How to choose speakers
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- Choosing the right speakers for a particular room or set of musical tastes isn't the easiest and this person looks for some expert advice on the subject of which Paul's happy to share. Have a question you want to ask Paul? www.psaudio.com/ask-paul/
I have finished my memoir! You can go read it now: www.amazon.com/gp/product/173... It's called 99% True and it is chock full of adventures, debauchery, struggles, heartwarming stories, triumphs and failures, great belly laughs, and a peek inside the high-end audio industry you've never known before.
I plan a few surprises for early adopters, so go to www.paulmcgowan.com and add your name to the list of interested readers. There's an entire gallery of never before seen photos too. 
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In the old days we could follow our ears in a dealership with a demo room. Nowadays we usually end up relying on online reviews including some RUclipsrs. Speakers are among the things I hate to buy most online due to the lack of ability to check them first.
Oh boy do I agree with you. When I was on the hunt for new speakers, I made a list of all the ones I wanted to test based on specs and online reviews. Then I went to stores listening to each of them and bringing my own speakers for AB testing and guess what: Each and every speaker on my list sounded WORSE than the speakers I was trying to replace.
I need bookshelf speakers I can put on stands and have a powered sub. $3-600, i have no clue what’s gonna give me the highest performance at that price range.
Thanks for plugging maggies! My first REAL system was a PS Audio 200c driving a pair of second hand Magnepan III's with the true ribbon tweeter. That system rocked my world!! The 200c still works too!
Love my LRS Maggie's, great speakers for the price. The longer I have had them the less I feel they need a sub although one might be in the future.
As a recording engineer, I like most vocals recorded on ribbon mics. They are just more smooth, never harsh, easy to listen to and take eq (additive and subtractive) nicely. Same can be said about ribbon mids and tweets (minus the recording part).
I used to have 603 B&W speakers. These were my second room for stereo only, no subwoofer. Eventually sold them to a friend after finding a pair of Yamaha NS1000mm which were the rear speakers to use when NS1000m are in front. Amazing stereo and resolution that truly satisfy. Limited bass means a sub is essential. Truly transparent to all items in the system. My main system is Martin Logan Summit X driven with Parasound JC 1 amps. Stunning that I am not short changed with the Yamaha speakers, they were just $200 s/h. My suggestion for you would be Martin Logan speakers from the electrostatic range, never fail to sound great even with modest amps like Rotel. Thanks Paul for your efforts in making the videos it's greatly appreciated.
Follow your ears and don't give a crap what others think about your selection.
Some time you're young and need your ears trained. Good to do some reading and research. Enlighten yourself a bit. Don't be so closed minded. As you age you'll finally find your preference.
When I was young my friends Dad had a hi end audio store. I knew what really nice stuff sounded like but you know what I was perfectly happy with my Realistc receiver and Mach 1s. My friend would give me crap but I was happy with what I could afford. Sometimes you have to ignor and be happy. I know what a Ferrari drives like yet I am perfectly happy with my Lotus.
@@scottyo64 I prefer to drive my Toyota and save my money for HiFi :)
@@elongatuspiranha If you're happy driving your Toyota then you did good right? Pretty much my point!
Totally agree. I say, ditch brand royalty. Gaining results is mostly trial and error and occasionally a bit of luck. Ability to audition/return unwanted gear is helpful too.
Great advice as always! Thanks Paul!
You've nailed it Paul. I have owned Magnepans for over 30 years and I still like them after listening and auditioning the most recent B&Ws, Klipschs, Dynaudios, Martin Logans, Harbeths, ect. It would have to be something extremely special of a speaker for me to part with my Maggies and replace them with. LOVING IT.
As a b&w owner I do think get the clinical and sterile sound. It's all about syetm matching and synergy. You can make just about any pair of speakers not sound their best if you don't match the speakers and equipment running them. That said if you still like b $w speakers and not afraid of used you could check out the older nautilus line or the matrix line before that. You can get some great speakers like the matrix series 3 or nautilus 804, 803, 802 and the big 801s. Pauls recommendation for magpies is good as well if you have the room to pull them out in the room and a couple subs. They won't match the slaming dynamics of a good pair of b&w speaker but they image spooky good and lots of speed and resolution 😀 I have almost ( and still might) get a pair of magpies but I keep myself in check as probobly don't have the room to make them sound their beat😀
I do agree with Paul's views on Magneplanars. I owned a pair of Magneplanars MG II (2) in the 80s and playing records only. With a Phase Linear 400 (Meters) poweramp, the MG II sounded fantastic especially playing the Sheffield Drum Record. I had a modified Thorens 150/Magneplanar Unitrac Arm/Ortofon MC 20, AEA 515 step-up, PS II phono partnering a PS IVa passive preamp and Phase Linear 400 to drive the MG IIs to awesome level and presentation : "The Sound As If You Are There" feeling. I did not use a sub-woofer but I stiffened the MG II's panels with additional wood behind the speakers to ensure total rigidity.
