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From: zuhars@iris.eecs.ucdavis.edu (Gary Kreskin Huckabay)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Suggestions Wanted
Message-ID: <10850@uwm.edu>
Date: 8 Apr 91 12:59:27 GMT
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Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

I have a few questions which I would very much like to hear people's
suggestions on.

I am currently shopping for a new set of speakers for my system, as I
have, over time, upgraded everything else to the point where I definitely
need some.  My budget for a set of speakers is anywhere from $1000-$2500,
and space limitations are not a problem.

Currently, I am running a set of Acoustat 1+1's with a custom subwoofer,
purchased about four years ago (used) for $1100.

My electronics are:
* VTL CDB 582 CD Player
* Audible Illusions Modulus Preamp
* Dual Modified Adcom GFA-555 amps
  (I was VERY surprised to find the low quality of components in the Adcom
   as original equipment, and so had some rather expensive modifications
   done to replace capacitors and a couple of other things.  All told, I
   would have been better off buying higher quality amplification in the
   first place.  Oh, well.  Live and learn.  They sound great now.)

The speakers I eventually purchase will have to mesh well with these
electronics, as I'll have them for a long while.

So far, I have auditioned the following speakers for at least a couple of
hours, under varying conditions:

Vandersteen 2Ci's.  I wasn't terribly impressed by these speakers at all,
but they did have some strong points.

Thiel CS-2, and CS-3.5's.  Very nice, I thought, but not quite as 'airy'
a sound as I am looking for.

Precise 10's.  So far, this is the speaker I am leaning towards purchasing.
They have fantastic, tight imaging, have a very 'airy' sound to them, and
are very musical.  They have one small drawback - the very low bass is
very distinctive somehow.  However, an excellent speaker, particularly when
you consider the very low price of $1100.  (Which I didn't find out about
until AFTER I had listened to them for about 3 hours.)

I would like very much to hear all of my options before buying, as this is
something of a major purchase for me.  I know there are a great many speakers
out there in my price range, and I obviously won't be able to hear them all.
But any suggestions people could make through email would be very much 
appreciated.

Thanks very much,

Gary Huckabay.