Obscure companies making excellent speakers?

Thanks for starting this thread, Pedrillo. I and the other small companies appreciate the acknowledgement and are encouraged by your efforts here to raise awareness and interest. And most of us are friends with each other. One of us (Dale Pitcher of Intuitive Design) was quoted as saying something like this:

"I'm not trying to take market share away from these other small manufacturers; I'm trying to take market share away from B&W!"

As the number of two-channel brick-and-mortar stores dwindles, and as audio shows and internet word-of-mouth plays a larger role, the playing field between the little guys and the big guys may be levelled out a bit. And I think many of us can give 'em a real run for their money on sound quality.

Ascend Acoustic is another company that doesn't advertise and follows the sound quality over looks philosophy. They concentrate on the budget market with their most expensive offering being their Sierra 1 monitor that is under $1K. The Sierra 1 is likely the first consumer price level bamboo cabinet speaker. I know Escalante uses bamboo cabinets too but wouldn't consider them to be consumer priced.

Escalante should make this list too. Very neutral and balanced sound.

Duke,Well said as always:

Salk speakers,beautiful sound,beautilful looks,great value.

yes i'm biased because I own a pair.

Tonian Acoustics is one of the very best yet least known companys in audio land.