Looking for cheap floorstanders for my dad.

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Hello, I have m22s and a HSU STF-2 sub and love them.

I wanted to buy my dad a nice stereo as a birthday present, we are moving and he hasn't been able to have a nice hifi for over 20 years. Music is one of his biggest hobbies.

I don't want to spend too much, so I've decided on floorstanders opposed to a sub and monitors. The best speakers he's used for the past 20 years were $16 comp speakers with static, hiss, and a messed up volume control so I am not worried about wheather or not absolute clarity is not achieved, or if he is missing the octave between 16-40 hz, since he's missing between 16-150 hz and between 7 and 20 KHz right now.

I have read that for most given price points, monitors and a sub are better than floorstanders for the same price, and I tend to agree on some counts, but a lot of good subs also cost the same amount I want to spend on towers minus $100.

I decided on a NAD 3020 amp on ebay, unless I can find something cheaper for better. He doesn't crank music up too much, so I'm not worried about that. A cheap CD player from a reputable company is what I am going for also, something that'll last, used or refurbished that doesn't audibly color the sound.

There's a nearby dealer that sells the Paradigm Espirits, I've heard nothing but good things about them so far for their price point. http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/paradigm_esprit_v3.htm I was really sad to see the m40s go since I'd take them in a heartbeat over those. Used m40s, if anyone knows where I can find them, would be the best option for me. I wouldn't have to start this thread if I knew where I could get a pair used.

I don't want to pay more than $400 for the speakers. I do not mind buying used stuff, even scratched up and dented stuff if it doesn't effect the unit's sound. I want them to be axiomlike in both their philosophy and their sound, meaning the company prefers to use scientific findings to create a neutral sounding speaker that allows as much of the music as possible to come through untouched at a specific price point.

T, unfortunately if the M50s are beyond your budget there isn't any apparent Axiom candidate. You might also consider the Infinity 360 .

If you are not rushed for purchasing, i recommend you watch the Audiogon and Canuck Audio Mart sites for used Axioms. There is a pair of M80s up there now for $650 USD obo. You may have to wait until something comes about or you can also put out a wanted ad. It is free to do so.

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I have read that for most given price points, monitors and a sub are better than floorstanders for the same price, and I tend to agree on some counts, but a lot of good subs also cost the same amount I want to spend on towers minus $100.

I don't want to pay more than $400 for the speakers.

I want them to be axiomlike in both their philosophy and their sound, meaning the company prefers to use scientific findings to create a neutral sounding speaker that allows as much of the music as possible to come through untouched at a specific price point.

Based on the above statements, might I suggest you consider the Rocket x-ls speakers, paired with a Rocket x-sub Both are currently out of stock, but will allegedly be back in stock by the middle of next week. The combo would come in just at your price point (plus shipping, and stands if necessary), you'd be getting Dad some brand new nice looking wood veneer speakers, and you'd be dealing with a company that is very Axiom-like when it comes to product quality, pricing, and customer service.

Audioholics x-ls Review

Affordable Audio x-ls & sub Review

Should Dad ever want to expand into 5.1 there is an x-cs center channel in the offing.

There is an x-sls floorstanding model coming as well, but I have no idea of when it might arrive, and it's just a bit out of your budget. (More pics in a variety of finishes)

Much more x product info can be found here.

I think Sean (St.PatGuy) owns an x-sub. You might PM him for his take on it's positives and negatives.

DISCLAIMER: Based on Thasp's criteria, I just thought this might be helpful. If Axiom offered speakers and a sub for $400 this post would not have been made, so cool your jets.

*sigh* I really wish people would put their location in their profile.

Having said that, East Hamilton Radio is having their annual speaker sale. $399 for Paradigm Phantoms, lots more deals if you are in the Toronto/Hamilton area.

T, you might want to try Audiogon, even for $400.00 you may be able to get something nice.

Well Ford, since I live in SW Ontario, you piqued my curiosity and I had to hit the EHR website. While there, I couldn't beleive my eyes when I saw that Paradigm now has their own line of Millenia speakers! Kind of sneaky - change just one letter......

Well...here's a thought fraught with a slew of "ifs"!

"If you are moving, and "if" your Dad likes the sound of your M22s with HSU sub, and "if" you don't know the size of your new listening room, and "if" you have the time and inclination to get yourself a new system built to order later.....?

Yeah; I know. It was just a thought.

I have changed my mind - instead of buying him lame speakers, I'd like to give him my m22s and buy myself something nice to celebrate me doubling my salary.

I'm willing to buy up to maybe $800-$1000, only used just bookshelves I want something very kickass sounding. I'll keep the STF-2 sub I have, I don't know how I can upgrade from such a kickass sub(sound is perfect - 15-20 hz is lacking, but in an apartment, it should be!)

