The revel salon2 was the best sounding system I heard til I bought them and brought them home. now I disagree with the OP and while speakers are important all the pieces of the puzzle have to fit in a hi rez system for it to be musical.Bingo Steve. Currently, the "best" speaker I have owned/heard is the Trenner & Friedl RA fronted by a Traumatic 300B amp.
The best speaker you ever heard?
In my opinion, the speaker is by far the most important part of the audio system. After all, it is the only part you hear. OK, the other stuff really matters a lot, but without a great speaker... No go.
I am a bit 'speaker-obsessed' I guess, and now I am wondering: What are the best speakers you have ever heard, and what made them the best?
I am a bit 'speaker-obsessed' I guess, and now I am wondering: What are the best speakers you have ever heard, and what made them the best?
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First of all , i think that it can not stand alone as there are other factors into this than just the speaker itself . And many of us might not be so fortunate as to hear " The best speaker " with a lot of different amps. and cables to make sure its still the best. And also what brands do one have in the area where one lives. ! Well apart from all that the best i heard so far has been Wilson Audio Sasha 2 |
Personally, I love Megaboom 3 and JBL Xtreme 2. They're both solid and stylish speakers. Of course, UE's speaker is definitely superior, but Xtreme 2 seems to be nice too. I'd recommend Review Position if you're planning to do research and head-to-head comparisons. They're really good and know what's what. |
The Quatro's arrived and are breaking in nicely. Loving the sound. Just amazing all around speakers. They are set into the corners right near the wall. The bass and size of the soundstage is amazing. Best speakers I've had in the house. Probably, for me, the best buy in high end audio IRT speakers. The sweet spot in Vandersteen's line. |
Sherbet I never shared the general disdain of other Audiopiles towards 901's. I heard a pr once that was turned backwards so most drivers were pointed toward you and the single driver to wall that sounded good . I think they have had some other slight mod but I disremeber what . I had a Bose System in Nissan Maxima that used 901 drivers, sounded damn good. Just wondering, could the slight mod have been that the speakers were not attached to the cables? |
I never shared the general disdain of other Audiopiles towards 901's. I heard a pr once that was turned backwards so most drivers were pointed toward you and the single driver to wall that sounded good . I think they have had some other slight mod but I disremeber what . I had a Bose System in Nissan Maxima that used 901 drivers, sounded damn good . |
In my system, the Monitor Audio Silver 8. They're not perfect by any means, but the best out of anything under $4k that I've auditioned. They do require breathing room and quality power and don't like to be paired with bright/forward sounding amps. The midrange is excellent for the $$$. Easily better than the $5K Golden Ear Triton One in a moderate sized room. |
gottcha. That is the best preamp I've ever heard. I've heard it in so many different systems at houses as well as stores. I'd start a full system with that pre if I had to. I'd use a lesser amp like a 5 series if needed as to me, it's that much of a difference in sound quality. Yes, it probably was the MXR that he had on for you. I can't wait to hear the 9 series. If set up properly, those extra bass units will really smooth out any room. |
Honestly I don't remember exactly but I believe they were Ayre MXR Twenty monos. John could tell you. He was also using another jawdropping piece of equipment the Ayre pre KRX Twenty. Which is what he was demonstrating for me even though he knew I couldn't afford it. It was just some time spent listening to music and demonstrating the quality of Ayre products. I remember that because of its astonishing sound and the, ahem, interesting price. |
Which amp set up was it with? Bob, I got the amp back, but no speakers yet. Hopefully soon. AS you know it's been a while, lol. I am itching at getting everything back into the system. I have decided to sell off my Basis 1400 TT with Gingko base along with my factory rebuilt and updated Rhea though. I'm also going to put the Synergistic Research Powercell Ten mk 2 with the Tesla cord, on the market too. Time to pare down a bit and go from there. Time to move away from analog as it's hard for me to get up and change albums sides now, so there's that. As for the SR piece, I want to just go back to wall power and then refigure things. It's a great piece as you have heard, but I have dedicated circuits and it already is pretty clean. I may up the ante eventually and get the Niagara power unit as I have heard the 7000 and it's killer. |
