How long have you lived with your speakers / brand of speaker?
default -- Wed, 11/11/2009 - 13:50
Since no speaker is perfect, I am wondering how long folks live with their speakers before looking for another sound. For me, the last 3 speakers have lasted 2 years, 2 years, 2 months. All are from the same brand family. The last one is up the food chain and double the price of the previous speaker. However, I am ready for a change.
Anyone here live 10 or more years with a speaker/ brand? 15? 20+?
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Yes.
Dunlavy SC VI speakers since 1995.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
I have had my Epos Es22 speakers for 12 years. Until I discovered Zu Druids about 18 months ago I was happy. Now the Zu Essence are around I am considering these as replacement, having heard them at the Manchester show recently. However I have also just auditioned Shahinian Compass at Audiocounsel. These are very different to all the rest. Not sure what to go for now.
absolutely loved my thiel 3.5s for over 14 years. i have had great support service from conrad johnson and music reference thru the years but thiel was in a class all by itself. i hope they can thrive now following Jim's passing....
Duntech Crown Prince, since 1985. Replaced disintegrated woofers once.
I think for long term satisfaction: You should stop incremental purchases. Save up and buy something stellar for longer term use. You should audition equipment carefully. You should never stick to one brand for the sake of just brand. If you get bored quickly you should audition products in the upper limit/streach of your budget, etc..... If none of these help then you have very high and unique tastes like the love of Ferrari's, Large Diamonds, or other unattainable things for most people and those who have those also generally get bored after a little while. So Its a combination of things....some of it has to do with the quality and type of equipment you choose and some of it has to do with your mindset. Note that I didn't say most expensive is the best, but up to a certain point a higher quality speaker will be more expensive then a lower quality one. I would start by going through magazines like TAS and stereophile recommended componenets etc. and after reading up on some things I would set a budget based on what I can afford, then I would make a short list of equipment, and then I would go audition in detail the products of interest to me. You might also want to pay attention to other components in your system. the performance of the whole system will be limited by the weakest component in the link. Some thing to think about IMHO.
I have been bouncing back to this thread for months and tonight I can't help myself. The OP asked how long people have lived with their speakers. Not advice on how to choose them.
I've had my custom made speakers for 31 years (since 1978). They have outlasted every other component in my system.
I have replaced the mid drivers and tweeters due to blowing up the originals, and have re-wired them internally. But the greatest change I have made is replacing the single capacitors for each of the mids and tweeters with Duelund VSF Copper. I have also added 2 Vandersteeen 2WQ subwoofers to relieve my main speaker's 12" paper woofers from the chore of reproducing much below 80Hz as they have no inductors and run full range from the amplifiers.
To this day, no single speaker system I have heard, sounds quite like my 31 years old babies. They combine the utter transparency of electrostatics (think original Matin Logan CLS) with the effortlessness of horns combined with the solid low frequency foundation of sealed box moving coils.
I recently heard the Magico M5 which is the closest sounding 'commercial' speaker I have heard to mine, yet they lack the sheer transparency, the truer depth and realism in the midrange and the ultimate low frequency control and naturalness I experience with mine.
I was incredibly lucky to find my speakers 31 years ago and I doubt that I will be changing any time soon.
Meridian M20 Active Loudspeakers played through my 501 Meridian Pre-amp. The M20s carry the audio for our main TV. They used to be my main listening room speaker. Purchased 1987 so they have be, well, active, for the past 22 years. They look nearly brand new. Also still have the Meridian 200 series electronics from that same 1987 time period. 201 pre-amp, 204 tuner, 207 14 bit CD player, 205 mono block amps, 203 DAC.
ATC SCM 7's four years. They've bounced around the house, now in the home office. Driven by an 1980's Yamaha receiver.
ATC SCM 50 ASL's two years. I intend to keep these for the next 25 yrs! These are driven by the latest in technology, Paul McGowen's PS Audio PerfectWave DAC. A very simple system. One wireless DAC/music server and two active, tri-amp loudspeakers.
cheers!
The Meridian M20's were 'recently' re-reviewed in Hi-Fi+issue number 30.. from a few years ago..
that issue is on UK ebay right now
Historical review of the Meridian M20 speakers
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150383733176&ih=005&category=81741&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1
forgot these....
a/d/s 2002 active bi-amped loudspeakers. (the non active version became the a/d/s 200 speaker) I have owned these since 2001. These were produced in and around mid 1970's. These are plugged into my main mac pro pc at work and sit left or right of my apple 23" cinema display.. they still sound great. tight, image perfectly... Audio Engine 2's can't hold a candle to the 2002's accuracy!
Hmm.....
Used to work in audio in 85-86 - sold Quad... (also Revox, Boston Acoustics, Pioneer, Marantz etc...) - a the time I had some basic Tandy speakers - and a pair of headphones for serious listening.
