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
There is no de facto 'BEST' speakers, but I could share the top 3 speakers that I hold onto the longest:

Kharma CRM 3.2 FE <still owning>
Wilson 3/2 (upgraded drivers and crossovers) <still owning>
Vienna Acoustics Mahler

Bob: I  drive them with a pair of Mcintosh 501's and they work great together. They really are the best all around speaker that I have had and not just on large scale classical as I listen to a wide variety of music. I also have the Obelisk 2 and the ARC 2 which I enjoy and could live with, but the Diapasons are in another league. As for the Stereophile review who knows? I don't know what went wrong there and I do know that the latest Diapason modules contain different drivers. I would be guessing as to what went wrong. All I can say is they are fantasic here!

Never heard of Shahinian, so did a quick search. Holt and Atkinson totally butchered them in Stereophile. Holt did insist they sounded good when he heard them at shows. But couldn't stand them at home in their systems. And not for lack of trying either. 

Gordon says above that he knows these speakers can sound much better than they did in his home. I'm not so sure. Despite their clean sonic quality, I think their tonal balance is idiosyncratic enough that playing around with room placement and ancillary equipment just won't make a difference large enough for them to merit a recommendation.
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/shahinian-diapason-loudspeaker-system-ja-takes-listen#TqrthcOUZh...

??
My previous post should have said that I have had in the past a number of the same speakers.
Hamr,
         I am glad to hear that Shahinian is still around after the passing of the father.  I have had the Obelisk and the Diapason in the past and still think about getting them again sometime.
Do you know if they will be introducing new products or just continue on with the current line up? Your list of speakers in your past is very impressive. I have a number of them including the Apogee Scintillas, Quad ESL, Acoustats, Tympani etc. What do you power the Diapasons with?  I remember Richard used to talk about the Bedini and then the older Plinius Sa 100. Most of their sales recently seemed to go away from North America (maybe most of the high end shares this.)
All the best,
Bob


Isn't it likely, in most cases, people will thank the current speakers are the best, it's true in my case? Would anyone trade in speakers for something worse? Accepting that in some cases, your choice might be wrong.

 My current speakers are certainly the best, Daedalus Audio DA-RAma. Are they the best ever speakers, of course not. They look stunning, which matters if you have a significant other. The case is beautiful solid hardwood, with dove tail joints. They just sound right, designed to sound like live music, I think they do.

  Having retired, I could not really afford an upgrade anyway, but I am very happy to keep these, till one of us finally falls apart.

Impossible to answer unless you put parameters such as price range, efficiency etc. When it comes to price range in the under $1500.00 range my best were vintage Polk Srs-SDA 3.1TL. Why? They rocked huge and the soundstage was and still is the best I've heard to date. Great for rock music and video concert. I truly loved them. Are there better, of course, but not for under $1500.00. 
My current speakers , Harbeth M40.2  because they do everything right that I want to hear from a pair of speakers.

Merlin Black Magic monitors.  Just plain musical.  Great detail, reasonable dynamics, terrific imaging.  Sweet vocals.  Simply involving.

Now, ATC SCM 40 A active floor standers.  Slamming dynamics, coherent drivers....there are simply no holes in response from the lowest frequencies to smooth extended highs.  Best midrange vocals I've ever heard.  Crazy good imaging.  

Fastest vocal and instrument attack I've every experienced.  Involving like no other speaker I've ever heard.  No subwoofer needed.  My JL sub is now superfluous.  I believe I am truly off of the audio carousel for years.
Going back some 45 years, here's my list in chronological order:

Advent (original)
Altec Model 15
Saras Model 12
Magnepan MG1B
Vandersteen 2C
Sonus Faber Minuetto
KEF LS50

Still have these two sets:
Magnepan .7
Harbeth C7ES-3
It is fun isn't it when you finally find a speaker that is organic sounding and just allows you to appreciate the musicians and music. Surprisingly they are a rare breed. 
I’m spaced constrained and have Pioneer S2EX, KEF LS50 and Tekton Impact Monitor - hands down the Tektons 

NAD M22
McIntosh C40
Cary DMC 600
Nativ Vita 

KLH Towers in the 70's
ITC 1
ProAc Tablettes
Celestion SL 600
Symdex Sigma/Omega
RBH 1266

The only ones I wouldn't do again where the Tablettes- a bit bright.
Two pair for specific needs.

