Proac Response 3.8 floorstanding speakers. Stereophile recommended. $8,000 MSRP

The towering Response 3.8 floorstanders was and still is, one of the more musical speakers for under $10,000. Standing 49" tall, 9.25" wide and 13.5" deep, these speakers will dominate any listening room with its physical presence and the sheer size of its soundstage. When pumped with good amplification, the Response 3.8 never shies from expressing its wide bandwidth response, powerful bass, richly textured mids and smooth, detail highs. Although rated with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and a sensitivity of 88dB, the manufacturer's recommended minimum power of 50W will not do it justice. We drove it with 150W and what a big difference it made. The soundstage was better define, musical notes was delivered in a smooth, sublime manner that was slightly edgy with a 50W amp. Bass was tighter and had more depth. Frequency response is 20Hz to 20KHz. The speakers are fairly substantive at 85lbs each and you will get a "feel" of it when positioning them in your room. In our room, a slight toe in was necessary to bring about a better focus and depth so you many need to spend some time in your room to achieve its optimum sound.

Cosmetically, the speakers look really good (for its vintage). Some minor scuff marks here and there and a few tiny dings on the top left corner of one speaker. Local pickup is preferred but can ship via freight with the speakers strapped on a pallet.