The best speaker you ever heard?

@ melbguy1. I agree. I heard some vandersteen. The have a very full weighty sound from what I remember. Magico definitely is a great sound and paired with wit us should give it a slightly darker but open and transparent tonality. It should come with ample weight and texture with that combination. I use cabling to change the flavor a little from time to time. I also tube roll my E.A.R CD player to change it up.

Too bad Avalon is loosing most of their top dealers as they won't advertise like the dealers want them to. Great sounding speakers. I heard the Times and they were really nice. Not worth the money for me compared to similar costing gspakers, but nice. Was just told by a friend whom I trust that the NOLA's were really sweet sounding. Nice bass and they really drew him into the fabric of the music. I agree with the Wilson's having poor bass. Even the XLF's I've heard in a few different rooms and systems now, didn't impress at all. I thought the bass didn't live up to what you can get in nearly any of the 60k speakers we've talked about in this thread. bigger and louder maybe, but not as good quality wise. The rooms were fine too, so I don't think that was the problem.

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

Mel, maybe they will. Vandy's never did until their new stuff. Again, I keep an open mind. Ton's of great speakers don't do it for me. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy listening to them, but I'd never own them. I didn't like the Magico's before the new ones at all, so for me they are getting better. Maybe they never will draw me in. They'll still be popular and make money, so it's not a big deal, lol. I"ve listened to Wilson's since before he came out with his puppy's. I was amazed at the Watt when I first heard it in the studio. It was great for recording, but I never wanted to own one. I had a headache after dealing with them the first day and never used them again. Everyone who plays the XLF's for me gets so excited about them and keep telling me how great they are. I don't have the heart to tell them that I don't like them. Open, detailed, big huge bass and the list goes on, but I just don't warm up to them. Focal's the same thing and I used to LOVE a small pair of JM Lab Microns I believe they called them. Now, I don't like them. I did hear a larger Utopia that showed promise last year, but I didn't' spend much time with them as I wasn't getting them anyways. They were the first of the Focal's that weren't too bright for me. I haven't heard their whole line at all though just what the local dealer has had for years.

@melbguy1. My current system is one that I heard with a guy who actually has my gato fm6. He has the KR audio va 900 and he was allowed to demo a soulutions 540 CD player. It was really great. It's produced a slightly warm sound but with real big images and very non fatiguing sound.

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

I've heard many of the greats... but... the best I've heard are the Linkwitz Orion's or LX521's - without question!

Certainly... the best for the money... especially if you build them from a kit from Madisound.com, or manage to buy them in the aftermarket.

They have all the best traits of the ESL-57's, the Maggies, ML's, King Sound, etc. and the best OB's with respect to the soundstage and image... while... having the detail, resolution, dynamics, tone, tenor, texture, range and balance of the best dynamic speakers available.

The man's (Seigfried Linkwitz) knowledge and experience of electronics and sound engineering is surpassed by no one's... and... he has successfully applied it in the design of his speakers.

About the only "disadvantages" I can think of are the complexity of the design, which requires active crossovers, and multi-channel amps to amplify each driver independantly... and... of course the WAF - they are not pretty.

But, the pay-off is... the best "live" sound you've ever heard at a "bargain price."

Don't even consider any of the "big brand names" - if you want the best sound available at a reasonable price.

@melbguy1. Yup put that soulutions 540 in a really good setup and its mind blowing. It might be the only thing that I would chase right now. I love my resonessence dac but the solutions 540 is my perfect source. It might be why I loved those raidho d5 said so much. It's bathes you in a huge sound field

I've heard a lot of folks talking about the Solution amps. I really need to get to hear a new set of those.

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.

If vitus signature is that good then I want to hear it because the soulutions is the most natural non fatiguing sound I have heard in my like. I also want to here the Kronzilla integrated from KR audio. It's supposed to be very good.

Have you guys heard the Rowland, Boulder and Ayre reference amps (the newest versions?).

I've heard Boulder I don't know if it was the signature high end. I thought it was ok. I haven't heard vitus or Ayre.

I liked their signature high-end but I didn't love it. When I heard the price I was in shock.

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?

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.

I have heard many of the greatest speakers from the early 50's to the present. Different people have different sonic priorities. Without going into specific attributes (which I could easily do) my bottom line is measured by the degree of emotional connectedness I feel with the true beauty the composer intends (e.g. Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Regina Coeli, Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Amanda McBroom's version of The Rose, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, etc.). The Muraudio speakers out of Canada convince my brain that it is hearing reality like no other speaker I have ever listened to and commands my brain to pay close attention. These speakers also command my brain to forget analyzing and to just experience the thrill of great music. I'd be curious to hear the reaction of others on this forum after experiencing this game-changing product.

Never heard the Muraudio's. How old are they? Were they sold in the US?

