The best speaker you ever heard?

The best speakers i've ever heard are still the awesome Infinity IRS-V's. I heard them back in 1991 with a pair of massive Electrocompaniet mono blocks & a reference tt and was blown away. Thunderous concert level bass, ethereal "reach out and touch it" imaging & incredible detail. They are also the most beautiful speakers i've ever seen.

08-05-14: Lloydelee21
Agree!!! I have a good friend with 3 awesome systems...Genesis 1.1s (basically the next generation of Infinity IRS Vs) are one of his flagship speakers (Tidal Sunrays and Marten Coltrane Supremes are his other 2!!).

Lloyd, is this the guy? http://marten.se/blog/2010/02/dutch-courage/

08-13-14: After_hrs
Electrical synergy that translates to emotional and component harmony is key. As we all know a speaker is only as good as what the amplifier is doing for it primarily and what the room is doing additionally.

You raised a good point After_hrs. I've seen plenty of classic Infinity IRS speakers for example setup with cheap amps like rotel sitting on the ground with no isolation, cheap cables etc. I also recently read a review by Robert Youman who blew his budget on a pair of Magico Q7's which he is driving with a Vitus RI-100 integrated amp, PBD MPS-5 sacd player & VPI Aries turntable. He's using good cables (KS Elation) and good isolation (Rix Rax, Qpods, SRA), but the reality is with that setup his Q7's will be held back and he will never reach their full potential. I agree with this philosophy of using the best isolation and cables which are critical to getting the best out of your system, but that's about it.

My view is yes, you need to invest a good amount of money on speakers which firstly have good synergy with your upstream gear and are capable of growing with your system as it evolves (which a good reference speaker should do). For my system I chose Magico S5's which are a good value high end speaker which tick all the above boxes. But unlike that Youman's setup, I stepped up to a Vitus SIA-025 integrated, Stillpoints Ultra 5's + Ultra bases and mostly recently, Jorma Statement sc's for synergy with my Prime ic's & pc's. I'm also using a better power conditioner imho (Gigawatt) and have a front end upgrade around the corner which will easily best the PBD. Once my system is finished, that reviewer's budget would still well and truly outstrip mine, however whilst i'm sure his Q7's would have it over the S5's in terms of linearity, authority and scale, I bet my system would give his rig a good run for its money.

09-11-14: Ctsooner
Have you ever heard the Vandy 7's? If not, you should give them a listen as they are some of the best sounds I've heard and I have heard tons of the larger speakers on the market and have for many years now. The Vandy's have sounded better for me than the Rockports I've heard too.

Cts, you mentioned you've compared Magico speakers to the Vandersteen 7's and preferred the Vandys. Have you heard Magico S5's paired with Vitus Signature Series gear & good cables (eg: Siltech Royal Signature, Jorma Prime etc)? The commentary i've read suggests the S5's lose out little to the 7's, and even sound better in areas like tonality, body/texture and inner detail (especially in the bass).

Ct, yes I understand that dilemma. It's hard to compare the Magico S5 to Vandy 7 as most Dealers carry either one or the other line, but not both. And show conditioners are never, or rarely ideal.

I can see the money in the Vandersteen 7. Use of carbon-lined cabinets in particular would add a lot of cost. The Vandy 7's are a similar to Dartzeel amps..they are hand tuned for high performance and demand a lot from upstream equipment and careful setup. Vandersteen supplies a laser level for good reason as the 7's have a narrow sweet spot. But once setup correctly they can sound amazing.

The 7's carbon/balsa drivers are not that dissimilar to Magico's carbon nano-tech/rohacell M380 midrange which uses extremely light and strong carbon cones with extremely lightweight rohacell foam as a dampening material. This midrange is fast, nails female voice and has wonderful tone, timbre and texture/body which to me is the essence real music. I'm sure Richard Vandersteen's mid does one or two things a bit better, likewise Magico's Q series mid shines in other areas.

I agree that developing a good relationship with a Dealer is essential to getting the right advice & being able to sit down and audition gear to see what sounds good to you. At the end of the day, you only need to please one person. Btw, nice system and congrats on your Vandy Treo's!

Atmasphere, thanks for your informative post. I understand the logic of using the rated efficiency and impedance to determine actual efficiency, however in your comments you have not considered the phase angle and impedance dip of a speaker and how that can influence the load presented to the amplifier. The Infinity Kappa 9's for example had an amp-crushing 1 ohm dip with a severe phase angle which literally made many amps go up in smoke. Just my 2 cents.

