If Someone Was Just Starting Out

[MylesBAstor]

and looking for a speaker under $2000, what would you recommend? (Bose notwithstanding )

ELAC Debut 6 or F5?

KEF LS50?

Maggie 1.7?

Any others you've heard that have caught your ear and fancy?

[mep]

I guess I would want to know what type of music they listen to, how loud, what their expectations are for bass and size of the soundstage, and what gear it was going to be mated to. How's that for dodging your question?

[MylesBAstor]

I guess I would want to know what type of music they listen to, how loud, what their expectations are for bass and size of the soundstage, and what gear it was going to be mated to. How's that for dodging your question?

Perfectly reasonable. And say in the case of Magies, can they move them out from the front wall.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

$2000 or less? I would always look to go as full range as possible, to better cover whatever type of music they might want to play. Never been a big fan of small stand mounted speakers with limited bottom end.

1. Tekton Enzo XL (currently on sale for $1900/pair)
2. SVS Ultra Tower ($1999.98/pair)
3. Tekton Lore ($999/pair)
4. Elac Debut F5 ($559/pair)

The Tektons have the advantage of both high efficiency and high power handling capability, so you get to use any type of amp you want,
The SVS are extremely transparent and have bass response that won't require a sub.
The Elacs are just plain amazing for the price.

Would also add whatever Goldenear speakers fit their final price range.

[allenh]

Elacs for sure. Liked them at RMAF, and I have Andrew Jones' Pioneer budget speakers. Great value for the price!

[Alex Siufy]

Wharfedale Diamond 230 for $799 or Diamond 240 for $1199.
Both are floorstanders, and incredible for the price.
There's another brand that's not yet available in the US, but it's quite popular elsewhere, and incredibly good for the price: Q Acoustic.

[MylesBAstor]

Wharfedale Diamond 230 for $799 or Diamond 240 for $1199.
Both are floorstanders, and incredible for the price.
There's another brand that's not yet available in the US, but it's quite popular elsewhere, and incredibly good for the price: Q Acoustic.

Wharfdale used to have a great reputation, then dropped off the face of the US.

[Ki Choi]

I would stir him/her more to a vintage setup.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

I would stir him/her more to a vintage setup.

Vintage may be good for some. I went that way setting my son up for his college years (mid 70s Luxman integrated amp and Large Advents, though his source was his iPod Classic in a docking station). But for many people starting out, vintage will lack the convenience and modern features they would expect. Plus, when vintage goes south, it is much harder to get repaired or serviced. When my son’s roommate blew out a tweeter in one of the Advents, it took several weeks and much aggravation to finally find a good condition replacement on ebay.
A good modern integrated amp, (Rega Brio, Wyred4sound Mint, the new Elac when it’s available) or something that has a DAC and phono stage (if needed) built in, with remote, will serve many newcomers better, even if we would look more fondly at the vintage gear.

[Alex Siufy]

Wharfdale used to have a great reputation, then dropped off the face of the US.

True... They moved to China, so that took a lot of their "street cred"... But it's been quite a while, and they managed to produce a couple of very good lines, taking advantage of a fully integrated production line in China.
They're currently distributed in the US by MoFi Distribution, and there are quite a few positive reviews out there, in Stereophile, etc.

[MylesBAstor]

True... They moved to China, so that took a lot of their "street cred"... But it's been quite a while, and they managed to produce a couple of very good lines, taking advantage of a fully integrated production line in China.
They're currently distributed in the US by MoFi Distribution, and there are quite a few positive reviews out there, in Stereophile, etc.

And weren't they and Quad somehow involved together or owned by the same company? Or am I hallucinating?

[regnaD kciN]

I guess I would want to know what type of music they listen to, how loud, what their expectations are for bass and size of the soundstage, and what gear it was going to be mated to. How's that for dodging your question?

While this may sound odd, I would also ask if they have any cats -- Maggies might have great sound, but, to kitties, they resemble nothing so much as giant scratching posts! Same with Vandys. (In fact, I would also recommend against any floorstanders that have grills that reach to within two feet of the floor, unless you were fine with using them without grills.)

[JackD201]

While this may sound odd, I would also ask if they have any cats -- Maggies might have great sound, but, to kitties, they resemble nothing so much as giant scratching posts! Same with Vandys. (In fact, I would also recommend against any floorstanders that have grills that reach to within two feet of the floor, unless you were fine with using them without grills.)

After which one need only worry about cute pokey toddler fingers!

[MylesBAstor]

While this may sound odd, I would also ask if they have any cats -- Maggies might have great sound, but, to kitties, they resemble nothing so much as giant scratching posts! Same with Vandys. (In fact, I would also recommend against any floorstanders that have grills that reach to within two feet of the floor, unless you were fine with using them without grills.)

I had two pieces of 1/4-inch Plexiglass cut, one for the front and one for the back of the speaker and fastened them together to prevent kitties from climbing the Maggics or Martin-Logans. Coast me around $100.

[MylesBAstor]

After which one need only worry about cute pokey toddler fingers!

Got that right. I'll never forget my neighbor who had the little Apogee Stages. One day his three year old walked up and punched the midrange driver. Had a dent in it forever after.