Hi everybody, I'm not sure how to best handle this, but someone (steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac) is impersonating me. I've seen this message over and over again in the comments, and its not me! I've removed many of them. I've reported the problem to TH-cam and tried to block further posts. Anyway please disregard these posts. Thanks, Steve
Steve... have you looked at the cummulative spectral decay plot of the Zu Audio? It's a mess. Full of peaks and ringing with gobs of stored energy. This translates into listener fatigue. Are they efficient and go loud?... a resound yes... so maybe they are great at dance parties. But linear in response they are not and clean they cannot be with all that resonant hash. Can you honestly say that you can sit for the long haul and relax to those speakers? It took me less than a minute of listening to Zu speakers at a local audio show before I had to leave the room. Dirty Weekend, indeed.
I received my Zu Dirty Weekends today and I couldn't be happier, thanks for the referral Steve! (The first tune we played was "Also Sprach Zarathustra" quite loud.) Through a Bluesound Node 2i we played an MQA piano and vocals tune that sounded like the musician was in the room. My wife looked at me and exclaimed "We're keeping these!" Thank goodness! (Integrated amp is a Vincent SV-500 that has a tube preamp that makes the sound wonderfully warm.)
My listening space is a small 13x11 spare bedroom that is also my office and hobby space so I consider it a difficult room. I have a pair of the Tekton M-Lore's with the upgrade package and they are great speakers, especially for the money. Mine are also blue. At the time I purchased them I wanted the Zu Dirty Weekend's but in the blue maple color that I wanted with an upgrade and shipping they were $1k more than the M-Lore's so I cheaped out. From the photos that I've seen I think that the real wood and finishes of the DW's trumps the M-Lore's but I can't complain too much about the sound quality, which in my space, is very good. It also brought in some much needed bass and I was able to simplify my setup by removing the subs. (I replaced Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2's with the Tekton's). I'm powering the M-Lore's with a Peachtree Nova 500 which is probably overkill but it seems to work. However, I am seriously considering replacing the Nova with a Leak 130 or Audiolab 6000A which are both class A/B amps for a different sound. My M-Lore's are rated at 95dB so a Class A/B with lower power like the integrated amps that I'm looking at ouught to be enough power for my small space.
Love your videos Steve, especially your calm demeanor and realistic outlook on all things audiophile. One thing I’ve noticed is that you and other audio TH-camrs don’t talk much about audio cables - I’ve had some amazing results just from swapping out analogue, digital and speaker cables in my systems, so maybe consider devoting a short to that.
Its been a few years but I recently listened to the 600m’s in a residential space needing much bigger speakers and a sub. I was still impressed with how much they were able to dynamically punch out and ignite a large room, hitting that high energy sweet spot. I always think of a rocknroll house party when listening to klipsch but then heard some classical baroque on the 600’s and was so drawn in. They really are modern classics and that price point cannot be beat.
@@yacawntmiss …..in that large room I mentioned, though they still punched hard with the signature klipsch sound, they were definitely minimized and limited by the voluminous and high ceiling space. A sub and an additional pair of 600’s could have worked better for my friend (not an audiophile) and who was resistant to getting a pair of bigger or more expensive speakers to begin with. Like many have said before, small and medium size rooms are best for the 600s.
@@keplermission4947 You bring up a lot of fine points, and I just wanted to piggyback on that by saying that climate change and the fluctuating price of wheat has really affected the ways in which my KEF and Tekton speakers (KEF LS50 Meta in my auditorium listening space, Tekton Double Impacts in my laptop/near-field setup). Also (weirdly), when my next door neighbors would arrive home from Chuck E. Cheese, my integrated amp would temporarily put out less wattage into my speakers until they made it inside. But like I said, you bring up a lot of great variables that one needs to always consider when recommending a pair of speakers.
@@keplermission4947 what an annoying comment. The guy mentioned a couple speakers he enjoyed and thought deserved merit, he did not require a lecture as to the necessary conditions for speakers to sound good ffs.
@@weeooh1 what he said applies to any speakers so his comments are fairly worthless. Whether it is a $2000 pair of Canton or KLH Model 5 or $30,000 worth of whatever....At the end of the day I think we can figure out that enough reviewers have reviewed said speakers in enough environments paired to enough variations in equipment to at least draw "some" conclusions about their sound...If not, then why do we bother watching any reviews? Even hearing speakers in a showroom and comparing them to others in the same showroom has limitations and only offers comparisons but tells you nothing about how they'll sound when you get them home. That guy^ is a strange bird....
I'm not sure why Steve hasn't reviewed the KLH Model 5. Of all speakers not to review....jeez. Those are on many people's short list, especially with the prices of others speakers creeping up to that point. Like the Wharfedale Linton 85th anniversary seemed a great deal at $1500 for speakers AND matching stands, but not now at $1800. Why not spend the extra $200 and get the Model 5 instead?
Thanks, Steve, for your ongoing attention to the lower cost end of the world of audiophile gear. Personally, though, I'm in a stretch where I'm trying to pay more attention to =experiencing= music, and less attention to =gear= for experiencing music. Your thoughts on things in that arena are always appreciated. == As always, all the best to you and Mrs. Audiophiliac. P.S. Also, there's the world of "vintage" gear! My early 90's Klipsch KG3.2 speakers only cost me $300, 18 months ago, in very near to mint condition. I LOVE them!
