The best speaker you ever heard?


In my opinion, the speaker is by far the most important part of the audio system. After all, it is the only part you hear. OK, the other stuff really matters a lot, but without a great speaker... No go.

I am a bit 'speaker-obsessed' I guess, and now I am wondering: What are the best speakers you have ever heard, and what made them the best?
njonker
Some great answers. I love the guy with the optimus preference! This quote makes me wonder ""nearly 100% of all professional recording studios use the B&W Nautilus 801 as their reference for the best quality sound". Can't say I'd ever want to work at a place where that was the reference monitor. Yes studio's have different needs, kleenex taped to Yamaha NSM-10 tweets and all, but when it comes time to go home, have a drink, and just listen, my fantasy would still be a pair of Westlake Audio Tower SM-1's. A "real world" second choice is a used pair of Tannoy Churchills. Somebody ealier lamented the evolution towards "monitor" speakers instead of the big old boxes we used to have. I couldn't agree more. from pipe organs to modern techno there is a need for stuff around 20hz that a beautiful little box just can't do quite right.
Post removed 
The Linn Komri is the best speaker I have ever heard. Compared to Acapella Audio's giant horns and McIntosh's humongous line arrays, it is the Komri that stole my heart. Only the Vandersteen 5a powered by Ayre's AX-R monoblocks comes close. I have never heard a system of such resolution and naturalness working in perfect symbiosis as the Komri.

Revelatory.

The tweeter's exquisite attack releases high frequencies into the room from the ether and not from any particular driver. The crash and sizzle of symbols decaying eminates from a general direction, but sources from no absolute location. This attack and decay behavior can be followed through the frequency range to the lowest octaves. This is a revelation for me and I have not before or since heard anything like it.

picture
Soundlab A-3 was the best speaker I ever heard. They belonged to a late friend of mine in CA. He had them paired with a pair of awesome subs and twin BEL 2002's.
The Surrountec - Germany !!!

This may be a studio monitor, however, it is not 'dry' & 'lifeless'
Rather 'fast' + 'precise' yet reasonably musical.

Please do take a look.

Try and audition if possible.

It is one of the best [well implemented] T & P Diamond & Ceramic Drivers design. Well implemented.

http://www.surrountec.de/public/indexEn.php