The best speaker you ever heard?

Peak Consult Incognito X, without question

Boy OH!!! Boy!!!! lots of speakers mentioned here most of them very very good others only good in the minds of the people commenting here, who's to judge them I certainly can't, Especially the guy who liked the sound of inferior electronics with the Monitor Audio versus his Sonus Faber!!! . . Go figure . . .
I think the speaker will faithfully reflect the upstream chain of equipment you are listenning to even the microphones used in the recording, the most important about the speakrs I think is to mate the amplifier well with them.

Example a pair of NHT SB-s'3 and also Classic 3's that I had in my office a while back if you use Aragon 4004-MK-II's there was one typ of sound bell balanced transparent, very well controlled, etc. the Threshold S5000e produced a more lively sound more musical more dynamic, then there is a big surprise I have and old Sunfire Cinema Grand that I no longer use in my HT rig so, I decided to try it as a 2 channel option with the setup and OH MY!!!! it made the speakers sing with joy, I never heard that amplifier sound so good, granted I was using hi calibre power condiitioned from Running Springs Audio and from Exact Power, granted more money from power conditioning than in amplifier I reaquanted myself with this amp that mnade the speakers really sing.
As you see the synergy between component smust be there or you're wasting your valuable Re$$ources . . .

Among the best speakers I have heard are the Merlins, the Von Schweikerts smaller models VR-3 VR-4's (Not the bigger guys) also Eggleston Works Andra's were very convincing argument; of course I don't recall the exact electronics being used on them except a few Wilson Watt/Puppy driven by ML Digital set-up and Spectral amplifier and preamp, (WOW MAJOR WOW!!!), also Vienna Acoustics with Krell electronics and probably the most intimate experience out of the known speaker brands I had with Sonus Faber driven by Pass Electronics, something about that combination really makes the hair in the back of your neck stand out . .
Also made the cut MArtin Logans (the bigger models )not the smaller guys), driven by Classée amplification and pre and also some old and almost lost Hybrid Moscode and also a combination of preamp-less Marantz Cd player w/ volume control direct into Audio research, Classic 60 (I think) into a pair of Vandersteen 3's also my memory bring that back as a very intimate listening experience again raise the hair in the back of your neck.

I will be listening to an fairly Uncknown manufacturer of speakers from Australia called Wide Horn Technologies claimed an efficiency of 95 dB/W/m you can probably make this speaker sing with 10 to 15 watts of good power.
If so then any well built A/AB class amplifier will always drive them on class-A and make them rock, wee shall see is a few weeks,

Something else, speaker cables are essential component a speaker that will sound not very interesting with one type of spealer wire will sound just right with a different cables.

I don't think there is an absolute best speaker out there they all more or less better in differecnt areas.
I still love a pair of NHT 3.3's I own in my HT rig however I relize there are far better speakers now. Again depending on amplifiers used, speakers can sing or sing, and tap dance, and show you their spirit, and . . ..

Hope this helps a little;

Take care; enjoy the music and try to go to a live concert once in a while so you keep your point of view original not comparing against this system against that system, etc.

Gonzalo

Hi. Lots of good stuff here for sure. Best speaker, dont think there is one. I have read much on this site and others, and still think my system, and speakers can rock with the other so-called best. To go down low you need to a point, big speakers to move lots of air, and big clean power to push them there. My listening room is 18x24. I use a marantz 33 pre, sony disc player, 2(yes 2) BGW 750 amps, and a pair of original unmolested ( new in 1970 )Patrician 800's that I listend to as a kid. These were my dad's speakers. I have retired the marantz 15 amp, as it does not really have the power to wake up the 30w's. To really get into the 30-35hz range with real authority, I have found a lot of head room is the trick. Now I would never use all that my amps can deliver, but low bass eats power fast. The speakers are in each corner about 3 inches fron the solid block walls. The sound, well you would have to hear it to belive it. Yes I could change cross overs, buy a eq, or even new equipment altogether, but they just dont make them like they used to. I have heard lots about the patricians over the years, good and bad, but most have never really heard them preform. At least not with nearly 1300watts per side. I got a CD from a friend to try after listing to some of it on his rig. It is from sublime. Man the low notes are crazy. I listend to the whole CD and just laughed the whole way through. I did use enough power to turn just about anything else inside out. What can I say, They ROCK.

I know this is an old thread, and I have placed my vote
before I think, but I discovered a new (discontinued) gem that
now ranks as the very best speaker I have ever heard or
owned. The Silverline Panatella III's...OMG they
are unreal!
Why they were discontinued, I will never know!?!?

Either the 800D or Rockport Altair for me...