Amazing how the 600m always makes these lists. Something newbies should note, you can find that speaker for sale during the holidays, ie blackfriday, sometimes.
Seems like what Joe Cue said, but many like them for their "lively, in your face" sound, especially for rock music. I think I'd not like to have them as my only speakers, but rather an adjunct pair...something to get out and enjoy for a month, them put back up and get to my more neutral speakers for a few months and repeat.....For the relatively inexpensive price (when they are on special for $500 or so) it seems like a good idea.... Then again, taming the 600m by driving them with a low wattage, but warm, tube amp might give the best of all worlds for a good price. Keep them in a 2nd system just to have on hand.
@@rosswarren436 I've never had Klipsch speakers. Currently running Wharfedale Diamond 225 and really happy with them. Would a Marantz 2245 be warm enough to tame the 600m?
@@yacawntmiss I don''t know the answer to that, not having them to try. You could order them and find out, and if they aren't to your tastes, send them back within the trial period, being careful to not damage them, the boxes, or the written material they come with. I do think from all the reviews I've seen that it might take a TUBE amp to tame the RP-600M speakers. But do note that some like their "lively" sound "as is", especially for rock music. I've heard some reviewers say Denon solid state of late has a warmer sound than others, but YMMV. Good luck! I have the Wharfedale 12.2 in my den and love them. They are paired with a modest Polk subwoofer at 50Hz.
My son has a pair running with a Marantz 1608, you couldn’t be more wrong. He also bought the atmos tops , and a Klipish sub to go with them. Warm, full, not in your face at all. Your mixed up with B&W. Now that’s obnoxious !
Great video! I really like you making it clear they are your favorites! I wanted to draw your attention to a series of CD’s the Cities 97 radio station in Minneapolis produced over the last 30 years. They were samplers, and the artists were recorded with a couple of microphones at their “studio C”, some were recorded live at an outdoor venue by a lake, and other places. They made a limited amount of the CD’s and sold them and the proceeds went to various charities. They no longer do this, but there are copies floating around on eBay. I love these recording’s because they usually are a striped down version of well known songs. Sampler Number one had Bruce Cockburn, Yanni, Al Stewart, Leo Kottke, Peter Himmelman, Oceans, Marty Jones ,Kenny G ,Bruce Hornsby ,all doing popular songs that they have acoustically at the studio or in an outdoor venue. Well worth giving a listening to. There are 30 of them with work from many artists before they hit it big, and of course artists who didn’t. Keep up the great work!
I am back too! Ida made me miss many of Steve’s great audiophiliac presentations and I especially obviously missed some great shirts over the almost last 3 months. Another great one. Your work is complete Steve but here it’s incomplete, back to my home restoration…….
Addding to the Tekton list would be the Lore. $1100 and incredible sounding. Like a grown-up version of the M-Lore. I am amazed each day by the music these put out.
I bought the Kef Ls50 metas and loving it. It’s highly resolving , detailed with superb imaging and soundstage. Transparent and neutral. It is positioning sensitive in my room but once it is right , it sings. It does need a sub to be full range. It also needs good equipment up front - using a 80w Moon I5 which is highly resolving n detailed ( wld later try upgrade to the Kinki Studio EX M1 +. ). Using a Matrix Mini I Pro 3 DAC ( wld upgrade to the Pontus 2 next yr ). Overall very happy with the sound in a 2.2M listening equilateral triangle.
Thanks to you (and WhatHiFi) I bought the LS50 Meta and Cambridge CXA81. Fantastic combination, that may stay for life; really would not know what can better the sound for 'normal' money. Use a Totem active sub with it.
I too have those speakers with an AudioLab 6000a amp, and they are wonderful. The only improvement I can imagine is having the musicians in my living room, not an easy ask.
Steve, you are one of the best when it comes to judging products against their intended purpose or target market. So many auto writers love to talk about a Honda Accord and then say something obvious and stupid such as, well, it's no Ferrari but....Likewise, so many audio writers love to offer up a lofty standard of reference and judge even the lowliest pieces of gear against their ideal system. That's not only unfair to the product which was not intended to compete with the ten times more expensive product but that also will never be cross shopped by anyone who could afford the ten times costlier product. You get that and compare like products or plainly state, hey, this is what the thing was designed to do in a certain price point and it does or doesn't do so very well.
@@markceci9896 Nah, it makes perfect sense, if you grew up on horn loaded classic speakers, your gonna have a strong nostalgia/bond to the sound. The mans lived or spent daily time @ work with just about everything under the sun over the past 40 years, I trust his taste blindly based on just that alone.
I have the Tekton Troubadour and love them. They have so much more bass than you would expect. They have replaced my Revel F208. I don’t know how, but they really did.
