Would the speaker designers out there make some that we can actually afford please ?
default -- Fri, 04/30/2010 - 16:18
Hey there,
World class loudspeakers using exotic materials for drivers, enclosures (or lack thereof), crossover components made of this or that and costing more than I can imagine, weighing several hundred pounds each, many feet tall or deep or wide or all the above, and that are expressions of some form-follows-function school of ugliness that also just happen to cost more than some houses or college educations have their place ... and while many of them end up inspiring trickle down technology application to their lower model siblings ... nonetheless, this person (who does not have the financial resources of a world superpower nation) would like to be able to go to a dealer and actually not have to consider a home quity loan or insider stock trading or what have you to be able to afford something very good that I actually like the sound and appearance of
Isn't at least some of this technology getting applied to lowering the cost, or is that only achieved by moving their manufacturing to China or Taiwan or somewhere else for pennies per hour ?
I know that many good brands are out there for a few K$ per pair, but I am speaking of the "up there" ones hoping to see those companies come back to Earth where they start to offer speakers for people who drive Toyotas instead of Ferraris and who have a modest home with a typical income instead of a mansion with six or seven figure per year salaries.
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What do you consider affordable?
I drive A VW Rabbit and I listen to Zu Druid's. $2,800 pair.
Zu's Tone @ $1,800 are also excelent, I owned them before the Druid's.
Good luck in your search.
Zu sells direct and I still think they offer a 60 day money back trial if not happy. Also the head guys at Zu (Adam&Sean) will answer the phone and speak with you too! Very cool guys.
PS: I do not work for them, because if I do, they ain't paying me a lick! I just love their stuff.
I'm not sure what the request is, really. If it is for good speakers for "a few K$ per pair", well as you say there are many. That, therefore, must not be the need. So, is it for some of the exotic brands to make less expensive speakers? This would be like Ferrari making a $50k car or a $25k (Toyota level). If that does it, then what you want is an affordable speaker with an exotic brand name?If that guess is on target, then I'd look at used speakers. Of the top exotic brands I can think of (Wilson, Magico, YG, Revel, MBL, Hansen, Avant Garde, TAD, B&W, Sonus Faber, Sound Labs, Focal) I think B&W, Sonus, Revel, MBL and Focal might have something new and in your price range. Whether they make the best affordable speakers is another matter.
This is a test reply to see if this one gets immediately flagged as spam like my attempts to reply last night did.
Hmmm ... odd. That one went through right away without being flagged (as it should have).
You might try Mueller speakers at www.miltoncmueller.com
I guarantee u will love them. Call him. He knows his business. And a fine fellow. I have the ones on orser with the lineaum tweets on top.
Sorry, I decided not to post this comment the way that I wrote it initially.
TRY ODYSSEY AMPS-HAND BUILT -DIRECT DESCANDANTS OF SYMPHONIC AMPS AT RIDUCULOUSLY LOW PRICES.
THE STRATOS MONO'S ARE GREAT & SINCE THERE HAND BUILT YOU HAVE MANY UP-GRADE OPTIONS & COLORS FOR WAF.
ODYSSEY.COM KLAUS IS A GREAT GUY- MAGICO USING THE LOWEST END AMP ODYSSEY MAKES TO CHECK THERE SPEAKERS-THATS HOW GOOD THEY ARE & A BARGAIN TO BOOT.
EXCUSE THE CAPS-BAD TYPIST!
KODG:)
I second the Maggies + subs. Planar magnetics always seem to offer the best bang for the buck, which I guess isn't surprising since most of the cost of a speaker is in the cabinet.
Richard, I can't speak for other manufacturers of course, but I suspect that many pick out what segment of the market they think they will be most competitive in, and concentrate on that. Relatively few companies have the resources to compete strongly in a lot of different areas. If you look beyond the mainstream companies, you will find a very rich variety of speakers that fall within your "few K$ per pair" ballpark. In that price range you will find electrostats, planars, horns, transmission lines, exotic tweets, dynamic dipoles, omnis, fullrange drivers, sat/sub systems, and last but not least a wide variety of "conventional" floorstanders and stand-mounts.
Used equipment is a great way to get into high end audio - I typically find prices on anything older than a year or so are offered at 40-50% off the retail price. Currently, all my equipment is used, but looks and sounds new, and was purchased for about 40% lower than retail (Simaudio i-7, Marantz 11s1 SACD Player, ProAc Studio 140s). And prices are even lower if you are willing to capitalize on the launch of a new model to buy the older model. For example, I bet there are some fantastic deals to be had on new/used Wilson Sophia 2 speakers now that the Sophia 3 has just come out. While I was waiting for my Wilson dealer to get a pair of Sophia 3s in to hear, I got an opportunity to buy a pair of Sophia 2s that a customer returned, STILL IN THE BOX, for close to 40% off! Mind you, I'd still be looking at paying $10,500 US for the "old model" but you get my drift about savings.
If you're willing to shell out about $5,000, you could get some great "entry level" high end speakers from brands like Revel (Studio), ProAc (3.8/D38), B&W (802/803), Sonus Faber (Cremona or Cremona Auditor M), Usher (Dancer 8571 or Mini Dancer 2 is even less!) tc. Check out Audiogon and other audiophile classified networks - you'll find some great stuff and have a lot of fun in the process!
Good luck!
P.S. Price aside, my issue is with trying to find top of the line speaker sound in a package that is both attractive enough and small enough to fit in my living room. THAT is a challenge!! Never mind cars, I definitely can't afford this audiophile hobby AND buy a bigger house to get myself a dedicated audio room!!
I dont quite understand why people request manufactures to make affordable speakers as there are a zillion great sounding budget speakers. Honestly I dont really get why people complain about hi priced gear as I think its essential that manufactures push the limits and discover new technologys that help improve sound that we eventually all see in some form on the more affordable products. This goes for every industry out there. If car manufactures stopped trying to get better performance from their cars we would still all be driving VW's lol. Anyone see the new ferrari 599xx pretty cool ha, hell its only 1.3 mil and you cant even drive on public streets lol.
Kevin LaTour
35 years hi-end audio video enthusiast
Trust your ears, try Monitor Audio!!!
Take a listen to the Nola Boxers @ 1500 a pair. Is that in your budget.