I started my speaker journey 50 years ago in the service with Sansui SP-100s. I loved those speakers, never heard music sound so good as I only experienced cheap stereo before that.
The journey went on to Big Advents in the 80s, Infinity’s in the 90s and then I discovered Maggies in 2005.
My current speakers are 3.6s, but I am considering 20.7 and would love to hear the 30.7 just released. Maggies are all about having enough clean power, then the magic begins.
|
Gryphon Cantata one of the best ! |
Best speakers are the ones I currently have. Audio Physic Avanti III so transparent and detailed, but always completely organic. It's eery how well they image and how they can simply transport you to a live venue.
Prior to those, Thiel CS2.4 which are pretty amazing by themselves and in some ways even better than the AP's, but they don't have the same ability to make you relax.
Magnepan 1.6, Hales Concept 5, Magnepan MMG before those. |
The best speakers I have heard are my friend's TLS-1's (based on the original Ohm F) made by Dale Harder of HHR in Ohio. I haven't heard anything that sounds that realistic and natural. Vandersteen 7's would also be up there. I have owned Vandersteen 1's, then 2ce Sig II's, briefly Tekton Electron and Paradigm 75F, Kef R7, then traded up to the R11 which I am enjoying very much at the moment. I would love to hear ATC SCM19's as they seem to come up frequently here.
|
I left out the Linn Sarah in teak.... omg what an obnoxious tweeter, but lord could they rock w PS Audio 100 C
fun
|
Well, I'm old and retired and don't have a ton of money. The mint condition Dahlquist DQ10's I picked up last summer for $375. |
My favorite over my 50+ years of this hobby is my current pair of Vandersteen Quatro CTs. It is difficult to pinpoint any particular quality that make these speakers stand out. The overall music presentation is such that I am drawn in for hours of listening. |
My modest list:
JBL L110 - (bought new, wish I had never sold them)
Monitor Audio MA 700 Gold - (after many years one woofer went bad. I was naïve enough at the time to think I could not repair/replace. Foolishly sold them but they had me hooked on British 2-way Stand mounted speakers) North Creek Audio Borealis - (customer made two way speaker similar to Proac Response 2.5. I could never get them to work in my room/system) Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures - (traded the North Creek's for these. Tried really hard to like them, but again, in my room they just did not work. I moved them into a large room and they sounded fantastic, but that was not the room they needed to be in) Dynaudio Audience 42 - (These are amazing little speakers. Very musical and dynamic. I have them in a second system and will never sell them. Harbeth C7 III - (Now we are talking. Bought used on a late night whim. Loved them. They worked wonderfully in my room in my system. I added a JL Audio D110 sub to round out the bottom end.) Harbeth M30.1 - My current speaker. They are wonderful speakers. They are an improvement over the C7 but not by a great deal. I could have happily lived with the C7s but had an opportunity to get a great overall deal on new 30.1s while selling my C7s for more than I paid. Still using the JL Audio sub as well. It is very tight and fast, so it can keep up with the Harbeths. So you can tell that I gravitate toward refined 2-way speakers. To my ears they are a perfect, effective and pure sound.
|
1.) Realistic Optimus 10’s with passive radiator
2.) Jensen system 400’s 3 way
3.) B&W dm 602 s3
4.) Dali zensor 3
5.) Wharfedale Denton 80th anniv.
6.) Wharfedale diamond 10.1
7.) Wharfedale diamond 225’s (faves)
8.) Harbeth p3esr
9.) Spendor s3/5r2
I wish I still had the optimus 10 and jensens...... |
Since 1975,,in no particular order:
Lafayette somethings
Micro Acoustic
Klipsch Cornwall
Klipschhorns
ML Monolith with active crossovers
B&W 802 Nautilus
Revel Ultima Salon 1
Wilson Maxx 2
Magico Q3
Needless to say, I am sure that I am forgetting more than a few and this list only covers the main system.
|
Started out with small Technics floorstanders, then Polk Audio Monitors, Paradigm floorstanders (don't recall the models of the aforementioned 3) , Tyler Acoustic Linbrook System 2s, Tyler Acoustic Taylos, Tyler Acoustic Decade 3s, JM Reynaud Offrande Supreme V2s (now in a 2nd system), Daedalus Audio Argos V2s (main system) .
