What are the best 2 channel speakers for $3000?

[Big Daddy]

Stay away from all the speakers that others recommend. They are all boring speakers that everyone else has seen or heard.

Try something innovative and exciting from a high-end dealer with exceptional prices. Tekton Design in Orem, Utah makes beautiful speakers. They sound great and come in different colors. Here are some beauties:


For $550 a Pair, you can have these:

The normal price of these is $3,000 a pair. They are currently on sale for $1,600:

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Stay away from all the speakers that others recommend. They are all boring speakers that everyone else has seen or heard.

Try something innovative and exciting from a high-end dealer with exceptional prices. Tekton Design in Orem, Utah makes beautiful speakers. They sound great and come in different colors. Here are some beauties:


For $550 a Pair, you can have these:

The normal price of these is $3,000 a pair. They are currently on sale for $1,600:

Do they come with INSTRUCTIONS BD !!

& those are really cool looking speakers !! The above was just an old PM I remember from someone !

[got rice]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Stay away from all the speakers that others recommend. They are all boring speakers that everyone else has seen or heard.

Try something innovative and exciting from a high-end dealer with exceptional prices. Tekton Design in Orem, Utah makes beautiful speakers. They sound great and come in different colors. Here are some beauties:


For $550 a Pair, you can have these:

The normal price of these is $3,000 a pair. They are currently on sale for $1,600:

BD I've got to give it to you. You have the deepest repertoire of pics around. Freekin awesome...keepum comin.

[mr peepers]

Originally Posted by got rice

BD I've got to give it to you. You have the deepest repertoire of pics around. Freekin awesome...keepum comin.

Those have to be some of the most horrendous looking speakers I've seen in a long time. I have little to no faith that that teeny little 4.5" speaker could provide any convincing amount of quality.

Don't go with some off-brand that nobody has ever heard of before just to be different. If you're looking to spend 3k on a pair of speakers, I'd want something that looks as good as it sounds. Not some oddly shaped, speaker from the crypt.

Don't look past some of the "obvious" choices in likes of martin logan, b&w, vienna acoustics and such.

[typ44q]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Stay away from all the speakers that others recommend. They are all boring speakers that everyone else has seen or heard.

Try something innovative and exciting from a high-end dealer with exceptional prices. Tekton Design in Orem, Utah makes beautiful speakers. They sound great and come in different colors. Here are some beauties:


For $550 a Pair, you can have these:

The normal price of these is $3,000 a pair. They are currently on sale for $1,600:

I am going to have to disagree with you on the boring part, those top speakers have to be the most basic, boring and simple looking speaker I have ever seen. Its a box with a board attached to it that's painted black. I honestly think I could build an enclosure that looks exactly like that and I have zero carpentry skills
Of course without hearing them I can not comment on how they sound but there is no way I would ever buy those without listening to them for a good long time.

[drago3451]

STS_Pr_BL_GrilleOffOn_Slider.jpg

Definitive ST's/STS I think these are nice looking but I have more of a modern taste. They are said to outperform Speakers twice the price.

[prerich]

My bad, I will add the Audio Note AN-E/D to the list - its right at the $3000.00 (roughly $2800.00 but add an exotic veneer to it - then the price goes up). Frequency response of these babies is 18hz to 23khz and they are very efficient - 94db. If you are close to Virginia you can go to De'javu Audio and demo them.

[prerich]

I will also add the Thiel CS1.6 and the Vandersteen 2CE Signature II's to the list. You can get the Thiels from AudioAdvisor for $2200.00 a pair. The Vandy's sell for right under $2000.00. These two companies know how to make speakers (along with many others that have been mentioned ).

[rded]

Originally Posted by stobbart

yeah sorry but i think ill hold on to it :]

The paradigm is my first pick because I think it will be able to handle the audio of a movie better then the other 2 that from what I have read are more designed for music. Anyone have experience with any or all of these. Ultimatly I will have to find stores to test them at but in the meantime any info is appreciated.

Or something else entirely im stillall ears......also anyone have any Nordost cables they want to give me haha. My uncle demoed his set up for me with and without Nordost and cables do make a difference. I know there are a lot of people on this and other forums that dont think so, but I digress, thanks for the help and keep it coming

Stobbart: pardon my inquisitive nature, but how come you are so sure about your choices after only 1 day...did you audition these speakers yesterday? Have you decided based on specs and looks??Members always say "TRUST YOUR EARS" and they are right. When you audition, leave your prejudice and if you ask me your "eyes" out the front door of the audio shop as our sense of sight can have an effect on our decision. Some people buy stuff because they look good not because they sound great first and foremost. Don't get me wrong, appearance and craftsmanship make a difference too but that's just an added bonus
As far as Nordost Cables, they are great but can get pricey. Cables come next after you've decided on speakers and proper amplification

Originally Posted by prerich

I would have gone with the Audio Note AN-E/D but they cost too much But yeah, had to throw them in there - you already have the Dynaudios and John as already recommended the Totems (funny thing - I think Dynaudio makes the drivers for Totem - at least they used to - I like both of them! As I stated in another thread the Confidence system is the best surround system I've heard along with the Meridian)!