Great info, Steve! I'd love to hear your recommendations sometime for HiFi in challenging spaces. I, for one, don't have the option to bring speakers away from a boundary wall in my space and went through at least a half-dozen speakers that didn't work before landing on Klipsch Heresey IV's, which sound amazing in my space. I can imagine that there are viewers that may, for various reasons, also covet speakers that sound good at lower listening levels. Anyways, keep up the great work 🍌
@@keplermission4947 oh, drat. My evil plan has been foiled. Maybe next time I'll aim a little higher up the audiophile food chain and write that I have Magiko Speakers
I’d like to propose Amphion Argon 1 to the list. Able to fit well into my room and with current modest electronics, large sweet spot vertically and horizontally, fast, detailed, transparent, great with vocal, and surprising bottom end for the size. As a bonus I think they look beautiful and very good at low volumes too.
Viewer's system is beautiful. Mid-century cabinet. Wonder what function that cabinet was designed for in the 50s or whatever? Steampunkesque stand for the center speaker. Lots of beautiful power. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful Mid-century chairs, too--that I would not block any of the system with.
I have a similar cabinet but twice as wide with four doors. I use it as a record cabinet, it is open front to back with no shelves, so works well for that. Early 60s from Europe.
Some people tweak the crossover of the Lintons to get more detail out of them, but I'm not sure if I want that, not if it leads to a more fatiguing top high. I have the Dentons too, they have more 'detail' (livelier, less laid-back, there's more treble in the snare), but I much prefer the Lintons.
And it looks like it is a photoshopped image, where all the cables? The Maggies are by far too much toed in to make sense in this room, the subs are covered by the chairs, really (maybe the right one but not at the left)?
@@goodsound4756 some people hate exposed wires and hide them from view. Not uncommon type A OCD thing. I'm with it but I switch gear so much that i don't bother routing my cables anymore.
Steve: Being almost 70 years old, I can’t comprehend how speakers get bass with 5” or 6” woofers. Some of the numbers match my JBL Jubals with the legendary JBL 12” woofers. How is it possible?
We bought the Dynaudio Emit 30 a few weeks ago. Amongst others based on your review. Very happy with these speakers, detailed but not annoying, not too big, and good sound at a low volume too. Thank you Steve!!
A close friend lent me a pair of 600Ms and they were a lot of fun. I wouldn’t characterize them as bright, in fact they can be laid back with the right amplifier. That is until your turn them up…then they can rock out! Dynamics are fantastic in my experience.
Did I see Cornwall next to you? Too bad the cut off point is 2k and that excluded Cornwall, Forte and Heresy. I have a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 225, with a little modification, it also sounds very good at a fraction of the price of any in the list.
You'll have to find them used, but under $1000 the JBL 4410a is a fantastic set of studio monitors, the 4412a go for more because of a bigger woofer (12in) but pairing a sub with the 4410a is a great package
Steve, I'd love you to see you compare the JBL LSR 308P (first version) versus the Kali LP 8 (second wave). The former just got me to sell Linn power amps, HiFi rack, interconnects and the best passive speakers Celestion ever made (according to them). £250 spent on the JBLs, £2.5K to be sold.
Great, timely video. But Steve, you have ignored the ONE $2000/pair speaker nearly all reviewers here on TH-cam have raved about for the price: The KLH Model 5. Why have you not reviewed it? I wish you would. Peace.
Thanks Ross, but I've had it here and didn't like it. Other reviewers were hearing something I did not. If you own the '5s and dig them please don't take my impression the wrong way!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thank you for responding! I know you don't want to do negative reviews and I respect that. It's just that I guess I was looking at them as being the "Goldilocks" speakers for me in my price range after seeing so many positive reviews. I guess I might have to try a pair and if I'm disappointed like you, I can send them back in the trial period. Thanks again and enjoy the holidays! Peace.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Steve, if the speakers are bad and/or not worth the money, I'd love to hear your reasons why. Some of us do not have access to a show room to audition speakers and don't want to make a big financial mistake. I recently heard a speaker comparison on TH-cam, with sound clips, and the Model 5 sounded better than its competitors to my ears. I listened through a good set of headphones, but I understand TH-cam compresses audio, so it cannot replicate an in-person audition. The compression, however, did apply to all of the sound clips.. By not reviewing the Model 5, one might conclude there are reasons, other than sound quality, that might be in play.
Steve, just a note on your statement about the cost of the GoldenEar Triton Reference. They are now $10,000, not the $8,500 that they started out at. Sigh. My very tentative thoughts of upgrading from my Triton Ones to the Triton Reference kind of seem like fantasy at this point. Fortunately, despite being not quite as amazingly excellent as the new Triton Reference, the Triton One, is very enjoyable.
Steve and gang, I wanted to upgrade my original LS50. Would you suggest LS50 Meta, Golden Ear BRX or something else? I really like the sound staging and off-axis performance from the LS50. So, that's my priority. My system: Bluesound Node>Denafrips Pontus II and Hestia>NAD C298>KEF KC62 & LS50. Thanks!
Thank you Steve for all this incredible knowledge based info. I'm a speaker guy first and foremost and also a musicaholic so Im a double wammy....lol. Now as an audiophile I do understand other aspects of this incredible hobby that I adore I can really appreciate other aspects of other gear in a rig. Back to speakers, you have recorded in one place all the speaker gear that I kinda watched over the past year or so from you so that I can remember many of them in one place. Again thanks for this incredible review to keep in the wings for possible speaker buys in the future.
