Sentinelist

Was recently just reminded of Audiogon and will definitely be checking there first! I'll be going back to a HT system after kids are mature enough, but 2 yrs. old and another on the way now so it'll be awhile. I scored my Concept 2s for only $250/pr! I should have bought the other two pairs still left just because. Using a new 2-ch. Integra receiver I also got along with them. A friend has the whole Concept 5.1 setup and says it's incredible- I'm sure the Helicon iteration is even better!

Going to just try and start building up a first-shot audiophile setup next year around my Athenas and see what happens. It'll be pretty simple. Something like what this guy (on Audiogon) did with his:

triode

Can't think of 10 I currently lust after (I require super high sensitivity, which only the first 4 below choices have). Those that come to mind:

1) the mega multiway aluminum Magico horns (probably violates OP's $300K limit, though)
2) Avantgarde Trio Omega with 2-3 pair Avantgarde BassHorns
3) Avantgarde Duo Primo
4) Avantgarde Duo Omega (mine pictured below)
5) the new top of the line Sonus Faber
6) the new top-end Rockport
7) JM Lab mega Utopia
8) Lotus Granada

utkinpol

somehow i started from cheap $300 speakers in my teenage years, then went bigger and bigger to electrostats then to klipsches then went back to small cabinet b&w 805 and settled, took just 15-18 years or so to figure it out.

it mostly depends of what you are after. i care about precision, clarity and accuracy of sound stage. I really liked mid-range tannoy speakers as they had combination of mid-range with tweeter in the same axis with it but it still has slight 'coloration' to the sound, if you go to conservatory to listen to live piano, then get home and put on record you will hear it right away... b&w 805 are most neutral system i have ever heard. they are imho very undervalued but i like them better than 803 or 801. all you need for 805s are good heavy metal stands and they will sing very well.
bigger b&w models i had for testing and returned. imho if you need bass for movies - just get an active sub, music does not need it.

klipsches i had were RF-7 and in the way they were simlar to tannoy, had even more 'warm' colored sound but i did not like them much as they never gave me acceptably good sound at lower power levels and when kids arrived it became an issue. i relly regret i sold my old tannoys, they were about of $5K a set, used, and they do nt make those series anymore, it was closed cabinet design, no invertor, passive bass, 2 way speaker. i really liked it, at the time, in 1995 or 1997 something. crap, it i sad, i wrote '15 years' above and just relaized what year is now. holy crap... it sucks to get older.

MDeBoard

Listen to Paul Simon's "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes" or Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" or Mark Knopfler's "Baloney Again" or James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" on a small monitor type speaker and then on a speaker with good bass response. I use Vandersteen 5A's. Your opinion may change about that statement.

utkinpol

i`m too lazy to try anything new now, to be honest. you can`t chase the best all the time, i like what i got now plus life gives new priorities to take care of.

i have heard vandersteens, 3a, in a salon. great speakers, no doubt. but for tonality and clarity and air I still like 805s better or my ears just got used to them, probably.

vyper340

Piega's for the ribbon tweeters
JL Audio Fathom F113 or Gotham subwoofers

Rick GT3

Altec Lansing Voice Of The Theatre
Pinnacle Speakers-affordable and great speaker sound

stedge

Vandersteen Quatros (wood) were nice, but lacking a bit in the midrange. Ran them with an Audio Research tube integrated.

Now have 2 systems -
in the office - Modwright pre (tube/ss) with modwright amp powering some Harbeth P3esr monitors. Also have some AKG headphones. Have a sub but usually just leave it off.

in the living room, Metronome integrated and CD (with Rega turntable - a cheapie but it works) running Wilson Benesch ARCs. These are my fav speakers of all time.

I like monitors, and if you buy this stuff used you can do OK - basically never lose $$. Bought and sold a lot of stuff on Audiogon (no association with the site, just mentioning)

Mostly CDs, some vinyl. Someday will get organized with a DAC board in the Modwright pre but for now I am fine.

Franklin229

Anyone listen to Ushers? They are great sounding speakers, prob one of the best values as well.
I have the 8571 DMD's in my vinyl system and could not be happier.

Arominus

I've got a set of RF-7's, and they woke up once i hit them with an Emotiva xpa-5 power amp. Was well worth the money to get it.

CDLVancouver

Not trying to be patriotic but ill only buy paradigms. Best speaker i heard was a two channel set up using the paradigm studio monitor series mk11se....wow! The stage and imaging was phenomenal and projected as if there were a set of rears hooked up.
So i went and bought a less expensive set in the mk1 7se amd they too have a great stage and imaging...not as good as the studio monitors but still very nice. Ive had them for close to 17 years now an theyre still doing duty but now hoolked up to marantz ht system. May upgrade to those studio monitors in a couple uears for the ht room and move the 7se into the family room

EJC951S

ADS L 1530, good enough for Telarc speaks volumes.

P0rsch3F113

Paradigm Signature S8