What are your ideal speakers?

[mpdhrd]

After getting fairly good response on my thread about What drew you to your receiver, I thought I'd ask What are you ideal speakers... I'm not looking for specific brands and models, but if you were go to a store with the idea of "this is the speaker for me" what would it be. (Hope that's not too confusing). I guess I'm asking you to design your own speaker. Try not to be too rediculous with a million dollar speaker, but describe something "within reason."

For me, I like big badass bold looking speakers. Towers today may be tall but they are too skinny and the small drivers produce a thinner weaker sound that requires a subwoofer to get any serious punch. I like my system where the fronts can handle a good part of the bass duty and can stand alone in 2 channel stereo. So I guess I would combine what I like in old school 70's speakers and modern towers. I would seek a 3 way speaker with a good tweeter, midrange, and dual 10" woofers. And for the box, I'm not a fan of black generic looking speakers that seem to be everywhere and I dont like some speakers that seem to insist on putting plastic bases and accents. (Polk, Klipsch, JBL all look the same). So if I were to design mine, I would use a good veneer... maybe rosewood or a deep oak or something that really shows off a good wood grain. I'd like to show off the speaker and have it look just as good with the grill on as off.

So what do you like? Describe your ideal speaker... maybe you already own the pair that you love. Maybe for you, you require small hidden speakers for an apartment or in wall speakers for hidden theater setup. Or maybe you like the look of an econowave setup. A friend of mine told me that with what i've described they would be about 5' tall and weigh 100 pounds apiece and I'm sure they are a little out of my price range without some time to save... but that's why this is a fantasy question.

Matt

[mpdhrd]

Shoot... i meant to put this in the speakers forum. Can a moderator please move this? sorry!!!!

[Blu-Benny]

i worked @ best buy for 6 years in HT and loved the way these looked:



the grills sucked but i would've left them off anyway.

[Beta Man]

something that reproduced audio extremely accurately, and took up no floor space.... perhaps as an in-wall.

Consider a planar speaker sound with an in-wall footprint.


"You may say that I'm a dreamer....... but I'm not the only one...."

Oh wait.... maybe I am the only one.... that's a possibility I had not thought of.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by mpdhrd

After getting fairly good response on my thread about What drew you to your receiver, I thought I'd ask What are you ideal speakers... I'm not looking for specific brands and models, but if you were go to a store with the idea of "this is the speaker for me" what would it be. (Hope that's not too confusing). I guess I'm asking you to design your own speaker. Try not to be too rediculous with a million dollar speaker, but describe something "within reason."

Interesting thread!

My ideal speaker would be one that accurately reproduces the signal that's fed it, images well, and looks kinda neat. I'm partial to the neutrality of electrostatic speakers, so I'd be inclined to look at those first. (My current speakers--MartinLogan Spires--are electrostatic/cone hybrids.)

[StimpsonJCat]

For HT
I know you said not to go with a specific brand, but the Seaton Sound Catalyst would be my ideal speaker for a dedicated HT. I'm not very concerned with the look of these because they are just for a dedicated room just for movies. These don't cost a million, but not cheap at ~$3500 each (but you don't have to have an amp for them).




Catalyst Details:

Drive Units:

High efficiency, Italian made, 8" coaxial midrange w/ Neodymium compression tweeter.
Custom built, low distortion, high excursion, 12" sealed woofers utilizing a full copper sleeve over the pole piece for exceptionally low inductance and increased linearity.

Electronics & Amplification:

Internally powered, tri-amplified design.
Three (3) ICEpower channels of amplification with 24-bit/96kHz DSP executing the crossover design and response contouring.
>250W powering the coaxial 1" Neodymium compression tweeter
>500W powering the 8" midrange (coaxial with tweeter)
1000W powering the pair of 12" sealed woofers.
Galvonic isolation of XLR inputs.