Is it possible to to make a loudspeaker out of two audiophile bookshelf speakers by removing them and putting them in a bigger box? Remove 4 of them and make 2 loudspeakers?
the EPI company in late '60's did exactly that ( prob. not that simple to get right ) they sold a very well received 8 inch 2 way for about $100. and used that in both 2 bass and 4 bass ( tower ) designs.
The LRS transparency is addictive. I built mine into oak frames. With a pair of REL powered subs : They're keepers! (LS50s are staying too) Time to forget upgrades and focus on discovering new MUSIC 🎶🤫🎶
Great review, sir. Oh wow, so many choices, only a pair of ears (and a lousy pay, haha). /.... /I know at some point I will go for the 600s, Klipsch. Thank a lot!! I'm a sucker for long lists (and "budget" speakers). Saludos desde España. 🔊😉
Good Lord!,.........Where in the world did you get that shirt? This one may be your best ever. And you finally got a less messy haircut. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Cheers. Hey and hello fellow audio fanatics. Happy Thanksgiving to all youse guys (and gals).
Steve if you can review the new Emit 50 please do so I'd love to know your thoughts. I've a feeling that Dynaudio may be right that you can't even get the performance for twice the money (rolls off at 33hz wtf!?). I think they're hard to get though right now
Thanks Eric, but please understand all the speakers on the list I have heard and or reviewed. It is amazing as it might seem I haven’t heard every speaker!
Hard to watch this when I see a pair of what appears to be Sennheiser 414 cans on the rack behind you. A gem from my youth! Steve, care to make a vid about those?
Hi everybody, I'm not sure how to best handle this, but someone (steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac) is impersonating me. I've seen this message over and over again in the comments, and its not me! I've removed many of them. I've reported the problem to TH-cam and tried to block further posts. Anyway please disregard these posts. Thanks, Steve
Noted.
I thought I had won a T-shirt 😊🙏☮️
Maybe they'll screw up and pay YOUR taxes... ;-)
Steve... have you looked at the cummulative spectral decay plot of the Zu Audio? It's a mess. Full of peaks and ringing with gobs of stored energy. This translates into listener fatigue. Are they efficient and go loud?... a resound yes... so maybe they are great at dance parties.
But linear in response they are not and clean they cannot be with all that resonant hash. Can you honestly say that you can sit for the long haul and relax to those speakers? It took me less than a minute of listening to Zu speakers at a local audio show before I had to leave the room. Dirty Weekend, indeed.
It’s commonplace in TH-cam, not just with you. Con merchants are everywhere.
I received my Zu Dirty Weekends today and I couldn't be happier, thanks for the referral Steve! (The first tune we played was "Also Sprach Zarathustra" quite loud.) Through a Bluesound Node 2i we played an MQA piano and vocals tune that sounded like the musician was in the room. My wife looked at me and exclaimed "We're keeping these!" Thank goodness! (Integrated amp is a Vincent SV-500 that has a tube preamp that makes the sound wonderfully warm.)
That’s terrific, enjoy!!!
Are they still making these? I've been looking around the internet but without any success. Thanks.
Steve's shirt choice is, as always, impeccable
These are all speakers that Steve’s bananas about.
It's just 🍌 bananas. .
Is that a 🍌 on your shirt or are you just happy to see me ?
Awesome as always 👏 😎
My listening space is a small 13x11 spare bedroom that is also my office and hobby space so I consider it a difficult room. I have a pair of the Tekton M-Lore's with the upgrade package and they are great speakers, especially for the money. Mine are also blue. At the time I purchased them I wanted the Zu Dirty Weekend's but in the blue maple color that I wanted with an upgrade and shipping they were $1k more than the M-Lore's so I cheaped out.
From the photos that I've seen I think that the real wood and finishes of the DW's trumps the M-Lore's but I can't complain too much about the sound quality, which in my space, is very good. It also brought in some much needed bass and I was able to simplify my setup by removing the subs. (I replaced Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2's with the Tekton's).
I'm powering the M-Lore's with a Peachtree Nova 500 which is probably overkill but it seems to work. However, I am seriously considering replacing the Nova with a Leak 130 or Audiolab 6000A which are both class A/B amps for a different sound. My M-Lore's are rated at 95dB so a Class A/B with lower power like the integrated amps that I'm looking at ouught to be enough power for my small space.
Love your videos Steve, especially your calm demeanor and realistic outlook on all things audiophile. One thing I’ve noticed is that you and other audio TH-camrs don’t talk much about audio cables - I’ve had some amazing results just from swapping out analogue, digital and speaker cables in my systems, so maybe consider devoting a short to that.
Its been a few years but I recently listened to the 600m’s in a residential space needing much bigger speakers and a sub. I was still impressed with how much they were able to dynamically punch out and ignite a large room, hitting that high energy sweet spot. I always think of a rocknroll house party when listening to klipsch but then heard some classical baroque on the 600’s and was so drawn in. They really are modern classics and that price point cannot be beat.
Would you say large room only?
