The best speaker you ever heard?

In my observation,satisfaction (in hi fi) is often hindered by expectation and perception. I'll even go so far as to admit that I fell into this camp for a brief period of time.

I dug my way outta this line of thought by realizing that hi-fi sounds fake. Nothing, and I mean, none of it - sounds like the real thing. Once I came to terms with that, this gig became nothing more than a hunt for finding a flavor of fake that I could live with.

Kinda a glass-half empty point a view,I admit, but it's helped me to reach a level of satisfaction that I may not have achieved otherwise. Hopefully others find their own ways of attaining audio nirvana. Anyways, back to the whole "best" bit..

Regarding expectations, the trap to avoid is expecting a system to make recordings sound better than they are. If you look for a system that makes everything sound perfect, you will find yourself on a never ending and costly quest to achieve the impossible and never weaning the satisfaction that most recordings in fact have to offer.

07-20-10: Rumadian
I dug my way outta this line of thought by realizing that hi-fi sounds fake... Once I came to terms with that, this gig became nothing more than a hunt for finding a flavor of fake that I could live with.

Yea! Me too!

You would all be well served by heeding the words of the prophet Rumadian.

Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy 5.1 Soundstage bigger than life and unbelievable detail. Listened to Bonnie Raitt and you could hear the brushes, like almost every bristle as it hit the drum. Bonnie, well there centerstage larger than life. This experience was well over ten years ago and still is with me.