Do you have a speaker that’s not a big name maker but punches above its weight? Why?

Salk Sound may not be a big name, and they stopped production a year or two ago, but they have a reputation for excellent sound coming from furniture-grade cabinets.

Why ? Because Jim Salk was dedicated (perhaps obsessed) with using the best components available, and the best sounding and best looking cabinets. I'm listening to a pair of his HT2-TL now and they do so many things right. Could be the last speakers that I ever buy. Unless it's another pair of Salks.

sure well it is obscure now as it is extinct and there are NO parts avail and it is vintage 
i have to source, buy them fr all over USA ,pay shipping 
at one time days ago consumers reports ( some pretty sharp engineers and scientists and we assume music lovers! ) USED to test and review speakers! they decided the ALLISON acoustics AL130 was the best speaker you could buy ! 
at the time they were $1,200 -1,500 which is $11k  in 2025 $ so defo "high end " speakers 
The woofers mounted push pull in a sealed cabinet had 20% less harmonic distortion and the CONVEX cone tweeters and mids were revolutionary , unique and proprietary yielding a wide dispersion sweet spot . 
yet nowdays i can buy survivors of the AL series for low prices! 
i paid $200 for a great pair of AL130 ! ( the Top of the line Allison! ) !!
 

Always seeking to aquire Allison Acoustics & AL series speakers !

I have many already !

2, Mini monitors

2, AL105

2, AL110 ,

2, LC110

6, AL115

4, AL130

3, NR 654 RARE! ( like a AL110 but shorter and deeper! )

2, center channel

2 rare! dual 8" push- pull sealed cabinet subwoofers !

A model 8

I need tweeters and mids ! some were damaged in shipping !

as you may know those are unobtainium ! damn near impossible to make the proprietary Allison CONVEX cones and cannot be repaired ! mores the pity !
they were revolutionary and glorious sounded ( and STILL sound ) awesome !

Getting enough for a all Vintage allison 11.2 HT sytem ! Roy would have loved it !

will pay $50 to anyone who gives a lead to some AL125 i buy !

and want a pair of CD-9 for DIY project  to lay down horizontaly , reconfigure the tweeter and mids to vertical ( speaker lobing will not be an issue ) might be fun to add some allison 8" and 6" woofers too!

make some 5 way speakers! ( well they say your center channel, SHOULD be the best of all! ) we will send this C channel mess to Danny @ GR reseach to sort out a crossover network!

@jl35 mines are also walnut gloss. I use the infigo method 6 amp , Infigo method 4 dac. Infigo streamer and infigo cables. 

PS Audio Aspen speakers and PS Audio electronics. 
All good value and reliable. 

My FM6’s are walnut gloss. Run them with Gato Amp 150 Integrated and Aesthetix Romulus Extreme CD Player. Cerious Matrix cables throughout. Great sound and look beautiful. 

I find myself agreeing with @mahgister on this one.

In previous posts over the years, I have spoken about the need to place my speakers on top of 6 foot high bookcases, to keep them away from my cats who have scratched up speakers.  No need to shame pets, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I have had speakers from Omega, Ascend Acoustics, Zu Audio, Acoustic Research, Epos (among others), in play over the years and usually enjoyed, but never loved the sound of the system.  Speakers placed normal way, on their sides, inside the bookcases, on top of the bookcases ... all just sounded ok, which was fine as long as I was working.  Once I retired, the ok was not enough and it started to bother me more.

I was watching my buddy’s large screen TV and was noticing and enjoying his Atmos speakers (bare bones HT system) in a small, cramped Manhattan apartment.  Well, it got me thinking along the lines of the basic Bose 901 principles.  

I replaced my front firing speakers with a pair of Klipsch 502 dipole surround speakers.  The idea of ambient (?), multi directional sound waves makes some type of sense and is very enjoyable.  No idea/ not noticing standing or cancelling sound waves.  Just being enveloped by the music.

I am six weeks into this ’new’ set-up.  Will see how it goes.  

Associated equipment:  Heaven 11 Billie integrated Mk2; PS Audio Direct stream DAC, PS Audio SACD/ CD Transport, Technics 1210 Turntable.

Rich 

@bassbuyer +1 on Philharmonic. 

Also, Decware. Beautifully tuned speakers that are worth the wait. 

SVS Speakers

@jl35 great to hear from a GATO FM6 brother.  Hans at Infigo heard my Fm6 and they blew him away.  If you put them with a top tier amp, dac and proper cabling you GET MAGIC! i bought them the first year they were out. But they are worth every penny. What color are yours? 

