentioning some brands that tend to be well liked by a wide range of listeners, even if they are not necessarily favorites:  In that category I would put Vandersteens--a brand that consistently makes well rounded speakers.  I would put in this category Focal speakers as well.  The floorstanding ProAcs sound pretty good and you would be saving money.  I am particularly fond of Audio Note AN-E speakers, but, I don't know if they are well suited for high volume rock, if that is your thing, but they are certainly worth auditioning.

If you like horn-based systems (I do, and I own one), your budget would allow you to assemble a horn system or have one custom built for you.  You should google Deja Vu Audio and talk to someone there about such systems.

If you want to save an enormous amount of money and still get one of the best sounding high efficiency/horn type system on the market, you must audition the rearhorn loaded full range systems of Charney Audio (a trip to New Jersey is required).  I own a horn-based system in your price range, but, I am considering a $17,000 Charney system which is incredibly well rounded (not the usual one-trick pony of single-driver systems) and capable of playing all kinds of music very capably.

It would also make sense to hear a variety of fundamentally different types of speakers.  You should hear large panel dipoles, such as Soundlab electrostatics, or Magneplanar speakers.  You should also hear a good omni-directional system (e.g., German Physics or MBL).


yyzsantabarbara
647 posts
 
I forgot to mention. If you have the chance demo a KEF Blade with a powerful amp, listen to MOVING PICTURES. Make sure the side walls are not too close to the speakers. The room is the biggest component for me.
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blindjim
2,837 posts
 

@godbless

I do get it on the look to non mainstream makers gear to promote the industry, technology, etc.

another thing or two that is worthy of considerable thought at the OPs price range for ‘supposed’ speakers, are:

as with digital, speaker advances have been coming fast and furious just these past several years. .

meaning IF a budget for speakers is high, but it is the ONLY likely speaker buying budget for an unknown periood, say a ‘one and done’ hopefully ‘best possible ’ safari, I’m not too sure I’d want to be married to that proposition.

If the 50K circumstances may never repeat I’ve got to stay in the mainstream well established likely gonna be here speaker brands and models.
Dark Cherry, Rosewood, or black. maybe something ‘burrled’.

if the funding will recoup soon, then if something out side of the established brands intrigues me enough, then sure. I’d likely dip my toes in those waters.

Absolutely I’m all in!!! spend the bread man! spend it and dig it!! see if they come in Zebra stripes. leopard spots? or better yet, the ‘Matrix’ or Urban camo look.

always though, EXP showed me repeatedly its what’s up front that counts… and from these pages, the room matters and has to be a consideration.

big, expensive, gorgeous speakers are not all one finds at the end of the ‘audio rainbow’.

In Drag racing, if you have 6000 HP but can’t hook up with the track properly, you’ll amaze fans with perhaps an incredible looking race car and it might make huge burn outs, but you won’t win any races, and that’s where the ‘drag’ part of Dragracing comes in.


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