The best speaker you ever heard?

JTR 215's are the BEST...AT ANY PRICE, that I have ever heard. Just wait until you hear these speakers!...

RWO/Fostex LS3

Stringreen, I completely agree with you. That's the biggest reason I decided to shop around to as many stores as I could when deciding to sell off everything I have put together over the years and start from scratch. By selling off all my stuff it gave me a budget to work with. I then told myself that I wanted to only buy a SYSTEM and not just components that sounded good on their own. I ended up over 2 hours from where I live (Audio Connection in NJ). I fell in love with the Vandy Treo's with Ayre integrated, AQ cables and a small Music Hall DAC. I figure that the DAC is musical enough for now and I'm sure THAT will be the first thing I change if and when I change anything. The synergy of amp/speakers was huge and the cables made a huge difference. I have heard the same speakers elsewhere and they sounded awesome, but the Ayres just made them sing to me.

I just think synergy gets lost as we always say things like "best component ever'. How often have we heard something sound great in the store and not so great at home in our real life room? I think you have to start somewhere of course, but this is why going to a dealer is so important I think. I was willing to buy new this time in order to get things right the first time.

Best I've heard is Vandy 7 with Ayre mono's and AR pre with top of the line AQ cables adn Music Surroundings (I think that's the company) turntable. with all AQ interconnects. The room is perfect and it all sounded awesome. I would love to hear the same system with the new Vandy amps installed. It had everything I've ever wanted in a speaker. They were real. Soundstage was correct and not HUGE, unless it was recorded that way. It was revealing, but truthful if bet (you never know what the engineer was laying down). JMHO

Yes, I heard the new FOCAL GRANDE UTOPIA EM at the CES 2014,and that is the best speaker I ever heard. I still couldn't believe that music can sound that good.

Stringreen, true but it is an art that can be acquired.

When you listen to speakers, you are really listening to the whole system, the setup, and the room. I have Vanderseen 5A's set up by Richard himself...and yet, it took 5 years or so, to get them to sound as good as they do. It is sooooo difficult to just get a component (yes a highly rated one), drop it into a system and expect it to be nirvana...oft times there are 4 or 5 steps rearward and lots of fussing to advance the performance.

I have had the BMC Arcadias now for over a year. I knew they are very good as they reveal differences in every cable, isolation device, and ac filtering I have done. Yesterday I heard a sound reproduction that I never would have believed possible. The addition of one High Fidelity Rhodium power cord raised the level of my sound way beyond anything I have ever heard anywhere. The highs were sweet and free of edge. Much of what was not music was evident and made the reproduction quite convincing of being there. The bass was well defined and deep. I realized that what I was hearing was the perspective of the microphones, not someone in the audience.

The other person in the room and I just looked at each other is disbelief. We sat a listened and listened for hours and finally called it a night as he had to go back to Dallas early this morning.

It's a tie.

1) Legacy Audio Whisper - largest soundstage I have ever heard.

2) Legacy Audio Aeris - Slightly smaller soundstage than the Whisper but the bass is incredible.

Sycarold,
This thread isn't for questions. It is for the best speaker you ever heard.

Does any one knows the different version of Rockport Antares in the market,various in the mid-unit. one with holes, one's not. Are they both right version? which one is the later one?

Vandersteen 7s. Thrilled I can afford the Quatros!

I was impressed by the "3D" sound stage of the H.E.O.LO. speakers, from an Italian manufacturer (H.E.A.D.).
These are omnidirectional speakers with a very innovative audio design, expecially on the tweeter side. http://www.head-audio.it

The newest speaker model on the market that I can afford them. My speaker now is B&W 802 Diamond and the best speaker I ever heard will be their new replacement model.

My newest set of speakers. Infinity RS-1. Love my AR-90s but these are just spectacular. Just need some cash for VTLs.

FOCAL GRANDE UTOPIA EM

Dali Epicon 6

Wandered in to Audio Visions in San Francisco and they had a system going (just 44.1Hz if I recall) through a pair of Epicon 6s and I was just stunned at the musicality and soundstage.I'm sure they were using high end electronics (Simaudio? Naim?) and cables (Nordost?) but I will remember those speakers forever. They are on my list for my retirement system.

It would have to be the Zealth Speakers of course.

I have heard so many of these speakers since I to am changing and updating my system and I hope you listen to the Vandy's in your price range. I literally was in shock at how good they are and what they do. Just not like the older ones that I didn't really like at all (I was/am a Proac guy). I like the new (not the older) Legacy speakers too. They will give a bunch of other speakers a run for their money. To me the lower priced Vandy Quattro's beat out the Legacy though. Any speaker that sounds great with all vocals and piano using the neutral AQ cables must be doing it right. I haven't heard the Grand References though, but have liked some of the other NOLA speakers I've heard in the past. Lot's of choices that's for sure.

I have heard both the large Nola Grand system (an earlier version than the current one) and a few of the smaller models in the line, including the Baby Grands (I own the Micro Grands). I like them all, but prefer the Baby Grands to the big system, principally because it is not easy to set up the big system optimally so that everything integrates properly. Great speakers for getting to the heart of the music.

I looked at the Nola Grand, they do look like a very good design.

Thanks CTsooner...I get that...my Wilson X1s are 20 years old! I have upgraded the tweeter last year and added Stillpoints Ultra 5s...but with the right equipment and careful setup, still love 'em.

I have begun investigating the Nola Grand References...very similar to Genesis in many respects...also 4 tower. Know anything about Nolas?