Zlone 

Here are a few reviews   They have great bass quality and quantity for a small speaker.  Nice detail without ever being harsh or bright.   
 

The M4 replaced a pair of Omega S.A.M. and are a much better speaker overall.  Can’t quite match the imaging of a single driver speaker but it does have great imaging.    Vocals are beautiful.   It’s just a great sounding speaker    Exactly to my taste

https://pt.audio/2018/07/20/review-studio-electric-m4/
 

https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/studio-electric-m4-monitor-loudspeakers/

https://theaudiobeatnik.com/studio-electric-m4-monitors-review-big-piece-best-small-package-price/

I had heard of these and earlier this year I did a little reading   Turns out ModWright uses SE at shows and so does Benchmark     Dan Wright owns a pair and basically said why would I use a more expensive speaker at a show when these are so good   That and recent show coverage where people ( not reviewers) were saying great things about the M4 an M5

I’m seriously considering the M5 for my main system   If the M4 is this good the M5 must be pretty awesome  

I listen to the M4 75 % of the time lately, my main system isn’t worth firing up tube amps for short sessions when these sound Sooooo good  

I own 2 pair of Ohm Walsh CLS:  totally unique and practical design that delivers a lot of good cost effective sound in most rooms that people actually have, though prices have gone up quite a bit in recent years.  Still much cheaper and more practical than say mbl. 
 

Then also there is Vanatoo actives which are an exceptional value. 
 

I also own KEF meta and Sonus Faber for comparison.

Don’t need, but so tempted to get a pair of Fritz.

CHESKY AUDIO LC1 - don’t own, but demoed and plenty reviews agree, this is a rare sonic bargain 

Another for Fritz.  I’ve auditioned several other stand mounts that cost 3-4 times as much and have not heard anything better, at least not enough to justify the cost.  They do everything well, particularly for the music I listen to most often.

I’ll have to second the J.M.  Reynaud’s, specifically the Bliss Silvers and the Cantabile Jubilees.  Great speakers!

When I read only the title in the Audiogon Forum email, I thought of my Gato FM15s. And lo and behold you are also talking about a Gato pair. I have owned the FM15 and the PM6. Both sold. Amongs the various speakers I have sold over the years, the only one I regret selling is the FM15. If I could get them back, I would.

Philharmonic.  All of their speakers are excellent and well priced for what you get.  Their customer service is also outstanding in my experience.  

@porchlight1 hey porch, i used to have those same speakers being pushed by a made in japan denon receiver, one of the best and unforgettable combos i've had.  the denon died and i gifted the 302s to a good friend of mine in san diego.  being english himself, he really appreciated them (and still does), as they were made in his homeland.  

Eminent Technology LFT-8b and 8c.

https://youtu.be/Uc5O5T1UHkE?si=6GOpTpR900Kpn4oP

https://youtu.be/R4vC3V00-3Y?si=8DiHcpIzADuHRznD

B&W 302. From the late 90’s, it made the cover of Stereophile as Budget Speaker of the year, and for good reason.  Entry level at $300/pr new, they just happen to be a joy to listen to music to.  Maybe by pure accident, everything fell into place, any sins committed are ones of omission rather than of commission.  A little, lightweight, front-ported box, they can be placed most anywhere.  A great choice for desktop, bedroom bureau, or workbench, they can be found in good shape for around $150/pr on the usual sites. 

My vote is an easy one for me, the Aurum Cantus V7F Rosewood finish. Absolutely stunning cabinet finish, efficient so it works with a lot of amps, really great sound with good usable bass down to 40hz (in my smaller dedicated room) and I paid $4k shipped to my house. I believe Terry London (@teajay) reviewed a set a few years ago but that's the only review I found. Jeff Dorgay reviewed a pair a couple years ago as well. 

https://www.aurumcantus.com/Products_details/120.html

My Dayton Audio IO8XTWs.  They look a lot like the Bowers & Wilkins AM-1, but at less than half the price.  The Daytons have an 8" woofer, the B&Ws a 5 incher.  I've never heard the B&Ws, but I can't imagine them sounding better at twice the price of the Daytons.  They truly are spectacular, giving me that huge, awesome concert/live sound outside.  When I add a sub to the mix, the sound is phenomenal. Parts Express truly delivers value. 

I also have the Gato FM6, which at it's very low used price is an incredible value....used to own Salk SongTowers and Monitors which were excellent and a great value new or used...