@@yacawntmiss …..in that large room I mentioned, though they still punched hard with the signature klipsch sound, they were definitely minimized and limited by the voluminous and high ceiling space. A sub and an additional pair of 600’s could have worked better for my friend (not an audiophile) and who was resistant to getting a pair of bigger or more expensive speakers to begin with. Like many have said before, small and medium size rooms are best for the 600s.
Wow, Steve. Thanks for the Noah Wall suggestion, would have never listened to that otherwise. Awesome!
Great list, I heard most of them.....
I like to add Canton and KLH....both make great under $2K speakers that have a lot to offer most listeners.
@@keplermission4947 You bring up a lot of fine points, and I just wanted to piggyback on that by saying that climate change and the fluctuating price of wheat has really affected the ways in which my KEF and Tekton speakers (KEF LS50 Meta in my auditorium listening space, Tekton Double Impacts in my laptop/near-field setup). Also (weirdly), when my next door neighbors would arrive home from Chuck E. Cheese, my integrated amp would temporarily put out less wattage into my speakers until they made it inside. But like I said, you bring up a lot of great variables that one needs to always consider when recommending a pair of speakers.
@@keplermission4947 what an annoying comment. The guy mentioned a couple speakers he enjoyed and thought deserved merit, he did not require a lecture as to the necessary conditions for speakers to sound good ffs.
@@weeooh1 what he said applies to any speakers so his comments are fairly worthless. Whether it is a $2000 pair of Canton or KLH Model 5 or $30,000 worth of whatever....At the end of the day I think we can figure out that enough reviewers have reviewed said speakers in enough environments paired to enough variations in equipment to at least draw "some" conclusions about their sound...If not, then why do we bother watching any reviews? Even hearing speakers in a showroom and comparing them to others in the same showroom has limitations and only offers comparisons but tells you nothing about how they'll sound when you get them home. That guy^ is a strange bird....
I'm not sure why Steve hasn't reviewed the KLH Model 5. Of all speakers not to review....jeez. Those are on many people's short list, especially with the prices of others speakers creeping up to that point. Like the Wharfedale Linton 85th anniversary seemed a great deal at $1500 for speakers AND matching stands, but not now at $1800. Why not spend the extra $200 and get the Model 5 instead?
@@rosswarren436 I think he had them but he disliked them so much he sent them back without a review.
Thanks, Steve, for your ongoing attention to the lower cost end of the world of audiophile gear. Personally, though, I'm in a stretch where I'm trying to pay more attention to =experiencing= music, and less attention to =gear= for experiencing music. Your thoughts on things in that arena are always appreciated. == As always, all the best to you and Mrs. Audiophiliac. P.S. Also, there's the world of "vintage" gear! My early 90's Klipsch KG3.2 speakers only cost me $300, 18 months ago, in very near to mint condition. I LOVE them!
Amazing how the 600m always makes these lists. Something newbies should note, you can find that speaker for sale during the holidays, ie blackfriday, sometimes.
too bright and obscene
Seems like what Joe Cue said, but many like them for their "lively, in your face" sound, especially for rock music. I think I'd not like to have them as my only speakers, but rather an adjunct pair...something to get out and enjoy for a month, them put back up and get to my more neutral speakers for a few months and repeat.....For the relatively inexpensive price (when they are on special for $500 or so) it seems like a good idea....
Then again, taming the 600m by driving them with a low wattage, but warm, tube amp might give the best of all worlds for a good price. Keep them in a 2nd system just to have on hand.
@@rosswarren436 I've never had Klipsch speakers. Currently running Wharfedale Diamond 225 and really happy with them. Would a Marantz 2245 be warm enough to tame the 600m?
@@yacawntmiss I don''t know the answer to that, not having them to try. You could order them and find out, and if they aren't to your tastes, send them back within the trial period, being careful to not damage them, the boxes, or the written material they come with.
I do think from all the reviews I've seen that it might take a TUBE amp to tame the RP-600M speakers.
But do note that some like their "lively" sound "as is", especially for rock music.
I've heard some reviewers say Denon solid state of late has a warmer sound than others, but YMMV. Good luck!
I have the Wharfedale 12.2 in my den and love them. They are paired with a modest Polk subwoofer at 50Hz.
My son has a pair running with a Marantz 1608, you couldn’t be more wrong. He also bought the atmos tops , and a Klipish sub to go with them. Warm, full, not in your face at all. Your mixed up with B&W. Now that’s obnoxious !
Great video! I really like you making it clear they are your favorites! I wanted to draw your attention to a series of CD’s the Cities 97 radio station in Minneapolis produced over the last 30 years. They were samplers, and the artists were recorded with a couple of microphones at their “studio C”, some were recorded live at an outdoor venue by a lake, and other places. They made a limited amount of the CD’s and sold them and the proceeds went to various charities. They no longer do this, but there are copies floating around on eBay. I love these recording’s because they usually are a striped down version of well known songs. Sampler Number one had Bruce Cockburn, Yanni, Al Stewart, Leo Kottke, Peter Himmelman, Oceans, Marty Jones ,Kenny G ,Bruce Hornsby ,all doing popular songs that they have acoustically at the studio or in an outdoor venue. Well worth giving a listening to. There are 30 of them with work from many artists before they hit it big, and of course artists who didn’t. Keep up the great work!