Rich, Dynaudio stopped supplying their drivers to other speaker manufactures years ago. Thanks for the vote of "Confidence" on the C2s they are fantastic.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by rded

Rich, Dynaudio stopped supplying their drivers to other speaker manufactures years ago. Thanks for the vote of "Confidence" on the C2s they are fantastic.

Rhett,

That is why when we rebuilt my Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers with soft dome Dynaudio tweeter and midrange Drivers, we chose the drivers in the car audio line closest to match the Dynaudio Home speaker line that had been used for reference performance testing. And do they ever perform with the crossover system and application.

Rich

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by mr peepers

Those have to be some of the most horrendous looking speakers I've seen in a long time. I have little to no faith that teeny little 4.5" speaker could provide any convincing amount of quality.

I have been monitoring your posts in many different threads. You rarely have anything positive and worthwhile to say about anything. The vast majority of your posts are sarcastic, condescending, and have a negative tone. I am sure you remember when you ridiculed me with your unnecessary and tasteless sarcasm in another thread or your negative comments about Gremal and his setup. It makes me wonder that perhaps you just wait for the opportunity to attack other members or make negative comments about them or their posts to satisfy your ego. Personally, I am tired of all your sarcasm. If you can’t make any positive, constructive, or worthwhile comments, please don’t bother to post anything.

Your post above just demonstrated how misinformed you are about speakers and yet you have the audacity to make general and blanket comments about things that you do not comprehend.

Have you ever listened to those speakers? NO.
Do you know anything about full-range drivers? NO, your post proves that.
Do you know anything about Tekton Design? NO.
Do you know anything about Eric Alexander, the owner and designer of these speakers? NO.
Do know anything about Fostex full-range drivers used in these speakers? NO.
Do you know anything about the advantages of open baffle as opposed to box speakers? NO.
Have you ever bothered to read a high-end audio magazine or an audio journal? Your comments prove that the answer is NO.

Originally Posted by mr peepers

Don't go with some off-brand that nobody has ever heard of before just to be different. If you're looking to spend 3k on a pair of speakers, I'd want something that looks as good as it sounds. Not some oddly shaped, speaker from the crypt.

Don't look past some of the "obvious" choices in likes of martin logan, b&w, vienna acoustics and such.

First, the speakers I mentioned above cost $550 and $1,600, and not $3,000. Do you realize that not too many people had heard of Polk Audio in the late 1970's and early 1980's or Definitive Technology in early 1990's ? You call these speakers Off-Brand because you haven’t heard the name or because you are not familiar with the technology or most probably because they are not available at your local Best Buy. I am surprised you mentioned Vienna Acoustics. I seriously doubt that you have ever owned them or listened to them for an extended period. That also goes for Martin Logan and B&W.

My intention was to inform the OP about alternative technologies and availability of other options. It is not a bad idea for you to ask questions or do some research before criticizing something that you do not fully understand.

Since you are such an expert, do you know who makes these ugly speakers?

Well, they are the SCHÖNBERG speakers made by your beloved Vienna Acoustics.

It is time for some basic education.

Speaker Education 101

Fostex Full-Range Drivers:

Many of you do not know Fostex speakers. Fostex is a Japanese company and one of the largest speaker/driver manufacturers in the world. Most of their sales are for the OEM market. Although Fostex speakers are well known in Japan and Europe, they were never mass marketed in America. Fostex is one of the most well-known and well-respected makers of full-range drivers. Fostex speakers sound extremely natural and musical. They are by far the best speakers for two-channel music such as Jazz and Classical.

With a full-range driver, there are no separate woofer, midrange, tweeter and a crossover is not necessary. Without trying to blend different sizes and types of drivers together, there is a purity of sound that cannot be achieved in multi-driver systems. Also, all of the distortion and phase shifts produced in other speakers, when a crossover changes from one driver to another, are eliminated. Best of all, the music does not pass through the element of a crossover: inductors (coils), resistors, or capacitors. A crossover is a necessary evil in all other speaker systems. With full-range drivers, there is no crossover to deal with.

In most designs, only one full-range driver is used per cabinet. This gives perfect point-source imaging. When someone sings, sound does not come from their mouth, their chest, and their knees like it does in so-called “normal” or as you said it “obvious” speakers. In addition, there are no time alignment problems (one driver being farther from the listener than another). You will be surprised at the stereo imaging of a full-range driver.

You can find the names of other companies that make full-range drivers in this link.