That cable in front of the camera is bugging AF 😂
For well under $9k there’s always Harbeth’s, had my 30.1’s for 2 years now and just love them.
The only tip I would give.
Take your time and audition
only a couple pair a day.
Took me months but well
worth the effort. 😎
I have a pair of Von Schweikert VR-4 SR Mk4 speakers. They are about 10 years old. I find that when I upgrade
to new audio gear the speakers sound better. Biggest improvement I did this year was a new preamp. That
one thing made a big and better difference in sound. My advice to an audioholic is to buy electronics first.
Then speakers.
Wow the quality of the Mic, many youtubers and independent media like to have
I totally agree with the b&w twitters never sounds good to me and I used to have many model's but some people really like the sound. If I was you I will get 2 pairs of speakers, one speaker can't do all, get one with warm and soft sound and second pair with open dynamic sound, you have a great options thare... Make sure that you're speakers have enough midbass 100hz-300hz if this part is bad the speakers 100% junk, good amp can help you with1khz-20khz, 20hz-80hz ,but 100hz-300 hz no amp can correct good enough, good look
Paul vs framing! :)
I have a pair of magneplanar 1.7i paired with a REL T9i. Sounds great imo for the price. My wife was not pleased at first but took her to the demo room and she then realised why I wanted them and shes not even into audio. I had a dress maker I knew make covers for them to avoid the cat damaging them.
which speakers you recomend for sprout 100 integrated amp
Look the Focal line up! I just bought a pair Sopra No. 3. I had B&W's 809 series and they were too bright and not even close as resolving as Focal! I heard the Focal Kantas and those were nice too. Your ears will 🙇
Depends on what the listener listens to. I primarily listen to rock, alternative, pop. I'd go with a pair of Klipsch Forte IIIs and two good rel subs that connect to the amp speaker outputs. That is just under 9k and for me a dream.
I'm with you Paul. Once you go ribbons, there's no going back. I have Raal ribbon tweeters in my last and current setup, but I have never had a mid-range ribbon. One day, one day..
I can't agree more, the Magnaplanar 3.7i speakers sound great. Used with the largest PS Audio amps should sound great. Maggie's are power hungry, get the biggest PS Audio amplifier you can afford. It's difficult to get Maggie's to mate well with a subwoofer. You might not want a subwoofer after hearing the Maggie's alone. You can always add one or two subwoofers later if you want.
Ribbons are great but its tough as heck to get them to integrate with a traditional woofer. Most speakers that use them sound like you are listening to a ribbon and a woofer rather than a single integrated unit.
agree with you, I love my old MG 1.5 QR Magnepans. But I cannot imagine needing subwoofers for them. They do all frequencies faithfully! I guess if you want the thunder in a movie soundtrack, but for classical and jazz, they lack nothing.
You can get a pair of Tekton Design Moabs for $4500 direct from the manufacturer. They are very large speakers, so require a good sized room for best sound. They are transparent, dynamic, and full-range.
I use Tekton DIs. I love them. A little too detailed for some of my HiFi records from the 50s but otherwise they’re great.
Adante floorstanding speakers have a big, great sound.
Hi Paul I was wondering what you take is on klipsch speakers.
Thank you for replying I was wondering because my dad has a pair and he listens to 60s to 70s rock and they sound great their vocals are awesome and soundstage is very open. He has a pair of Klipsch RP280 FA’s
I like my high frequencies coming through electrostatics. I collect old German tube radios because they have electrostatic tweeters.
Nothing at 9k???!! No way. You got tons of choice. Marten Audio, ProAc, Dynaudio, Harbeth, Tekton and so much more.
Are Ryan speakers good?
At $9k there are almost too many choices! Personally, I'd probably just drop 2/3 that on a new pair of Tannoy Cheviots and call it a day, but to each their own.
