Personal speaker evolution


OK, so here is a thread I haven't ever seen here: What speakers have you owned? starting with the earliest, price paid, new/used, and perhaps the models that really impressed you (for the price) in CAPS.

Rat Shack Something or others, $120, new
Fisher Something or others, $280, new
ADS L710's, $550, new
Snell A2i's, $1100, used
BEVERIDGE SYSTEM 3'S, $1000, used
Martin Logan CLS, $1400, used
MARTIN LOGAN SL3'S, $2300, used
pmwoodward
I started in 1986 with NAD separates and Klipsch Heresy II
(The whole system became 'casualty' of divorce #1 in 1989)
1990 broke, living alone. Then on program "6 months same as cash" i purchased Magnepan MG 1.4 with Adcom separates.

1991 i moved to one bedroom studio, and had to give up on MG's. Purchased, from used HIFI store German Quadral medium sized tower.

Things were looking up better in 1992, so i went with Vandersteen 2ci

1995, Vandy's and all CD's, along with Adcom separates went up with my divorce #2. I settled with Denon Receiver and Boston Acoustic VR60

1996, bought all Linn and Linn Tukan

1998 bought Velodyne SUB

2000, Triangle Zephyr, Monitor Audio Gold 3SE and kept ACI Sapphire II/ ACI Titan SUB

2002 built my own Watt/Puppy 'clones'. Seas CB17RCY (same mids as in Wilson CUB) Focal 120TDX, and pair of Peerless woofers.




.....then to now.....merlin vsm..~$3k.new.....aliante model one pininfarina..~$5k.new......vonschweikert vr5 hse..~$7k.new....piega p10..~$12.5k.new....i'm staying put for a long time because these are the best speakers i have heard.
Acoustic Reseach small bookshelf model - 1971
Micro-Acoustics large bookshelf - 1976
First satellite/subwoofer system (passive sub), can't remember brand - 1980
Boston Acoustics - 1982
Vandersteen 1Bs - 1983
Spica TC50s & Magnepan MG1Bs - 1983
Acoustat 1 + 1s w/ Janis subwoofer - 1985
Unity Audio CLA1s - 1990
Proac Response 2.5s - 1997
Am now thinking about JMlab Micro Utopia and REL or Velodyne sub. I love my Proacs but need more efficiency and an easier load for my Air Tight 300B amp.
I started in 1987 with a

JVC rack system $900.00
Jamo Concert 11 $3600.00
Revel Ultima Salons $19000.00
Almost speakers:

Hand-me-down mono hi-fi console by Emerson (from older brother) tube sound, wow! So little volume I would press my ear against the front where the "driver" was (may explain my deafness to some).
Hand-me-down stereo hi-fi console by Clairtone from older sister (in fact I sawed the two ends where the speakers were, to have separate boxes, neatly unfinished on one side; well two if you count the masonite back, but the back looked better than the off-side. Later sold them to a bass playing friend who hooked them up to his stereo and loved their sound. For some reason they played loud. Tube amp also, geez I was blessed.)

Speakers:

Dynaco A-25s
Pioneer HPM 100s
Allison:Ones
Thiel CS 3.5s (which I still have)
Paradigm Studio 100 v2s

A bunch of bookshelf systems for use elsewhere in the house or for ambiance channels, by Infinity, Acoustic Research, Celestion and Mission.

Candidates:

Listened to a number of speakers over the years, often in less than ideal conditions. The ones that still stick to my mind and may find their way into my system, weather and finances permitting: Vandersteen Fives, Dunlavy SC IV-A, Dynaudio Contour 3.3s or Confidence 5s. Speakers that I would like as an alternative to dynamic box speakers but that I still can't see as replacements for the aforesaid boxes: Magneplanar 3.6s. Speakers that I would like to audition: Thiel 7.2s and Verity Fidelios.