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
Tannoy 215 DMT II. Just like those used in Night Bird Studio ’A’ …

https://www.nightbirdstudios.com/studioa

There 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.  




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.

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.

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.
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!!!