Favourite speakers under INR 20k

[psychotropic]

it's not yet been released vortex. It's been delayed by several months. No idea what the story is.

Would you be listening to the bass module as well?

 

[thevortex]

it's not yet been released vortex. It's been delayed by several months. No idea what the story is.

Oh Ok. So, psychotropic, what is your current pecking order in terms of speakers? And I must say I appreciate your patience in keeping the amp idle all these days. I am sure you will be satisfied with your system when you complete it considering the pains you are taking to match it with your tastes and preferences.

 

[psychotropic]

It helps that I have the absolutely lovely Audioengine A2 with me in the meantime.

Current order of preference is:

Monitor Audio BR2 (but only if i can find it closer to 22k and not at 25k)
Wharfedale 10.1 (but will have to home audition because of the rear port)
Epos ELS8
PSB Alpha B1
Paradigm Atom

I am not ranking the Klipsch or the Energy since I didn't listen to them that extensively, although I did think the Energy was very good.

Oh Ok. So, psychotropic, what is your current pecking order in terms of speakers? And I must say I appreciate your patience in keeping the amp idle all these days. I am sure you will be satisfied with your system when you complete it considering the pains you are taking to match it with your tastes and preferences.

 

[thevortex]

It helps that I have the absolutely lovely Audioengine A2 with me in the meantime.

Current order of preference is:

Monitor Audio BR2 (but only if i can find it closer to 22k and not at 25k)
Wharfedale 10.1 (but will have to home audition because of the rear port)
Epos ELS8
PSB Alpha B1
Paradigm Atom

I am not ranking the Klipsch or the Energy since I didn't listen to them that extensively, although I did think the Energy was very good.

OK, that line up is interesting. Did you by any chance have a home audition of the PSB Alpha B1s?

The one thing I am not able to understand is if you are able to take the MA BR2 into consideration at 25K, why is the PSB Image B25 not in your list? It really is a versatile speaker. One that I would think would make a lovely speaker for rock music. Right down your alley, if I may say so.

Also a quick question - how have you hooked up an active speaker like the Audioengine 2 to your NAD amp? How do you tell the speaker to use NAD's amplification in place of the built in one? Or are you listening to the speakers separately without connecting to the NAD?

 

[Asit]

The one thing I am not able to understand is if you are able to take the MA BR2 into consideration at 25K, why is the PSB Image B25 not in your list?

I agree there are a few unanswered puzzles here, like the one I have quoted above.
I am throwing in another one: Psychotropic announced that he was willing to consider the MA BR2 only at 22K and not at 25K. When he missed his bus to Hyderabad, he said he would skip eating out for a few days to make up for the lost money. Can he not consider skipping his restaurants again for these 3K? Or, would that be too much of a sacrifice?

 

[grubyhalo]

I agree there are a few unanswered puzzles here, like the one I have quoted above.
I am throwing in another one: Psychotropic announced that he was willing to consider the MA BR2 only at 22K and not at 25K. When he missed his bus to Hyderabad, he said he would skip eating out for a few days to make up for the lost money. Can he not consider skipping his restaurants again for these 3K? Or, would that be too much of a sacrifice?

Come on Psycho, start on a Top Ramen diet from today and buy some good speakers soon!

 

[skumar]

And what happened to the Usher S520s?

 

[psychotropic]

@thevortex - actually the BR2 is available for 22k elsewhere in the country, is what i am told, it's only the 'audio people' who wnat 25k for it. If you compare foreign prices, the BR2 is more int he range of the WHarfedale 10.1, and much cheaper than the Ushers. Which is why I think 25k for this is not a good deal. the B25 i am not considering simply because i don't have a hope of getting for something like 22k.

@asit - lol, i didn't stick to my resolution then.....i think that's just one sacrifice i can't do. I can perhaps (at gunpoint) conceive of living without music (or hi fi), but good food....aaaargh! my problem is that already i've stretched my budget a fair bit to get to this place, don't want to take it any further, and I am seriously hoping the Ushers for 20k will do the trick

@gruby - he he he top ramen will remind me too much of my college hostel and the starvation days, so i don't think i'll go that route i just have to stick to eating what my cook makes, but that itself is such a difficult task when culinary temptations lurk in every corner, and it doesn't help that the wife is also a foodie.

@skumar - the Ushers will be auditioned september 12th/13th.

---------

I was reading about listening biases, and listening environments and things like that I am coming slowly to the conclusion that these auditions are not really as useful as I thought they would be. But I still can't think of buying without hearing, which is why i am ending up waiting for so long.