Daedalus are keepers, thoroughly enjoy their musicality, and their ability to be driven by either lower power tube amps, or higher power solid state with equal aplomb
|
Apogee Mini grand ,these ribbons speaker panels
with separate subwoofercabinets with seperate amplifiers forthe ribbons and Bass . I was running CJ premier mono blocks for the topend and mids,and a Krell 250 for the bottom end.These Speakers were super fast as well as lifelike with great dynamic range. ,these$6500 speakers 20 years ago ,easily beat many speakers over $30k today. I wish I still had them.
|
Here is my list mostly in order. I may have forgot one or two. What is interesting I did not get rid of one to get the other. I was not looking for improvements with other speakers. With a little time and attention most all of these could be made to sound extremely good. Klipsch Heresy's ver.1, Tannoy Cheviots, Infinity rs3000, Paradigm mini mrk II, Theil 1.2's, Near 50m's, Spica TC60's, Focal chorus 836, Vienna Acoustic Mozart Grand, Theil 2.4 's. |
Horrible Fisher speakers unbelievably bad. Worked at store where I got them free.
Yamaha ns10m - my first real speakers.
Acoustat 2mh - wow, first audiophile
ADS L1290 - decent
Silverline Sonata - what a midrange!@!
Linkwitz Orion
Linkwitz LX521 - fixed mids of Orion really great
PBN - some huge speakers. Great, but too big
Dennis Murphy Philharmonic 3 - nice overall |
If you don't count anachronistic speakers like my Dad's 1959 JBL C36s, then my Focal 936 Electras. Simultaneously the best and the worst. When I finally got the right tube amps to play them they were glorious, unmittigated splendor bofore the Tube amps Consonance Cyber 800 mono blocks a humble Cary 6SN7 based Pre amp and Cardas gold ref interconnects they were a constant challenge. Once solved nothing better imho.
|
My list from 1973,
Altec 886A
JBL L-36
Altec Model 9
Altec 846-B Voice-of-the-Theatre
Yamaha NS-1000
Dahlquist DQ-10
Polk RTA-11
Legacy Model 1
Legacy Sig. 2
Legacy Illusion
B&W 802-D
Vandersteen Treo CT. with 2Wq sub.
What a fun ride!!! |
I am surprised Wilson Audio didn’t make the list. I can certainly understand what Focal was not listed.
i am surprised the SALK Song3 Encore’s didn’t make the list. I listened to them at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in October and felt they sounded better than others priced above $60,000. |
I've really enjoyed all the speakers I've owned. And it would seem a bit arbitrary to believe one of them was "the best." But if I absolutely had to give that prize to a single speaker, it would be the Thiel 3.7s I owned.They had an essentially neutral character that did not rob the tone of beauty but allowed an organic sense to come through. They through a massive sound stage with the best I've owned, but with greater imaging density and precision. And they were more "invisible" coherent and controlled from top to bottom than any speaker I've owned.
|
Mine were Acoustat Spectra 33 electrostatic speaker. It was the Room. 18' wide and 25' deep which allowed good placement. 5' off the front wall, blank front wall with gear on the floor. 3' off the side walls. My listen chair was 4' off the rear wall. Also the house's construction material helped too. 9' plaster walls (no soggy drywall)and carpeted concrete floor. We move 21 years ago to a new state and a brand new house. The stats never sounded as good. I still have them but they have been used as Bass Traps for years.
|
Tannoy 215 DMT II. Just like those used in Night Bird Studio ’A’ … https://www.nightbirdstudios.com/studioaThere is no buyer's remorse when you buy a pair of these or, if you're rich, a pair of the Prestige-line Tannoy speakers. This brand retains its value better than most. The dual-concentric driver is just a superior design for point-source coherence. |
+1 Fun thread!
