Living Voice advice please

[friendly]

I’m considering a pair of LV and am wondering what are considered to be the sweet spot of cost/performance and age.

[friendly]

That’s unusual, no opinions ��

[Gazjam]

give it time :)
Maybe not many LV owners here, known few guys over on Hifi Wigwam are happy owners.

[flapland]

I have had early LV Avatar's and now have OBX RW's. Both are used pairs and much less than current list price. I am not sure I would pay list price but a pair of used Avatar's would certainly give a you great feel for them and how they work in your room/system. My OBX RW's came from Definitive Audio and it might be worth giving Kevin or Lynn a bell to see if they any P/X stuff in stock.

[Johnny nocash]

If I were trying Living Voice for the 1st time I'd try the Avatar as Flapland suggests. Each model above that is a better version of a similar presentation.
Having said that, I've seen some OBX-R2's go for not much more.

[friendly]

Thanks for your input gents, sounds like I need a trip to Definitive. I contacted Lynn and she says they always have a few trade in pairs 🙂

[flapland]

Make sure you put a padlock round your wallet and leave the key at home. :) Might get expensive otherwise.

[hifinutt]

might be a bit over budget but these look nice

https://2ndhandhifi.co.uk/product/living-voice-ibx-rw-loudspeakers-santos/

[hifinutt]

at the wam show one year , some lovely Lv obx and wilsons in same room . the LV had a modest valve amp and sounded so beautiful , so musical and engaging .

[friendly]

might be a bit over budget but these look nice

https://2ndhandhifi.co.uk/product/living-voice-ibx-rw-loudspeakers-santos/

Yes I looked at these but a little over budget and I would prefer a lighter finish. I have both a 40 watt kt88 and an 8 watt 300b that’s going to Mark at Ming Da shortly for a full upgrade of all critical parts.

[fatmarley]

I remember reading on another forum that the cheapest version was preferred because they were more raw or exciting sounding. Got a feeling that there was at least a couple of people who though that to be the case.

[Bonky]

Kevin Scott (owner/designer of LV) always recommended valve amps for his speakers or the Sugden A21 (rather than the very latest versions!)

[flapland]

I run mine either with a WAD PP 300b or more recently Quad II, both to great effect.

[friendly]

Richard I see you have put feelers out on another forum, let’s hope you get lots of offers :)
Very interesting comment on Avatars being more lively, it’s their ability to portray musical expression that has attracted me.

[jahsavage]

I've had two sets of LV Avatars, the OBX-RW and a cheaper model that came with separate cross over boxes - the R2s I think. Unless you have a high end system go for the R2s.

I used a P20 Border Patrol amp to drive them but I found I could get a better performance out of the them with my Icon MB90 mk2 in triode mode which is about 40Ws

[friendly]

Cheers Paul, high end? Now there’s a can of worms, high end today seems to exclude 90% of the population. It used to be something that you could strive for instead of a newer car.

Currently using Eastern Electric M88 fully Psvane, Lenco fully rebuilt into Corian multi layer plinth, 12”Schu arm ZYX R100 into Audio Detail phono stage and Denafrips dac.

About to have a pair of Ming Da 300b Monoblocks rebuilt with top quality critical components. Depending on their suitability a pair of top Psvane valves

[chris@panteg]

I currently run a pair of Avatars mk1 so early one's I think these have the castle made cabinets and drive them with a Puresound 2a3 amplifier.
The combination works well, plenty of power and excitement but refinement too.

Very happy with it.
I would say that the Avatars and the Avatars mk2 or 3 are the sweet spot in the range value wise.

[friendly]

Thanks for your input Chris