 Bought a new pair of cerwin vega D-9s’ back when I was 16-18 I forget.
  Never heard a better rock and roll speaker. 


Altec lansing 510’s- bass was weak, but they shined in everything else, midrange, highs, were crystal, and never harsh, no matter the volume.


Energy rc-70’s
 currently in use.
midrange so smooth, bass is great for a pair of 6” woofs,
highs extremely smooth, best I’ve ever heard, no fatigue no matter the song or volume. 
Keeping til I can no longer use.


when I can afford, I may try some Dynaudio’s but have heard they have a bright sound.
if anyone is familiar with the energy rc70’s knows the 600 crossover roll off on the tweeters. Such a relaxing sound,
i can play mercyful fate, king diamond, rush, Helstar, loud as hell, and there is no fatigue, it is just pleasing and I ca listen all day.
i love it!!

the D-9’s have this as well,they are not harsh in the treble, as many would think. They would be.  They are not.
they are loud, clear, and minimal from fatigue

also the BIC V 630 and 830 I own, both pairs not at Going at all, just a nice highs sound!no fatigue.
 I’ve heard others where the treble makes my molars grind, and I feel uneasy, wired, just “TURN IT DOWN, NOW, PLEASE”

all these sepakers i use. Have no fatigue. Which is why I’ve kept them all these. Years.

klipsch corner horns make me wanna  to take a hammer drill to my ears.

if you find the perfect solution, keep it.
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For my low end budget, I finally got some mmg's.  Only had them about 2 years, work great in the bedroom.  When the budget allows I'll upgrade to bigger maggies.  Love the mid-range and treble. 
The Kef R105/3 were dynamic threw a wall of sound and forced their will on you. sold
Vienna Acoustics Beethovens, offered big sound with excellent contrast that was intoxicating.stored
Kef R107/2 Bass! currently serving ht duties 
Revel F52. polished, full range that showed me how old my kef's were. soundstage champs. sold,oops
Usher BE-20 DMD. destination speakers. done, finito, You name it these do it with style, big enough to be buried in. As long as I have a dedicated listening room i'll have these speakers. There's very little out there about these speakers so if you get a chance to hear them do it. 
For me after 40 + years are the original Nola Boxers paired with a Rythmik L12 sub. I think elizabeth  said it best about all the things that go into the fine tuning of a speaker. To my ears this combo puts the grin and tears on my face for countless hours at a time and always feel satisfied every time.
I've owned only two speakers over the last 35 years (was surprised when I wrote that 'cuz I've swapped out everything else multiple times):

Dahlquist DQ-10s, from '82 to '13. Lovely, spooky midrange in the room. I loved that the music was "in the air," not coming from the speakers. 

Wilson Sophia IIIs, from '13 to present. Dynamic, detailed, sweet midrange, stable imaging, good bass too. Keeping these until I have to downsize and maybe even after that.

Different animals, but each very good at what it does.
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ADS L810 - still a great speaker! given to a close friend who loves them
Krell Resolution 2 -- too much bass for my room but images very good.
Wilson WP7 - great tight bass but highs harsh
Magnepan 20.7 + 2x Vandersteen Sub3- clarity and amazing wall of sound. now amazing low end punch. Can it get any better....?
Thiel 3.6. Dynamic and Punchy. With tight and deep bass that did not sound anemic when came to Techno, Organ, and Metal music. Plus they were not a whole lot of money compared to other notable brands.
Miamiangler
I was in SLC up to 1979. I bought equipment from Broadway Stereo Shop downtown. Tannoy Cheviot's and Yamaha CR810 receiver. Also up in Sugerhouse, I forgot the shops name, I got some Klipsch Heresey's.  Do you remember any of those places?  Good times for a young adult. It has been a while.
Some would question my sanity but for me the vintage Polk SDA 3.1TL were and still are in my top 5 best speaker I've had the pleasure to enjoy. It was my choice after auditioning and comparing with the likes of Thiel, Klipsch, Vander Steen etc. Certainly they have their faults, as do all, but for my listening, live representation of music at live levels, they did and still do provide the deepest and largest soundstage of any speaker I have ever heard to date. Sure it required a compromise such as a slight loss in definition but the soundstage just more than makes up for that. If you like Rock and concert realism them Polks will give it to you. My other go to would be B&W, Wilson, Vandersteens, but not if I'm doing heavy rocking, that's where the Polks take center stage. Just my opinion.