Steve never disappoints - with his audio knowledge/opinions, his friendly demeanor, and his unusual/colorful shirts! Nicely done, again.
I am back too! Ida made me miss many of Steve’s great audiophiliac presentations and I especially obviously missed some great shirts over the almost last 3 months. Another great one. Your work is complete Steve but here it’s incomplete, back to my home restoration…….
Addding to the Tekton list would be the Lore. $1100 and incredible sounding. Like a grown-up version of the M-Lore. I am amazed each day by the music these put out.
I bought the Kef Ls50 metas and loving it. It’s highly resolving , detailed with superb imaging and soundstage. Transparent and neutral. It is positioning sensitive in my room but once it is right , it sings. It does need a sub to be full range. It also needs good equipment up front - using a 80w Moon I5 which is highly resolving n detailed ( wld later try upgrade to the Kinki Studio EX M1 +. ). Using a Matrix Mini I Pro 3 DAC ( wld upgrade to the Pontus 2 next yr ). Overall very happy with the sound in a 2.2M listening equilateral triangle.
@steve Guttenberg Audio... Sorry Steve , I’m in China , no WhatsApp only wechat lol
It’s not Steve its a fake account. Do not reply. Can tell name is lower case and not highlighted.
@@love2spinvinyl Thks
Thanks to you (and WhatHiFi) I bought the LS50 Meta and Cambridge CXA81. Fantastic combination, that may stay for life; really would not know what can better the sound for 'normal' money. Use a Totem active sub with it.
I too have those speakers with an AudioLab 6000a amp, and they are wonderful. The only improvement I can imagine is having the musicians in my living room, not an easy ask.
Steve, you are one of the best when it comes to judging products against their intended purpose or target market. So many auto writers love to talk about a Honda Accord and then say something obvious and stupid such as, well, it's no Ferrari but....Likewise, so many audio writers love to offer up a lofty standard of reference and judge even the lowliest pieces of gear against their ideal system. That's not only unfair to the product which was not intended to compete with the ten times more expensive product but that also will never be cross shopped by anyone who could afford the ten times costlier product. You get that and compare like products or plainly state, hey, this is what the thing was designed to do in a certain price point and it does or doesn't do so very well.
Awesome list Steve. I must say that banana shirt is tops! Way to go!
Steve could easily have just about ANY fancy personal speaker/amp setup, yet at end of the day Hes rockin Classic Klipsches & Nelson Pass amp.
I was going to say that "I think Steve is going bananas."
@@markceci9896 Nah, it makes perfect sense, if you grew up on horn loaded classic speakers, your gonna have a strong nostalgia/bond to the sound. The mans lived or spent daily time @ work with just about everything under the sun over the past 40 years, I trust his taste blindly based on just that alone.
@@AllboroLCD It was just a fun joke. I think Steve is great.
@@markceci9896 lost in translation, all good ; )
I have the Tekton Troubadour and love them. They have so much more bass than you would expect. They have replaced my Revel F208. I don’t know how, but they really did.
Great info, Steve! I'd love to hear your recommendations sometime for HiFi in challenging spaces. I, for one, don't have the option to bring speakers away from a boundary wall in my space and went through at least a half-dozen speakers that didn't work before landing on Klipsch Heresey IV's, which sound amazing in my space. I can imagine that there are viewers that may, for various reasons, also covet speakers that sound good at lower listening levels. Anyways, keep up the great work 🍌
@@keplermission4947 oh, drat. My evil plan has been foiled. Maybe next time I'll aim a little higher up the audiophile food chain and write that I have Magiko Speakers
Great list! I would add the Tekton Lore Reference as well--about the same price as the DW.
Ah, forgot to mention... Love how the hairdo goes from (classic) slick to (trademark) messy throughout the video, haha
I’d like to propose Amphion Argon 1 to the list. Able to fit well into my room and with current modest electronics, large sweet spot vertically and horizontally, fast, detailed, transparent, great with vocal, and surprising bottom end for the size. As a bonus I think they look beautiful and very good at low volumes too.
Viewer's system is beautiful. Mid-century cabinet. Wonder what function that cabinet was designed for in the 50s or whatever? Steampunkesque stand for the center speaker. Lots of beautiful power. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful Mid-century chairs, too--that I would not block any of the system with.
I have a similar cabinet but twice as wide with four doors. I use it as a record cabinet, it is open front to back with no shelves, so works well for that. Early 60s from Europe.
I wonder where his turntable was?
Some people tweak the crossover of the Lintons to get more detail out of them, but I'm not sure if I want that, not if it leads to a more fatiguing top high. I have the Dentons too, they have more 'detail' (livelier, less laid-back, there's more treble in the snare), but I much prefer the Lintons.
Buchardt S300 mkII would also be a great choice. Either way nice list Steve!
The viewer's system has all the charm of a Marriott lobby
And it looks like it is a photoshopped image, where all the cables? The Maggies are by far too much toed in to make sense in this room, the subs are covered by the chairs, really (maybe the right one but not at the left)?
@@goodsound4756 some people hate exposed wires and hide them from view. Not uncommon type A OCD thing. I'm with it but I switch gear so much that i don't bother routing my cables anymore.