Or you could get more than one pair of moderately priced but good speakers. I hear good things about the new Maggie LRS or the slightly larger and well established .7 2-way quasi-ribbon panels if you've got the room for them . They are still compact and light enough to pick up and move out of the way when not being used, just remember that optimum set up location and toe-in. Yeah, they have their limitations, but what they do well they do exceedingly well. Then, also get a pair of hot rods like the Klipsch RP-600Ms (or Heresy IIIs, if you want to be all "[b]orn in the U.S.A.") for when you need to channel your inner Rock-a-billy Bob (a minor character on Orphan Black with a great name). You can get the a pair of LRSs and a pair of RP-600Ms for $1200 m.s.r.p. or a pair of .7s and a pair of Heresy IIIs for $4050 m.s.r.p. (prices are the most recent that I can find at time of this comment). You may need a 2nd amp for the Klipschs, but they are fairly (or very) efficient so you can still rock out with something cheap and cheerful, perhaps keep what you have now. Just a modest proposal. I am neither a sales person nor a 'bot. =//=OldDudesStillRock
Hey Larry, how about I give you some Hometown advice :-) I live in Wisconsin myself. There certainly is a point of diminishing returns with everything in audio including speakers. I personally have came to the conclusion that returns seem to diminish around the 4000-5000 mark regarding speakers. In my humble opinion 9000 is not well spent on just speakers alone when you can add subwoofers as Paul suggested to get full range absolute full range. I would highly highly recommend a pair of Canton Reference 3.2 speakers. I own the baby version of those in the vento 8 90.2. I have been astounded by them in every aspect of their sound and in particular their huge wall of sound that they project at about nine feet apart from each other. The center image is locked in like a laser also. The reference 3.2 can be had for $4,500 on accessory for less.com. I'm talking new inbox. Made in Germany weighing in at about a hundred ten pounds each. They've been designing speakers for about 45 years. There's ceramic Tweeter something else. If I could give you a dark horse sleeper I'd recommend a blowout price on the Polk lsim707 speakers. They can be had for a special link on the internet that takes you to Adorama as website and you can get them for 1,100 shipped. Absolute stupid price. I'd then add a pair of SVS sb-3000 subwoofers. They are $1,000 each. They will play tight and fast.
Why settle for what's available in your town? We use to hit audio stores on every vacation. Was able to find my discontinued Phase Technology PC surrounds to complete my system this way. Got them at a great deal since they were just taking up shelf space.
Do you have a method for finding good audio stores easily?
@@Rational20 Used the yellow pages back in the day. I'm sure Google could lead the way today. I call them and ask what lines of speakers they carry
@@solomike68 Thank you for the quick reply. I have tried Google but I don't even know what brands to look for since there are so many and most with rave reviews by one reviewer or another. I have gone to some stores that advertised a particular brand but when I got there they only had low end and/or a useless setup for listening.
@@Rational20 My girlfriend and I looked for a year before finding what we liked and could afford. I loved how Dynaudio sound, but hated how they looked back then. We ended up getting a great deal on speakers I had never heard of, Phase Technology Pc3.1. We had went to The Stetro and Speaker store so often that most everyone new us by name and an employee sold us his personal set so he could get the latest and greatest. There isn't a perfect speaker for everyone, but with enough additions you will learn what YOU like and dislike. Always take your own music to listen to. We had 5 CDs we took with us and played a few songs from each, I think that's key. Just be patient and the right speaker for you will speak to you. If you like reviews a couple good channels are #zreviews #joentell good luck!
I would get a pair of Focal Supra one and stereo T7 or T9 Rel subwoofer
I really thought Paul was going to talk about “Where can you place them in your room?” And work backwards from there.
Does anyone here have, or heard, the 1970's ZACHRY EM24 speakers? (the ones with 4 tweeters and the white coned bass-driver) What do you think? sounds good hey! and that for a '70's Swedish build.. Some people overhere sayd they are very good. Compared with the ReVox Symbol mk2 (1988) they sound alike, but the ReVox's are higher power.
For 9k you can get some great KEF R-Series, they are superb for the price
I love my GNP Valkerie
Would the Sprout100 drive the Maggie 1.7i? Till I get a more powerful amp
You might want to try calling the specialists at PS Audio and see what they suggest.