User Comments:

Tonian Acoustics TL-D1, Wideband 8" Fostex driver augmented by ribbon supertweeter

These are by far the best speakers I have ever owned regardless of price. I just sold my Dynaudio special 25 speakers. The Dynaudio’s sound very uninteresting when you listed to these speakers for a whole week. These speakers are very open, detailed and fast. These are spectacular with classical and jazz music. They have very natural, life-like sound to them. I would highly suggest anyone looking for another speaker, or thinking about improving their electronics to get better sound, to audition these tonian labs speakers. You will be suprised how live they sound!

Tekton Uruz (second speaker in my earlier post)
I am the original owner and have had them for 6-7 months. Have about 500 hours on them. I went to a set amp about 2 years ago and since than have owned Klipsch Heresay & KG3.5, Omega Superhemp, Zu Druid, and Coincident Super Conquest. I had the Zu for about a year when I bought these Uruz. I like the Zu because they were good or very good with all the styles of music that I enjoy. Read some great words from Tekton owners and Eric (of Tekton) convinced me to give the Uruz a try. 30 days later I sold the Zu Druid, the Uruz are that good.

The Uruz excel with vocalists, jazz, acoustical, chamber, and SACD's. If you prefer this type of music or use sacd's you will love these speakers. (The best jazz & vocalist speakers I have ever owned) They are somewhat omnidirectional in nature (need to be 36" from the front wall).

Open Baffle:
Audiophiles and knowledgeable people have long understood that removing the loudspeaker enclosure (box) or at least minimizing its negative and color smearing effects was the path to finding the ultimate natural speaker. Open baffle combined with a point-source provide you with the most realistic musical presentation. They have effortless and wonderfully open and engaging vocals and mid-range and very sweet high frequency response. Tthe sound stage and imaging presentation is what many people dream about.

You can read this article on the Open Baffle and Dipole Speaker Design, but I don’t guarantee you will fully understand it.

Originally Posted by typ44q

I am going to have to disagree with you on the boring part, those top speakers have to be the most basic, boring and simple looking speaker I have ever seen.

When I said boring, I meant it as a joke. What I meant was they are speakers that everybody has heard or is familiar with as opposed to something new and different.

Originally Posted by typ44q

It’s a box with a board attached to it that's painted black. I honestly think I could build an enclosure that looks exactly like that and I have zero carpentry skills
Of course without hearing them I can not comment on how they sound but there is no way I would ever buy those without listening to them for a good long time.

If you don’t understand or are not familiar with something, it doesn’t hurt to ask before you make such erroneous and misinformed comments. As I explained before, the first speaker in the above picture uses the open baffle design. They have major advantages over a traditional box speaker. One of the nicest things about open baffle is that they are so simple and easy to make that even you, with your limited carpentry skills, can make them. These are Jamo’s Reference R909 Open Baffle speakers. They cost $12,000.

Take a look at some of these DIY open baffle designs using Fostex full-range drivers.


Open Baffle Design Using a Fostex FE-108 Sigma Full Range Driver and an Eminence Alpha 15A Woofer

Fostex FE-87E Full Range Driver and Eminence Alpha 15A Woofer on an OB

Double Back Loaded Horn using the Fostex FE-126E Full Range Driver

ML TL using the Fostex FE-207E Full Range Driver

ML TQWT using the Fostex FE-164 Full Range Driver

There are a lot more pictures in the following link:

http://www.quarter-wave.com/Gallery/Gallery.html

[crazyBLUE]

Vary well done BD !

[Johnny Vinyl]

I don't think I have seen BD this incensed! Watch out!

Don't mess with "da Man".

John

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I have been monitoring your posts in many different threads. (the rest snipped)

Holy smokes...

I think that's the first time I actually learned something whilst observing a dressing-down.

Of epic proportions.

[got rice]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I have been monitoring your posts in many different threads. You rarely have anything positive and worthwhile to say about anything. The vast majority of your posts are sarcastic, condescending, and have a negative tone. I am sure you remember when you ridiculed me with your unnecessary and tasteless sarcasm in another thread or your negative comments about Gremal and his setup. It makes me wonder that perhaps you just wait for the opportunity to attack other members or make negative comments about them or their posts to satisfy your ego. Personally, I am tired of all your sarcasm. If you can’t make any positive, constructive, or worthwhile comments, please don’t bother to post anything.

Holy Bat Smokes

BD just laid down the law. With authourity.

[mr peepers]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I have been monitoring your posts in many different threads.

Glad to see I have a fan here in these forums!

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You rarely have anything positive and worthwhile to say about anything. The vast majority of your posts are sarcastic, condescending, and have a negative tone.

Vast majority you say? Well, I find that a bit hard to believe. Since you've been supposedly keeping track of my posts, I openly invite you to actually look at all of my posts. Maybe draw up a quick tally system for the negative and not so negative posts and you can share your results with the group..?