Cabinet Details:

Robust, multi-layer MDF cabinet construction with extensive bracing, precision cut CNC parts.
Large 1.25" bevel on baffle edges beneficial in diffraction reduction, aesthetic appeal, as well as easier flush baffle wall installation.
Tapered rear of cabinet with 3.5" chamfer to the rear long edges allows tighter placement when angled or toed in.
Gross dimensions: 16" wide, 38" tall, 14" deep (including 1/2" grill)

Performance Details:
Intended range of use: 55-21kHz

For a living room HT

I would like to have some of Salk Sounds fine speakers with their amazing wood veneered cabinets.

[ozzman]

Well the first thing that comes to mind when i read the title of this thread is Mirages M-1si.

I love my fronts but to me these are the speakers iam truly in love with

http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speak...6_1594crx.aspx

They look like the speakers i have but much bigger in size and in Woofers.
They are also 3 way back to front.There sick

http://oldfender.dk/oscommerce_st/ca...miragem1si.jpg

[Steve]

I agree with Beta Man's idea about a speaker that accurately reproduces sound, but doesn't occupy a significant amount of floor space.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by fireman325

I agree with Beta Man's idea about a speaker that accurately reproduces sound, but doesn't occupy a significant amount of floor space.

yeah.... basically all we want is a speaker that defies physics

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

yeah.... basically all we want is a speaker that defies physics

That's not asking for too much is it?

[mpdhrd]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

yeah.... basically all we want is a speaker that defies physics

Originally Posted by fireman325

That's not asking for too much is it?

I dont want to defy physics... give me a big badass speaker that when people come over and see it they say "wow look at that, let's hear some tunes!" Yes speakers are meant to be heard and not seen but if we cant make them invisible, let's make them awesome!

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by mpdhrd

I dont want to defy physics... give me a big badass speaker that when people come over and see it they say "wow look at that, let's hear some tunes!" Yes speakers are meant to be heard and not seen but if we cant make them invisible, let's make them awesome!

How about these mpdhrd Would they work for you !!

[Big Daddy]

I don't mind having these 4 Nola Grand speakers.

Check out the speakers in this lucky guy's house in Taiwan.

Specifications

Overall System
Frequency Range: 16 Hz to 46 kHz
Transducers: 46
Output: 120 dB from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Amplifiers: Four channels required, up to eight channels may be used
Total magnet weight: 110 lbs
MSRP: $140,000 system, standard finish; $160,000 system, Piano finish

Main Tower
Frequency range: 40 Hz to 46 kHz
Sensitivity: 90 dB @ 2.82 volts
Impedance: 8 ohm / 7 ohm minimum
Connection: 3 pair solid copper 5 way binding posts for tri-wire
Maximum Power: 700 watts per channel program
Dimensions: 12 inches wide, 84 inches high, 16 inches deep
Weight: 300 LB
Finish: Matched Select Santos Rosewood. Std. Other finishes optional

Subwoofer Tower
Frequency Range: 16 Hz to 40 Hz, controlled by Variable Low Pass Filter
Sensitivity: 99 dB @ 2.82 volts
Impedance: 1 Ohm minimum
Maximum Power: 1000 watts per channel program
Connection: 1 pair solid copper 5 way binding posts
Dimensions: 13 inches wide, 84 inches high, 26 inches deep
Weight: 300 LB
Finish: Matches Main Tower

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I don't mind having these 4 Nola Grand speakers.

Check out the speakers in this lucky guy's house in Taiwan.