@Tbg, have you read up on the Wilson Benesch Torus? That is fast and is capable of keeping up with ribbon drivers.

Tbg, no as with my S5's they don't need any augmentation in the bottom end. But my Dealer thinks really highly of it. The Torus is not a subwoofer in the traditional meaning. It works differently and is an "infrasonic generator" which improves dynamics and prat. The TAS review is a good read, though I can see from the specs that the Torus has had further development in the last 7 years which is to be expected.

If I owned a pair of Magico S1's or S3's, or panel speakers the Torus would be a no-brainer as it is one of the only, if not the only "sub" which is fast enough to keep up with beryllium and true ribbon drivers, and is a relative high end bargain.

11-22-14: Mdemaio
The two that have stuck with me – each for a completely different reason - were the Volti Vittora and the Goldmund Prologos.

+ 1. The Prologos are very dynamic and musical speakers. They sound very smooth and are good sound stagers. I would love to hear the mighty Apologue Anniversary!

10-11-14: Ctsooner
Funny as stats and panels just have never done if for me. Way too hot when I've heard them and I've heard most of the TOL speakers. They seem to float the soundstage and almost always sound bigger than the actual performance was (yes, I've been in recording studios or recorded live on metal tape and heard the differences). Some folks love that sound, but in real life when you heard music live the panels won't usually sound 'right' for ME...That's just ME and not anyone else, so please don't take it that way. Some speakers are so detailed that they don't sound like live music either as most live music blends and that's what makes it sounds so awesome. We are also tricked by crowd noise as in audio we are the ones sitting on stage, but when you are live you usually are in the audience and hear the crowd noise differently. Just saying...

Cts, I found Infinity's Emit & Semit tweeters could sound a bit hot and generally benefited from some tubes in the mix. Indeed Arnie Nudell & John Ulrich voiced their speakers mostly with Audio Research tube gear. I've owned 3 pairs of classic Infinitys including the Ren 90's & found a happy medium running a Classe power amp & JVC XL-Z1050 as transport and Vimak DS-1800Mk2 dac. Though solid state, the qualities of that gear worked well with the Rens. So it might be partly a question of system matching/synergy. Another challenge you eluded to with panel speakers (as with all dipoles) is setup. True ribbon panels like the TSW Apogee Divas for example are notoriously hard to setup, require a large room & need to be placed well out in the room. Apparently the TSW Duetta Sigs are easier to setup. I haven't heard the resto'd TSW Divas, but my understanding is that Graz's new ribbons solved an issue with the original Diva's midrange power handling which results in smoother, more coherent sound. Whilst the stronger magnets, stiffer frames & better crossovers used today lift the speaker up to a new level. That said, the best dipoles i've ever heard were a pair of Infinity IRS-V's setup with massive Electrocompaniet mono blocks & an analogue front end.

@Ctsooner, I like to sit and get moved as well, so when you listen to Magico S5's or newer models such as M Pro or Q7 Mk2 properly setup for synergy, you must be hearing something completely different to me. Each to their own as they say. Incidentally, I am not a fan of Wilson speakers either.

The Ayre 20th anniversary amps by all reports are outstanding amps, though they are not the only outstanding amps out there. I'd quite happily compare a Vitus SS-102 and SL-102 pre to that gear any day of the week, even the new SS-025 stereo amp. But I accept that is a matter of personal preference.

08-03-15: Tomic601
7 MK 2 arrived, setup easy and tuned for room and THE sweet spot. I guess if I "listened differently" I could always turn on the rear firing 901 reflection tweeter...
Boomy bass ? 11 bands of EQ, variable Q and level built in...hmmmm..
Image height, gee Diana is like 7' tall on case of You..I suppose she could really be 10' but how will Elvis kiss her ?
Love Em....but I am into music, do not turn over my gear too much..

That was quite a defensive and boastful reply Tomic. Now here is an observation; your system is completely unbalanced and heavily tipped toward your speakers. I favor a balanced system approach with a commensurate investment in amplification, front end, cables, isolation and AC power. Your speakers are only as good as the rest of the chain; rubbish in, rubbish out. Have a good day...

09-16-15: Tbg
Melbguy1, now with expensive cables and power cords, I think the notion of a balanced approach is nonsense. I have found that $20k worth of HFCables on an $1800 dac makes it sound like a $35,000 dac. Also isolation and better racks cannot be ignored.