The Muraudio electrostatic array speakers are a current product which I believe were developed within the last couple of years. They're made in Canada and sold in the US, and have been on display at recent audio shows including AXPONA 2015. Their sound quality is very unique and I found them to be quite impressive and captivating. Unfortunately for most of us they sell for $63,000 (passive version) and are reviewed in The Absolute Sound issue 258, December 2015. The reviewer concluded that he would buy them if he could afford them. http://www.muraudio.com

From what I heard at Axpona this year, the Muraudio speakers would be on my very short list if I had the funds and a room of the proper size for them. They were outstanding and a must hear if you are shopping in that kind of price range.

i am assuming that this thread pertains to those speakers we've OWNED, not simply auditioned so...within my budget I'd have to say that my Thiel CS 3.5's have been my reference pair when comparing.  I'm also a big fan of Von Schweikert, currently enjoying the VR2's mated to an MC275 amplifier.  I consider Thiels to be Maggies with bass; the mids and the highs are etched beautifully always making me listen to just one more recording.  Bang for the buck?  If you can find a decent pair of Meadowlark Kestrel or Nighthawks you'll be fortunate.  Fun thread!

Sorry for the delayed response to Roxy 1927 above but I get busy with work this time of year. My price range has topped out at around $4,000 for loudspeakers, marginally higher with amplifiers and preamplifiers. I have purchased most of my loudspeakers used as well. I just picked up a pair of Thiel CS 3.5's from a fellow member for $350, which are in outstanding shape. The EQ had even been tweaked by Jim Thiel due to a loose solder connection. These are amazing speakers, at any price range IMHO. I won't be giving these up again.

Sonus Faber Cremonas over every other speaker that I have heard, including some in the $20,000 + range. Great midrange and excellent, you- are- there-live soundstaging!

Why limit it to speakers you've only owned.  It's ever heard.  Many of us get out a lot to stores and audition many speakers. In the last couple of weeks I've heard speakers ranging in price from 250k to 200.  I've not liked most of what I've heard.   Most of the ones I've listened to for a few hours have given me enough to know that I couldn't never enjoy them.  Too often I heard that upper midrange ringing that so many folks mistake for extension of treble or openess of a speaker.  Many of these high end speakers do one or two things really well, but let me down in some areas that I personally can't live with.  Others seem to like the 'hifi' sound and that's why we have so many choices.  The Vandersteen 7's  are still in the top spot for me.  There are many top speakers I've been unable to hear as they aren't in my area, or I don't know WHO is showing them out of their basement. I'm still learning that this industry has changed so much, lol.  I just hope a thread like this helps many who are following to go out and go audition.  There are still plenty of great audio stores and now home based stores where you can audition.  That's the only way you will know what you like or dislike.  That's the only way we can keep this industry going forward.  You don't have to buy those expensive models, but I bet many will rethink what they have and will want to change out or it will just confirm that you have what you should have. JMHO

Mine.

The first time I heard Avant Garde Duos they bested anything I'd heard until that point.  That's when I knew that high efficiency speakers were the answer.

Now I have eXemplar Horns with Karlson subs.

I have yet to hear anything better, anywhere.

I love the McIntosh XR16 speakers a monster of a speaker but you hear every instrument players on either vinyl or disc

WEGG 3- a special series by William Eggleston.
My reference is Thiel.

Original Thiel or the new stuff.  To me the sound is so different that the original Thiel users probably won't love the new stuff and visa versa.  Even the Thiel dealers I know are highly disappointed by the new gear and are getting rid of the line.  One I know has had top of the line Thiel's in his personal system since the 80's and now he's getting rid of them in favor of something else. 

Ctsooner, 

How does new Thiel sound different than old and what specific newer models are we talking About?

Thanks.

I'm not a Thiel guy at all.  New or old, so I'm probably not the best one to say.  

Infinity IRS V

803D3, but I'm really to all this = ]

Got my hands on a vintage pair of Krell Resolution 2 speakers and they have turned my idea of what a home system can deliver upside down...or is it downside up?  Spooky staging, unrestrained dynamics and tonal perfection with uber-palpability!  They blow away the Wilson WP 6's, B&W802D2's and Dynaudio C4's I've owned...among many others.  As clear as Maggie's without dynamic limitations.  For $3300 I hit the lottery!!

One of the most impressive systems I ever heard was a pair of huge Soundlabs, can't remember the model as it was 20 years ago, but the amps were Classe 400W monoblocks, pre was audible illusions modulus 3a, and don't recall the front end.  The speed, detail and transparency were sublime.  I was a Maggie owner at the time so I found it easy to fall in love with those Soundlabs.

Wayne Picquet refurbed original Quad ESL's.  I've had a pair about four years now. 

Either every other speaker is right and the original Quad is wrong or...... 

I used to love the Quad ESL's with warm tube amps.  My tastes have changed greatly over the years, but I do have great memories of that speaker.  