Specifications

Overall System
Frequency Range: 16 Hz to 46 kHz
Transducers: 46
Output: 120 dB from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Amplifiers: Four channels required, up to eight channels may be used
Total magnet weight: 110 lbs
MSRP: $140,000 system, standard finish; $160,000 system, Piano finish

Main Tower
Frequency range: 40 Hz to 46 kHz
Sensitivity: 90 dB @ 2.82 volts
Impedance: 8 ohm / 7 ohm minimum
Connection: 3 pair solid copper 5 way binding posts for tri-wire
Maximum Power: 700 watts per channel program
Dimensions: 12 inches wide, 84 inches high, 16 inches deep
Weight: 300 LB
Finish: Matched Select Santos Rosewood. Std. Other finishes optional

Subwoofer Tower
Frequency Range: 16 Hz to 40 Hz, controlled by Variable Low Pass Filter
Sensitivity: 99 dB @ 2.82 volts
Impedance: 1 Ohm minimum
Maximum Power: 1000 watts per channel program
Connection: 1 pair solid copper 5 way binding posts
Dimensions: 13 inches wide, 84 inches high, 26 inches deep
Weight: 300 LB
Finish: Matches Main Tower

I will take 2 sets of 4 Nola's ~ 1 for the HT & 1 for the bedroom

[Samsang]

Golden oldies... those great classic speakers.

My front L & R speakers are 36 years old and the center is 34 years old.

Here's the "front end" of my vintage 7.2 system:



Onkyo 606 driving the front left right & center as well as the surrounds. (A 15-year old JVC RX-212 receiver drives the passive subs.)



Radio Shack Nova-8, ca. 1975


Radio Shack Nova-8 listed for $139.50 in 1975. I bought this for $10 last month via Craig's List. A twelve inch woofer, two 2 1/4" midrange drivers, and another 2 1/4" tweeter. The tweeter is mounted in a concave cup that serves as its independent "cabinet" to optimize its response. The Nova-8 is less sensitive and takes more drive power than the others, but it sounds great.



Creative model 90, ca. 1973


I purchased these Creative model 90's new in 1973. These were semi-cheapo ($75 each) speakers that just happened to sound GREAT! I've had them in constant use for thirty-six years. I replaced the dry-rotted woofer surrounds ten years ago with fabric and rubber cement. That worked OK, but this winter I did a proper refurb job with a kit from Newfoam.com.

These old-school speakers with the twelve-inch woofers put out plenty of clean bass without subs. This means you can buy/build subs specifically for low frequency effects since they won't have to carry the standard low-end fare.

Low cost, great sound, beautiful waknut cabinetry -- it doesn't get any better than that![/QUOTE]

[Animo]

I wish I could show my friend's speakers, but the possibility of bringing them to market, precludes me from posting pictures. They are awesome. 2, 9 foot tall line source speakers, 2, 36 inch x 36 inch square subs, tri-amplified. Presently powered by 2 Emotiva XPA-1s and 4 Boulder monoblocks.

[Animo]

Originally Posted by mpdhrd

For me, I like big badass bold looking speakers. Towers today may be tall but they are too skinny and the small drivers produce a thinner weaker sound that requires a subwoofer to get any serious punch. I like my system where the fronts can handle a good part of the bass duty and can stand alone in 2 channel stereo. So I guess I would combine what I like in old school 70's speakers and modern towers. I would seek a 3 way speaker with a good tweeter, midrange, and dual 10" woofers. And for the box, I'm not a fan of black generic looking speakers that seem to be everywhere
Matt

Would these fit the bill?
Made them myself, with a little help from a friend.
Focal TC120TD inverted tioxid dome tweeter.
Focal Audiom 7k midrange.
Two Peerless 10 inch woofers.
Sorry about the generic black box, but these were built from scratch about 12 years ago,
and were designed to disappear in a theater.
Oh yeah, they sound great in stereo too
Some people have told me these image as well as Avalon Indras,
with a much better low end. Keep in mind the Indras sell for about 20 grand.

[THE_FORCE]

Mine would most definately have to be the Rockport Arrakis :



If I had the room ! Meanwhile, my Kef Ref's are nigh on perfick.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I'll take a pair of these please!

Totem Wind_03.jpg

John

[genkifd]

a pair of Focal Grande Utopia EM or B&W 800D would be extremely nice