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Post by kauai82 on Apr 3, 2017 17:23:02 GMT -5
I am itching for a speaker upgrade in the next eight months or so. I am pretty much tied to a $850 budget that includes shipping charges. I am currently using in my office system a Core 2 DIY speaker which is a seven inch Dayton RS-180 and a Dayton RS-28f tweeter in a 34 inch tall cabinet. It sounds great, but I want to see if I can beat it with out having my bank account bruised. I have pretty much got the search down to three possibilities. I am open to suggestions, but my $850 budget is pretty firm. My office is fairly large 20x15 feet and carpeted. I listen to all types of music, primarily jazz and new age plus some rock and do so at about 85db (according to my phone sound level meter app.) I currently don't have a subwoofer in the office system but am thinking that I might add one in the future. The look of the speaker is that not important to me. My woodworking skills are not that good so my Core 2's are not a fine piece of furniture. My three choices are as follows:
One, keep on the DIY course and up grade the RS-180 drivers in my Core 2's to a very high end Scan Speak Revelator seven inch mid woofer and keep the tweeters the same RS-28f. Have my friend that built my DIY Jasmines do the crossover and voice them to my personal liking. I have heard the Revelator's in speakers at audio shows that I have attended and really like the sound. Cost for the woofers and crossovers about $600 to $650.
Two, see what the Emotiva Airmotiv T1 sound like if I like a AMT tweeter. Cost $700 and I am not out that much for shipping back to Emotiva if I don't like them. Also, I wonder what the price and the difference in sound of the soon to be released of the T2.
Three, have head so much about Tekton speakers and wondering if I would like the sound. I am thinking of the Lore Reference. With shipping it would hit my high end of my budget of $850. Are the Tekton speakers very forward sounding speakers ? I am not that found of forward sounding speakers. My Core 2's are some what forward sounding and have an Aluminum woofer in the RS-180 that at times can sound somewhat harsh but I counter that with my Tube Primaluna Prologue One. I plan on using the Primaluna to drive what ever new speakers I buy.
Any input would be appreciated and I am open to suggestions, but the speakers need to stay on the $850 budget. Any speaker out there that I am missing ? Thanks in advance for your input. Matt
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Post by vneal on Apr 3, 2017 18:18:35 GMT -5
For the price range I think you are thinking right considering the Tekton and Emotiva speakers. Flip a coin. You win either way
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Post by adaboy on Apr 3, 2017 18:54:45 GMT -5
Agreed, as you know I'm a huge fan of Teckton, if you're planning on a sub, try magnepan mmg's for your music tastes. I have a feeling you will love them. If do decide you want dynamic slam, tekton all the way.
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Post by creimes on Apr 3, 2017 19:21:19 GMT -5
The Chane A5rx-c is also in that price territory at $399 each.
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Post by knucklehead on Apr 3, 2017 19:31:31 GMT -5
Check out your local Craig's List. You might find something a few years old for that budget. Speakers lose value as they age but I've yet to find a 10 year old speaker that couldn't perform just as it did when new as long as it hasn't been abused.
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Post by pknaz on Apr 3, 2017 19:39:32 GMT -5
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Post by teaman on Apr 3, 2017 19:55:00 GMT -5
I'm with Ken, buy a nice pair of used speakers off of Ebay, Audiogon, CL or whatever. I paid $900 for my Klipsch KLF-30's and I would put them up against any speaker. You may find the Klipsch a bit bright but if you can demo them first you can find plenty of Heresy II's, KLF-20's, Forte, etc. Super sensitive all ranging upwards of 98db so you can enjoy them with flea watt amps.