 

[magma]

if youve rated the PSB alphas below the warfedales and the Epos i dont think you need to consider the B25's

if you are really very serious about them , ping me and ill see if i can get them for you at 22k

 

[thevortex]

@thevortex - actually the BR2 is available for 22k elsewhere in the country, is what i am told, it's only the 'audio people' who wnat 25k for it. If you compare foreign prices, the BR2 is more int he range of the WHarfedale 10.1, and much cheaper than the Ushers. Which is why I think 25k for this is not a good deal. the B25 i am not considering simply because i don't have a hope of getting for something like 22k.

@asit - lol, i didn't stick to my resolution then.....i think that's just one sacrifice i can't do. I can perhaps (at gunpoint) conceive of living without music (or hi fi), but good food....aaaargh! my problem is that already i've stretched my budget a fair bit to get to this place, don't want to take it any further, and I am seriously hoping the Ushers for 20k will do the trick

@gruby - he he he top ramen will remind me too much of my college hostel and the starvation days, so i don't think i'll go that route i just have to stick to eating what my cook makes, but that itself is such a difficult task when culinary temptations lurk in every corner, and it doesn't help that the wife is also a foodie.

@skumar - the Ushers will be auditioned september 12th/13th.

---------

I was reading about listening biases, and listening environments and things like that I am coming slowly to the conclusion that these auditions are not really as useful as I thought they would be. But I still can't think of buying without hearing, which is why i am ending up waiting for so long.

Psychotropic,

You are right in that BR2 is grossly overpriced here. It is a good speaker though. Just not as good as its Indian price. The Image B25 is better than the BR2 on just about every count. Even the looks, if that matters.

My suggesting the Image B25 is just because at around 25K you are getting to the next level in terms of speakers. I dont know what the EPOS M5i costs - but that is supposed to be a superb little speaker. And I believe Usher S520 considers that speaker its direct competitor if I am not mistaken. You might want to check with Raghu on the EPOS M5i pricing.

Lastly I cannot agree with you more when you think that these auditions can only take you so far. In fact they dont take you along a whole lot when you think about the many factors that contribute to your listening experience at home. A home audition is the only real audition - that has been my conclusion I have reached with my admittedly meagre experience.

I know I said lastly - but I could not resist. I am not saying this just because the Alpha B1s were speakers I bought. I did compare them with most other speakers excepting the Ushers - which were anyway priced higher than the Alphas and picked them up. I know there may not be too much of a meeting point as far as our listening tastes are concerned. But in case you were looking for a home audition, I can offer my Alpha B1s for you for a few days. I have no intentions of selling them, but if using them in your setup for a few days can help you in your decision - I have no issue lending them to you.

Just let me know your preference.

 

[murali_n]

Hai Psycho,

Today I happened to hear Torvins "Celesta" BS Speakers. I guess it is made of Fostex M/W 6.5 inch , and Peerless tweeters (dont know the model), but it sounded great. The CDP was ARCAM and Amp was TORVIN 100wpc. The soundstage was amazing.

Why dont you give this a try. The price quoted was Rs.20K.

N.Murali.

 

[thevortex]

Hai Psycho,

Today I happened to hear Torvins "Celesta" BS Speakers. I guess it is made of Fostex M/W 6.5 inch , and Peerless tweeters (dont know the model), but it sounded great. The CDP was ARCAM and Amp was TORVIN 100wpc. The soundstage was amazing.

Why dont you give this a try. The price quoted was Rs.20K.

N.Murali.

Murali - is this the speaker you are referring to? I dont see any Celesta on the Torvin page.

Torvin Audio Systems

 

[murali_n]

Hai Vortex,

The Celesta is not posted in the website. They are recent models. I had a very brief session, I would vouch that it will put the Entry level EPOS and others to shame.

Beleive in my ears.

N.Murali.

 

[psychotropic]

hey vortex, by all accounts it seems like the B25 is a lovely speaker, but like I said even my present budget is at a stretch, don't know if i can stretch that much more. But maybe I should at least give it a listen.

I am guessing the M5i will cost at least 25k since the ELS8 is 20k.

Let me reiterate that the PSB Alpha B1 was an excellent pair of speakers, and did most things superbly, and if you asked me simply about how "good" the speakers were, i'd put them on par with the BR2, but it's just that the Epos edged it out (possibly unfairly, due to some judas priest intervention) in the audition i did with both of them.

Then of course in a totally different location i heard the BR2 which I loved, which logically pushed the Epos to No. 2 and consequently the B1 to No.3. Then I heard the Wharfedales, which I really liked , even while making out that it was not the most accomplished of the speakers, and that's how it snuck in for me at No. 2. I would happily live with any of these speakers, and i realise that the wildly different setups i listened to them on means that I am not in a position to make accurate judgment.

Thanks a million for that offer of listening to your speakers at my home. I think I would really love to do that (even if it's for a few hours), because like you said, a home audition is the best way to audition, and if i do like them that much, then I can save some 6k (compared to the Ushers) and pick them up for 14k from Raghu. Can I give you a call or something about this? Could you PM me your number? And needless to say I will owe you a big favour!