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I am sure you remember when you ridiculed me with your unnecessary and tasteless sarcasm in another thread

You mean that one time you felt the need to note in three different posts of the same thread that your def tech speakers were once the top of line model? Yea, I remember that. I remember making one post about it, followed by some 'not-so-negative' words in regards to Definitive's Mythos line of speakers. I guess one post is considered "ridiculing" to your standards. Interesting.

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

or your negative comments about Gremal and his setup.

I actually remember griping about the fact that Gremal had a "poor rating" on his home theater, and after a bit of complaining, another mod came to save the day and removed it so his overall rating would remain perfect. At this time, I also invite you to review my past posts on that matter as well, and note that never once did I say anything negative about Gremal's setup. Gremal, well, maybe a little on him, heh.

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

It makes me wonder that perhaps you just wait for the opportunity to attack other members or make negative comments about them or their posts to satisfy your ego. Personally, I am tired of all your sarcasm. If you can’t make any positive, constructive, or worthwhile comments, please don’t bother to post anything.

I hardly have an ego to "satisfy." I voice my opinion whenever something strikes me.

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Your post above just demonstrated how misinformed you are about speakers and yet you have the audacity to make general and blanket comments about things that you do not comprehend.

Ummmm...could you point me in the direction of these, um, "blanket statements" I've supposedly made? I made a statement in regards to the speakers you posted above. If you took my post and opinion as a generalized statement for all full range and open baffle speakers, then I guess that's just a misjudgment on your part. Sorry man.

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Have you ever listened to those speakers? Nope, got me on that one.
Do you know anything about full-range drivers? Certainly do. Even if I hadn't had any first hand demoing of said speaker type, which I do, if you can believe it, you're actually not the only one that can google information on certain speaker types and cabinets and performing the almighty copy/paste onto an internet forum.
Do you know anything about Tekton Design? I certainly do. It doesn't take much effort actually to click on an internet link and perform the task of reading.
Do you know anything about Eric Alexander, the owner and designer of these speakers? Nope. I'm also kind of having a hard time figuring out why I would ever need to know any information on said individual as well. Since I own Definitive Technology speakers, do I need to know all there is to know about their founders; Sandy Gross, Don Givogue and Ed Blais in order to fully enjoy my speakers?
Do know anything about Fostex full-range drivers used in these speakers? I do. Again, reading can do wonders.
Do you know anything about the advantages of open baffle as opposed to box speakers? Read reply to previous question on "reading."
Have you ever bothered to read a high-end audio magazine or an audio journal? Haha, this one gave me a chuckle. Are you seriously claiming you have some sort of idea what literature I choose to read? Huh, fascinating. I think I'll leave it at that.

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I am surprised you mentioned Vienna Acoustics. I seriously doubt that you have ever owned them or listened to them for an extended period. That also goes for Martin Logan and B&W.

Why would you be surprised that I mentioned Vienna Acoustics? Apparently to you, all I really know about speakers is what's currently at my local Best Buy. Well, word to the wise, Best Buy carries Vienna Acoustic speakers. Along with Martin Logan. Now here's a fun fact for ya. I not only demoed Vienna Acoustics, Martin Logan and B&W speakers, but I actually bought a pair of Mozarts and tried them out at home for a few weeks. They sound fantastic by the way, but really can't handle the high music reproduction and blu-ray soundtracks at the level I like to play them at. So I went for the Mythos Ones, Twos, Eight and Gem XL's instead, coupled with a Martin Logan Abyss sub. So please, please don't tell me that I haven't personally heard the speakers that I suggest and recommend. Just because you have spent your time archiving a plethora of pictures of high-end and not so high-end speakers and components, it doesn't mean that you are the end all of anything speaker related. So why don't you go copy more pictures off the internet of speakers and home theaters instead of trying to belittle me and my apparent 'lack of knowledge' on the subject.

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Since you are such an expert, do you know who makes these ugly speakers?

Well, they are the SCHÖNBERG speakers made by your beloved Vienna Acoustics.

Well, I wish you had given me a chance to reply to your query, since I am very well acquainted with those speakers and the rest of the family. I was strongly considering rounding out my room with the Webern speakers when I was auditioning speakers. Wasn't as impressed with them as the other offerings I was looking at though. And by the way, I think those speakers are gorgeous. Beautiful lines to them, and the piano black finish looks spectacular in person.

Oh, here is a picture of my "beloved" Vienna Acoustics Webern speaker that I speak of...

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

It is time for some basic education.

That whole part was really rather fruitless. As I have mentioned before, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to type a few key words in a google search and be exposed to page after page after page of information regarding just about any subject you can think of. It is the internet....

Haha, also, I love how all of the other "blu-ray guru's" come out to support their fellow guru and moderator by claiming I somehow got "schooled"...? Haha. Good one guys. I sure did get "schooled."