Since 1974-
Electro-Voice
Genesis
Boston Acoustic
Mission
Klipsch
Acoustat
Vandersteen
Monitor Audio
Vandersteen
Favorite speaker? Current Vandersteen 2Cs
Best sound I've ever heard? Mark Levinson/Linn LP12/Magnepan
Fun thread indeed!!!
|
Adam Audio Tensor Beta, fully active iteration.
Apogee Duetta or Ohm F close second/third |
@richopp It was not until we hooked up Magnepan products that we finally realized
that NO box or HORN or ELECTROSTATIC or RIBBON or any combination of
these reproduced sound as accurately as Magnepan products. How did you actually determine this? I ask because audiophiles, many of whom have wide experience listening to different speakers, often disagree on which speakers are more "accurate" based on their own subjective impressions.And it also depends on "accurate to what?" An "Absolute Sound" type of accuracy to the sound of live unamplified music? Or accurate in a technical sense (which would involve measuring distortion). |
|
Rich, I had both Quads and Magnepans in my music room. The Quad 2905's stayed.
They are not shrill. |
In more or less chronological order:- Smaller Advents- Acoustic Research AR 12
- ADS L710 (still have them in BR system)- Infinity RSII- Magnepan MG12 w/ REL sub
- Infinity RSII back again- Infinity IRS Gamma (these were probably the best...only sold them because of reliability concerns)- Gallo Ref 3.1- ML Ethos- ML Montis (I really like these...They can do some things better than the Gammas)
As you can see, I am very much a panel / dipole person. Also I have run a few vintage speakers in my BR vintage system, Klipsch Quartet, JBL L100, various other ADS, Infinity RS4. The ADS L710 have taken on and defeated all challengers.
|
My tannoy vintage hpds are keepers |
Advent New Large Utility, JBL towers (mid 80's), Vandersteen 1C, to my current and final Ohm Walsh 2000. Short of winning the lottery, they stay. They do almost everything right (my review is posted here in review section). Not the best speaker, but the best I can afford, power, and fit in my room. I would go for German Physiks if I had the money. But I am happy every time I fire up my rig with Ohms. |
As a former dealer, we had pretty much every good speaker to listen to and compare to each other. After a couple of years of doing this with various electronics attached, we realized that all box speakers and electrostatic versions had some positive qualities when driven with quality electronics.
It was not until we hooked up Magnepan products that we finally realized that NO box or HORN or ELECTROSTATIC or RIBBON or any combination of these reproduced sound as accurately as Magnepan products. Some better than others, of course, and positioning is a key item--and VERY frustrating at times--but at the end of the day, no matter what we put next to them, Magnepans were more accurate.
Now, you may not LIKE accurate, so they are not for everyone. For example, if you prefer kick-a__ bass, you need Cerwin-Vega (in those days) or Hartley 24" woofers, etc. If you LOVE those shrill highs, you will love most electrostatic and/or ribbon models, etc.
This is what we discovered--no bias going in, but sure had some coming out. Not many people are fortunate enough to have access to 20 or 30 brands of speakers and quality electronics to drive them (we were what was called back then a "HIGH-END" shop) and had only the better items on the shelf. This is merely the result of our exploration.
By the way, the boxes that we felt were the "best" back then were Fulton 80's and especially 100's. Our college-day faves, Advents, were VERY, VERY INACCURATE, and the tweeters blew out at volume. We all learned a lot back then and I maintain that high quality tube electronics and Magnepan speakers can be dialed in to provide the most accurate music reproduction you can find. Once again, you may not like it, but play your personal favorite instrument live next to a system like this and all will be revealed.
