The best speaker you ever heard?

Foster, you still have a long way to go...

Scaena 3.2 line array. Imagine a speaker system that sounds like a full range driver having no crossover but without the usual roll offs in frequency response at the top and bottom of the spectrum. The Scaena's feature a line array of drivers measuring about three inches in diameter augmented by a ribbon tweeter line array for the highs and an eighteen inch woofer for the bass. When music is playing you can't hear the separate drivers at all, just a seamless blend. You can do as I've done and stare at the drivers during your listening experience. Your eyes will see the different drivers yet your ears will not hear them as separate sources of sound. When you add to this lack of an audible crossover a superb octave to octave balance, electrostatic-like resolution and an uncanny ability to create three dimensional images you realize that you are listening to a speaker that is more capable than most at helping to recreate an illusion of live music in your home. Forgiving that there may be some speakers (think horns and their incredible dynamics) that can surpass the Scaenas in certain aspects, IMHO, listening to the Scaena line array can be simply described as pure magic. Highly recommended.

MAGICO MINI 2 FOR natural sound great imaging!!

Rlapporte...okay but how much better than the altair could the arrakis be? you've heard them both- right?

you're not telling them what to buy just that you're opinion is the arrakis is best right?

The more world class speakers to which I am exposed, the more certain I become that there is no one best speaker or for that matter even a best that I have heard. Let me explain, there are certainly speakers that represent the best in a particular frequency range or with respect to a particular attribute. For instance, from 5000 hz to the limits of hearing, nothing for me approaches the Acapella ion tweeter; for the dead midrange, the original Quads float my particular boat; for bass below 100 hz, the 21" Cabasse Saturns are phenomenal; for dynamics, some of the better horns are unbeatable. Although I could go on, I think that you see the picture. The problem is that no commercial speaker that I have heard does it all. That means that what you perceive as best will ultimately be determined by your priorities and the tradeoffs that you are willing to accept. I think that Detlof has already said all this, probably with more eloquence, but it bears saying again.