$500 speaker recommendation

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Jack Flannery, Dec 20, 2014.

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  1. Jack Flannery

    Jack Flannery Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Houston, TX
    I have screwed up the finish of one of my Focal 826W speakers. I've decided to get some relatively inexpensive temporary replacements that will then move in to my other room. I have decided to loosely budget $500. I am considering.
    1) Rogue 2-ways. The Chorus line is marked way off at Music Direct. I'm familiar with the sound.
    2) MMG's. Never heard them and am not traveling 200 miles to do so.
    3) Warfedale Denton 2-way. These are very nice looking in an old-school way. Anybody heard them?

    Anything else? Bear in mind that although I live in the 4-th largest city in the US, there is doodly squat for audio. I wish I wouldn't have sold my Vandie 1c's to a friend but he isn't selling them back.

    Oh, I listen to jazz and rock almost exclusively.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2014
    bhazen likes this.
  2. ls35a

    ls35a Forum Resident

    Location:
    Eagle, Idaho
    bhazen and tyler928 like this.
  3. cjg2

    cjg2 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Boston, MA USA
    I've never heard (1) or (3), but highly recommend MMGs. I can't say enough good things about them. I've owned a pair (or older SMGs) continuously for 20 years. The only caveat is that they need to be placed 2-3 feet away from walls to sound their best. I've never had a problem with that, but I imagine it could be a problem for some rooms. I think they hold their value pretty well, too, in case you want to sell them later on.

    You might also consider some cheap used, older speakers like Dynaco A-25 and AR-2 or AR-4. These occasionally pop up on Craiglist and yard sales for under $100 a pair and sound many times that. Their drivers are usually fine (cloth surrounds), but they benefit greatly from crossover capacitor replacement and potentiometer cleaning.

    Good luck and good listening!
     
  4. head_unit

    head_unit Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles CA USA
    I think you need to tell us more about what you listen to, how loud you listen to it, and the space you listen to it in.
     
  5. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream

  6. c-eling

    c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

    A possible dumb question, on a speaker hunt, would these be a nice upgrade over my polk tsi 400's? the price is very attractive!
     
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  7. Mike-48

    Mike-48 A shadow of my former self

    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    I have not heard them, but several participants on REG's (of TAS) forum, including REG himself, really like these:

    http://tinyurl.com/kxkcf9q

    They are occasionally on sale for $99 each.

    Mike
     
  8. brooklyn

    brooklyn I'm all ears

    Location:
    Oklahoma
    I own the MMG’s and bought them direct from Magnepan a few years ago. They give a 60 day home
    trial and a trade in policy to upgrade to the 1.7’s if your interested. Mine are well past the warranty but
    I’m planning to upgrade in the near future. If you have the room and amp power there a no brainer.

    Magnepan
     
  9. Brother_Rael

    Brother_Rael Senior Member

    If you can get 'em...

    Tannoy DC4
    Mission 751
    Castle Knight 1 or 2
    Pioneer S-71B

    Depends on the size of your room, etc, but they're all very fine standmount speakers. Even today, the 751 is a great little box and we're talking 20 years or so on.
     
  10. bhazen

    bhazen ANNOYING BEATLES FAN

    Location:
    Deepest suburbia
    Oh my, yes.
     
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  11. Brother_Rael

    Brother_Rael Senior Member

    One other that's a bit left field: Cambridge Audio Aero 2. These have been a slow burner but picked up some great reviews. Definitely worth a look. Too big for my room, but I'd have auditioned a pair at the drop of a hat.

    http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/700-cambridge-audio-aero-2-loudspeakers
     
  12. c-eling

    c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

    Thanks Bruce for the straight answer! :cheers:
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2014
    bhazen likes this.
  13. bhazen

    bhazen ANNOYING BEATLES FAN

    Location:
    Deepest suburbia
    I have a pair. Very nice, and, in my opinion, good enough to make the little Harbeths, Spendors, etc. sweat. A comfy listen; warmish, but still toe-tapping. Forgiving of harsh source material.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2014
  14. bhazen

    bhazen ANNOYING BEATLES FAN

    Location:
    Deepest suburbia
    Spendors, not @#$%ing Sponsors. @#$% Spellcheck.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2014
    Brother_Rael likes this.
  15. soundboy

    soundboy Senior Member

  16. Jack Flannery

    Jack Flannery Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Houston, TX
    I am leaning that direction. They will move into my second office when I get my speaker fixed.
     
    bhazen likes this.
  17. saturnsf

    saturnsf Forum Resident

    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    You're getting rid of your speakers because you marred the finish??
     
  18. Jack Flannery

    Jack Flannery Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Houston, TX
    No. I'm fixing them. Big ole hunks of 3/8" glass rained down. Quite the mess. It looks like total crap.
     
  19. progrocker

    progrocker Senior Member

    I owned the MMG's and they're the best speakers I'd heard under a grand new but for hard rock they need mundo power for satisfying bass and they're very tricky to properly place in a smaller room.
     
  20. Pancat

    Pancat Senior Member

    Location:
    Merry England
    Another vote for the 751s. Even tastier with a 75AS sub.
     
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