Cheers! |
My speakers, described above, are essentially vintage/custom speakers that are not commercially available. An important feature, to me, is that they are extremely efficient so that they work with low-powered amps (the only kind of amps I really like). High efficiency options in commercially available speakers are somewhat limited. The Audio Note and Devore speakers, while not extremely efficient, do work quite well with low-powered amps and they sound pretty good. My favorite commercial speakers come from Charney Audio, but they can only be auditioned in New Jersey (or at audio shows).; the model I heard, and really liked, was reasonably compact, light in weight and very reasonably priced ($17,000) for a high-end product.
If you go the custom-made route, check out Deja Vu Audio in Tysons Corner Virginia. They make really good speakers from around $20k to ?? (I heard a million plus system, but, that included custom-built speakers and amp and linestage and phono amp, plus Audio Note DAC and transport and a turntable setup). Deja Vu custom speakers can also be heard at affiliated Deja Vu stores in Miami and Los Angeles. Goto makes components for assembling custom systems that sound very good, but, the components are extremely expensive (looking at six figures for just the drivers). |
@elizabeth I would take your current Maggie’s over MBL |
|
KLH Nine electrostats! In use since February 1992. Used with Futterman H3AA OTL mono amps. |
Linaeum Model 10, easily the most uncannily real imaging of anything I ever heard. As one who was not usually complimentary of my choices said of the soundstage these things presented, "You were swimming in it."
Made by a small company in Portland, OR, I once brought mine to the designers home for a tweeter upgrade, after which they looked less elegant but sounded even better. The dipole tweeter, sat on top of an otherwise ordinary brick standing on end shaped enclosure, consisted of an ordinary driver that instead of driving a cone had two ribbons of plastic that came together at the coil and curved out and around. The ribbons, instead of being rigid like other drivers was just stiff enough to hold its shape but very flexible, the idea being instead of acting like a piston it flexes with the signal and propagates the wave form along the ribbon. Another identical driver facing backwards and wired out of phase made it dipole. However odd that sounds the music it made was enthralling. The only component my wife ever told me to buy!
Why don't I still have them? Two reasons. One, the old saying sins of commission are worse than sins of omission? Its true. They had a mid-bass hump that I recognized the first time I heard them but was able to put aside for years hearing nothing better until I was offered a killer deal on the Talon Khorus. But I was unable to sell the Linaeums. So why don't I have them? The wife. Or should I say first wife. She took em.
That's how good they were. |
I've been lucky to own a number of modest but very good speakers. My favorite speaker that I formally owned was the PSB Platinum M2... such a great speaker for the money. I will buy another pair some day, one of the few speakers I regret selling. I miss them and thought they were better than the Revel M106 that replaced them. |
Since 1980:
Chartwell monitors (nice!)
B&W DM12
Thiel CS1.6
Vandersteen 2Ce Sig II (amazing value!)
Thiel CS2.4SE
With coaching from Tom Thiel, I just built completely new XOs for the 2.4s. I’m quite certain this is my last pair of speakers. Other than low bass, these seriously have most of what I hear from stuff like TAD Ref One, Vandersteen 7, and Vivid Giya (all of which are well out of my budget).
|
I need to add this. The VMPS speakers since the advent of the ribbon mids, have captured my heart and ears. Their clarity, transparency, good bass, and very good dynamics make for a moving session. The Vapor build quality of the cabinets is so advanced and such a massive undertaking, you’ve got to appreciate the amount of work Ryan Scott puts into these babies. My particular pair doesn’t have as complete a finish on it as most do, but I’m so blessed to have them to listen to. I don’t think I could have ever owned a Joule Black at the list price of them at this point. The VMPS RM40 BCSE is maybe one of the greatest sound per dollar spent speakers anywhere. The Vapor Joule Black that I now own needs to have NO qualifiers as to its sound. In a normal sized room, they are all anyone could want in a speaker and more. Thanks Ryan, and thanks Brian.
Bob
|
I, too, am relatively new to HiFi, have owned KLH, infinity, MarkAudio-SOTA but recently got a pair of Rethm Maargas. WOW! I guess maybe the horn sound is what I have always been after. And with the powered bass it sounds great.
