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$2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidate Nominations

45K views 148 replies 36 participants last post by  phillihp23  
#1 ·
We had soooo much fun doing the $1,000 speakers evaluation, we are going to have a $2,500 speaker evaluation... consisting of a maximum of 5 (five) speakers costing no more than $2,500. Likely we will stay in the cost frame of $2,000 - $2,500.

These are not necessarily for me, but we will have a voting poll and winning speaker like we did on the $1,000 event. I won't say that I ain't gonna keep a pair... you never know. They will have to be awfully good, no doubt. Just in case, we will stick with black in a non-sheen finish. We must be able to power them with the Rogue Cronus Magnum Integrated Tube Amp at about 100 WPC.

Tentatively I have on my short list the following:

MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL at $2,195

Tekton Pendragon at $2,499

Emerald Physics CS2P at $2,490 (thru Underwood HiFi with discount)

Those are just a few I am thinking about for now... nothing definite, but one thing we did learn is that even with two day there just isn't time for more than about 4-5 pairs of speakers. Maybe we do 5 this round and then have another round with 5 and then have two speakers go head to head. At any rate, we are going to limit the number of speakers to a max of 5 for this round. It will likely be on up in the Fall/Winter before we do this... possibly November/December or even January/February. Nothing like preparing ahead of time.


EDIT: Once we get up 10-12 nominees (or more)... we will have a poll to select the top 5 for this event.
 
#5 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

I'd love to hear how the Song Towers stack up. Some others I'd like to see up for consideration;
RBH Sound 1044-SE in Black Oak, right at the price limit but a great speaker.
Revel Concerta F12 in Black Oak, quite a bit below the limit but I'll bet it can hold it's own.
 
#7 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

Would the SVS ultra towers fit in this category? I think they would make good competition.
 
#9 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

This is again strictly music with the Rogue tube amp. I have a Audio Space Galaxy 88 coming, but it is not as powerful as the Rogue, so the Rogue will handle the amp duties.

The RF-7's would definitely be interesting, but I am not sure we could get the II's at $2,500 or less. I think they retail for $3,200.

I don't think I would go for the Revel, but the RBH look interesting.

The SVS Ultra's would fit at $2,000/pair. We heard those at CAF and they sounded impressive too. They aim those woofers at odd angles intentionally and it would be interesting to hear them in my room.

If we went with the Songtowers, I think I would want the ribbon tweeter upgrade, which would kick it above the $2,500 mark.

Jeff... I think all the speakers fared well, but you know I own ML stats now, so it only makes sense to include those. I suggested the Pendragons because of their recent popularity. I may try to get the full HT setup in the house at that time so I can do a full review on those. May as well include them in the two-channel round-up while they are here.

With as many out there as there are, it probably does make sense to have two rounds of 5 each, then on the second round we could have the winner of the first round back in for the finale.
 
#10 ·
The rf-7 ii's retail for $2400/pr but Chashint provided a link with a coupon code that would deliver them at $2k. They could make things interesting. I listened to a pair while auditioning speakers and they are impressive. Just sayin… :)
 
#12 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

I wonder what the deal is with the black ones at Sound Distributors... since they are B-stock. It probably would not bother me too much though.

The Anthony Gallo Classico CL-4 seem like they might be interesting.
 
#14 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

I think it would be interesting to see a $2500 DIY speaker compared to a $2500 retail speaker. Maybe someone who has a $2500 DIY speaker would be willing to submit one for a shootout???
 
#21 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

I think it would be interesting to see a $2500 DIY speaker compared to a $2500 retail speaker. Maybe someone who has a $2500 DIY speaker would be willing to submit one for a shootout???
That would be really nice to have... I wonder if Danny Richie at GR Research could work with someone who could put together a pair. Or if someone already has a pair that they believe would compete in that price range.


The B stock RF-7 I linked to were manufactured with incorrect Cherry veneer, Klipsch decided to sell as B stock rather than scrap.
They are available through Sound Distributors until the supply is depleted.
I have RF-83's and I think they are excellent for music.
That is what I read, but I also was able to use the drop down box and had the option to order black. Maybe they would tell me they don't have them. :huh:


I'd love to hear an evaluation on def tech 8060st speakers which MSRP at $1998 or the 8080st which can be had on sale for around $2300. If the Martin Logan's and klipsch make the cut the def techs should also be a consideration at least IMO.
I don't think Klipsch will make it, but the DT's are a possibility. I may have to drop a few brands in a hat and draw them out to see which ones make it. Of course I don't plan to buy any of these, so if I can't get the manufacturer to send them to me, they won't be included anyway.