Got my first Quad electrostatics in circa 1987.... still have them (although they are not currently in use) - ESL57's
Got my second Quad electrostatics ESL63 in 1996 - used them as main speakers until 2007 then retired them to rear channel when i purchased
Purchased ESL989 in 2007 used them for just over a year - then made decision to "downsize" to to space constraints... sold the 989's and 63's and bought Some Gallo Ref3.1's
They are currently in place... very good - but longer term plan is to have (build?) a room that can handle quads properly - and then I will return to Quads.
I was never dissatisfied with the Quad midrange or highs, found the bass lacking for the 63's and 57's - experimented with subwoofers a couple of times with variable results - change was driven by space and WAF - the 989's were wonderful and did not lack bass - not even for my movie viewing.
If you get a really world class speaker - it simply gets better as you upgrade everything else bit by bit....
Although the Gallo's are a fabulous speaker - they are not quite up to the stats.... hence I know that eventually they will go and stats will come back
Final note...
That means I was listening continuously to Quad stats from 1985 to 2008 - 23 years.... and my dissatisfaction was always with the low end until I got the 989's - which finally resolved that issue.
Meridian M2 from 1981 to 1994, Maggies MG3.5 from 1994 to 2007. Magico Mini 2 from 2007 until ?. I chose my speakers carefully :)
Snell CIVs since 1992. Might go to something bigger and newer soon, might not though.
Dunlavy SC IVs the last 9 years.
Jack D II
Apogee Caliper Signatures since 1991, even happier since I had them re-ribboned earlier this year.
I have had B&W CDM 7NT's for 8 years, now, as my main two channel speakers, with a matching center and THX B&W dipole surrounds, in my combined music/cinema system, and have no plans to change anything. I am happy with their performance in all areas.
Enjoy.
Mike
VinylGuy
I had B&W Nautilus 805s and then 805s for nearly 10 years. Then I went for Focus Audio FS 888s for the past couple of years. As well as being a bigger floor standing speaker with more bass and a bigger sound one of the best things about the 888s is the Scan Speak Revelator 9900 tweeter. The B&W tweeter was very good but the 9900 is much sweeter and more natural. I auditioned the B&W 803D with the diamond tweeter and the Berillium from JM Labs but liked the Focus better
Magnepan owner since the mid 80's. Started with a pair of MGIIB's, than bought a pair of Tympani IV's. I've had a highly modded pair of Tympani IVA's with custom stands that were factory rebuilt for about 4 years and are very happy with them.
Larry
Magnepan 3.6´s since 2000
I've had my 3.6's with REL sub since '98 and still love them.
I have Mirage M3-sis, bought in February 1993. Prior to those was a pair of Polk LS3s (I think that's the model), bought in 1989. I would probably want Def Techs if I were looking to replace my Mirages.
I had Mission Argonaut speakers for 22 years before I got rid of them and nothing was wrong with them. Also got rid of my same age NAD power and pr -amp. Again, all still working just like new. I have already replaced the electronics but still looking for a nice pair of speakers to last the next 25 years. Its not easy finding a speaker replacement that is a significant upgrade in sound without spending big bucks.
In may 1978 I was lucky enough to be able to convince my parents (I was 16 at the time) to buy a pair of B&W DM6 loudspeakers. Every other component in my setup has changed since then (current sources are from Linn and Marantz, amps from Aesthetix and Gamut), but the speakers are still in service after 31 years. The measured response in my room (Behringer ECM-8000, M-Audio profire 610, TrueRTA software) covers the frequencies above 30Hz within +/- 5 decibels, with a gentle downslope from lows to highs. The only speakers I seriously considered to replace my trusty B&W's are big Martin Logans.
Have pair Infinity WTLII since 1976 and in 2003 replaced them with a pair of LINN 5240. The Infinity need to have crossover work done, and plan to keep them on hand.
Syatem has evolved to its current lineup of Channel Island 200 monoblocs, modified ForePlayII pre, McIntosh B76 tuner, Jolida 1000a CDP and Thorens TD160 table
One for the record books: I have a friend who still listens to a pair of B&W DM2A's he bought off a friend in the (early) 70s. They still work fine and their appearance is unchanged after all this time!
I have had my Duntech Marquis since 1989
still bi-amp with 2 Aragon 4004's MKII and the 24K pre
all cables are Audioquest
The Duntech's are still all original inside and out.
They still sound fantastic too!
Also have 5 Dunlavy SCI-AV's for the last 10yrs. Great surrounds.
Hello Trapper, I also have had my Duntech Marquis since 1989. I also need to replace the 4 inch mid range(M10MD-39 8 OHM 405) & 4 inch tweeter (D26TG-35-06 6 OHM 906). Would you be kind enough to advise replacement names/specification/dealers name etc ?. Thank you. Bye for now, Sandra (Tasmania)
Have a pair of PMC FB1i for over a month now driven by Primare I30/CD31 combo and am already bored.
LS3/5A, since 1981, bought new. Made by RAM who briefly held a BBC licence but went bust soon after I got them. Have considered other speakers, but only Quad ESL have come near, and space does not permit at the moment. Quad 34/405ii drive them. Similar age, but with servicing by Quad as required. Will consider later Quads when the boat comes in.....