Tim
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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 3, 2017 20:15:09 GMT -5
I note that you are using a tube amplifier, Primaluna Prologue One rated at 35 watts per channel, which from memory uses the Dynaco 70 circuitry. That circuitry is rather impedance sensitive so I'd be careful to avoid speakers with large impedance swings. I am rather surprised that you currently run without a sub woofer as the Core 2's don't have much output under 150 hz. As left field suggestion, keep the Core 2's and add a subwoofers say a BasXS10, at $299 I think you will get more out of that spend than $850 on replacement speakers.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by rossonero3 on Apr 3, 2017 20:45:19 GMT -5
+1 for the Lore Reference. I think the Primaluna and Lores would make a fine combo, they are really easy to drive and seem to work well with all types of amplification.
My take is that they can be a tad 'forward' but in a good way, i would say more lively and fun, more transparent and real sounding than others I've owned. Bass response in my room is really good, which is smaller than yours at around 14 x 14, I also could really use some room treatments to further improve the sound. As it is now though they are really great and I have no complaints.
I also run them sans sub as I feel they don't need one, could be different in your room.
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Post by kauai82 on Apr 3, 2017 22:00:49 GMT -5
Agreed, as you know I'm a huge fan of Teckton, if you're planning on a sub, try magnepan mmg's for your music tastes. I have a feeling you will love them. If do decide you want dynamic slam, tekton all the way. I owned a pair of MMG's for 17 years. Loved them. Paired with my HSU subwoofer very nice sound but not great for hard rock. My DIY commissioned Jasmines with the HSU sub beats the MMG hands down. Many audio enthusiast have never heard a proven DIY speaker project. You can get great sound for a very reasonable price. I belonged to the L.A. and Orange County Audiophile Society here in So. Cal. and have heard many high end speakers costing literally outrageous amounts of money that might have been somewhat better sounding than my DIY speakers, but I am retired and I don't have the money or the desire to spend 3k to 6k for a pair of speakers. I have heard that Teckton sound great for their price. I have never heard them and am very interested. I am looking for dynamic slam. Thanks for your thoughts. |
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Post by kauai82 on Apr 3, 2017 22:03:03 GMT -5
The Chane A5rx-c is also in that price territory at $399 each. Have not heard of this company, I will look into them. Thanks ! |
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Post by kauai82 on Apr 3, 2017 22:20:33 GMT -5
I have considered the Carrera. The kit price for the drivers and cross over parts is about $770. The cabinets and veneer for the project would run about another $125. Close to the budget. The Carrera use the 5.5 inch version of the Relelator that I plan to use the 7 inch in my DIY project. I have a one cubic volume cabinet so it will go a little lower than the Carrera, but I believe that the tweeter is a little higher quality in the Carrera kit. I should put it back on my list. Thanks for your input. Matt |
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Post by kauai82 on Apr 3, 2017 22:26:45 GMT -5
I'm with Ken, buy a nice pair of used speakers off of Ebay, Audiogon, CL or whatever. I paid $900 for my Klipsch KLF-30's and I would put them up against any speaker. You may find the Klipsch a bit bright but if you can demo them first you can find plenty of Heresy II's, KLF-20's, Forte, etc. Super sensitive all ranging upwards of 98db so you can enjoy them with flea watt amps. Tim I will look into the used market again. I find that most of Klipsch horn tweeters to bright for my taste. That does not mean that they are not a great sounding speaker but just not my cup of tea. Thanks for the suggestion. |
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Post by kauai82 on Apr 3, 2017 22:41:53 GMT -5
I note that you are using a tube amplifier, Primaluna Prologue One rated at 35 watts per channel, which from memory uses the Dynaco 70 circuitry. That circuitry is rather impedance sensitive so I'd be careful to avoid speakers with large impedance swings. I am rather surprised that you currently run without a sub woofer as the Core 2's don't have much output under 150 hz. As left field suggestion, keep the Core 2's and add a subwoofers say a BasXS10, at $299 I think you will get more out of that spend than $850 on replacement speakers. Cheers Gary You must be thinking of another DIY speaker. The Core 2's have great bass down to the mid 30's. I don't believe the Primaluna has Dynaco 70 circuitry but I am not sure about that. I was seriously considering a Emo BasX S10 but was disappointed to see that it does not have speaker level inputs. The Primaluna does not have a sub out so I need a high level speaker input for the sub upstairs. I am looking at a HSU 10" sub. I might buy that first to see how it improves the SQ. Now you have me thinking ! Thanks. Matt |