1) Klipsch Heresy (Bought in 1981 and still have them.)

2) DIY three way (Used them for 25 years.)

3) Sonus Faber Auditor M’s (Last two years.)

I don’t change audio gear a lot.   When I compare my set up to what I hear at a chamber music concert, it’s a reasonable facsimile.    


The best I've ever owned are my current Audio Physic Avanti III. They're really quite special speakers that doesn't draw attention to anything, just sounds very organic and live. Never heard a speaker that can complete disappear like the AP's.

Before then, Thiel CS2.4 (still awesome speakers), Magnepan 1.6, Hales Concept 5, Magnepan MMG, customer built speakers (small standmounts with a matrix birch, viscoelastic glue, HDF cabinet and all ScanSpeak drivers). First real speakers were Dali (forgot the model now, but I worked the entire summer to afford them).
Wow! Only one person listed a pair of Snell's. WHY? Are Snell owners as dead as the company? The best sound I've ever heard came from a pair of Snell Type B's. It was jaw dropping. They were set up at Soundex in Jenkintown. Any of the people working there who heard them would have to say the same. It was pure magic. Even Frank (manager?) called me and offered to buy them from me for well above wholesale. Yet nothing much gets said about them otherwise. I've to been to many audio shows around the country. I've been to countless homes and audio shops. Nothing I've heard sounded as magnificent as the Snell Type B's WHEN they were set up at Soundex. My 2 cents. Joe
 Many years ago, I owned a pair of JBL 4343 speakers. The reason that  I consider them 'best' is not what I would consider best today. I was young, and these were perfect for that time. They were damned near thrown in my lap, along with a system that matched them. I would likely enjoy them even today, but not as a number one choice.
That I've owned..

Pretty sure I would give that spot to the OHM Walsh 5000's that I currently own.  Remarkable speaker in many ways.  Incredibly well rounded.  Maybe not the single best at single things, but from top to bottom, to my ears they do the trick.

Others...

Salk Soundscape 8 (just wanted more bass), DynAudio Contour 60 (didn't think they had a huge soundstage that I prefer).    Salks and the Dyn's build quality were CRAZY good.  The OHM's are a solid build, but not the level of detail and attention that the Salks or Dyn's had.

That I have heard...

The top end Vandersteens, the DynAudio Consequence, the Martin Logan Neoliths


That I have heard for the Money at a given price point

Tekton Double Impact (I don't think you get much more with the SE's or as you move up).  I have my issues with Tekton, but for 3k, it's a fun speaker.

Ohm Walsh 3000/4900/5000

JBL M2 (street prices on a couple and the amp are in the 10k range if you know where to look.

Salk Soundscape 12

Vandersteen 5A carbon

On the uber expensive... The Consequence and Neoliths in big rooms - wow.




Contrast audio Magic model.
1. Absolutely designed and assembled at own components.
2.  Implemented CROSSOVER-less principle (there is no any other same brands now, which use one cap in scheme) Everething gone in past, unfortunately :(
3. Frecquency cut around 10 kHz 
Crossover modern approach and using the same drivers only in different cabinets, give only chance to wait for a miracle. 

I forgot meadowlark,,, wow they made asesome speakers,  had the heron and the kestrel, the kestrel for a cheap 2 way speaker is amazing 1/4 wave transmission line....   i dont think they were ever a big brand but they sure sound amazing if you find a deal on old oncew woud not hesitate to buy 
it all started in high school with polk moniter  speakers

Jbl   jubal   should have never sold
jbl 250 ti  should have never sold.
jbl 18 ti  still have in my bedroom system
jlb l7
probably other jbls cant remember the models, i put myself thru college by reconing jbl woofers in the early 90s.   

dunlavy sc-iv,,,, been 20+ years and still my main pair so i must like them the best....

dunlavy sc -v    i dont own, but when my older friend passes on they are in his will to give me.    ,, will still keep the sc ivs and probably need a bigger house

