BEFORE you buy an expensive speaker watch this video!

Of course to sample these different types of speakers I'd recommend buying used speakers as you develop your taste. Box speakers, from brands such as -- B&W, Focal, ELAC, Wharfedale, Tekton, Harbeth, Q Acoustics, Polk, Triangle, Magico, Wilson, Genelec, etc -- are BOX, direct radiating designs. They are the most popular TYPE of speaker. But if you've never heard a panel, open baffle, omni, horn, or full range design you don't know what you're missing!

Check these resources:
JBL (horn)

Please check out the AUDIOPHILIAC PATREON
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Twitter: @AudiophiliacMan

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Looking for great sounding FREE UNCOMPRESSED or processed music? Check out these videos about the two MA Recordings samplers:

[SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Of course to sample these different types of speakers I'd recommend buying used speakers as you develop your taste.

[martybousum]

The navigation part of the process is also very satisfying! Thanks, dude!

[Finn-McCool]

I've been listening to different speakers for over fifty years. And I've always enjoyed hearing different types. I'm saving up...( disabled retired custom wooden furniture maker ) for the Polk R700 floor standers. Because to my ears they are the best bang for the buck under the DIMINISHING RETURNS threshold slope of discretionary funds that are worth spending my money on.
Because it's definitely a thing Mr. Guttenberg. 😊 Some of my other considerations are the G R Research open baffle, Ohm and the Magnepan. I plan to drive the Polk pair using two Schiit Vidar XLR mono blocks via Schiit Freya+ preamplifier and Yggdrasil DAC and Bluesound streamer.
It's basically top of the affordable line of gear. It's a solid bang-for-the-buck option culled from the mass offering of affordable poverty level income brands available to the world. It will not disappoint and I will eventually integrate a center channel (R400), four bookshelves (R200) and four ceiling atmos speakers (R900HT) from the Polk Reserve line as well. I'm looking at two years to complete the project.

[gl]

Your channel has given me advice that could very well have cured me of the constant hi-fi upgrading and chasing a dragon. I got a pair of zenith speakers for free as a 16 year old with the foster horn tweeters. I have always been amazed at how good they sound and have never had a better sound experience anywhere else than with these old speakers in my bedroom. I am now about to be 24 an have battery powered Bluetooth speakers that of course don’t compare to a full stereo set up. I used to think, gosh, these cheap old speakers sound so good, what can a few grand do? While someday I may investigate to see if I there is truly anywhere to go, your channel has helped me so much to recognize how much I enjoy music on these vintage speakers, and how to relax and appreciate what I have.

[undrpar]

Steve, what I like about this video is that it recognizes that there are different sounds and that it is ok to enjoy one of these sounds more than others. I've owned panel speakers and box speakers and really enjoyed both. I'm about to try open baffle and suspect that I will enjoy them also.

Speakers seem similar to bicycles...over the past 20 years I've ridden mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrid bikes, recumbent bikes and three wheel recumbents...enjoyed them all and on any given day will probably have a different favorite than yesterday.

And I absolutely agree that if you have the time and the patience, its worth trying different speakers in your home...but don't be surprised if five years down the road, you want to try something different.

[gregorywalker]

amen. after many years and many speakers, i have to agree 100 percent.

[raj]

Enchanted Steve thank you for the fantastic advice. It definitely makes me realize I need to slow it down open my mind to all the options available. thanks again

[michaelfoort]

Still happy with my 60's Isophons!

[alm]

I just listened to your podcast with Brent Butterworth. It was casual, pleasantly catty (don't lose your note about DSP) and fun. Your podcast is now bookmarked.
Podcasts and online jigsaw puzzles are a perfect match on a cold morning.

[markmaloof]

Love this one. I"m an electrostatic fan for sure, but have found something to enjoy in every form of speaker. Like many people, for much of my life I was only familiar with box speakers, and was not quite sure what to make of the first electrostatic speaker I saw (never mind hearing it, its appearance baffled me). Then I heard my first electrostatic speaker (Martin Logan), and I realized I had never experienced such a sound before. The audio world opened up that day.

[AusGanesh]

Excellent video Steve, I started with the box speakers and after 40 years have discovered dipole speakers (Pure Audio Project) your recommendation. What a improvement thank you. Planing on checking out the Magna pan speakers in few weeks, then to omnidirectional speakers. Thank you my friend for your wisdom. Thank You.

[dougg]

Great advice! I “ played the field” for years and years, all the while in the background hearing “ Klipsch suck” then I took a chance with the Heresy IVs and found what I was looking for. I still have my other speakers like Focals and LS/35a’s etc.

[pauldemara]

Thank-you Steve. Such helpful / valuable information.

[bitterandjaded_]

I meant to do exactly this after only owning 2 sets of box speakers in 30 years. I watched and read reviews. I read forums. I made a list. I acquired multiple amplifiers so I would have a suitable match for any speaker.
Then I fell in love with the first new speaker I tried. Went up their line instead of moving on like I was supposed to do. Now I’m planning a second system for experimentation. Oh well, we’ll see how that plan goes.

[billfarrell]

Have open baffle (carver amazing silvers) box (ars aures and B & W 803 S), have heard panels speakers, Steve is correct all have a different sound, and yes once I get them I want to keep them and just switch out all the time. Such a fun hobby!

[moonphaser]

Steve, your experience in this world really does shine through, you are so spot on!

[mondoenterprises]

I am going to the Montreal Audio show this Spring to listen to speakers.

[barrypatterson]

I’ve had many types of speakers over the years. Some earlier ones I won’t mention but my first decent speakers were a pair of Infinity’s with a Walsh tweeter, then a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls followed by Paradigm studio 100s. For the last 20 years I’ve had nothing but Martin Logan’s and I still love my Montis. For the last 3 years I’ve been listening to every speaker I possibly could but nothing impressed me enough to replace my Martin Logans. Then I heard a pair of Dynaudio Contour 60is and those were the ones I had to have. I’ve had them for about 6 months and I still can’t believe how incredible they sound. Very happy.

[georgeorwell]

I have a magnepan lrs and a audiodata jolie, a half closed broadband, and they have a much woder spundsstage then the lrs, love both though

[nevigo]

Because of you, I have KEF LS 50W II with a KC 62 sub. Awesome sound. Open clear enormous soundstage, and a fantastic bass, that shake the room when it dig deep. Thanks Steven.