What would you buy?

[steveinaz]

You've been given $1500 that must be spent on 1 pair of speakers (nothing else), what would you buy?

[dcarlson]

I hate to say a speaker other than Polk but the Totem Hawk is looking like my next speaker.

[cfrizz]

LSI 15's

[gatemplin]

I would probably get the Paradigm Signature S2, love that Paradigm sound. I would have to listen to some Totems and B&Ws aswell.
They're dead sexy.
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/pics/paradigm_s2.jpg

[PolknPepsi]

1. Paradigm
2. Lsi15

Never heard or saw the other two.........wow does this mean you are getting new speakers?
:D :D :D

[tryrrthg]

I'd buy the speakers I already own :D on the used market of course

Dynaudio 1.3mkII

If I got lucky to find a pair of 1.3SE's I'd buy those instead.

Retail prices I'd probably opt for the Dynaudio 52SE. Love those Danes! Or the ACI Saphire.

[Tour2ma]

KLH 5's
Klipsch Heresey's
POLK LS 90's
Polk Mon 7a's
JBL L100's

Should be able to bag them all for $1500 total without scrounging.

[steveinaz]

Originally posted by PolknPepsi
1. Paradigm
2. Lsi15

Never heard or saw the other two.........wow does this mean you are getting new speakers?
:D :D :D

Nope, just curious as to what is out there that I may have missed in the $1500 and under range...

[Early B.]

A pair of Soliloquy 6.3's.

[Mjr7531]

The RTi12, I need em' to fill out my system

[gidrah]

Vandersteen - 2Ce (I think that was the model)
Magnepan - 1.6
EdgarHorn - Slimline
Tannoy DM12 orDM15 (I haven't actually heard these yet though)

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

1) Definitive Technology BP30
2) Polk Audio SDA (enter model number here)
3) LSi15

[2+2]

I was shopping for speakers about a month ago.

Out of your list, I auditioned Energy C9, as well as C7, Paradigm Reference Studio 60 and 100 (not the 40s tho), as well as many others. I ended up buying the LSi15s.

I will admit that the Paradigm Ref. Studio 100s did sound better than the LSi 15s. They were a bit cleaner and smoother....but they were about $2400/pr. No other speaker listed sounded as coherent and refined as the LSi 15 (btw, IMO, sounds better than LSi 25 for music).

IMO, Energy C9 is more comparable to RTi10 or maybe even RTi12... but not the LSis.

If your room is smaller, Totem Staff were exteremely nice.....

[Jstas]

1.) Carver Amazing Platinums (if I got lucky!)
2.) The biggest SDA's I could find!
3.) Maggies
4.) Polk Audio LSi's

[Shizelbs]

LSi15

[shack]

I know I'm probably alone here but I've always liked the Vienna Acoustics Bachs that are in that price range.

Slightly higher MSRP but with a street price that is close to your range are the Sonus Faber Concertos. One of the sweetest sounding bookshelfs for mids and highs...but really needs a sub.

And of the ones you mentioned...The LSi15s.

[Toxis]

These are the only two of the 4 you listed that I've heard and here's how I'd take 'em.

1. LSi15's
2. Energy C7's (I liked 5.25's over the 6.5's in the C9's)

That's if you were only wanting to buy new. If you didn't mind going used, the list could go on for days...

[steveinaz]

Ok folks, you're missing the point here....what would you buy? Don't pick from my list---I already know what I would select, I'm interested in what you have looked at for at/under $1500.

[dcarlson]

Originally posted by steveinaz
Ok folks, you're missing the point here....what would you buy? Don't pick from my list---I already know what I would select, I'm interested in what you have looked at for at/under $1500. So go buy them already... :p ;) You're just as bad as I am. LOL. :)

[PolknPepsi]

Yep.....I mis-read your original post.

Polk
B&W #604
Paradigm
Klipsch

All good and all sound totally different............Just use good strong amplification with any of them.

:D ............Pat

[gidrah]

In that case I'd get some Altec A-8s for rears and a pair of 416B woofers for the center.

[Tour2ma]

Originally posted by steveinaz
Ok folks, you're missing the point here....what would you buy? Don't pick from my list---I already know what I would select, I'm interested in what you have looked at for at/under $1500. Such a blanket statement... :)

I really don't know of a speaker I'd want to spend $1500 a pair for, especially when there are so many vintage model bargains out there. Thus my earlier list.

And $1500 is about what I paid for my Original CA's and Maggie 1.5's total. Four speakers that will cover the musical spectrum better than any single pair I know of...

[dcarlson]

Originally posted by Tour2ma
Such a blanket statement... :)

I really don't know of a speaker I'd want to spend $1500 a pair for, especially when there are so many vintage model bargains out there. Thus my earlier list.

And $1500 is about what I paid for my Original CA's and Maggie 1.5's total. Four speakers that will cover the musical spectrum better than any single pair I know of... That's fine if you've got the room to place those real estate hogs. ;)

In my case I'm looking for some small towers and the Totem's fit the bill very nicely. I was pretty shocked at the size of the soundstage, the depth of bass and overall sound quality the tiny Hawks put out.

Do you know of any small (high sound quality) vintage towers that would fit what I'm looking for?

[tryrrthg]

Originally posted by dcarlson
That's fine if you've got the room to place those real estate hogs. ;)

In my case I'm looking for some small towers and the Totem's fit the bill very nicely. I was pretty shocked at the size of the soundstage, the depth of bass and overall sound quality the tiny Hawks put out.

Do you know of any small (high sound quality) vintage towers that would fit what I'm looking for?
These aren't "vintage" but they're damn good! They'll probably sound pretty similar to the Totem's since Totem uses Dynaudio drivers.

Dynaudio 1.8mkII for sale (http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1100706602) No Affiliation...

http://gon4.audiogon.com/i/c/f/1095522553.jpg

[dcarlson]

The Hawks use an MB Quart tweeter and Scan-Speak Revelator woofer. I think the Forests use a Dynaudio woofer at least they look like them anyway.

Totems also seem a little cheaper up here I'm guessing because they're made in Canada.

[tryrrthg]

Originally posted by dcarlson
The Hawks use an MB Quart tweeter and Scan-Speak Revelator woofer. I think the Forests use a Dynaudio woofer at least they look like them anyway.

Totems also seem a little cheaper up here I'm guessing because they're made in Canada.
Yeah, after looking at the Totem web site it looks like you're right. It looks like the Model-1 and Mani-2 use the dyn drivers also. Wish there were some Totem dealers around here...

[Zero]

Totem actually uses both dynaudio drivers and ATC drivers (which look very simular to the dyns). The revelator on that Hawk sure is sexy.

While I am sure there are better products that can be had, I havent found any that have put a smile on my face like my own Totem Sttafs.

For $1500 though, I would like to try some Carver Amazings, SDA SRS's, Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MK2 or the 1.3 SE. Throw in some Jeanne Reynauld 2's.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Sean,
before it is over, I am SURE you will have tried every one of those (and then some) ;)

[PolknPepsi]

Take your time ........speakers don't grow on trees!