"laugh all you want..."
-Andrewdoan Nobody but an idiot would laugh at the enlightened and successful efforts of a seasoned audiophile such as yourself. I pity anyone who would laugh at a fellow hobbyist who has put together a satisfying system and then been kind enough to share the story of his or her success with this community. In fact, putting together such a system on a budget is even MORE impressive, at least to me, than mindlessly throwing money at a showpiece. IMO. |
Hmm, the battle goes on..... |
the best speaker is no speaker. it's ive music.
the next best is 4 original quads. |
Avantgarde Duo Omega- nothing has ever effected me emotionally the way that speaker did...just be ready to hear something that doesn't sound like a speaker. |
Rwwms: I am not familar with your loudspeaker, but the "..just be ready to hear something that doesn't sound like a speaker." Hey! I like that! What a great line! |
I cannot honestly answer this thread nor do I believe everyone can either due to the fact that unless you have owned every single flagship model of every past and present design, you can only make an educated guess?
The people making comments including myself, no matter how experienced have limited comparisons. There would be other loudspeaker design we would consider if we heard them irregardless of taste. I happen to love the sound of omnipolar designs like ohm's which i own, elac, mbl, german physik, decware, ess, duevel, etc. which i don't own and way out of my ability to obtain. I also love electrostats and planar ribbons and anything that is line source design.
Genesis, vintage infinity, nola, beveridge, mcintosh,pipe dreams come into mind and planars like transmission audio.
my choice of all of the most expensive design which i doubt i'll ever hear like those mentioned is the german physik flagship GAUB at over $200k and at over 1000lbs each.
pound per pound and affordability, i will choose the ohm walsh 300 mk2 or walsh 5. Not a single OHM is priced at over $6000 on their flagship. You'd be lucky to get a DUEVEL for under $10k and the same for a german physik.
In my opinon, some of the best consumer friendly designs are ohmspeakers, magnepans,ess, eminent technology, decware, axiom, orb, mirage, anthony gallos and the discontinued srslabs klayman signatures. There are others, but these come to mind. Companies like von scwheikert,wilson,magico,avant garde,B&W, dali, kharma,soundlab,AHL tolteq, vandersteen, mcintosh, beveridge, martin logan, genesis, nola, pipedreams, mbl, german physiks, transmission audio, MJ loudspeakers and others are beyond the average audio enthusiast ability to obtain.
I am a used and vintage loudspeaker collector that's affordable. I personally own ohmspeakers, acoustats, eminent technology, magnepans, klipsch, srslabs, wharfedales, optimus linaeum, dcm and used to own bose 901's in the 80's! (crappy compared to my walsh, electrostats, planar driver designs)
ohm and magnepans to me is the best affordable loudspeaker that i can own. The rest are beyond my financial ability.
If price is not an issue. German physiks GAUB would be my choice. You'd think it's a power generator more than a loudspeaker, a beveridge looks like a boat, a genesis, pipedreams, nola, mckintosh looks like large heaters, martin logans like radar,magico an aircraft part, wilsons and B&W like robots, and magnepans like room dividers, von schweikerts a large furniture and so many others from the pyramid like CAIN &cain and the rest from stargate!!! |
The people making comments including myself, no matter how experienced have limited comparisons. There would be other loudspeaker design we would consider if we heard them irregardless of taste. Excellent point, Armyscout41. I would bet that few of us have heard more than a handful of speakers in which all other conditions are constant. And I'm certain that many among us would change our response 2 or 3 times in the 5 years that this thread has been running. |
Where is the problem ?
The question is just, for everyonge, to tell his favorite speakers !
Not : what is the best speaker in the world !
What is irrelevant, probably, because of the infinity of possibilities of associations between speakers, amplifiers, sources and cables.
Just funny, somehow interesting, to hear what people love the most as speakers, even if they have listened only to a few of them. |
Sequerra Metronome 3---This was many years ago. I went to Definitive Audio in Brooklyn to hear the B&W 801; at that time loudly proclaimed as the best Speaker in the World by all the major audio magazines on both sides of the Atlantic.
Well, the Metronome 3 Kicked its A--so badly it was not funny.
From then on, I never again trusted the Mainstream press audio magazines.
BTW nothing I've heard since then has come quite as close to that magical moment. |
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Original Quad electrostatics and Avantgarde Duos.
The Quads are the most natural, immediate and alive sounding speakers I have heard. It also is a relatively practical speaker in cost and size. It makes most other speakers sound like, well, speakers. In other words, other speakers seem to make it more obvious that sound is being REproduced through an electromechanical device.