@@rig4365 I called them . They said wait till we made our line of PS Audio speakers and buy them ! They will be the cheapest and of course one of the best in the world , just like the rest of PS Audio products .
It would drive them, but not very well. The sound quality..imaging, sound stage and dynamics would be less than what one expects to hear from Maggies.
I feel like they need to make a sprout 200. It has power but on the thin side.
Here's a web site that I found useful when upgrading my speakers ( www.audiodrom.net/en/floorstanding-loudspeakers/detail/28-floorstanding-loudspeakers/327-legacy-audio-aeris ). There aren't any audiophile stores where I live. As such, I had to depend on online reviews that I can find. This web site was really neat. I did buy a pair of Martin Logan SL3's 20 years ago, when there was an audiophile store near by. I just purchased the Legacy Audio Aeris. I drove 5 hours each way (including staying overnight at a hotel) to listen to the speakers at the factory. I brought my entire system with me (record player, table for record player, phono-preamp, power-amp, speaker cables, interconnects) to see how they would sound together. The power-amp (Proceed AMP 2), while great with the SL3s, sound lousy with the Aeris. I ended up getting Legacy Audio power-amps as well, which I had custom installed within the speaker enclosures themselves. One thing to bear in mind is that you pick the compromise you most prefer. For speakers, getting rid of compromises gets expensive. The point of diminishing returns for speakers can be quite a bit higher than for electronics.
klipsch Cornwall IV, ive listened to the III recently and imo they sound amazing. IV with the improved mid rang would even be better. really good price in the US as well
B&W 603 is very power hungry, so it will sound bad with a weak amp. There doesn't have to be something wrong with the speakers if it just gets the right amplifier.
If I remember correctly, B&W speakers can dip into 3 ohms
@@FSXgta Yes, most of their floor standing speakers goes down to 3 ohm. That's correct.
Yes as I said before they might suit your style Paul your own speakers that doesn't mean, that it will suit other people's Style or their set up even if it's your equipment.
Well maybe it's a bass issue! If you're here leave me your your problem you are having! they have a frequency response of 48 Hz +/- 3dB and are hard to drive at 88.5 dB
So you need a good amp with plenty of amps to drive these speakers, your problems might be solved after you get the new amps if there any good I don't know the figures.
But a couple of subwoofers would be a good choice I would go for open baffle with servo controlled DSP and have them against the side walls and roll them off at 24dB roll off about 44 - 46Hz
I would say your construction walls are probably drywall with a lot of soft furnishings thick curtains thick carpet.
A good hi-fi shop even online should let you have a trial period 30 60 or even 120 Days return policy no questions asked. Usually under request from you.
If you got the cash to for about I would buy the ATC scm25a Pro £6,200
The term Maggie's can only be used to refer to old vintage Magnavox tube gear lol
"Oh dirty Maggie Mae they have taken her away
And she'll never walk down Lime Street any more. . ."
re: The Beatles
The Ohm Acoustics model F and A were once said to be the best sounding speakers at any price they are omnidirectional speakers with a full range Walsh driver . Sadly they ALL need a total rebuild not just a refoam by now . A company called HHR Exotics makes new and improved versions called the TLS-1 and LS-2 that are in your price range, and they are the only company that can properly rebuild the older Ohm speakers.
You realize that Ohm still makes them right?
ohmspeaker.com/
kef R11 all the way
I just chose Klipsch RF7 MKIII over KEF R11 a few weeks ago. YMMV.
I had B&W 683 speakers. Quite similar to the 603 speakers. I bought new speakers now. It's Dynaudio Evoke 50 which is quite different. I was searching for something different from what I had. The Dynaudio speakers is much better detailed, and less forward sounding in the top register. I would say that you could get a long way to high end with about 5k dollars. Especially if you are on a budget.. Then use the 4K left on a good amplifier.
Honeycrisp all the way!
Can’t find a pair for 9k 😂
wonder what this guys room looks like
Just buy a pair of Focal Aria 948. They are cheap, nowhere near 9k.
I'm running spatialaudio open baffles with comparable class d amps, great match. They give you a lot for the money. Lots of dynamics compared to magnepans without subs.
I agree with Paul. It's really hard to tell which is which. I mean it is always a personal preference. But what I can advice is to audition every speakers in your list and listen to them. Then decide later which one you like the most.
paul we cant see your beautiful face..... dam power cable! love the vid
If you can stretch your budget I would suggest Magico A3. They might be the best value for the price.
