Quote:
Originally Posted by
Frank I 
For 500.00 you can get some Maggie MMG for that size room. Check Audiogon daily as they sell in 5 minutes if you want them new 600.00 and you will not get a better speaker in that price range.
As much as everyone likes to recommend the Maggies, I would say that this is not the sort of environment for them, if durability is an issue and loud playback is one of the main goals... As for used, there's certainly better speakers out there for the same price as used MMGs, or roughly as good speakers at a far lower price....
Given those goals - durability and loud playback in a relatively large room - it seems to me like a pair of used Klipsch Heritage line speakers would fit the bill perfectly (as long as we're talking used). I certainly suggest looking for used speakers - they're such a good value these days! You'll get many times their cost worth of performance when compared to new speakers, especially if you're looking for something to stand the test of time.
The Heritage line speakers are extremely durable with well-built plywood cabinets and heavy grilles; they're very efficient as a result of their horn design (i.e. they don't need a powerful or low-impedance stable amplifier - any receiver will do just fine); and parts are inexpensive and easily available (used on eBay or new from Klipsch) for all of them if a kid were to kick in one of the drivers on purpose or something. Even something as bad as being tipped over wouldn't do much beyond cosmetic damage to the Heritage line (although they're stable, so I wouldn't expect it to happen in the first place) - but if that were to happen to Maggies, watch out!
Oh, and they sound great, too. Both my father and one of my brothers each have a pair of Klipsch KG 4 speakers - I prefer my bigger, more demanding Infinitys (Renaissance 90 and Kappa 8) - but the sheer value and ease of driving those is absolutely incredible. They've got excellent bass extension for their size, and reasonably tight bass (certainly better than any Cerwin Vega or equivalent). The mids are great (well balanced) and contrary to what you might expect from horns, the highs are smooth yet fairly detailed. For $200 off of Craigslist (that's not an unusual find, if you live in a reasonably populated area), they're a steal.
There's better ones in your price range too. The Heresy is probably the most popular one and often goes for $350-$500 depending on its condition (but you may get lucky and find them for far less - they are probably the all-time best selling PA speakers for church/school use), and the almost-as-popular Forte for about the same price (maybe a bit more, but it has deeper and more plentiful bass). I've not heard either of those myself, but I have heard the also-comparably-priced but rarer Quartet, which is also excellent.
Do avoid the KG 2, however, I owned a pair (traded to my dad) and they're not anywhere near the quality of the KG 4. They're large bookshelf speakers with poor bass extension and quality, poor mids (especially recessed upper mids), and harsh highs. The KG 4 is an entirely different sounding speaker. I can't say anything about the later "KG X.X" speakers though; they're significantly different from the KG 4 design (which is technically not part of the Heritage line, but is more or less similar). What I've heard about them, however, is that they're definitely a step down from the KG 4.
So, you ought to be able to find one of the KG 4, Heresy, Forte, or Quartet (or if you find a really good deal, a Cornwall, Belle, La Scala, or even Klipschorn) pretty close to you on Craigslist or Audiogon within your budget. Do a search on your local Craigslist (or a nearby large city you'd be willing to drive to) for Klipsch, and see what you find.
Edited by BlackbeardBen - 5/9/11 at 7:22pm