And the Vandersteen Quatro's are just about dialed in at the factory. Been on the phone with Johnny Rutan at Audio Connection all morning and setting up the install date. I can not wait. The more speakers I audition, the more I appreciate the Vandersteen line. they just know what how to make a great speaker. Thankful I gave them a second chance as the first dealer years ago just didn't set them up right and of course they didn't sound their best. |
The Ribbon Reference System at Pyramid Loudspeaker, followed closely by the Sequerra SP-1. Over the years several other unlikely setups have generated memorable experiences but those two are formidable and do not ignore physics. Hey Wahwah! I had that experience with the Met 3's as well and just bought a pair. I have had T-1's since '82. |
RE: Charney speakers Horning Hybrid, which can also be heard in NYC, also comes with Lowther. I believe also the DX65. It "cheats" with a tweeter and shared sort of T-line back loaded horn thing shared by midrange and bass drivers. It was pretty dynamic and immediate and the drivers seemed well integrated. Too bad I did not spend more time with the Eufrodite. The big, 102db sensitive one would be the one to hear, though, for orchestral recordings. Thanks for the Charney mention. I run in to the Alerion design, but dumbly didn't know a company that made it. They both have their problems, but the best I know, as have been mentioned are Avantgarde Duo Mezzos and Soundlabs, U1 or Majestics. I'm too poor to be picky, but its hard to be enthusiastic lifestyle speakers that predominate the market. I only wish horning hybrid (or anyone)made something bigger, more sensitive in my price range. |
Got a full day of listening to the Vandersteen 7 mkII's on Saturday. Unreal how great this speaker is. AMG TT with new ARC ref pre and Vandersteen's liquid cooled amps. They come with the AQ WEL cables attached to them. The system was just amazing and the best sound I've ever heard at any price. Then Garth from AQ installs his new Niagara 7000 power deal with his prototype power cord that will be out pretty soon and the cost is not much for a cable. This new cable line will be one of the best buys in audio. The system with the Niagara gave us the whole hall, detail that just wasn't there without it and SPACE. Even when he installed the 1000 for only 999 the system was about 90% of what the 7000 did. The 1000 has only 1 outlet for power and the other 5 are source with room for wall warts. I was blown away by the Niagara. It's a full component upgrade at least. I wasn't the only one. Garth is as good a presenter as you can find. I know this is about your favorite speaker, but the Vandersteen with the Niagara plugged in went to another level entirely. I spoke with a gentleman who owns a speaker that costs over 200k and he said that he will be selling and getting the Vandersteens. He said he's auditioned many of the speakers over 150k and he said nothing has come close for him in this type of setting. Can't tell on anything without it being in your home and system of course. Blown away...just amazing.... Thanks for letting me share. |
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Funny as that's what drew me into the Vandersteen line of speakers. They were the first multi driver dynamic speakers that sound nearly point source. That's also a reason I have never heard a subwoofer based system that is coherent to me. Double subs, set up the way they are supposed to be etc.... I've just never heard them integrated perfectly. I don't know if you can regardless of how it's set up with meters etc... JMHO. I've heard so much about Lowther, but never heard them. I have never been in love with the AN speakers or others that are similar as they do midrange extremely well, but the highs and lows just aren't there for me as you can't ask a driver to handle that type of range. How are the Lowther based systems on the frequency extremes? Can they really give you sub 30hz bass that is tight and doesn't bleed into the mid bass or even mid range? I do want to hear a pair as it's so hard to believe that you get a true full range sound. I have a friend who's system I haven't been able to hear (he's on the other coast for me) and he said he loves the Lowther driver. He designed and made his own cabinets and crossovers. His main system is Vandersteen though. Very interesting designs and manufactures in this thread. I've personally gone out can listened to many of the posters speakers that I've never heard before. Thanks to all for sharing. Appreciated. |
Charney Audio companions with Lowther Dx-65 driver. Folded, curved, back loaded horn with incredible dynamics, linearity, coherency, immediacy. After 45 years in this hobby I realize single-driver speaker systems sound so more lifelike than anything else. If your in the nyc area you must go audition these. |
