How to Shop for Speakers

How did this happen? Easy, I went on an audio field trip. Yep, I packed myself into a Honda Odyssey and drove up I-35 to Austin, Texas from San Antonio.

You see, it was my idea. I was cleaning my record storage shelf, and I found a flyer from the first year that the River City Audio Society (RCAS) began as a group. I was an original member then and the organizers had put a flyer together that was a schedule for the coming year, 2012. On the schedule was a field trip to Austin, Texas. I took that flyer to the River City Audio Society weekly coffee meet and said, “We should do another field trip, it’s been more than six years since we’ve done one!” The gathered members all nodded their heads in approval, and we began to plan for the trip.

I suggested we consider doing it soon because the mild spring weather would soon turn to blazing heat by May. So, we chose a day in mid-April to go. Our main leader, Robert researched what audio stores and record shops we could take in during the day, since Austin, Texas is 60 miles from San Antonio, Texas and we could leave in the morning and be back in the late afternoon. We researched where we could have lunch too. Robert was also the contact person for some of the audio stores since many of them were open by appointment only. Mostly we were looking forward to talking about audio and experiencing together the music and equipment we would encounter.

The day came and five excited RCAS members piled into a Honda Odyssey van on April 17, 2024, and we took off. Our first real stop on our field trip was the Sound Sanctuary in Austin, TX. I had never been to this store. When I walked in, my jaw dropped. Their “affordable” system was playing welcoming music. The system comprised the new Luxman integrated amp and turntable playing through a pair of Wilson Audio Sabrina X speakers. Wow, I thought, if that is not high-end, then what is? I was about to find out as we were ushered into their main listening room. This is where they had set up, among other things, the Wilson Audio Alexx V with full DCS digital front end powered by a D’Agostino Momentum amp and pre-amp. The turntable was from SME. The sound was…amazing!

We sat for the better part of an hour listening to the system and some of the other, very impressive set-ups they had in their room. Eventually, I went out and began to poke around at what else they had. Glenn, our audio sales guy, asked if I wanted to hear anything else. “Yes, can I listen to those Wilson Sabrina’s again”, I said. I had researched the Wilson Alexx V on my phone while we were listening to them and found out that they retail for around $150,000. The Wilson Sabrina’s sell for about $13,000-$14,000 a pair, these are closer to my pocketbook.

Now, if I could, I would gladly spend $150,000 on the pair of Alexx V’s along with the additional $300,000 of equipment to power them. But then I would also need a new house with the appropriate room to place them in. Entirely out of the question for my modest means. But I could stretch for the Wilson Sabrina’s, and I could place them in my home, too. “Have you heard the TuneTot?”, Glenn asked me. “They are sitting right next to the Sabrina’s on the table holding the amp”, Glenn said. No, said I, and of course he played them for me.

Now what attracted me to the Wilson Alexx V was the authoritative sound, and the relaxed, clear mid-range. As I listened to the smaller Wilson speakers, I found the major character of the larger speaker to be present on the smaller ones. I could see a pair of the Wilson Sabrina’s in my home, but listening to the TuneTots surprised me. Same character of sound, and I could easily put the cost of these on my credit card if I so wanted. Zap! The audio bug got me.

No, I didn’t take the TuneTots home. Eating our lunch at Hopdaddy, the restaurant next to the store though, I sure thought about it. We decided the next stop was going to be Whetstone Audio.

I discovered Whetstone Audio more than a dozen years ago. Back then I was looking for a new turntable and Brian, the owner, helped me purchase my Rega RP6 turntable. While there, I was introduced to the Harbeth speaker, notably the model CS-7. Those speakers left an impression on me then, and thereafter every time I visited the store. And once again on this trip as we were welcomed by Brian, he played the current models. I asked him to connect the Harbeth C7ES-3 XD for us.

As the music played, it all came back, the sound I remembered and had so enjoyed over the years. I went to Brian and asked him how much the current Harbeths were selling for. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the new versions are about 50% of the cost of the Wilson TuneTots. Should I pull the trigger on the Harbeths, I thought?

That’s when I decided to sit back and consider all the possibilities and needs for a purchase. If you have been shopping for an audio product you know the feeling of trying to make the best decision for you. Over the years, I have developed a process by which to rationally make an audio purchase. This is not to say that I don’t make impulse purchases. I have and sometimes they have been right and other times not. When deciding on a large purchase I have come to consider certain things before I spend my audio allowance.

I think the most important thing to have is clarity. Clarity of what’s important to you, clarity of needs, clarity of suitability. Let me give you examples based on what I have come to determine what is important to me.

First, I ask myself, what do I want from my music reproduction? I want and like a smooth, balanced, natural sound. I mentioned the mid-range quality of the Wilson speakers, and the Harbeths also have a quality of mid-range performance that is outstanding. Many decades ago, I came to realize that for me to enjoy music reproduction to its fullest, the sound produced had to have a natural, life-like quality. I realized this when purchasing my Rodgers LS3/5A speakers back in the late 1970’s. It was the natural, open life-like presentation of the mid-range, especially on voices that made me fall in love with these speakers. So, it is today. That is mostly what made me like the sound of the Wilsons and the Harbeths.

Next to consider is suitability. Better put, what fits in my space and my system. The listening space is very important to consider. Factors like size, sitting distance from speakers, ceiling height, overall dimensions of the listening room, location of windows, furniture, etc. These are important things to consider because speakers will need to be placed in a location that will allow the best performance to be achieved. For example, dipole or planar speakers and most small bookshelf speakers will need to be away from side walls and up to 3 feet from the back walls. If you want Klipschorns or Klipsch Cornwall speakers, those are designed to be placed in the corners of the room. The Cornwalls need to be at least against the back wall. These are just some examples, but the goal will be to get the maximum performance from the speakers and system in the listening room.

Next to consider is the suitability of the existing components you have. In general, any good source and amplifying device should work well with any speaker. What is difficult to get is complementary, symbiotic, partnering of equipment. There are some combinations that when playing together produce more than the sum of their parts. This can take some trial and error through experimentation. Fortunately for me, I discovered I really liked the Rega sound. So much so that I have a complete Rega system at home. Sound through this system is musical and engaging for me. So much so that now I have another speaker I need to consider, the new Rega Aya.

Now I have to say something about the music. Please listen to the music you love on the components you are considering. I guarantee that if you let the audio salesman play what he or she wants you will get a demonstration that shows off the speakers or system in a spectacular way. Much of the “audiophile-approved” music can be not much more than rhythmically played sound effects. Listen to music you love and if it touches your soul, then it is right for you. If not, move on.

Which way will I go? Well, I have a lot to consider. I must continue to attain clarity on what I want to hear. My suggestion for those who are shopping is to do the same. Know what you want and trust in your ears. In the end, you will hopefully achieve long-term enjoyment and satisfaction.