Yes GiGo, but everything is critical for there to be the magic that we can now get.

Tbg, I can't speak for HFC cables as I own Jorma Prime and Statement cables. I certainly agree top flight cables and isolation matter and have heard the benefits with my own ears. In fact, the first thing I invested in when I started to build my high end system was cables, so I don't disagree with your view. Though cables and isolation can only take you so far. Then you need to invest in a better amp and front end. I feel i've found the right balance in my system & am very happy with the results.

09-22-15: Tomic601
how exactly Melbguy1 was my post defensive and boastful ?
what exactly is the garbage in my system ?

If you're asking those questions, you're not ready for the answers..

10-08-15: Trcnetmsncom
No doubt about it ... Avalon Isis

That is a great loudspeaker.

Cts it sounds like you have sensitive ears and a good understanding of how real music should sound. I also gravitate towards speakers which are coherent, well balanced and sound natural (ie: like real music). Avalon certainly fit that bill, and from what I've heard Vandersteen do also.

Magico speakers are fast, very resolving and overall neutral. They are what I call 'honest' speakers which are true to source, therefore careful attention needs to be paid to your upstream gear. The Magico S line is a bit warmer than the Q series and a bit more laid back in presentation, so they appeal to a wider audience. The S5's have only drawn me into the music paired with Vitus Sig series or Soulution amps. They seem to be an excellent match. I'd love to hear the new Vandy 7Mk. My Dealer doesn't carry that line, but it would still be fun.

Calvin, yes having heard the Soulution 501 mono's & 520 pre, I would rate the Vitus SS-025, SS-102,SM-102 monos & SL-102 higher. The Vitus Sig series gear has more control & sounds more organic to my ear. Soulution also don't have any comparable product to the SIA-025 integrated. The Soulution 530 integrated is huge! Though the Soulution 541 sacd player's msrp suggests it should have the wood on the Vitus SCD-025mk2 (atleast on SACD). Better? Probably, but $20k+ better?

Calvin, I've only heard the small Raidho C1's with Symaudio amps. They sounded smooth and clean, though there was some stridency in the top end (most likely due to green speakers). The D5's must sound amazing. My only gripe with Raidho is they are way over-priced for what you get as demonstrated by the huge dealer margins. I saw a pair of C2.1's on static display and thought the build quality was very average compared to Magico or YG for example.

10-14-15: Ctsooner
Check them out when you can. They draw you in while still being so honest. Big change in the mk 2

Caxton Audio in Melbourne carry that line, so I might see if they're getting the Mk2's in so I can have a listen for fun. In any case, $62kUS is out of my price league & my Dealer does not carry that line.

Incidentally, the Magico S7's are also a big change from the S5's & have lighter, faster hybrid carbon Nano-Tec/Nano-Graphene drivers & a diamond-coated beryllium tweeter. The cabinets and crossover have also been significantly improved. I might have a bit of news on that front soon ;).

In the end, loudspeakers as with music preferences are completely subjective. You should definitely aspire to own whatever makes you happy regardless of opinions on forums. If you like your music on the fuller and darker side, you could get that sound from Magico by using PAD cables & something like a Vitus RI-100.

Calvin, I also have not been able to warm to the Wilson speakers. To my ears the Alexia's have an airy top end and good sound staging, but have bloated, flabby bass which also smeared the midrange. I prefer Magico's sealed box approach which allows tighter, more accurate bass. Magico also have better build quality than both Wilson and Raidho imho.

I know what you mean about carbon drivers. Wilson Benesch, Proac & Vandersteen all use all-carbon drivers and are generally regarded as sounding natural. Speaking from my own experience, paired with Vitus or Soulution the S5's are capable of drawing me into the music. However to get the best out of them requires careful attention to detail. I've worked hard at building my system around the S5's for optimal synergy, incl: amps, front end, cables, isolation & AC power. The old adage "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" applies.

Though as good as the S5's are, I would say there are other loudspeakers i've heard which sounded more natural and did a better job of drawing me into the music like the Avalon Transcendents & Crystal Arabesque speakers with the RAAL ribbon tweeter. That's one of the reasons I am upgrading to the new S7's. Magico's latest drivers (incl: diamond-coated beryllium tweeter, hybrid carbon Nano-Tec/Nano-graphene midrange & new 10" bass drivers) are all lighter, faster & much better than the previous generation, whilst cabinets and crossovers have also improved substantially. From what i'm hearing, the S7's approach the complete sonic freedom and 'boxless' sound of the M Pro's which is high praise & just what i'm looking for.