I guess my favorite will probably be the Rethm Saadhana I am saving up for :) |
What an interesting post, thanks OP. The journey for me: Late 60s started with a home made gigantic box, looked great, probably sounded awful. Then Wharfedale Dovedale, AR MST, AR 3a Improved, Wharfedale E90 (A serious mistake, looked awesome, sounded dreadful!). Up to the 80s now and life gets good; Yamaha NS1000M, sounded beautiful with looks to match. Longest lastings speakers ever, sold them 5 years ago for effectively more than I paid for them. Up to the 2000s now; Quad ESL 63, B&W N801, still have these, about to be replaced with B&W N802D speakers. Then in 2017 I decided to get back into vinyl and purchased a pair of completely refurbished Gale GS401A speakers ( www.vintagegale.com) for a second system. Extremely happy with this system. Here are the full details on this system: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/second-system-that-sounds-and-looks-spectacular-i-am-thereHaving fun with HiFi all over again. Dream speakers for me; Magico Q7 or fully refurbished Apogee’s, the big ones, or The Apogee as it is called. |
A very large DIY mono that I built in 1958, using JBL drivers. (two 15" for the bass.) Sand-filled corner enclosure. (Thiele-Small hadn't come along as yet, so everything was based on calculated guesswork.)
Drove the neighbors crazy.
Couldn't move it, so had to break kit down and sell the drivers. |
I recently had a pair of Infinity Kappa 8.1’s. The soundstage was enormous, So, (depending on the recording quality) you could not only place an instrument left to right but, forward to backward. I have very nice speakers now. But, 3ft high will never beat 4 1/2 ft high speakers.
my dream speakers are the Infinity IRS V’s. I’ve heard them twice. I know they’re “vintage” but, (in my small experience) I’ve never heard anything that beats them. |
ESS Trans-Static I Fulton Model J QUAD ESL Infinity RS-1b Magneplanar Tympani T-IVa Eminent Technology LFT-8b Stax SR Lambda Professional Earspeakers |
Quad ESL’s.... new. Replaced my ESS Translinear II/ESS AMT-4 set-up. Went to a highly modified Audio Reseqrch D-51 at the same time. I was in Heaven!! |
O’what passion we all have with our speakers! I started in my teens with Layfayette speakers receiver turntable! Join the Army and got Bose series 901’s which I loved until B&W 803’ series 2 came into my system with Rotel Amps, and a new wife! Lol! Recently went to Wilson Watt Puppy 8’ which is my new love- and a new wife! LOL!! Full bass is amazing and very good sounding! I just may keep these awhile- along with the new wife as they get very expensive as well!!
|
EgglestonWorks Viginti’s. Mikey likes them, too.
Why? Sound quality that does everything I hoped for in a sub $50,000 speaker. I am pretty sure this is my last stop for speakers.
Great sound, great build (right here in the U.S.A.), great company and great warranty. |
Rectilinear III (Highboy)
Infinity 2000 Hybrid Electrostatics
Chartwell BBC LS3/5A
Chartwell BBC LS3/5A with custom built KEF B200 Transmission Line woofers (bi-amped)
B&W Matrix 801 S3
Infinity RS1b (quad-amped with minidsp crossover)
I think the B&W 801s are the best speaker I’ve ever owned because of their uncanny tonal accuracy. |
Still the Ohm F5 series 3 with 12" driver and 4 3 way level adjustments to tune to room. The music sounds real, not like recordings. |
First pair were Dalquist DQ-10, which were the staple for 10+ years. Then to Heresy II which were out the door in less than 2 years. At that point I met Richard
Shahinian and heard the Obelisk. Owned several starting with older models and ending up with relative youngsters. Now I have Hawks with the Obelisk on second system with Arcs on my system at work. Still hoping to move up to
Diapasons, someday, makes me want to stop by their shop (they are 1/4 mi away from work) and bring a pizza and do some listening.... |
Thiel CS 2.4s and a pair of SVS SB2000 subs.
Just right. |
@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.
|