The Avantgardes come a close second but have the advantages of playing louder, deeper and probably higher. They also sounded really big, maybe too big. I've only heard them at a dealer, however.
Other speakers I've heard in demos include Infinity IRS, various Apogee ribbons, various Martin Logans, and the original Sound Labs.
Incidentally, to Armyscout41, the question was "What is the best speaker YOU have heard," which anybody should be able to answer, not "What is the best sounding speaker," which in theory would likely require someone to have heard everything. |
Evita, I agree. Its all subjective. My response would certainly have changed a few times =) |
In the 70's Snell typeA;80's Infinity IRS & Linn DMS;90's Watt Puppies fed by Wadia in Chicago Show; Now ??? |
Wilson Audio Specialties Watt Puppy's version 6, these speakers were paired with Audio Research Tube amplification and I think the transport was a krell cd player, but what I heard from a familiar recording blew me away!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I have heard a LOT!! To name a few, Dunlavy, Martin Logan,Paradigm, Meadowlark, Sonus Faber, B&W, Kef,Klipsch,jbl,Energy,M&K,Krix,Jamo,Infinity, Sorry If I mentioned some of you guy's equipment but everyone "hears" differently!!!! I'm a young audiophile 33 to be exact, but I think I've heard my fair share of speakers to give a subjective comment on what I think is one of the best if not the Very best. |
Oh My God Man: WITH 5 ADS L 1590 II.
AND KRELL HTS, N. PASS AMPS, TRANSPARENT BALANCED INTERCONNECT.
IN HT SET UP NO SUB. Oh My God Man I can't express in words how awesome these ADS speakers are.
Absolutely amazing.
It's like taking a blindfold off of my eyes and can see for the first time.
ADS FOREVER
RESPECTFULLY NESS NY NY |
Well, it USED to be Avantgarde Duos...now, it's the Duo Omega. Builds upon all the strengths of this amazing speaker, and adds coherence, better air & extension up top and more effortless power delivery in the upper bass & lower mids. I am a happy camper. |
B&W Nautilus 801 bi-amp with a pair of 333 Levinson.
Play loud and excellent dynamic without the strain. |
I can't say what the best speaker is, but the best I've heard are:
1. Wilson Watt/puppy
2. Aerial 20T
3. Mirage M3si
4. Dahlquist DQ10
5. My own Aerial 10T's powered with a Parasound 2200 mk II |
The best speaker I've heard are the ones I own at the moment. Ck my pots for the answer.
hehe... |
the best speaker is your ears listening to live unamplified music. |
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Dynaudio C4's with Mcintosh 501's and C46 preamp fronted by MF A5 CD player and all MIT Magnum cabling!! For classical it put's the ass in the seat like no other I've heard!! |
I believe the Jamo R909 deserve to be listed amongst the best speakers ever heard, and the best part is you can still buy a pair!
I recently purchased a pair and have been absolutely blown away buy their amazing ballance, the possibly have the best bass extension ever heard through a home speaker system with mids and tops to match.
Awesome... buy a pair! |
The new Avantgarde Meta Primo. Absolutely awesome. |
Love the Celius. Heard the Response 3's a long time ago in a room coverd in Sonex. It was amazing. There were instruments coming from everywhere - the imaging was incredible
Have owned Mirage 3si, Magnepan 1.4 and MMG w/sub, Paradigm Export Monitors, NHT Super Zero w/sub and Proac monitors |
Imperium Acoustics Nicole |
dual altec 515's in onkens with a BMS 2" horn driver on top.. wired up with AN silver wire..
sigh..
|
Escalante Fremonts, period. |
Could be the speakers you already own!!!!!!!!! I have found a piece of the holy grail when it comes to HIFI and I would like to share it with anyone who loves music. Some of you probably know this already, but if you play a pure pink noise tone through your speakers at moderate volume continuosly for about 8-15 hours (preferrably when you are away from home), you actually demagnitze your pre-amp, amp and/or reciever and speaker cables break/burn in your system and everything sounds much better!!!! I thought this was an audiophile hoax at first, but then I tried it myself. This is one of the secrets only people who are extremely found of accurate sound will make you aware of, and you usually have to pay for it. |
rockport arakkis, hands down ,no contest!!!! |
Titus,
What is pure pink noise tone? |
This speaker topic looks like which car do you like. Everyone here drives a different car. everyne on my block has a different model car. |
I second Ozy's choice...the Rockport Arrakis by a considerable margin. |
Rlapporte, self promotion does not have a place on this site...you sell them... |
Hi Guys, from a "value" perspective, not spending a crazy amount of money, I absolutely LOVE my PSB Stratus Gold speakers for $3000/pair. They sound absolutely incredible for every type of music imaginable and also very good and durable for surround sound in the front, kind of a multipurpose setup for music and home theatre. I don't even use a subwoofer.
