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New speakers (newbie more or less)

post #1 of 15
1/27/06 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
I have had a pair of Jamo something or other speakers with a sub I bought off a friend 10 years back and a NAD C320 running them - I haven't been using them much lately been using my headphones exclusively.

I wanted to play some music for a friend (same friend as a matter of fact) today, and I basicly dropped my jaw when I heard them... how did they ever get to sound so bad - I used to use them to impress the friends with the sound quality... My laptop has a more engaging sound with the built in speakers these days..

So I went about surfing the net for something new and I sorta like the price and hype of the B&W 805S, or I did until I noticed the fine print saying stands not included and found the stand price to be more than half the price of the speaker itself.

This lead me to the conclusion that while I may know my headphones I haven't a clue when it comes to speakers so please do help me figure out what to buy...

I figure I can deal with some $ 5-6000 for two speakers and an amp maybe a little more if someone has some really good arguments

My current source is an E-MU 1212M, but I have begun to think in upgrades and I would like the speakers to go well with and upgrade to a benchmark or something along those lines.

Mostly I'm interested in results for classical symphonies, jazz and female vocals, but my listening is by no way limited to these.

Also I might be a bit picky on account of this dreary city's limited auditioning options, and with a purchase of this magnitude I deffinatly want to audition them first.
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post #2 of 15
1/27/06 at 10:23pm
Have you looked into floorstanders or are you dead-set on bookshelves? In your price range you might look at the Legacy-Audio Victoria (for bookshelves), or if you can swing floorstanders then the Focus 20/20 will wow your socks off.

Also look into Von Schweikert, Dali, Living Voice, or Monitor Audio's gold reference series.

Cheers,
Jeremy
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post #3 of 15
1/27/06 at 10:25pm
Also, for amps look into Pass Labs, Bryston, McIntosh, and Classe'.

Cheers,
Jeremy
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post #4 of 15
1/27/06 at 11:37pm
Since you are in Denmark, check out www.dali.dk

I use the Dali suite 2.8 with Nad c320bee. The sound is non-fatiguing and very balanced. AND they look good

With your budget, you can get a really good pair. The best is to listen and decide for yourself. A lot of people rave about Monitor Audio, B&W and triangle but they just weren't for me.
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post #5 of 15
1/28/06 at 9:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjcapurro
Have you looked into floorstanders or are you dead-set on bookshelves?
Not dead set on anything yet - I sort of feel like the kind of person who might go and buy the speaker equivelant of bose triports if i'm not careful

So i'll look into the stuf all of you have suggested and try to learn something...

Roughly how much of my budget should I leave for the amp?
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post #6 of 15
1/28/06 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nabwong
Since you are in Denmark, check out www.dali.dk

I use the Dali suite 2.8 with Nad c320bee. The sound is non-fatiguing and very balanced. AND they look good

With your budget, you can get a really good pair. The best is to listen and decide for yourself. A lot of people rave about Monitor Audio, B&W and triangle but they just weren't for me.
Yeah Dali is a good idea. I'm always reading about the Helicon 400. Oops...how much does it cost? Googled= $3900/pr

http://www.theperfectvision.com/news...licon_400.html


http://www.dali.dk/int/page191.aspx?sub=213&prod=574
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post #7 of 15
1/28/06 at 11:19am
The best thing Regus, is that they are made in denmark. So no problems with service.
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post #8 of 15
1/28/06 at 11:53am
I'll have to say though that the B&W 805s sounds amazing, even for bookshelf size. They do not provide that big punch, but you can always flesh out the bass later with a subwoofer. If you can afford a subwoofer in the $2-3000 class, the combo should be really good. Mids and highs of the 805s are simply outstanding.
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post #9 of 15
1/28/06 at 12:12pm
You should check out hifi4all.dk - a danish speaker orriented hifi forum. Besides the forum there's also an active 2nd hand market, if your interrested in buying used.

And since you live in Odense check out Vassagohifi. He usually has a nice offer or two
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post #10 of 15
1/28/06 at 2:55pm
As for how much to budget for amp+preamp, I'd say for a $4000 pair of speakers you'll do yourself well to look at a minimum of $1000 per piece (so $2000 for the pair) but more would be nice. Check audiogon for good prices on used equipment too. Another amp company to look at would be Parasound.
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post #11 of 15
1/28/06 at 2:55pm
As for how much to budget for amp+preamp, I'd say for a $4000 pair of speakers you'll do yourself well to look at a minimum of $1000 per piece (so $2000 for the pair) but more would be nice. Check audiogon for good prices on used equipment too. Another amp company to look at would be Parasound.
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post #12 of 15
1/29/06 at 8:52pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, been diggin' around a bit now and in my price range and sold by a nearby dealer where I can (presumably - I will have to go and check) get to listen to them before buying.

And come up with a list

Just around my price mark
Dali Helicon 400
B&W 804S
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand
Monitor Audio GS 60 (asuming the shop means GR 60 it sounds interesting otherwise just wierd - and I have to go the 100 miles to arhus to try this one but I go there regularly anyways)

At little over but could probably swing
Dali Helicon 800
B&W 803S

i'll try to get to listen to them some time soon.

The rest of the suggested brands don't seem to be sold within 500 miles... and mail order speakers sound like a recepie for tragedy...

And onwards to looking into amps
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post #13 of 15
1/29/06 at 10:39pm
Looks like you are on the right track. All those brands are good ones. Be sure to take your own source with you so that you can better guage performance with your existing equipment.

Good luck, and remember that it's all about the sound... the more expensive speaker is not always the better sounding one. Use your ears, and enjoy the ride!

Oh yea... Sorry about your wallet.

Cheers,
Jeremy
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post #14 of 15
1/31/06 at 11:54am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjcapurro
Looks like you are on the right track. All those brands are good ones. Be sure to take your own source with you so that you can better guage performance with your existing equipment.
A bit tough to bring an E-MU 1212M to the shop... I will considder getting a DAC first.

Quote:
Good luck, and remember that it's all about the sound... the more expensive speaker is not always the better sounding one. Use your ears, and enjoy the ride!
True that, but one has to narrow the search somewhere

Quote:
Oh yea... Sorry about your wallet.
Yeah, makes headphones seem quite cheap...
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post #15 of 15
2/1/06 at 12:25pm
I was just in the market 3 weeks ago for $5K speakers and I found my new toy in the form of Martin Logan Vantage.

The following speakers were which I considered, you may find this helpful:

BW 803S
BW 804S
Von Schweikert VR4jr
Dali Euphonia MS4 (used)
JM Labs 918Be Focal
JM Labs 927Be Electra (used)
AV123's Onix Reference 3
Paradigm S8
Salk Audio's Veracity HT3
Martin Logan Vantage

I auditioned most of them and I decided on the Vantage. I would really try to skip the Helicon and move to the Euphonia (used if possible).

JOey
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