But will they play nice with the M700 Lary plan to buy?
@@ziggifuxman I am not sure as I have not used the ps audio amps. I can say that Magicos are extremely revealing. It is important to audition whenever possible.
I have a pair of magico s1mk2 and pair them with hegel h360. I have heard the A3 with this and they sound great. Hegel is known for being pretty neutral as well. I have also heard them with D'Agostino progression series and it was incredible.
Put four grand into SVS subs, two of them. Then five grand on anything else. Or go ten grand and buy PS Audio with powered subs built in. Either way ,with those amps it's going to be heard by the Packers when they are outside practicing. And sound Great!
Any thoughts on Kef when looking for a speaker with great soundstage capabilities?
Listen Kef Reference 3
Once ypur speakers hit the market will you be willing or able to say how each of your models compare to other people's products that you're familiar with in terms of things like who's brighter or more laid back, or how each of yours compare to their model xyz for bass, imaging etc?
For 9K I would by used electrostatic speakers.
I have Gato Fm50 speakers matched to my m700s and gain cell dac.
educate yourself, that's how. and you'll know it yourself what speakers you want.
here sound-au.com/articles.htm
almost everything you need to know about audio is there. the rest is up to your own willingness and intelligence.
Replaced my B&W 603's to an old set of Maggies. Brilliant, best money ever spent on my hifi system.
Look at Ascend Sierra 2 or Towers with RAAL tweeters, they use amazing RAAL tweeters and SEAS drivers, probably the best bang for the buck besides Tektons. Tektons are more dynamic, Ascends are more refined
Goldenear Triton Reference, Triton One.R,
I wish I could afford speakers in the $1000-5000 plus range unfortunately my budget is MAYBE 1000 in a whole year.
You have A LOT of choices from $500-1,000 but if I were looking at the lower range book shelfs would probably deliver the best value. I have the $500 Elac UB5 and love them. At a similar price point the Klipsch RP-600m would be a chioce but personally are not for me.
@@briansimmons5363 At the moment I have klipsch speakers which I thought were great base to start with. But my brother bought some B&W speakers that made me realize just how limited they really are. I am also a home theater lover so I am trying to figure out how I can meld my love for movies with my love for live music. I will definitely look into Elac as I have never heard them.
@@somethingsomethingsomethingdar Ah one problem with the Elac Unifi B5. Needs a powerful amp with current. Not a good choice really for a home theater receiver. I have a Emotiva A-150 @ 75 watts into 8 ohms and 150 into 4 ohms. I wish I would have gotten the A-300 with 150/300 watts. Elac B6.2 would be a far better choice for 2 channel and home theater.
get a psb t3 and youre done
The real "how" is simple: Start with two different models and decide which of them you prefer.
Compare the one you like better to a third model.
Keep doing that until you have eliminated all but the one you like best.
Now, go to a different sound room that has the model you liked best in the first room
and compare still more models.
(Yes, it takes time, but it's effective.)
Once you believe you've done enough that way,
buy the model you like best with a one-week or longer full-price return privilege so you can try it at home.
That wire is so Damm annoying!!
Here is how I choose speakers: If they are difficult to drive...goodbye.
Find a Woofer that you can love and cherish, then build from there.
Jesus H. Vandersteen 2CE Signatures for 3k out the door.
Oh so easy to choose your speakers for 9K $ . Just wait in front of the shopping center till the "WhiteVan" speakers show up ;-) . You will get best deal and speakers , that you will be so happy never looking back at such a bad B&W !
Mmm.... It all depends on your budget! You spend little you will get little.. Spend big you sound will get better it's that simple. There is a point where diminishing returns kicks in but that's well over the £15k barrier. £200k speakers naaa forget it.
Paul are you ok? You have a huge black line running down your face....
I love the Maggie recommendation. A pair of 1.7's and 2 REL subs....You're there.
Oh yes, "Average Joe" can ONLY afford $9K speakers. "Average" for what area.....Bel Aire? 👽🖖"Na-nu" Check out Zu Audio if you have that much money.
You can easily save money, and/or get better sound by not buying the PS Audio electronics. They're not exactly very well reviewed from what I've seen. Zero Fidelity, whom I trust, because I've heard stuff he reviewed. Didn't exactly rave about them, and they're far from cheap.