Any suggestions appreciated, if I can't find anything I'll just get him a cheap pair of paradigms off ebay or the espirits from this shop. I'm looking through soundstage reviews and measurements right now, if I find something that reviews really well I'll go for it.

I'm not looking for something different sounding, rather, an upgrade in the same direction of the m22tis.

Not sure if you are looking for floorstanders or bookshelfs, but if you go with a floorstander, the M60's from the outlet IMO are one of the best deals you can get, they really do rock.

Those aren't much of an upgrade from m22s and a stf-2 for me, they use the same midrange/tweeter. they would also be too expensive for me to buy for my dad. The only axiom I'd be interested in is an ebay/audiogon cheap one for dad(below $400).

T, I think that your original question was more realistic than your second proposal. Neither the speaker that you mentioned for your father nor the Infinity that I linked(check the Stereophile review and measurements )should be considered as "lame". Your M22/STF-2 combo is excellent and except in a very large room(which you don't have)actually getting a significant "upgrade" for the money that you're considering doesn't seem very likely.

I never even read your post, my bad. I will definately consider those.

It seems you have to be 18 to have your own ebay account, which is lame, I guess I'll have to stick to audiogon/paypal.

I will consider the infinities, but if I see the m50s cheap or m40s used anywhere, I'm jumping at them. If anyone has a lead on them, I'd love to hear.

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celebrate me doubling my salary.

Isn't it amazing how more money you seem to have once you kick the cocaine habit?

You know I'm totally joking, right?

I never said I stopped.

I am happy with it, the youngest guy in the office is three years older than me. I never expected to jump ahead that far in this timeframe.

Sites like audiogon and ebay require that I be 18 to buy stuff, which is a bummer. I usually buy stuff with my dad's ebay/paypal account I made in his name with his info and pay him right before I make a charge to his card. However, if this is to be a surprise, obviously I can't do that. audiogon doesn't seem to require proof of age so if I buy used I'd like to go through them instead of ebay. I have a paypal account linked to my bank account.

the m80s are a bit expensive for me even at $650, especially since those are the older ones, I am making a request for the m40s on audiogon when I am finished signing up. I hope they come up.

Good luck with your hunt. I'm not giving up my M40s though

This Dad has been looking at the Boston Acoustics vr2 or 3 deal at one of the authorized online stores. I am also considering the Axiom m60s. I really got the itch to pull the trigger on the BAs from what I have read about them at AVS. Has anyone heard these? Would they be a suitable alternative to the M60/80 choices?

My reply never got posted for some reason.

I bought my dad Thiel CS3s, $700 shipped. Not 3.6 or 3.5, just normal CS3.

I will compare to the M22s and keep what I believe sounds better for myself. I don't think it'd be that useful posting a detailed comparison because this is a hard to find speaker, it is about 21-22 years old, but if I get around to it it'll be in this thread.

Gotta love the vintage stuff.
Interesting to hear how Thiel has kept the CS3 name going for so long, now up to .7?

What's with the jellow mold woofers?

Is that what they are, I thought they were for squeezing out some orange juice

It's the Supreme Dalek! Run!

Please excuse me, I was wrong. That's exactly what those look like. They're juicers!

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This Dad has been looking at the Boston Acoustics vr2 or 3 deal at one of the authorized online stores. I am also considering the Axiom m60s. I really got the itch to pull the trigger on the BAs from what I have read about them at AVS. Has anyone heard these? Would they be a suitable alternative to the M60/80 choices?

I tried the VR3's before the M80's, when upgrading from my old Infinity Kappa 8's. Although I never had all three in my place at the same time, I first compared the VR3's to the Kappas, then the M80's to the Kappas.

Although I thought the VR3's sounded better to me than the Def Tech 7002's in the store (I found out there that I much preferred the 'forward' sound), I didn't like them compared to the Kappas. The bass and imaging were better on the VR3's, but overall definition and high end clarity were much better on the Kappas. The VR3's sounded 'midrangy' in comparison. They were returned the next day (Great looking speaker, tho).

The M80's blew me away nearly instantly. I knew they were staying within about 30 seconds of cranking them up. They're balanced, open, forward, dynamic, and the sometimes contraversial term I occasionally use... musical.

Whether the VR3's are a suitable alternative to M80's I suppose would depend somewhat on what you're paying for them (assuming you like their sound). I think I paid around $900 for the VR3's at Best Buy. For me, it was a no brainer to stick with the M80's.

Yes the 0.7s are coming out soon.

I decided against the CS3. I am buying CS3.6 ones for myself and giving my dad the M22ti/STF-2 combo.

Completely out of what I considered reasonable before, but I have done my research. Both in measurements/scientific backing and reading listening tests. I bought the axioms and hsu sight unseen after the research I did and I loved them, so I trust my pre-purchase audio research abilities.

I'm looking for amps now - most possibly an adcom gfa-555 hooked up to my m-audio audiophile 2496