Charney Audio companions with Lowther Dx-65 driver.  Folded, curved, back loaded horn with incredible dynamics, linearity, coherency, immediacy. After 45 years in this hobby I realize single-driver speaker systems sound so more lifelike than anything else. If your in the nyc area you must go audition these.

Funny as that's what drew me into the Vandersteen line of speakers. They were the first multi driver dynamic speakers that sound nearly point source.  That's also a reason I have never heard a subwoofer based system that is coherent to me.  Double subs, set up the way they are supposed to be etc....  I've just never heard them integrated perfectly.  I don't know if you can regardless of how it's set up with meters etc...  JMHO.  I've heard so much about Lowther, but never heard them.  I have never been in love with the AN speakers or others that are similar as they do midrange extremely well, but the highs and lows just aren't there for me as you can't ask a driver to handle that type of range.  How are the Lowther based systems on the frequency extremes?  Can they really give you sub 30hz bass that is tight and doesn't bleed into the mid bass or even mid range? I do want to hear a pair as it's so hard to believe that you get a true full range sound.  I have a friend who's system I haven't been able to hear (he's on the other coast for me) and he said he loves the Lowther driver.  He designed and made his own cabinets and crossovers.  His main system is Vandersteen though.  Very interesting designs and manufactures in this thread.  I've personally gone out can listened to many of the posters speakers that I've never heard before.  Thanks to all for sharing.  Appreciated.

Vapor Audio Perfect Storm White. Full 4 Way Speaker system, 15 inch Audio Technology Driver. Accuton Midrange, Raal Tweeter. Transparency, speed, dynamics and soundstage all with ease.

Got a full day of listening to the Vandersteen 7 mkII's on Saturday.  Unreal how great this speaker is.  AMG TT with new ARC ref pre and Vandersteen's liquid cooled amps.  They come with the AQ WEL cables attached to them.  The system was just amazing and the best sound I've ever heard at any price.  Then Garth from AQ installs his new Niagara 7000 power deal with his prototype power cord that will be out pretty soon and the cost is not much for a cable. This new cable line will be one of the best buys in audio. The system with the Niagara gave us the whole hall, detail that just wasn't there without it and SPACE.  Even when he installed the 1000 for only 999 the system was about 90% of what the 7000 did. The 1000 has only 1 outlet for power and the other 5 are source with room for wall warts.  I was blown away by the Niagara.  It's a full component upgrade at least.  I wasn't the only one.  Garth is as good a presenter as you can find.  I know this is about your favorite speaker, but the Vandersteen with the Niagara plugged in went to another level entirely.  I spoke with a gentleman who owns a speaker that costs over 200k and he said that he will be selling and getting the Vandersteens.  He said he's auditioned many of the speakers over 150k and he said nothing has come close for him in this type of setting. Can't tell on anything without it being in your home and system of course.  Blown away...just amazing....  Thanks for letting me share.

RE: Charney speakers
Horning Hybrid, which can also be heard in NYC, also comes with Lowther. I believe also the DX65. It "cheats" with a tweeter and shared sort of T-line back loaded horn thing shared by midrange and bass drivers. It was pretty dynamic and immediate and the drivers seemed well integrated. Too bad I did not spend more time with the Eufrodite. The big, 102db sensitive one would be the one to hear, though, for orchestral recordings. Thanks for the Charney mention. I run in to the Alerion design, but dumbly didn't know a company that made it.

They both have their problems, but the best I know, as have been mentioned are Avantgarde Duo Mezzos and Soundlabs, U1 or Majestics. I'm too poor to be picky, but its hard to be enthusiastic lifestyle speakers that predominate the market. I only wish horning hybrid (or anyone)made something bigger, more sensitive in my price range.

The Ribbon Reference System at Pyramid Loudspeaker, followed closely by the Sequerra SP-1. Over the years several other unlikely setups have generated memorable experiences but those two are formidable and do not ignore physics.

Hey Wahwah! I had that experience with the Met 3's as well and just bought a pair. I have had T-1's since '82.

Tannoy Westminster Royal SE on a Audio Note (Japan) Ongaku tube amplifier. Some 25 years ago.

Living Voice Vox Palladian's on Kondo Audio gear.

Perhaps the Magneplanar Tympani T-IVa, overall. For "small" music the original Quad, unquestionably.

Any speaker that plays music refined and clearly.. Aint doing you no good if the speaker is blown no matter what the speaker is or is said to be.

????  

And the Vandersteen Quatro's are just about dialed in at the factory.  Been on the phone with Johnny Rutan at Audio Connection all morning and setting up the install date.  I can not wait.  The more speakers I audition, the more I appreciate the Vandersteen line.  they just know what how to make a great speaker.  Thankful I gave them a second chance as the first dealer years ago just didn't set them up right and of course they didn't sound their best.