Speakers that disappear

RE:  the Quad ESL 57's, which are the best sounding speakers ever created (with the right set up) - both the Maggie LRS+ and Harbeth 30.1/2's and 40.2/3's (with the right set up) (which I also have) sound very, very close to the ESL 57's!  All of the Harbeths sound very similar to them.

@bassdude +1!

There was of course never any such moniker as “ESL-57,” except in retrospect, to distinguish it from its distinguished successor the ESL-63. Designed by the legendary Peter Walker and actually introduced in 1956, it was called simply the Quad ESL, but soon became known as “Walker’s little wonder.” Little wonder: For top-to-bottom clarity, coherence, transparency, resolution, openness, naturalness, and a disappearing act that still inspires awe, the ESL established and remains to this day (even though production ceased over a quarter century ago) a reference standard among countless designers and reviewers (including the undersigned) across the globe. Despite undeniable limitations—inability to play very loud, lack of deep bass, quite directional highs—it tops virtually every list of the best, the greatest, the most significant—supply your own category—audio products ever made. Why? Because at the dawn of the stereo era this “little” wonder demonstrated what was possible in most of the essential areas of speaker performance so validly that from a certain point of view the subsequent history of speaker design has been catch-up. Paul Seydor

I had several speakers in the garage that disappeared completely. I suspect my wife put them out on electronic recycling day but she swore she did not. Still, where are they?

A lot of speakers can disappear on some content. Maybe there are some that can disappear on all content, if put in the right situation. I imagine a single dipole positioned correctly could project a perceived image far behind the speaker. I think I’ve experienced that on some occasions even with a single cheap bookshelf. The sound seemed to come from the speaker’s direction, but it definitely sounded like it was well behind the speaker. What’s really rare is when it really seems like sound is outside, way behind the speakers, and somehow clearly coming through your wall, as if the wall was just a thin cloth fake.

I had a pair of Klipsch RF-7s doing that at one time (they didn’t do it individually in mono). Overall I was disappointed with those, but at one point I would listen and look out the closed windows with amazement because it seemed like a concert was going on out there.

Also, for me the ability of the speaker to disappear seems reliant on my state. Sometimes my brain falls heavily for the illusion. Other times it’s not so easily deceived. This morning I came to work and listened to a setup that I had configured last night that was really wowing me. When I came in this morning I had a quick listen and the disappearing effect was underwhelming. I didn't have the luxury to listen for long, but after a few minutes it was starting to work better. For me, the effect grows as my ears and mind relax into it, especially if they're not disturbed too much by other sounds.

Hello ahal1!  All of Linkwitz designs will vanish when playing music. They are abailable in kit form from Madisound. I have built three different models (Plutos, LX minis, LX521) and all sound wonderful and are good at the "disappearing act."  Happy listening!

When you speak of listening to speakers that disappeared and were stand mounted, you were most likely listening to the Bose 901s, which sit on a pedestal as an integral part of their design. To me, none of the other Bose products come close, but the 901s via their equalizers can put out a nice sound, and they certainly disappear without needing a lot of additional equipment to achieve the objective. Many can find fault with them, but that's what you were most likely listening to.

Bose comes to mind, but only if there's at least one Synergistic Research fuse in the system.

No highs no lows, must be Bose.  

I am pretty sure that there are stand mounted speakers that do a better job at the disappearing act than Bose 901s.  (And I had never heard Bose 901s referred to as "stand mounted" before, but who knows.)

Anthony Gallo ref 3.1 or 3.5s or their current stand mounts Strada II. I obviously a fan boy for Gallo. The cdt tweeters are among my favorites in all the speakers I’ve ever heard. 
 

I’ve also been drawn to most open baffle designs for the disappearance act. Depending on budget, Nola makes some really special sounding speakers. All disappear without much fuss.

My Magnepan LRS+ does a pretty good job disappearing even though I sit close to the LEFT speaker in my small office. However, I cheat by using ROON's digital speaker placement option. That thing is like an analog balance control in a preamp, but on steroids.

The best speaker that I know to totally disappear and also have an incredible soundstage is the KEF Blade 2.

It really begins upsteam...if you can hear you amplifier grilling, then your speakers no matter what they are will not disappear...it is the whole chain. 

+1 @sounds_real_audio .

Linkwitz "ORION" open baffle speakers. Truly amazing !

+1rick_n

It all depends on what type of music you're listening to, your room and do you also like that slam of bass.  I have Wilson Maxx II's, but my son has some Martin Logans and I love their sound.  I had a pair of Monolith's, but sold them to buy the Wilson's.  I wish I had a larger room, so I could incorporate both speakers in my listening area.  I have a pair of Klipschorns that have been sitting in their corners, unused for several years.  I think I'll find a low power tube amp and connect them up.