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Post by creimes on Apr 3, 2017 22:51:41 GMT -5
The Chane A5rx-c is also in that price territory at $399 each. Have not heard of this company, I will look into them. Thanks ! Bahhhh looks like they are out of stock on the A5rx-c, this is because Jon is releasing the new replacement for the towers which I'm assuming will be the A5.4, the bookshelf and LCR speakers have all been updated so the 3 way tower is next. I own three A5rx-c towers up front behind my AT screen and really enjoy them especially for the money, but like others have pointed out there is a many to choose from down in the US, the online sellers offer great price/performance but hearing them is harder to do for obvious reasons. Chad |
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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 4, 2017 3:07:04 GMT -5
I note that you are using a tube amplifier, Primaluna Prologue One rated at 35 watts per channel, which from memory uses the Dynaco 70 circuitry. That circuitry is rather impedance sensitive so I'd be careful to avoid speakers with large impedance swings. I am rather surprised that you currently run without a sub woofer as the Core 2's don't have much output under 150 hz. As left field suggestion, keep the Core 2's and add a subwoofers say a BasXS10, at $299 I think you will get more out of that spend than $850 on replacement speakers. You must be thinking of another DIY speaker. Hi Matt, from memory (always risky) the Core 2 is a Paul Carmody design and with Dayton RS180 midwoofer and Dayton RS28 tweeter has a frequency response that looks like this;  Maybe I do have it confused with some other similar design, do you have a frequency response curve for yours? A 2 way design with a 7" mid woofer would generally have a response curve something like the above and that is why I suggested a sub woofer might help more than a main speaker change. I would suggest a sub woofer that has decent response up to around 150 hz which the BaseX S10 does. Cheers Gary |
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Post by rossonero3 on Apr 4, 2017 4:58:15 GMT -5
Ironically I was going down the same road as the OP with DIY before I finally settled on my Tektons (the price!).
I too was looking at 7" scanspeak designs mainly because a buddy of mine has a pair of 'replica' ProAc response towers that sound amazing. Those ProAcs were serious speakers and his DIY version are spot on, there was a design available for them years ago, I think I have it somewhere. Anyway he uses them strictly for 2 ch with very nice gear and they just do everything right.
This got me hot on some scanspeak designs but I never went down that road. As a side note I have built one of Paul Carmody's designs, the Overnight Sensations that I use in my office everyday. Nice little speakers.
If you are happy with your Core 2's then maybe just adding a sub may be the way to go. Personally I've gotten to like music better without a sub which is why it's imperative to gave some speakers that can dig satisfyingly deep.
I believe the Lore Reference would be superior to the Core 2 as is, with the scanspeak and crossover upgrades then the gap may narrow. Ultimately I chose the Tektons over going DIY because I figured Eric Alexander knew a hell of a lot more than me.
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Post by mgbpuff on Apr 4, 2017 6:46:23 GMT -5
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Post by garbulky on Apr 4, 2017 8:51:40 GMT -5
The suggestions I read in this thread look like they are all good.
My perspective, you already have a nice diy speaker. I haven't heard it but from what I gather good diy speakers really hit above the retail price range of similar speakers in value and quality.
It looks like budgetting is important to you - as it is for me.
So from I'm seeing is that if you are looking for a significant worthwhile improvement in your investment then you may benefit from spending a lot more. $850 only nets you so much, usually at the entry or the lower mid range of speakers. If your speakers are already pretty good, man I don't know if you're going to get a great improvement.
Having said that, the Emotiva airmotiv 4 speakers really impressed me for what they could do on the budget. So if the T1's are anything like that, it must be good value.
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Post by tweed on Apr 4, 2017 10:39:53 GMT -5
I have had the Lore-S in my system.
Nice speaker but to me I would put there sound on the forward side. Surely not laid back ;-)
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