Don’t feed the trolls.
@@Chris.from.1950 I stick my fingers in spinning objects so it's hard for me to let it go lol
@@erics.4113 don't believe the conspiracy theorists 😉
I am surprised that those Cantons that Steve recently reviewed are not included in this list :/
Steve: Being almost 70 years old, I can’t comprehend how speakers get bass with 5” or 6” woofers. Some of the numbers match my JBL Jubals with the legendary JBL 12” woofers. How is it possible?
The amp is the biggest factor here. My KEF LS50s bump with a PrimaLuna integrated. It’s not about watts. It’s about the output transformers
You can get deep bass from a small speaker but sensitivity will be very low. Everything is a trade-off in speaker design.
Steve is looking more and more like Our man in Havana as the videos progress.
We bought the Dynaudio Emit 30 a few weeks ago. Amongst others based on your review.
Very happy with these speakers, detailed but not annoying, not too big, and good sound at a low volume too.
Thank you Steve!!
I was afraid for a second you wouldn't include Genelec. Glad that was averted.
We need to rate Steve's shirts 😁
Steve, I love your channel!
I bought some tekton pendragons with the upgraded 7 tweeter array and upgraded caps this season I can't wait
Thanks for this.
Hi Steve , great video.
Great video! Not in the market for anything new currently. But you know how we are. Give it a month and i will see how i feel lol
Thanks for the music!,!
It’s three, three, three shirts in one!
Great list, to which I would only add the Philharmonic Audio BMR.
I like the genelec three
A close friend lent me a pair of 600Ms and they were a lot of fun. I wouldn’t characterize them as bright, in fact they can be laid back with the right amplifier. That is until your turn them up…then they can rock out! Dynamics are fantastic in my experience.
Did I see Cornwall next to you? Too bad the cut off point is 2k and that excluded Cornwall, Forte and Heresy.
I have a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 225, with a little modification, it also sounds very good at a fraction of the price of any in the list.
You'll have to find them used, but under $1000 the JBL 4410a is a fantastic set of studio monitors, the 4412a go for more because of a bigger woofer (12in) but pairing a sub with the 4410a is a great package
Steve, I'd love you to see you compare the JBL LSR 308P (first version) versus the Kali LP 8 (second wave). The former just got me to sell Linn power amps, HiFi rack, interconnects and the best passive speakers Celestion ever made (according to them). £250 spent on the JBLs, £2.5K to be sold.
Steve, you should try the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 if you haven't yet. In my opinion it is better than the Lintons.
I can only agree.... Im staring at my evo 4.4s as I type... xD
You rave about the Kef Q750 but they are not on this list, just curious as to why?
Love that shirt
Another Good Video think for my room and my listening tastes Triangle for me
Hello Steve, I would like to know you compare the Avantgarde Zero AT 1 vs Fleetwood vs Klipsch Cornwall vs La Scala?
Great, timely video. But Steve, you have ignored the ONE $2000/pair speaker nearly all reviewers here on TH-cam have raved about for the price: The KLH Model 5. Why have you not reviewed it? I wish you would. Peace.
Thanks Ross, but I've had it here and didn't like it. Other reviewers were hearing something I did not. If you own the '5s and dig them please don't take my impression the wrong way!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thank you for responding! I know you don't want to do negative reviews and I respect that. It's just that I guess I was looking at them as being the "Goldilocks" speakers for me in my price range after seeing so many positive reviews.
I guess I might have to try a pair and if I'm disappointed like you, I can send them back in the trial period.
Thanks again and enjoy the holidays! Peace.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Steve, if the speakers are bad and/or not worth the money, I'd love to hear your reasons why. Some of us do not have access to a show room to audition speakers and don't want to make a big financial mistake. I recently heard a speaker comparison on TH-cam, with sound clips, and the Model 5 sounded better than its competitors to my ears. I listened through a good set of headphones, but I understand TH-cam compresses audio, so it cannot replicate an in-person audition. The compression, however, did apply to all of the sound clips..
By not reviewing the Model 5, one might conclude there are reasons, other than sound quality, that might be in play.
Steve, just a note on your statement about the cost of the GoldenEar Triton Reference. They are now $10,000, not the $8,500 that they started out at. Sigh. My very tentative thoughts of upgrading from my Triton Ones to the Triton Reference kind of seem like fantasy at this point. Fortunately, despite being not quite as amazingly excellent as the new Triton Reference, the Triton One, is very enjoyable.
I need that shirt in my life.
Well that’s just bananas!
Put me in the mood for some fruit...
Steve and gang, I wanted to upgrade my original LS50. Would you suggest LS50 Meta, Golden Ear BRX or something else? I really like the sound staging and off-axis performance from the LS50. So, that's my priority. My system: Bluesound Node>Denafrips Pontus II and Hestia>NAD C298>KEF KC62 & LS50. Thanks!
I just heard the Paradigm 200b. Very rich sound, detailed treble but not bright. Keep them about 2-3 feet away from the wall.
$1000/pair.
Tekton Design have several speakers on sale as well.
You had my Vandersteen Model 1 on here last time you listed your favorite speakers. Have they really dropped out of the top 14?