Rogers LS3/5a. Purchased new in 1975 and used daily. I still love their sound and imaging.
I have owned my Klipsch Heresy ii since 1988...powered modestly by a Nakamichi receiver ,55wpc ,still love the sound
I still have/use an original set of Gallo Acoustics poly-sphered Nucleus Solo speakers I purchased in '94, though they are not my primary speakers. My current primary speakers are Gallo's Reference 3.1 which I aquired about a year ago. Prior to these, my primary speakers were a set of aluminum-sphered Gallo Acoustics Nucleus Reference, which I had gotten in '98. So I've been listening through Gallo Acoustics' products for 15 years now, and don't plan on stopping any time soon ;~).
Quad ESL-63s continuously since 1982. Added a pair of Gradient SW-63s in 1990, but retired these in favour of a pair of JL Fathom F112s last year. Amplification was Innersound Electrostatic from 1995 until this year, when I refurbished my Quad 520f (purchased at the same time as the Gradients). The Quad amp is an improvement over the Innersound, and is set at 30W output.
I bought my Rogers LS3/5a speakers in 1978, and used them for many years, before switching to speakers from Thiel and later Quad (22L). But recently returned to the Rogers, which still sound very good.
Bob in NV
Klipsch La Scala since 1988
now I own since one year ATC SMC110 A
two different worlds, true but complementary
I use Klipsch for the 90% of CD's not forgiven by ATC
however with the right software ATC are simply wonderful
I had B&W 703's, then briefly tried 800 series floor standers. They were both Dynamic, live sounding speakers, but as one person noted above, the tweeters, although crisp, were not as natural or sweet as I'd like. In a room without carpets, they can create ear fatigue at louder volumes. So they were exciting to listen to, but I was not satisfied. LIke a great date, but going out long term, maybe not.
After listening to many other speakers, I bought VMPS RM30's around 2003. They're hybrids. They're natural, sweet, and clean. Mids and highs are clear but there's no ringing. Lows are quick and clear. Amazing soundstaging. Amazing tweakability. My only issue with these is they're power hungry - the more power, the better they sound. So it takes a lot of power to make them as dynamic as some other speakers. In all other respects, I think they're giant killers and will keep them indefinitely. Will find the extra hp instead of getting new speakers!
Hales System Two since 1990. But it is getting close to that time to start looking.
NHT 2.9 2 pairs 10 years and still lovin' them.
Both Sonus Faber Extrema (1994) and Guarneri Homage (1998), don't think will ever depart them, the Extrema feels like a tank
I have had Mirage M3-si speakers since February 1993. Not looking to change.
Magnepan for 25 years. MG-1s bought used and kept for over 20 years and a factory rebuild followed by MG1.6s
I have had Dahlquist DQ-10's since I bought them at graduation from Penn State in 1977. Then they were powered by a Quad 405. When I married in 79, wifie called them the "big, black, ugly" speakers. So, when the woof cones rotted in 86, I sold them for $100-argg! and bought a pair of Dalhquist DQ30i's-bummer! Wifie realized I was no longer enthralled with music, and gave the thumbs-up to advanced speaker search, which led me down the planar road, ML to be exact. They sounded artificial to me, and the woofer couldn't keep up. I finally found not one, not two, but three sets of DQ10's! I upgraded the caps, and love the sound! Also got a Quad 405-2, which I loved, a PL 400-also loved, and an Adcom 5800, which I also love. I'm readying to rewire and recap the other set of DQ's, but the last pair acquired (for 300 bucks!) is mint, and it stays that way. Once my basement remodel (with cherry planking), the DQ that are recapped and with custom made cherry stands will go side-by-side-four across; tweeter side to tweeter side, along with my Regnar center and large screen tv. No choice on a sub or rears yet, but that will happen. Oh, and the grill material will be tan cloth, not big, black, and ugly! Same wife for 30 years, and same speakers for a bit longer! Love the transparancy-of our communication and the DQ10's!
Maggies for 21 years 3a's and now the 3.6r
PSB Stratus Gold i for about 12 years now. I still love them.
Still using (and am quite pleased with):
Large system: Dunlavy SC IVs; Smaller system: Audio Physic Virgos
Both are about 13 years old!
Spendor SP-1s since the mid 1980's. Midrange, midrange, midrange. I am considering changing. I want an enhanced low end, and better soundstaging. Any suggestions? I am driving them with a PrimaLuna Dialogue II Integrated amp. Source is a Qsonix Q 110 music server through a Benchmark Media DAC 1. My budget for new speakers would be around $4,000 USD. I like buying used equipment.
Spendor S100's since 1990! Over the yrs I've gone from all transistor to all-tube. My Spendors sound better than ever!
Still happy with my 1980 Klipschorns with no desire to change. These perform the way I want them to with all kinds of source material that I feed them be it CD, Blu-ray and specially SACD.
Hello,
I have owned my 2.6R Magnepan speakers for over 17 years with no problems and I am very pleased with the sound. If they ever do go bad I would replace them with another set of Magnepans.
Thanks
Mike