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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: rreidiii on March 01, 2005, 08:08:32 PM

Title: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: rreidiii on March 01, 2005, 08:08:32 PM
SSIA, Just bought one of those Sony STR 3000 thingys and now need some speakers. I do tape a number of shows and feel this is an important factor but also want them for a new plasma screen tv. Any suggestions???
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: Mojowill on March 01, 2005, 08:13:35 PM
Paradigm
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: rreidiii on March 01, 2005, 08:34:01 PM
I just saw Westerberg a few nights ago...Social Distortion In a few weeks...,Saw the Dead 50+ times I tape alot of singer song writer stuff in So Cal. So yor can say my tastes vary.
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: Daryan on March 01, 2005, 08:41:31 PM
Your options truly are almost unlimited in this category.  One word though, buy used!
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: BobW on March 01, 2005, 08:49:53 PM
What's the damping factor of that SonyBeastie ?
I'll guess that it would drive a ported enclosure nicely.

Evos should be heard, Dynaudios, Tannoys, too

It should be easy to find a showroom where you can listen to speaks with an amp very similar to yours.
That will make your life easier.

Good luck and enjoy the hunt.
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: Lil Kim Jong-Il on March 01, 2005, 08:56:46 PM

And most places worth dealing with will let you bring in your amp to try with the speakers.
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: ducati on March 02, 2005, 08:12:56 AM
Places worth dealing with will allow you to take the speakers home and try them in your room--that is the biggest variable right there (the room).

You have a ton of options at $1500.  I don't necessarily agree that buying used is ALWAYS the best route--loudspeakers are such a personal choice.  I think an extended showroom audition, with a few home auditions of your fav speakers, is a great option, too. 
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: rreidiii on March 03, 2005, 12:10:26 AM
Thanx for all the help guys
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: dave w on March 03, 2005, 11:56:19 AM
A lesser known player in the US market that will get you a great set of speakers in that price range (plus a sub for a bit more) is Dali.  You should be able to get a pair of Dali Suite 2.8s for around $1100 new.  I'd compare them somewhat to Paradigm reference 60s, though I think they have fuller, richer mids with a little bit less bass punch than the Paradigms.
  And I'd agree that, especially with speakers, home auditions are invaluable.
-Dave
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: heath on March 03, 2005, 12:20:26 PM
I picked up a 5.1 Tannoy setup (MXM Series) from Oade to go along with my Sony 3000es, and I absolutely am loving them!

h
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: Nick's Picks on March 04, 2005, 05:51:52 PM
$1500 is a great budget in the used world.
how big of a room?
would you rather not have to use a subwhoofer?

there are tons of excellent Maggies, Martin Logans, Von Schweikerts, B&Ws....etc etc etc available for this.
Todays used $1500 was 5 years ago $3500, or 10 years ago $5k.
Or...maybe even last years $2500 new price.  You can buy a lot of speaker for this money.  You just need to know what you want in terms of performance and certain strong points in your musical reproduction endevors.

Speakers can be like mics.  Some do certain things better than others, and its  the "certain things" that you like that should drive your decision.  Some are brutaly transparant, and will shame any componant or cable of a lesser quality.  Others are a little more forgiving in that regard, and seem to work on par w/a larger selection of gear behind them.  Same goes for room interactions.  Some speakes (like panels, or ESL) need good acoustics to really show you what they can do.  Others can deal with tight quarters, or a more lively room.  I learned this the hard way...
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: rreidiii on March 04, 2005, 09:00:53 PM
what do you guys think of these tannoy fusion4 speakers. they seem very reasonably priced, one gut has them for about $440 a pair.
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: spyder9 on March 07, 2005, 10:34:20 PM
If you're into used, go Klipsch old school: KG4s, Forte IIs, Heresy IIs, etc.  They simply don't make them like they use to.  Nobody does.  Not even Klipsch.  Excellent bass.  Solid midrange.  Build quality is still exceptional.  I've had my KG4s for 17 years and will probably use the wood on them to someday make my casket.    ;)   They all get high marks on www.audioreview.com today.  Only knock:  they're all big and heavy.  Can get all of them on eBay for under $1,000 a set.

Sorry for the fluff.  I have to go wash ......   :-X. 
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: scb on March 08, 2005, 10:38:12 AM
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1114394424
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: pfife on March 08, 2005, 01:44:09 PM
If you're into used, go Klipsch old school: KG4s, Forte IIs, Heresy IIs, etc.  They simply don't make them like they use to.  Nobody does.  Not even Klipsch.  Excellent bass.  Solid midrange.  Build quality is still exceptional.  I've had my KG4s for 17 years and will probably use the wood on them to someday make my casket.    ;)   They all get high marks on www.audioreview.com today.  Only knock:  they're all big and heavy.  Can get all of them on eBay for under $1,000 a set.

Sorry for the fluff.  I have to go wash ......   :-X. 

I have heresy II's, and I gotta disagree about them having good bass.  They are efficient and clear (to my uneducated ears) but I like them much better with a sub.  They are also way better now that I have them on stands, and up off the floor.


Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: spyder9 on March 08, 2005, 04:14:33 PM
If you're into used, go Klipsch old school: KG4s, Forte IIs, Heresy IIs, etc.  They simply don't make them like they use to.  Nobody does.  Not even Klipsch.  Excellent bass.  Solid midrange.  Build quality is still exceptional.  I've had my KG4s for 17 years and will probably use the wood on them to someday make my casket.    ;)   They all get high marks on www.audioreview.com today.  Only knock:  they're all big and heavy.  Can get all of them on eBay for under $1,000 a set.

Sorry for the fluff.  I have to go wash ......   :-X. 

I have heresy II's, and I gotta disagree about them having good bass.  They are efficient and clear (to my uneducated ears) but I like them much better with a sub.  They are also way better now that I have them on stands, and up off the floor.




Schnizzle!   :o
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: Govt Mule on March 08, 2005, 05:09:36 PM
I gotta fluff the Neat Acoustics

http://www.britnett.net/neat/listings/5.html
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: BC on March 09, 2005, 04:43:31 PM
Paradigm

second that, great value for the $$ and very neutral.

Also check out PSB, NHT, Definitive Technology, Infinity (the new CMMD stuff looks nice) just to name a few. Tons of stuff out there in this price range.
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: rreidiii on March 22, 2005, 12:27:29 AM
Thanx for all the suggestions guys. I picked up a pair of Paradigm studio 60's and really happy with them in my room. Even better the wife likes them too. She doesn't like the crappy FM antenna supplied with the Sony that I have thumb tacked to the wall. Very low WAF apparently.  :-)
Title: Re: ISO Speakers for less than $1500?
Post by: L Ron Hoover on March 22, 2005, 10:24:30 AM
The FM section on the Sony's is outstanding. I haven't listened to this much radio in years. (I have the antenna hiding behind my Bavarian flag)