Is it just me or your HP tree just keeps growing and growing :D
Excellent shirt, digging it! Regards from the Netherlands
Do you have any experience with the SVS Ultra series speakers ? I would like to hear your opinion of them....
I like your shirts. Meanwhile I just bought a pair of heresy 4's and I love them even though they're not even broke in yet.
Hope you review Quad S2. Other reviewers consider them better than LS50 Meta.
What about the Kef LS50 Meta? (Just saw it in the video but it is not in the description list).
Steve has gone bananas
Will you be listening to any of the Magnat Transpul speakers?
Thank you Steve for all this incredible knowledge based info. I'm a speaker guy first and foremost and also a musicaholic so Im a double wammy....lol. Now as an audiophile I do understand other aspects of this incredible hobby that I adore I can really appreciate other aspects of other gear in a rig.
Back to speakers, you have recorded in one place all the speaker gear that I kinda watched over the past year or so from you so that I can remember many of them in one place.
Again thanks for this incredible review to keep in the wings for possible speaker buys in the future.
Is it possible to to make a loudspeaker out of two audiophile bookshelf speakers by removing them and putting them in a bigger box? Remove 4 of them and make 2 loudspeakers?
the EPI company in late '60's did exactly that ( prob. not that simple to get right ) they sold a very well received 8 inch 2 way for about $100. and used that in both 2 bass and 4 bass ( tower ) designs.
with a good speaker you should be able to hear the piccalos in "Stairway to Heaven"
There aren't any piccolos in Stairway.
I like your wife's fruity design of The Audiophiliac Shirt of the Day!
Without Dealers I would need to spend $20,769 to audition and find that under $2K amazing speaker. Sounds like they are all winners.
What about wharfedale evo 4.1 or 4.2 and KEF R3 , how does it compare to these ones, I'm very curious about this !
Steve - Which of the 14 sound good at low listening levels?
Quite humble in promoting his shirt and poster. it's a good design.
how about totem is this speaker on ur list
So far the banana shirt is the best 🍌😀
Could you have a look at the Elac BS 312? :)
Steve's gone bananas!
Hey, Can you do a Video about Richter Audio Speakers? Love From India 🤝🤝
Going bananas 🍌 🍌 for speakers 🔊 🔊 under $2K . . . 👀
Surprised you didn't include KEF R3 as it was your speaker of the year at this price point - too redundant?
i love my klipsch speakers recommend it as well
Not kef ls50?
I like that shirt
My 600ms sound fantastic either with my icon audio valve amp or my roksan amp , not bright not in your face clean crisp , and with bass
@steve Guttenberg Audio... eh??
How come Magnepan's ads look like they were shot in 1962 lol
The LRS transparency is addictive. I built mine into oak frames. With a pair of REL powered subs : They're keepers!
(LS50s are staying too)
Time to forget upgrades and focus on discovering new MUSIC
🎶🤫🎶
Yay, Lintons were mentioned. I own it and love it 🥰
Which integrated amplifier are you using? Am driving mine on 4ohm tap with the Yamaha r-n803.
@@HanifBarnwell I drive mine with a Rega Elex-R and they sound outrageous
@@HanifBarnwell I have an Emotiva A-300 but have been searching for something new for a bit. Im considering monoblocks.
@@brianbieniowski2777 noted and thx
@@P194-s3i wow? If you have funds for monoblocks have you considered the Elysian 2?
Great review, sir. Oh wow, so many choices, only a pair of ears (and a lousy pay, haha). /.... /I know at some point I will go for the 600s, Klipsch. Thank a lot!! I'm a sucker for long lists (and "budget" speakers). Saludos desde España. 🔊😉
Good Lord!,.........Where in the world did you get that shirt? This one may be your best ever. And you finally got a less messy haircut. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Cheers. Hey and hello fellow audio fanatics. Happy Thanksgiving to all youse guys (and gals).
Shirt from Dan Flash, obviously
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks.
Tekton which were bookshelf or tower?
Troubadour is a large bookshelf speaker, the other two were towers.
Hi Steve. Spectacular shirt! Wishing you all a happy holiday. Greg
Steve if you can review the new Emit 50 please do so I'd love to know your thoughts. I've a feeling that Dynaudio may be right that you can't even get the performance for twice the money (rolls off at 33hz wtf!?). I think they're hard to get though right now
@steve Guttenberg Audio... Hi thanks Steve is that Dynaudios No?! Hehe
Why the M-Lore and not just the Lore, I wonder. It too fits in the price category.
Thanks Eric, but please understand all the speakers on the list I have heard and or reviewed. It is amazing as it might seem I haven’t heard every speaker!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac gotcha. Thanks for the reply. Love your channel!!!
a challenge for you, speakers that sound better than the Lintons for £ 1000
Fourteen speakers? I only need two in my system 😁
KLH model 5 ???? did not even make the list Steve!!!! SMH,.....
Yeah, that's because I didn't review it! The list isn't a popularity contest, it's speakers I favor, that's all.
Hard to watch this when I see a pair of what appears to be Sennheiser 414 cans on the rack behind you. A gem from my youth! Steve, care to make a vid about those?
Thanks, already shot a 414 video here on this channel.