What are the best speakers you have ever owned and why?


I just recently recieved my long awaited Shahinian Diapason 2’s from Vasken And they are absolutely spectacular! This got me thinking about my long journey to get here. Bless my wife for putting up with the many many many speakers that have passed through. The lifelong saga began with Magneoan MG 1’s back in college which were replaced by Dahlquist DQ 10’s. Then we traveled down a long road of speakers and systems. Magnepan Tympanis, Misson 770, Randall Rsch DQ10’s, Quad ESL single and stacked, Acoustat II, rogers LS3/5A’s, Linn Isobarik’s (2 pairs) B&W 801 Matrix, Hales Signature, Martin Logan Monolith2, Apogee Scintilla (1 ohm) Apogee Full Range, Theil SC 5A, Egglestonworks Andra, B&W Nautilius 801,Quad 63 and some I’m sure I forgot! Each speaker had its virtues and flaws but oh what a fun and a times frustrating trek! I think I have finally found my speaker to take me to retirement they do everything that I value wonderfully . They are detailed without sounding so, very dynamic, they have great low end reach, power and detail, are open sounding like a planner, their tonality and timbre seem spot on and they sound wonderful on any kind of music. Tell me about your journey!
hamr

Showing 2 responses by bigkidz

@tomic601 I build my own components so I can use any parts I want and have tried most of them. My DAC is a directed heated triode design with a 30lb separate power supply. My website is not complete but you can get some info on vujadeaudio.com There are some links there to the CAF and you can hear a little of what the DC sounds like. The current amp I use on my Vandersteen 5s is a 100wpc bi-polar transistor hybrid power amp using (4) 6DJ8 tubes, filter choke, Nichicon power supply capacitors, V-Caps, Shinko and Caddock resistors. I also built the M5-HP filters for my Vandersteen that sound better than the Vandersteen filters in a quick comparison test.  The person who let me into their home to hear the Vandersteen 7s has asked me to make him the DAC.

Happy Listening.
I thought the Vandersteen 5s I owned were really good (actually they are really good).  I visited a audio person this past weekend to hear the Vandersteen 7s using my DAC.  I was really taken back by how good the 7s sounded.  Anyone want to sell me theirs cheap?  I have heard many other speakers in this price range and I would imagine that they all have an excellent sound in the right system.  I was taken back by the ease of flow of the music, the clarity, and the micro to macro dynamic swings which just flowed out of the speakers.  Very black background (part of that is from the DAC) though.  I did leave with a with a very big smile.

Happy Listening.