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If $ was no object what speaker would you buy?

Products of the year award in TAS of March of 2006 gave the top award to MBL. When TAS staffers were asked which speakers they'd most like to own, virtually everyone from music editor Bob Gendron to Ceo Tom Martin(who actually does own a pair) would answer : the MBL 101Es.IMHO the MBL's sounded closest to me what a live event sounds like, it was amazing. They were so pleasant to listen to that I even appreciated music that I typically didn't like prior to hearing it on MBL's. For me that is significant, it provides me with an opportunity to start appreciating other genres.
In the same issue there is a pressing article suggesting that makers of high-end audio could be in financial trouble. In the same article the panel discusses how to get the word out about high-end audio, and how to increase the number of people interested in buying high-end audio equipment.
I believe in the awe effect, if the audio showrooms could display a playback system that simply awed the newcomer, they just may be swayed to make a purchase before walking out.
Perhaps we can get the attention of audio engineers and designers and suggest that we audiophiles have discovered a music playback system that awes us, and are willing to purchase a system of that caliber providing it is within our means.
For some of us MBL has got what we want. For others it may be another brand. Maybe in the near future we can find affordable speakers that will near that magical sound that our favorite super expensive speaker have.
What speaker would you love to own that is out of your price range. The speaker you would like to see used as a reference point for engineers and designers to make an affordable model yet completely awesome.
Then maybe they can be used to catch the attention of non-audiophiles at demonstrations of high-end in shopping malls or luxury car dealerships.
pedrillo
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
My choice would have to be predicated on my listening room and the equipment I currently own. Many of the "megabuck" super-speakers, such as the Wilson Alexandria's and the Alon Grand Reference, are simply impractical for the vast majority of listeners. And it would be pointless to buy hyper-expensive speakers without also improving the rest of the audio chain.
So, factoring in my current listening area and my electronics, I'd buy the Vandersteen 5A's.
dweller's avatar
dweller
2,152 posts
 
Of speakers I've actually heard, I agree with the MBL 101E.
mechans
2,999 posts
 
Genesis 1.1,4 tower monsters. They look like the Infinty IRS V which I would buy if I could get my friend to sell his spare but perfect second pair or should I say quad to sell. The reality is that the opportunity to hear most any top of the line speaker even at the shows is rare, so who knows? It's a wonder they sell any at all.
metralla
945 posts
 
I live in an apartment and don't have the space for something huge and I listen a lot at quite low levels, so I have a different set of priorities to many audiophiles.

Of all the speakers I have heard, I think I would like the small Kharma Exquisite Mini.

Regards,
chazzbo
1,006 posts
 
Acapellla Sapoahrons (on sale used for $77,000) look like the may have all, the Advantegardes have plus a super sophisitcated ion plama tweeter (that won't make you sick like old Heilco( frp,m 70's was that the name?).But there is one guy who has the smaller version in the "systems" and just from look,teck dscription etc they would be ebeyr interesting to listen to.Other chjoice would Rockport Antares with the insanely priced turnatable they m,ake to go with it that Stereophile made a new "A+" designatopn for.But as I was reading in Streophile there is a point of diminishing returns andthe majic dollar number seems to be about $20K.Abvantegardes,Avalon Eidons and the new top of the line Joseph ands Arriel seem to all the speaker andbody would need or could use.Unfortunately my budget seesm to be between 1/10 to maybe 4 times that.Beyond that I'd put dought into other parts of system and then other things novel liike savings for when sociual security runs out and elderly medical care.Trivial things like that.And I'm a wee 41 so one hopes that end of life care isn't around the corner.$20K should be enough to puit together an ENTIRE system that totally rocks especially if one usees A'gon and buys the right parts of it used (maybe not a cartridge which I never would trust or digital whjere you'd like some warranty.
Chazzbo
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