These speakers were tested at the National Research Council for every type of technical test imaginable, most of which I cannot describe or understand, but they sound amazing! ;) |
The B&W 802 D's with lots of clean power and a 6sn7 tube based preamp...Diana Krall sounds like she's singing live in my living room! |
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For a small, soft room, there is only one choice: Konus Audio Essence. About 95% as good as Quad ESL, BUT you don't have to sit with your head in the one foot cube sweet spot AND they can be near the wall! EVERYONE who heard them in my home agreed. Need at least 50 tube watts, though. |
Yes, Ronfr, I sell Rockport speakers, among others. In 2004 I wrote on Audiogon that the WAMM was my favorite speaker. It was at the time and no, I wasn't a Wilson dealer. I have written positively about Transparent Cable, for which I am not a dealer. I currently sell a number of great high-end products, all of which I chose for their sonic virtues, but typically avoid "the best" catagorization and such debates. To my ears, the Arrakis is in a category unto itself. I hope that this does not offend and can be considered to be just one man's opinion. |
Hi All
I am new on this forum.Having browsed through this thread,I must say that the Rockports are truly special.I have only heard a pair once, and it was an awesome experience.I have to agree with Rlapporte,being a dealer has got little to do with personal tastes.One is a business the other is a passion,so his one man opinion has got nothing to do with company sales, especially at 150k.
Cheers. |
I had a dream once that I heard 500 Bose Wave Radio's all wired together with Nordost Valhalla. No Watt/Puppy-6 or or a box full of Quads could even come close to that. It makes me want to go back to sleep.
Tubby |
I have to agree with Rlapporte,being a dealer has got little to do with personal tastes Sphere, the bottom line is that every dealer is supposed to disclose this fact when posting about a product they sell. The conversation stays much cleaner that way. By the way, what gives? You became an Audiogon member 5 1/2 yrs ago, and this is your first post? Where do I pick up your cassette series on the zen of restraint? :-))) |
Have owned big Genesis, Irs 5, X-1's, Maggie 20's, Nola Exotica, etc.
The Rockport Hyperion, my current speaker, is the best I've had. They do everything quite well, and are the most livable and least compromised. Fit and finish, and pride of ownership are first rate. Now I need to figure out how to afford the Arrakis. Yipes. |
Dear Boa2, to tell you the truth, I signed up 3 days ago.I was shocked to see 2001,but what the heck?I can't explain it.I know how most people feel that a commercial chap should mention his background,but even if they don't,it does not matter,especially for a 150k speaker.If anybody is buying such a speaker,the only opinion that matters is his own, and not some commercial or non commercial member on a forum.:-). |
Skull, what's the Arrakis? Would you please tell us more detail? Drivers, cabinets, etc.... |
All I rember is they were Martin Logans being pushed by McIntosh hardware and they were big. Playing "the seduction of Claude DeBussy" probably did'nt hurt my opinion either. |
Boa2, I'll have to refrain from releasing my zen restraint series until I receive your guide to research methods:-) You missed my written ramblings under "Answers." I pop my head out every now and then.
In response to Audio999, if Skull doesn't respond to your Arrakis inquiry, I'd be glad to. For now, I'll only clarify that they are not obscenely priced at $150,000. They are a meager $145,000, which includes setup and delivery in the US...now that's a deal! |
I know how most people feel that a commercial chap should mention his background,but even if they don't,it does not matter,especially for a 150k speaker I completely disagree. When your opinion and livelihood are inter-dependent, at no pricepoint do they become divorced from one another. Rlapporte, my post was not directed at you. Nor should anyone have to perform research in order to discover what ought to be noted in any and every post in which you are plugging a product that you sell. |
Dear Boa2,
Maybe you are correct from a philosophical point of view.For me however audio is a great trip in life,where everybody is entitled to an opinion.As far as purchasing goes, I will finally hear the product before I make a deal.
Recommendations from forum members are only guidelines for me.My way thinking.
Sphere. |
Rlapporte
We all feel much better,now that the Arrakis is so cheap:-).
You are truly evil,:-).I love the humour.
Sphere. |
