I'm looking for speakers.. recommendations?

[TSG]

This will be for 2 channel only. They will be used when veiwing DTV but all I care about is music playback. The room is 12.5' by 15'. I curently have Polk R40's. I think I'd like to stick with a silk dome tweeter.. I like the highs smoothed out a bit. I'd like some bass but it doesn't have to be booming.

I have $1000 tops to spend. So what should be on my short list?

Forgot to mention.. My amp is a B&K Ref 4420.. 225 watts/channel. Also would like to shop the used market..

Thanks




Tom

[Ricky]

Hhhm, I have always preferred aluminum dome tweeters: NHT 2.9s/3.3s, Signets, Energy Veritas, Revels. For silk dome, I can think of used NHT VT2s (hard to find?). If you get a tube preamp, all the top end harshness will be gone

I've heard good things from Soliloquy speakers. Thomas Turner used to have them, among dozens of other gear! You can find him in the DIY forum. Here are some 5.3 towers for 1100/obo.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?spkrfull&1049155549

I love my Rogue 66 magnum >> Parasound 2200II 250x2 >> NHT 3.3s for sweet, big sound from CDs and DSS.

If John Tompkins ever finds/gets his 3.3s, he would be looking for a local buyer for his 2.9s (he has the boxes) and lives in northern VA

I've seen asking prices for the non-magnum 66 preamp as low as $500 on audiogon.

[Lex]

Used Sonus faber Concerto.

Or you could buy my Infinity Composition Overture 2's.

Lex




Cable Guy DVD Collection

[TSG]

Thanks for the feedback guys & thanks for the offer Lex. The Infinity's just don't appeal to me..

Ricky.. I searched up and down AudiogoN a number of times and missed that ad. I'm investigating them now. Thanks.




Tom

[Digital Bob]

*cough* Mirage *cough*






dB

[Ricky]

PSB Stratus Goldi (not Gold) have tame highs, a very sweet midrange, and strong bass.

[sfdoddsy]

Both of these may squeeze your budget slightly, not to mention your room, but what the heck.

These failed to sell on eBay and may still be available:

:B<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3007129867&ssPageName= ADME:LC:US:1" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3007129867&ssPageName= ADME:B:LC:US:1

And you could pick up a pair of Magnepan 1.6QR for around $1000.

Cheaper would be a pair of Maggie MG10 with a sub.

Cheers

Steve




Steve's DIY Dipoles

[LarryB]

Unlike Ricky, I do not care for metal tweeters.

I have been quite impressed with the Totem Arros

I also highly recommend the Maggies. At the show in Las Vegas I was astounded by their sheer musicality. At $700/pair, I don't think anything can come even close to them.

Larry

[Bob]

used Vandersteen 2ce's

[David Meek]

Bob's got a good suggestion with the Vandersteens. My sister-in-law and husband have them in their HT and they are excellent sounding units. Audigon is showing them going for around $1,000-1,050 US when they are available.




David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker

[TSG]

Thanks for all the replies.

Does anyone know how to distinguish Vandersteen 3s from 3As? Does the A at the end of the serial number (for example.. 82137a) mean they are 3As?

Are the 3As a big improvement over the 3s?

Does anyone think this would be too much speaker for a 12x15 foot room?

Thanks




Tom

[David Meek]

Tom, the model number will be on the metal plate housing the binding posts. It'll clearly say 3A on it. I saw this on a pair of 3A's Saturday, coincidentally. The 3's or 3A's will fit nicely in a 12x15 room - they are fairly tall but have a shallow footprint. If you are worried about 'em overpowering the room, well, just keep the volume notched down a bit.

Good luck and let us know how the search goes.




David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker

[David Meek]

I hate it when I have to "eat crow", but I have to. No, the plates don't show the A variant.

[dsmith]

I recommend the Digital Phase AP-.7 bookshelfs. They list for $1,199 but I think you can get them for less dealing directly with the manufacturer. Not only are they super accurate, you also get bass down to 35 Hz!. I use these for my surrounds. Here is a link:

http://www.digitalp.com/ap7.htm

Don

[Bruce]

With your 225 watts of B&K power, you should think about some Dynaudio Contour Series speakers, or possibly the Audience Series, they all have silk dome tweeters.

Maybe some 1.3MkII, or 1.8 Contours or the 52 or 82 Audience.

Used you might be able to get a pair for <= $1k.




Bruce
____________________________________________

[Bob]

The 3s or 3As may be wrong for your room, depending on your furnnishing. You certainly want to bring them out from the front wall and they should be no closer than 8 feet from your listening spot, plus you don't want a wall directly behind your head. I really think that with your room size that you would have a much better experience with the one of the 2c series, the signatures if you can.