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
KLH 6, Large Advent, JBL L-100, back to Large Advent, Mission 770, Alon Petite, Vandertsteen 2C, Ascend Sierra 1 (still have), Spendor s3/5 (still have), Spatial M1 Turbo (still have), Spatial X2 (currently on the big system.

The X2s are wonderful - detailed, deep, tight bass, wide soundstage, musical and non-fatiguing.  The M1s are on my basement system, the Ascends in the bedroom, the Spendors on the computer with an SVS subwoofer.

I'm done buying speakers.  Maybe.
Congrats on your find. We both know the key to being happy with ones current system is by staying out of the shops, I would add shows but the sound at shows is usually pretty average.
I scooped a pair of Usher BE-20 DMD's on new years day that are doing everything right and tho' it's only 3 weeks I usually start to notice flaws by now. These might be my keepers.
Tannoy 12" MG's in not very well made plywood boxes, were my first foray into better quality loudspeakers back in 1971, then came some B&W DM 620's, Dynaudio 5.4's, and now, back to Tannoy, with HPD 315 (12" Dual Concentric drivers in custom 150 liter bass-reflex, 192 lb. MDF enclosures). Custom built DIY crossovers using Alpha Core 12 gauge inductors, Mundorf silver-in-oil capacitors, and Dueland resistors. They are augmented with two subwoofers, one being a 15"Tannoy passive (Sub 15i) powered by a Crown bridged-to-mono 2002 XTi, the other a converted Velodyne  with Eminence 12" sub driver and plate amp.

The subs, along with the HPD's, are exactly what I need in my large 16' X 34' w/cathedral ceilings room. Better (more expensive) subs would be nice, but not necessary or possible with my budget, largely DIY system.

These speakers easily do all that is needed to make me happy for the remainder of my life