When I was out seriously comparing speakers I found a couple of under-performers (cough, polk, cough) but I found no $1k/pr speaker that could compete with the median speaker at the $2k/pr price point.
It's a subjective judgement for sure, but each step up the sound just kept getting better to my ear and for the most part each manufacturer had different aspects of the sound that were appealing and lacking when compared head to head.
I think when you have them on level playing ground, it changes things. I have been to lots of showrooms, but I can tell you that they were not getting the best from those speakers in most cases. There were too many other speakers around and they were generally against a wall. What we think may be a poor performing speaker, can be placed in a room like mine and end up sounding pretty good if you have the option to move them around a good bit. My shortcoming is power... because I want to use a tube amp and the power is going to be limited unless I spend a fortune, which isn't gonna happen. However, as long as the speakers are above 90dB sensitivity, we should be fine in my room.
 
#15 ·
The B stock RF-7 I linked to were manufactured with incorrect Cherry veneer, Klipsch decided to sell as B stock rather than scrap.
They are available through Sound Distributors until the supply is depleted.
I have RF-83's and I think they are excellent for music.
 
#16 ·
I'd love to hear an evaluation on def tech 8060st speakers which MSRP at $1998 or the 8080st which can be had on sale for around $2300. If the Martin Logan's and klipsch make the cut the def techs should also be a consideration at least IMO.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

I vote for a pair of the SVS Ultra's. 45 day trial, ships both ways!

I have a lot of time listening to the RF-7's. They are good, but not out of the $1000 arena/shoot out we just had. IMHO. This price range is gonna have to bring something special.
 
#18 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

When I was out seriously comparing speakers I found a couple of under-performers (cough, polk, cough) but I found no $1k/pr speaker that could compete with the median speaker at the $2k/pr price point.
It's a subjective judgement for sure, but each step up the sound just kept getting better to my ear and for the most part each manufacturer had different aspects of the sound that were appealing and lacking when compared head to head.
 
#22 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

As a side note... anything that is powered will not work. I do not have power outlets anywhere near where two-channel speakers will be placed. All speakers must be fully passive.
 
#30 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

I would love to hear some of these compared side-by-side with some of the DIY designs, such as Troels Gravesen sp44, Zaph ZRT, Statements, or even one of the better Seos designs.
 
#31 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

A couple that spring to mind...

  • Since you had the Tekton last time, how about the Zu Audio Soul?
  • Ascend Acoustics Sierra
  • Paradigm Studio 60
  • KEF R700 or Q900
  • One dark horse contender, a speaker that I find somewhat intriguing, is the Atlantic Technology AT1 (not sure it comes in matte though)

BTW... it might not be a bad idea to put a link to the $1000 eval in the first post. Would create some symmetry between the two events.
 
#32 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

A couple that spring to mind...

  • Since you had the Tekton last time, how about the Zu Audio Soul?
  • Ascend Acoustics Sierra
  • Paradigm Studio 60
  • KEF R700 or Q900
  • One dark horse contender, a speaker that I find somewhat intriguing, is the Atlantic Technology AT1 (not sure it comes in matte though)

BTW... it might not be a bad idea to put a link to the $1000 eval in the first post. Would create some symmetry between the two events.
I agree with Jim on the Studio 60 and AT-1.
 
#33 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

Zu was not interested in our first round, so I don't think they will be interested in our second round either.

The others are all good suggestions. I don't think I will have an issue getting the Sierra's... and would probably do those with the ribbon tweeter, although they would come in at $2,600... close enough.

Paradigm should be doable as well.

Ehhh.... not sure about AT... as the guy I have to go through for those was not pleased with us listing a refurb link to the AT's we reviewed. He has not responded to a couple of emails I sent him since then... pretty much ignoring me.

Not sure about KEF, but could try.

Tonto suggested that we get 10-12 nominees and then have a poll to vote for the top 5... see what members what to know more about. I think it is a great idea... so once we get enough to start a poll ... we will get after it.
 
#34 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

The DC Power cables on the ML ElectroMotion ESL's are 10' long... so they are fine.

I feel confident we can get 10' power cords for any that are not long enough. We may even be able to get the manufacturer to include them.
 
#35 ·
Re: $2,500 Speaker Evaluation Candidates

B&W CM9 would be a great standard bearer if it can be had for a street price of $2500 or less (retail is $3k last time I checked).

Magnepan 1.7
, which surpasses the lauded 1.6 and is a must hear, in my opinion.

Provided that DIY is an option, GR Research N3 TL or maybe even the OB-7. There are a few hobbyists that have done build outs of GR speakers if you want an assembled pair.