Best Tower Speaker Pick $3,500 or less

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by Big D Design, Feb 20, 2017.

  1. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    I'm helping an older man (72) setup his livingroom system. It's been 20 years for him and he has had Magnepan and other good speakers in the old days. Right now he likes the PSB T2.

    I'm selling him my Vincent SP-331 and setting him up with a Saga and Modi Multibit.

    Must be a tower. You guys know how I'm a Martin Logan fan, so no need to mention those. I also like Vandersteen 2Ce still after all these years. Seems like he doesn't want to go back to Magnepan, wants something new. I'm way out of the loop with knowledge of current good speakers. I hear Legacy has good units, but I think the good ones are out of the price cap.

    His livingroom is medium sized, not too large. Any suggestions would be welcome.
     
  2. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Music preferences? Used or new?

    Jazz, acoustics, vocals, etc: I'm very partial to Louis Chochos' Omega speaker lineup, with the Alnico XRS going for a shade under 3000. If he likes it with some more oomph below Louis has the Outlaw line which includes this floorstander with a integrated sub for fuss free 2.2 set up (haven't heard this though), also for a shade under 3000, although you lose some of that Alnico magic.
    They do well with other genres too, but they truly shine in the midrange.
     
  3. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    I get out of the guy that he likes stuff like euro alternative in english language, whatever that may be. He mentioned artists from Iceland too.
     
  4. riker1384

    riker1384 Acquaintance

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    Why doesn't he just keep the PSBs?
     
  5. ohmaigulay

    ohmaigulay Friend

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  6. SineDave

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  7. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Man so many choices. Totem, Monitor Audio, B&W, Tannoy, Harbeth, Sierra Acoustics, Spendor, Salk, KEF, ATC & PMC (maybe only in bookshelves actually), just to name a few
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2017
  8. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    The Tannoy XT 8F paired with Rogue amplifiers was my favorite of AXPONA last year, I think they can be had for around $2500 a pair.
     
  9. jhaider

    jhaider Acquaintance

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    I reviewed the XT 8F for SECRETS and really, really liked them. Link to my review below. Honestly, if we didn't have a fireplace I would've bought them. Even my wife loved their sound. I think she liked them better than my then-reference Pioneer EX speakers, though the baby TADs have more refined treble. My only caveat that the XT 8F, like any true full range tower, needs low frequency EQ to sound right in a small room. I used Anthem ARC with my review trio.

    http://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/...olution-xt-8f-floor-standing-speakers-review/
     
  10. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    @SineDave
    Legacy Audio. Yes.

    @riker1384
    He doesn't own the PSBs just thought they would be good. Me I don't like PSB. Think not as good as maybe some other choice.

    Right now the guy is liking the Spatial Audio M3. Huh? Do not know what this is......
     
  11. Kolohe

    Kolohe Facebook Friend

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    As a Salk Sound fan, I'll suggest:

    Song3 - $2895 - it's the speaker that Schiit has used in the last couple of audio shows, IIRC.

    Supercharged SongTower - $3595 - it uses an upgraded woofer than the regular SongTower RT that I own and love.

    With both you get RAAL ribbon tweeters and furniture grade standard finishes, or the option of choosing a custom finish that is only limited by your imagination and bank account.
     
  12. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    @Kolohe
    The second I saw transmission line and ribbon tweeters on the Salk, I went oh yes. I would love to hear that brand some day.

    Right now my client thinks he wants the Spatial M3 Turbo speakers for $2,700. Very different technology. I'm trying to wrap myself around how they work.
    Hologram design is something that I haven't seen before and this old guy was poking around,,,,,,,

    If I were to buy speakers other than electrostatics......
    Legacy Audio.........

    This guy is close to buying a set of speakers. I would think by Friday.
    He has bought,,,,,,
    Schiit Saga
    Modi Multi-Bit
    Vincent SP-311 on Friday from me
    Should be a good combo with the right speakers

    Those Spatial M3 Turbo S are 4ohm 94db (That would make the Vincent pump out 300/ch). Supposedly the owner of company said that the components would make for a very good fit, because the speaker drops down to 3ohms as well. Vincent does 2ohm stable
     
  13. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    I've reviewed Salk speakers - they are great, though I personally prefer the Legacy sound, that's a very individual thing.
     
  14. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    This is quite easy to recommend. A used pair of Innersound Eros like the ones I got. Pretty sure nothing under 10k can touch these. Another great option is a used pair of the Acoustic Zen Adagio which were the speakers I was going to get until I found the Innersounds.

    People here keep on recommending the Salk speakers but they don't come close to my recommendations. I've heard the Spatials and they need a good room to sound good. There's a weird incoherency to them that I disliked when I heard them at THE Show.
     
  15. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    I agree the Salk's get a little bit too much love for how they sound, but they are a solid offering. I've never heard the Eros but your comment has me intrigued.
     
  16. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Did you happen to hear something like the Genesis G7.2F?
     
  17. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    Solid choice but better than be had for the money. My Innersound are basically the same as the Sanders Model 10 except for the woofers which only go down to 24hz. The panels are supposed to sound the same and I see them going for around 3k on the used market.

    There were not a lot of speakers worth mentioning at THE Show. Hundreds of rooms that I walked into and immediately walked out because it sounded gross. There were only a hand full of speakers worth mentioning and I don't remember the Genesis. The setups stole the show Acoustic Zen and Sanders because those were the only 2 systems that sounded correct and coherent from the lows to the highs and disappeared from the room so the music came alive. Everything is moot if the speakers still sound like speakers instead of real life.
     
  18. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    I unfortunately don't have anywhere to go around me to hear good speakers.

    @ohhgourami
    Thanks for pointing out that you weren't very fond of the Spatials... I think they are freakin' weird myself.

    @Grahad2
    The Genesis G7.2F costs $12,000 new doesn't it? I would love to hear them. Looks like they are top shelf
     
  19. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

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    Another popular choice would be the Maggie 3.7i at the price range. I've demoed them at the local Maggie dealer and those things have no balls. Too soft and nothing pops out at you. I really thought these would have been the right speaker for me before I had gone to THE Show for the first time. I was greatly disappointed.
     
  20. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    @ohhgourami
    I have always liked the Martin Logans better than the Maggie's presentation of sound. Both of them were in sound rooms close by and the Martins always felt much more alive. Not all MLs sound good. And they are very picky as to amp and preamp choice.

    With my ML ESLs, I have put 2 sets of my tube collection in the Freya and now using Morrow Audio interconnects from Modi Multibit to Freya and from Freya to Nuprime. One set of tubes is tall bottle chrome top for the gain stage, and the other set is a brand new set from years ago standard height for the output stage. The Vintage Sylvania 6SN7GTB tubes make for better sound than stock tubes and the Martins are just eating up the new advancments. I know many find me overbearing at times with my praise of ML speakers, but I enjoy the electrostatic sound. It is a must to throw the best possible equipment at them. Otherwise, they sound terrible.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2017

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