Psychotropic,

You are right in that BR2 is grossly overpriced here. It is a good speaker though. Just not as good as its Indian price. The Image B25 is better than the BR2 on just about every count. Even the looks, if that matters.

My suggesting the Image B25 is just because at around 25K you are getting to the next level in terms of speakers. I dont know what the EPOS M5i costs - but that is supposed to be a superb little speaker. And I believe Usher S520 considers that speaker its direct competitor if I am not mistaken. You might want to check with Raghu on the EPOS M5i pricing.

Lastly I cannot agree with you more when you think that these auditions can only take you so far. In fact they dont take you along a whole lot when you think about the many factors that contribute to your listening experience at home. A home audition is the only real audition - that has been my conclusion I have reached with my admittedly meagre experience.

I know I said lastly - but I could not resist. I am not saying this just because the Alpha B1s were speakers I bought. I did compare them with most other speakers excepting the Ushers - which were anyway priced higher than the Alphas and picked them up. I know there may not be too much of a meeting point as far as our listening tastes are concerned. But in case you were looking for a home audition, I can offer my Alpha B1s for you for a few days. I have no intentions of selling them, but if using them in your setup for a few days can help you in your decision - I have no issue lending them to you.

Just let me know your preference.

 

[thevortex]

Hai Vortex,

The Celesta is not posted in the website. They are recent models. I had a very brief session, I would vouch that it will put the Entry level EPOS and others to shame.

Beleive in my ears.

N.Murali.

If this is true, then we might have to start a 'deal of the decade' thread just like Cranky's 'deal of the century'. But seriously if this is true, then it is worth going for a group audition to evaluate this speaker and start recommending it if found good.

Thanks for the heads up on this, Murali. Much appreciated. I have been to Torvin and a couple of times and have always found them receptive and their listening environment decent.

 

[murali_n]

Hai Vortex,

A group audition could be a very good idea, so that we can test with a couple of amps from the Forum members. In fact I had expressed to Mr.Siddique at the showroom that I want to test them with my NORGE 2060. He was very co-operative. Either you or Psycho can pl arrange a audition session at Torvin. I am willing to join.

About the speakers. Demo CD was Dire Straits, the sound was a bit laid back and transparent, the speakers completely disappeared and the sound stage was the most wide and deep, I have heard from a BS so far. Imaging was good. The Midwoofer and tweeters worked seamlessly. No distortion at all. All these at 9'0 Clock position of amp's volume. Thats why I suggest that Psycho should give this one a try.



Thanks

 

[gobble]

Hai Psycho,

Today I happened to hear Torvins "Celesta" BS Speakers. I guess it is made of Fostex M/W 6.5 inch , and Peerless tweeters (dont know the model), but it sounded great. The CDP was ARCAM and Amp was TORVIN 100wpc. The soundstage was amazing.

Why dont you give this a try. The price quoted was Rs.20K.

N.Murali.

I didnt know fostex made non-fullrangers

Ability to disappearing seems to be a quality of Fostex drivers. Mine disappear too

Cheers

 

[psychotropic]

this sounds very interesting. So far what I've heard about Torvin is that they are decent value but not great quality, and this is from someone who knows them personally. Where is their shop? I wouldn't mind going there for an audition, and if we can all co-ordinate we can all do it.

Hai Vortex,

A group audition could be a very good idea, so that we can test with a couple of amps from the Forum members. In fact I had expressed to Mr.Siddique at the showroom that I want to test them with my NORGE 2060. He was very co-operative. Either you or Psycho can pl arrange a audition session at Torvin. I am willing to join.

About the speakers. Demo CD was Dire Straits, the sound was a bit laid back and transparent, the speakers completely disappeared and the sound stage was the most wide and deep, I have heard from a BS so far. Imaging was good. The Midwoofer and tweeters worked seamlessly. No distortion at all. All these at 9'0 Clock position of amp's volume. Thats why I suggest that Psycho should give this one a try.



Thanks

 

[murali_n]

Hai Psycho & Gobble,

The drivers were similar to these :

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/PDF/fostexdrivers/fw167.pdf

And Madisound has also the Enclosure design and crossover network diagrams in the above link.

Thanks,

N.Murali.

 

[cooltoad]

but it's just that the Epos edged it out (possibly unfairly, due to some judas priest intervention) in the audition i did with both of them.

Tropic , i too listened to epos with Judas priest and loved the way the vocals came out. but i'm not willing to spend 20k for it. Following your thread with great interest, as i too got a used nad 320bee recently (and rock is my MPG)and in the hunt for the right speakers. Hope we can meet in some auditions.