@terraplane8bob

Absolutely! I have the Orion’s also - "Maggies on Steroids!"

But... the OP seemed to be asking for smaller speakers that "disappear."

And... although I love my Orion’s... they are quite a bit larger and more difficult to manage, than the LRS+ or Harbeths. And... I do believe the LRS+ does a fair job of competing with the Orions... maybe... with the exception of the dynamics and drive of the lower mids and bass and the size of the soundstage.

The LRS+ is just amazing at producing not only the accuracy and transparency of the sound, but also the imaging and soundstage, with those ESL 57 or Harbeth mids - which is all you need for "all things acoustic." If I want a bit more dynamics and drive... I’ll add some Rels to the mix of my LRS+. But for most of my jazz, blues, country and classical - I don’t miss it a bit!

And... the bonus is... the LRS+, which rivals most any other speaker - is only $1,000!

Concentric driver designs+a narrow baffle+attention paid to phase precision will tend to be holographic and disappear like a piece of cake...even if your room/setup is a bit suboptimal. If it fits your wallet, get a TAD E1TX. It isn’t very big and will be a significant step up (sonically) from what you currently have.

Or...here’s a less wallet abusing piece with some compromise from Technics (SB-G90M2)

"...speakers that disappear...." ?

Bluetoothed headphones, but keep a sub....coffee table disguised....

Hi Ahal,

Maybe you should research these speakers: www.bloomline.com. I've heard them play and they really are amazing! No sweet spot anymore at all. Even when you walk around, the music seems to come from a stage between the speakers when you're walking by. This really amazing system was invented by Leo de Klerk, a recording engineer. Based on laws of fysics and audio behaviour. 

Hope you'll find your perfect speaker. Success!

Whether or not your speakers disappear is system dependent.
My speakers lost that quality for a number of years.
I recently repaired/upgraded the electronics: amps, preamp, phonostage.
They disappeared again. 😊

The room may be the most important thing.

put Vandersteen on your listening list

I have a pair of Magnepan MMG, Vandersteen 2 and Mofi Sourcepoint 8 all in my living room, hooked up to the same McIntosh amplifier (using a switch-box).

ALL three pair do the disappearing act . . .  but the listening chair had to be moved forward or backward slightly, and the speakers are (obviously) at different positions within the room. It's all about your room (mine is half-treated), the speakers' placement, and the seating position relative to those speakers.

WHY do I have so many different speakers? Each presents the stereo image differently and I switch monitors based on the recording I am playing.

re: brummgon: I saw a relevant interview with Richard Vandersteen recently, in his opinion the speakers with the largest sweet spot are the ones with the worst phase accuracy, and they can't do pin-point imaging as a result. This is why his designs are not dipole or omnipolar.

I agree that all speakers can be made to disappear with proper placement of the speakers and the listening position.  It also MAY help to have some room treatment (can be as simple and unobtrusive as putting up a wall hanging on large exposed surfaces or adding diffusion with bookcases, potted plants, etc.).

The difference between speakers tend to make certain types easier to get to disappear.  Small standmounted speakers placed well away from walls are particularly easy to make disappear. 

But anything can be made to disappear. Just this weekend I heard a system with very good imaging that sort of defies the usual expectations because of its size.  It is more than 30" wide, taller than six feet and is three feet deep (horn-based).  If that elephant in the room can disappear, anything can.

Few speakers disappear in smallish concrete block rooms. 

Aha1,

Maybe you should research these speakers. www.bloomline.com. I've heard them and they are really amazing! No sweet spot anymore at all. Even when you walk around, the music seems to come from a stage you're walking by.

Hope you'll find your perfect speaker. 

You might consider older Audio Physic speakers.  I liked them back in the 90s.  I have large full range speakers that disappear, Von Schweikert, which have great dispersion.  They can disappear with the right recordings (not many of my jazz combo 1950s though as they are often left/right channel only.   

Mini and regular monitor size speakers are best for disappearing with great imaging potential over large speakers.  Concentric driver design speakers also have the ability to disappear.  

If you really want disappearing speaker, you shall go for line array.

I do not notice any direct sound from my Scaena 3.2.

When I attended PAF 2024, Note speaker also disappears.

https://markporzilli.com/

Thomas

I like the way some omni-directional speakers, like MBL, seem to disappear--the soundfield is completely spread out and there are no hot spots at the edge of the soundfield which correspond with the speakers are located.