Seeing as you like horns, consider whatever Acapella with the plasma tweeter that fits your budget.
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.
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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@d2girls in a lot of ways what you hear with Magico speakers will be what they're being driven with. They're extremely transparent so I often see people characterize their opinion of them based on what they were being played with. As an example, I'll often start with one set of electronics and the listener might say it doesn't do it for them. Then I just switch over to a different amp or DAC and suddenly it sounds a lot better and I'll see some toe tapping. With the same Magico speakers. But someone else likes it in exactly the opposite direction. |
OP- have you thought about new Klipschorns? I've not heard them personally. Volti 'Vittoria' loudspeakers that I have heard are very good. Classic Audio Loudspeakers are very good and have heard them on quite a few occasions at hi-fi shows. These are my views with my ears only, as horns are not everyone's cup of tea. vive la difference!!! |
@gdnrbob the Q will be the replacement for the out of production 5a carbon so they are speakers....might be called Quinto to differentiate rumblings have included a pistonic carbon mid, cabinet within a cabinet construction and an evolved set of scanspeak subwoofer drivers in a unique to Vandersteen configuration....for less than the globally recognized 7.... all fun..since 1977 |
I heard the speakers and was most unimpressed, even more so when the price was revealed, GULP! The dude was trying to justify to me my concerns about the non musical sound with comments like ’it’s your cd, the recording is not good’ blah blah blah. The paragraph below is from the ’home theatre’ review as shown in a previous post. I heard some smaller JBL’s and they were really very good to my ears. Obviously OP give them a fair crack of the whip and listen for as long as possible, its an awful lot of money if they are not top notch musically to you. I love Horns to, owning 4 pairs. That said, the JBL Project Everest DD66000 is one of those very special audio components that, given the proper recording, associated equipment, setup and room, |
you should consider the new in Fall Vandersteen- Q at your budget you could also get the M5 solid state high pass amp 11 bands of analog room taming EQ and 600 wpc class B sub amps... i am pretty biased as i have 2-3 pairs of Vandersteen at any given moment.....but i also have others you should tell us more about the room, especially if you intend great sound w Avant G horns....a shoebox aint gonna work, imo.... have fun, enjoy the journey... btw, mac and spectral is a really odd pairing....i have sold both..... |
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9a641-jbl-dd-67000-full-range For your taste JBL dd67000 is best. https://hometheaterreview.com/jbl-project-everest-dd66000-loudspeaker/ Around 12 years ago, I had wondered between JBL dd67000 and Lansche 4.1. Although I chose Lansche for its pristine treble out of plasma tweeter, I also missed unlimited dynamics out of big horn JBL, Also, you can run big JBL with tube amplifier with its high efficiency. |
First, let me just say -- and I hope u don’t take this the wrong way -- but your taste in music and budget for audio equipment just makes me hot! You Da Bomb!!! Are you married? Now that I got that off my chest, I think the latest Wilson speakers are incredible. Just don’t see going wrong there. BUT, if you really like to rock out and love the SLAM of hard rock sometimes, you should go hear some active ATC speakers like the SCM50s or SCM100s. Although very refined speakers, they literally have the ability to blow you out of your chair when needed (think of the Maxell poster from days gone by). Their massive dome midrange is unmatched, in my experience, by anything else in terms of dynamics, neutrality, and clarity. And if you go active, obviously you’ve got the amp situation optimized and taken care of. It’s a twofer! Past this, and I don’t know where u are or what dealers are available to you, but in your price range I’d also take a hard look at Giya, Vandersteen, Rockport, Boenicke, Nola, KEF, and YG. But I’m gonna stay true to my original recommendation and say go hear the Joseph Audio Pearls if you can. There’s something about how their asymmetrical crossover works with those SEAS drivers that makes them sound some kinda wonderful. Anyway, best of luck in your search, and I’m SO jealous. |
So, I’m going to save you $30k+ here. Just buy these. They’re as good or better than anything else you’ll find at $50k+ new, horns or otherwise. They’re also not horribly tough to drive, so you’ll have a wide variety of amps to choose from. Just buy them. You’ll be thrilled! https://www.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-joseph-audio-pearl-3-2018-01-16-speakers?refsource=hifi... In the VERY unlikely event you're not absolutely thrilled with these speakers, you can likely resell them at no loss or even a profit, as they very rarely show up used. And for good reason. Best of luck. |
Another reason I’ve shortlisted the Wilsons and Avantgardes is the fact that audtioning them will be very straightforward: two dealers representing the brands are located within an hour from me. Angie herself from American Sound of Canada is apparently the main distributor in North America and stocks all models. I’m really grateful to be able to audition these two brands easily. |