New Speaker Recommendations - £3.5k-£4.5k

We've been scratching johnhunt's itch on a similar subject but I'm posting this because my requirements are different to John's. I'm only interested in new speakers and I don't mind whether they're big or small. So I wonder whether I might once more ask for the help of the ZG membership ...

My question is simply this - what speakers would you buy new with a budget of £3,500 to £4,500?

I tend to keep my head down to the drawing board and my ears on my test systems so I'm a bit ignorant of what's out there that's any good and reading the Hi-Fi magazines only gives a limited (and possibly biased) range of possibilities. Don't worry, I'm not in the market to buy but potential investors have asked what my competition is. Can you help?

Thanks
Steve

 

Id go for IPL S5 like Julians if I had the room, Id build the x-overs in a seperate enclosure using the best components I can can get. Doesnt really help you does it?

Can say Ive heard many commercial speakers round that figure that jusitfy (to me) the expense. Quite like PMC OB1 but I think thats in the lower price range.

If I was to go the commerical route Id probably be looking at the latest Martin Logan speakersor Quad's with sub and super tweets.

 

Well Steve,

Some good speakers in this price range sir

Audio Physics Virgo II's
Living Voice Avatars OBXR2's
Neat MF5's
Meadowlark Nighthawks
Merlin TSM's

These should be on your audition list sir. IMO

 

Just to save Joel/Markus the trouble:

Quad ESL - (?)
Harbeth M30 (under budget) M40 (on budget)


Interesting price-point though; when I started looking around for possible replacements for my little PMC's it wasn't until I got to the 2k point that I felt there was a big enough difference to warrant the change. To go to twice that really is another bracket up, and where I would expect things to get rather serious - which is presumably where you want to be.

 

shahinians

shahinian arc - £3500
shahinian obelisk - £4400

stunning speakers imho

cheers
Matt

 

MÃ¥rten Design, Duke and Ellington combination, very nice standmounts with the option to upgrade to an active bass section, (replacing the need for the stand),

 

Hi,

My own money?

2nd hand 15" Tannoy Monitor Red or Gold and use the rest to get some GRF-Autograph Enclosures build.

As for commercial options, I'd start with the Hyperions and the larger Hoernings (very different but in some ways complementary), but of course they are distributed by the same guys my stuff is. Also pretty good are the upper ranges of the Living Voice 2-Ways.

If/when the new brand I'm working on with friends in china hits these shores I suspect that our LS-77 domestic monitor (15" Semi Coax with a 6.5" midrange and ribbon tweeter on a small open baffle in front of a reflex loaded 15" woofer) would be the one to beat and likely for less money than you state.

Ciao T

 

Thanks Coda II.

Let me add the Heed Envoy (a bit under budget at 3,150 quid) to the list of suggestions.


So, Steve, does that mean that your new Nonsuch 2 will cost 4k, including a sub?

 

My preferences:
Shahinian Obelisk
Shahinin Arc
Living Voice OBX-R
Heed Envoy
Neat MFS
Duevel Bella Luna

Cheers

Jason

 

The exact price is still to be decided but I will release the new range at between £3.5k and £4.5k for a pair of Nonsuch 2s together with a pair of Little Awesome 2 bass speakers. Those on a restricted budget may purchase just one Little Awesome 2 and the price of that system would be lower than the target group.

These are of course UK retail prices.

Cheers
Steve

 

Speakers up to £3k (don't see why you need to spend more?)....

Hmm:

Anthony Gallo Reference 3
Martin Logan Clarity (or the model above - forgotten its name)
Tannoy TD10
LV OBX-R
Sonus Faber Elector Amator 2 (old, but good!)
Reference 3A Da Capo

DT

 

Aeon i.

 

Resolution aka the worlds best loudspeaker.

 

Steve, With £3,500-£4,500 I'd probably either look at the Living Voice Avatar or Proac D38. The Martens mentioned above would be well worth hearing too.

 

You can't get over that one can you hehe!

With £3500-4000 I would get the speakers I have now!

 

with £4,000?

Id commission my local friendly cabinet maker to duplicate me a pair of westlakes.

 

But do you know what they are like inside?

 

.....if you turn them upside down they look like comedy robot heads, which makes them a winner in my eyes....

 

LT .

I think TD10 are £5K a pair.

 

LT

that is the funniest post I've read in a long time



Tenson, I'd do my best to get the plans if I was attempting to build.