20.1s
triad platium series - still have for home theater hard to get rid of these
dahlquist dq 10s. then 20s.
several smaller magnepans   mmgs and 1.6s
martin logan  clx art and summits
not audiophile but have had tons of klipsch,   belles, k horns, la scalla,kg 4, chorus.....  at one time full klipsh home theater....
several models of allison accoustics,   (9s with woofer near floor , cubes)
Emerald Physics 2.3
legacy studio monitors

subs,   svs, velodyne, jbl, rel, and dunlavy (still have)

If you have lots of quality watts the Revel Salon2 are amazing, in the same space with only 250 quality watts,
Usher BE-20 DMD

EgglestonWorks Viginti!
Best sound I've heard in a long time. Especially in reproducing classical music with wide swings in dynamic range. Voices come across natural and accurate.
Perfect match for my 20 years old Krell FPB 
My Klipschorns, that have been in the family since 1979.I must say my home made KEF Transmission Lines from the mid-'70s are a close second.Zu Soul Superflys are third, by a nose.That's all folks.

Geez I've saved some cash compared to some of the above respondants
From early
1970’sUtah.  Anybody remember these
Bose 301
Altec 1
Advent
Magnepan I    I loved these speakers from 1977 to 1996
nobody I knew had them, incredible image, close your eyes and you had no idea where they were.   Wish I had room for them now
B&W CDM 1
B&W. P6
Downsized  after divorce
KEF  LS50Looking for next pair



My two favorites.
Dahlquist DQ-10
Soundwave Grand Soliloquy
Sold both and wish I hadn't!

Just want to say plenty of speaker can be wonderful. You just have to work to get the little stuff adding to the system right for them.   
AC power stuff, IC, tweaks. It is really hard to have a pair of speakers 'do it all' perfectly out of the box with what you already own.    
My new Magnepan 20.7 were nice enough. Nothing to cry about when I got them. But now ten months as a lot of other little adjustments to the system they are World Class. So for folks who read this and wonder why can't MY speakers be this great.... They CAN. just work at it.
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A mono  DIY I built in 1956 using JBL drivers and XOs. (Huge corner sand-filled cabinet based on a design in Audio Electronics. Had to tear it down when I moved. 

Finally on a pair of Thiel 2.7s with a SS2.2 sub.  Complete Satisfaction

My Vandersteen 2Ce. Because I just sit back and enjoy the music. I never think about the electronics.
KLH, Cerwin Vega, KEF, Polk, B&W 802 and currently my last set, ML13a pushed by the incredible Krell 575 XD monoblocks. Perfect. 
My current speakers Proac D30R are the best speakers I have ever owned. They have great midrange. Takes time to break them in to hear their full potential.
OK here we go though I am sure I’m leaving some out. My journey from SET + Horn to high power and back

Klipsch La Scala
NHT Super Zero + Sub
NHT 3.3s
Hales Reference-5
B&W 805s + 2 B&W 800ASW subs
JBL 4350
Infinity RS-1
avantgarde duo
B&W 805s + 2 Revel B15 subs
Reference 3a De Cappo + 2 Revel B15 subs
B&W 802
Wilson Watt-Puppy 5.1
Thiel 3.7
Klipsch La Scala LS5+ 2 Revel B15 subs driven by Coiencident Frankenstein-II’s (7 watts) Simply lovely and dynamic with the new LS5’s with a sweet non-honk midrange and non-harsh sparkling top end.  The dynamics keeps me coming back to horns!

Note I have tried many different subs over the years, Wilson, JL, REL, AVS, etc but always come back to the Revel B15’s due to the musicality, low end grunt and extreme flexability of the 3 band xover + multiple low/high pass and notch options. Front end is PS Audio BHK.

  • ADS L990
  • Sonus Faber Concerto Home
  • Neat Motive SX2
  • PMC fact.8 (current bedroom system)
  • KEF Reference 5 (current main system)
Eyeing a pair of Polk SDA-SRS 1.2TLs just for fun.
Special thanks to my mom for gifting me a pair of Bozak 302a while I was still a student in college. She personally hand wired the crossovers at Bozak in Norwalk. Others AR3x, Polk SDA 1c, Bowers 
N802, Thiel CS2.7, Vandersteen TREO, and monitor silver 300 (hands down the most incredible value, and currently in my reading room for listening with the Sunday Papers!). 
Nice to see what a long strange trip it’s been for all of us.