Sonner Audio Legato Duo only $10K 

Very small company with all hand-made cabinets. Colibri Labs out of Croatia. I have their Electrum Sig and they are VERY natural sounding with bass that is hard to believe given their size. Yes only one dealer in US but luckily I live close. I picked this speaker over JA Perspectives.

https://www.audiocolibri.com/

@oddiofyl @jpwarren58 I am intrigued with the Studio Electric speakers. Can you provide a description of their sound in your system? Warm, neutral, uber-detailed? How is the soundstage?

The low cost speakers i owned all sounded better that the real best TOP high end speakers i was able to buy why ?

 Because it does not matter as much the brand name speakers you bought and his top design if you are not able to install it in a way it can reach his true peak optimal working level...

Then  nevermind the speakers price, give me a relatively good one at any price i will reach the minimal acoustic satisfaction threshold and if the speakers is in the TOP speakers , the maximal acoustic satisfaction threshold.

synergy,electrical,mechanical controls devices and especially acoustical controls... The branded name of the speakers is relative to your wallet not to your knowledge...

Their performance is relative to your knowledge too not to your wallet...

My cheap Edifier now sound better in many acoustical aspects than my past Tannoy dual gold why ?

Because i was ignorant for 40 years during my owning of them , ignorant of all basic acoustics knowledge and concept...

Give me them now and i will make them trash my edifier in a way they were unable to do when i owned them in my ignorance state (40 years) ...

This is why any thread about speakers is a list of possible upgrading purchase not a list about what to do ...

We cannot know how well  could sound a speakers if we are not in "our optimally designed for them room" ....Period.

I am satisfied with my low cost Edifier...

But i will prefer to own my Tannoy dual gold now that i learned what to do...

If you want a true bargain try DIY.  I built the Auricle and Continum bass module.  With upgraded crossover parts, wiring, and binding posts I'm in about $2k and some sweat equity.  I've heard better but not for under $10 grand.

Fritz speakers. They just sound good

JM Reynaud Duet/Bliss speakers. Natural, laid back, cool soundstage9k

I believe the Buchardt E50 punches way above its price point. The best parts in a crossover I have ever seen. Soundwise, one of the best bookshelf speakers I have heard.

I’ll add Qualio and NSMT as a couple that get outstanding reviews and not all that well known. 

I've owned the Studio Electric M4 about six months.  I love these speakers.  Exactly the sound i was looking for in a small speaker.  

Great speakers , will never sell these.   

I have the Studio Electric M5. Excellent.

Also Watkins makes a fine bookshelf. 

My friend has the Studio Electric M4!

https://www.studio-electric.com/products.html

I used to own Fritz speakers - those would meet that description.... 

Tonian Labs Oriaco G6 stand-mount speakers.  Lively and timely with accurate tonal balance.  To my ears, instruments sound natural and more like themselves.

Tony Minassian is a small manufacturer located in SoCal.  Makes great recordings too.

My gato fm6 were a find for me. I have tried to replace the 14k retail. I paid 10k. Nothing beats them at that price point very happy 

+1 for the Odyssey Kismet speakers. I have had a pair for 2 years now, and they are excellent all-around speakers. Full disclosure, I have mine listed because in the end I have a preference for horns, which are on the way, but they are the best direct radiator speakers that I have owned, and the parts and build quality are exceptional.

Bought a pair of Odyssey Kismet speakers several years ago. Under 4K at the time. Definitely competitive up to 10K alternatives I heard.

Usher is a global brand designed and manufactured in Taiwan that largely flies under the radar here in the US.  Build and sound quality are outstanding for the price, their cabinetry is gorgeous, and they’re one of the few manufacturers that makes their own drivers.  Huge value. 

Indeed - My Sterling Acoustics Acumen II will likely be my last speakers.  Transmission line with excellent parts and build quality.

Not sure if Vimberg Mino D counts, a spinoff from Tidal Audio.

I’m amused of the high sonic and construction quality of this bottom of the line “entry” speaker - likely beneficiary of trickle down technology.

Why? Trickle down high quality Herculean cabinet dampening from Tidal, high quality Accuton drivers, application of Tidal crossover technology.  

Ascend Acoustics, Fritz, Omega, Source Loudspeaker Technologies, Ryan, to name a few...

Some years ago, Athena. Of course, Klipsch, whose crappy speakers couldn't compete, bought them and killed the brand.