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
Back in 1965 I bought pir of JB Lansing speakers They were the best for 15 years. If I never would have sold everything to go travelling... I might still own them.
Back in 1982/3 I bought a pair of Infinity RSIIa, which were the best speakers I owned and had those until around the mid 2000’s.                                           
In 2010 I both a pair of Magnepan 3.6 which were the best speakers I ownd into in 2018 I bought 20,7 Magnepan. which are the best speakers I ever owned...                      
Though I I had only bought RS I’s instead of II’s back in 1983 I might still own them. or maybe the JB Lansings...            
If I had some big money I would own a pair of MBL 101e
I have owned KEF LS50, Arteluthe Cadenza, Harbeth M30.2, and now my JBL 4367. I find myself being drawn back to either coaxil or dualcentric designs, or horns.
By far the best speakers I’ve owned out of the bunch are the 4367.
I should also add that I’ve been in this hobby for less than 2 years. Quite literally before August 2017 I knew nothing about speakers, amplifiers, etc.
The list is long but I worked at high end dealer both in HS and University, so changing gear was easy and relatively inexpensive..... sold my high end gear to exit college mostly debt free but kept a Sony CD, Tandberg cassette, NAD 3020A and KEF Kit 101’s ....

got back into higher fi in 2001 and since have run mostly Vandersteen as my Reference 3a-sig, then 5a and now in retirement the 7 mk2
we also have the lovely Treo CT at our winter place

We were a Shahinian dealer, I always thought the Obelisk was hyper musical
enjoy them in good health
retirement at least for us gives us much time to catch live music and listen at leisure late into the night !!!
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.