Richard Vandersteen and Alon Wolf are both at the top of their game and building great loudspeakers which are extremely fast, accurate and coherent. It is hard to imagine anyone not being beguiled by their latest offerings incl: the Vandy 7Mk2 & Magico S7. The technology from the S7 will inevitably filter down to other S series models, as i'm sure will occur with Vandersteen. The winner as you say is we audiophiles.

As for cables, i'm not a fan of using cables to 'tune' a system, much as in the same way i'm not a fan of using 'tuning feet' such as the Harmonix to correct deficiencies in a system. Hence I use Jorma cables which are neutral in tonal balance and sound natural. Cables matter, and indeed I have a significant investment in wire. But I don't agree with those who elevate cables to the level of components. I don't subscribe to that point of view. Imho, at that level your money would be better spent on a component or speaker upgrade.

Maybe one day Magico will learn the secret to drawing you into the music..

10-03-14: Ctsooner
..I've been able to hear most of the speakers in this thread and some are awesome and would make me very happy, but at each price range, I like the Vandy speakers best. The other top speakers I've liked have also been first order covers and time coherent. No smearing that I hear on most other speakers out there regardless of cost.

Cts, speakers with first order crossovers have their limitations, requiring for example significant impedance correction. Also first order crossovers have a lot of overlapping bandwidth, leading to lobing issues/comb filtering, and increased power handling/excursion demands on the drivers. On the upside, there is minimal phase shift, though there is no free lunch here. Vandersteen 7's have a narrow sweet spot and are not easy speakers to setup, hence why they include a laser positioning device and numerous adjustments for the drivers.

Conventional higher order crossovers are also not perfect, however in Magico's case, they use what they call "Elliptical Symmetry Crossover" technology which allows the use of steeper slopes with half the number of parts used in a traditional crossover, enabling Magico to use a simpler, higher quality crossover network. And indeed Soundstage (using the NRC in Canada) and Martin Colloms for Hifi Critic both concluded the S5 has superb measurements.

You mentioned you have heard most of the speakers mentioned in this thread (including presumably the Magico S5), but preferred your Vandersteen Trio's which is fine. I've found the S5 to be a very coherent and well balanced speaker which sounds very smooth, a bit warm and very resolving. It has a slightly more laid back presentation than Q3 which I find allows for long listening sessions without listener fatigue creeping in. The S5 is perfectly phase coherent. Maybe not perfectly time coherent like the Avalon Eidolon Diamond, however I find the overall qualities of the S5 draw me into the music and engage me. The S5's drivers operate in perfect piston motion. Another important consideration is the S3 & S5 are easy to setup and integrate in less than perfect rooms. Coupling of the speaker to the room is a critical factor in how good or bad your system sounds.

I would love to hear the Vandy 7's, though at a starting price of $52k they cost quite a bit more than the S5's. A shootout between the Vandy 5a carbon vs Magico S5 would be interesting and a fair comparison given the Vandy's twin 12" bass drivers vs the S5's twin 10's. I think the S5 would have it over the Vandy in the midrange and top end.

I agree Calvin, the Soulution 540 sounds smooth and powerful. But it's the Soulution 745/746 which will ruin you! ;)

The latest Soulution 5 series & 7 series gear is very good indeed, though I feel as though the Vitus Signature series is better overall compared to the Soulution 5 series.

Cts, i've heard the older model JRDG & Boulder amps (not Ayre), and previously owned a Boulder 1060. All these companies have an essential house sound, and their latest products build on that and are more refined. Boulder is very quiet, smooth, neutral & has a lot of power/control. I enjoyed my time with Boulder. Paired with an modded Ayon tube preamp ,the 1060 was a perfect match with my old Marten Coltrane Alto's.
I've heard various Rowland products before, including the 625 stereo amp & Corus pre, and they sound very resoloving, quiet, liquid & airy. But they always sound a bit forward and mechanical to my ears compared to Vitus or Soulution. Rowland is a big fan of SMPS psu's which i've never been a fan of. Granted they are military grade & he has been developing them for some time, but i'll pass. Also the Corus preamp is chock full of op amps.