I"m not sure of the differences. For me most of the older ribbons types were very bright. Hence needing the tubes. I haven't heard those so don't know what the difference was. Has anyone heard both of them who can share. Great question. Love talking about older gear. If you were asking about Proacs, I could go on and on about any of them, lol. Even the little changes, lol.

Thanks, Ctsooner. I have only heard an older pair of Genesis 1.1s custom-modd'd by a former colleague of Arnie Nudell. Driven by Scarlatti digital/Walker Proscenium analog...Kondo M1000 preamp and Kondo Gakuon amps...so seriously great stuff. And it was mindblowing.

I am just curious what the difference is between this Genesis 1.1 and the prior Infinity IRS V which, as you pointed out, has the EMIT tweeters instead of the circular drivers which are used in the later Genesis.

My buddy years back has the Infinity with EMIT's etc...I forget the model, but they sounded great if run with tube gear, but he had a Yamaha receiver that he used and I couldn't listen to them. I never gave Infinity or Genesis a listen, even when I had chances as I always thought of them as 'just big speakers'. It's taken me a long time to be open eared and listen to anything to see what they are made of. Right now, I'm on the Vandy bandwagon as i have yet to hear anything close to them that has the emotion to go along with everything else I want a speaker to do. I'm in the 7k and under range for the most part. I have heard in passing many of the speakers talked about in this thread and most are very good, however they all seem to do a few things great and a few things not so great. Again, we all know it comes down to listening, but it's fun listening to see where the designers made their compromises. Even the over 20k speakers I'm listening to have plenty of compromises. Some just seem to be a big waste of money as they are just expensive and sound worse to my ears, than sub 20k speakers.

I have listened to the Thiels again as I have never liked them. I didn't like the electronics I heard them with, but I'm going to take my own Ayre gear with AQ cabling to see if they sound as great as everyone says they do. I also heard the Focal Electra line (1038 BE) and they sounded ok played on new Krell gear, but I still didn't think they were better than the Vandy Treo's I've been listening to let alone the Quattros that are in their price range. What is it that the Focals or Thiels do for you folks that the Vandy doesn't? Just curious to hear what I'm missing in all of this. thanks.

LadyC - fascinating!! You are one of the few who has heard the big Infinity IRS and the Genesis...I have only heard the Genesis. But 2 people (who bought the IRS V) have said they preferred the older IRS V...particularly in the treble. Something about the 12 EMIT tweeters per panel just effortless because they are being driven so far below their limits as part of the design.

Your comments on how they compare in your opinion are most appreciated!!!!!

Having worked in the A/V industry, I have definitely heard my share. Very interesting is that Klipschorns rank among the very best and absolute worst I have ever heard. Obviously, the two systems were using totally different electronics.

Beveridge model X-1 with bass towers, and close the Infinity IRS in a very large room, which I preferred over the big Genesis. I also liked the early Magnaplaner speakers, the Tympani, then I was more impressed back in the early days.

Ctsooner, I think we all wish we had access to dealers with speakers that interest us, but alas they are no more at least in most areas of the country. Even with Austin and Houston within a 100 mile radius of me, I don't have this.

Even when there were dealers, there were very few speaker manufacturers allowing me to even get to hear the Infinity ServoStatics in Tallahassee Florida.

The best speakers I've ever heard are the Sonus Faber Aida. I have heard a couple pairs of speakers that are significantly more expensive that I didn't enjoy as much, although the Aida is certainly up there in price. The Aidas seemed to me to have a slight bit of warmth to them, but are still extremely detailed in a way that struck me as very natural and musical. For me, they have all the qualities I'd ever want in a pair of speakers if I lived in a world where I could afford them. I haven't heard anything I've liked better so far.

I've never heard speakers over 50k that sounded that much better than many under that price point. WIsh I had a dealer that had some of the esoteric speakers on display locally.

I have to update my answer from the MBL 101 Extreme to the Rockport Altair. I heard the Altair at the Sound Environment in Omaha, Nebraska. They did things that I couldn't believe were possible. I have never heard their equal.

Mot

The ones I enjoy my music through every evening - Zu Druid V's with Dueland Cap upgrade.

Probably the most striking speakers that I've heard were the new "Pure" series PureVox speakers from BMC. While I sat there, they just picked them off the display; placed them on the floor in front of their other big speakers; hooked them up; and played them. Shockingly good sound even then, but after a day or two they were awesome.

Sonus Faber Elipsa, all the better for being driven only by a McIntosh integrated, and a McIntosh CD player.
Former benchmark was the Vandersteen 5, with VTL amp & preamp & a Levinson player (Audio Concepts in Houston, RIP)
Recently heard the 2nd generation B&W 802 diamond with McIntosh 601 monos; very nice. Heard Cremonas in same room at same time, Diamonds very impressive.
My Thiel CS5's, connected to a Krell FPB 300 via Threshold FET 10 e & PS Audio Lambda, ain't too shabby, for a twenty year old system!
AudioAeros, at Audio Concepts, were very impressive as well, come to think of it...

ACOUSTAT MODEL 3 UDL18 SUB POWERED/ GFA 565 ADCOM MONO BLOCKS

At the RMAF 2013 some of the most well received were:

Vapor Nimbus
Wilson Alexia
Focal Utopia
Sonus Faber Olympica
Magico S1 (really good on Hegel integrated)
SVS towers at 2k were the bargain performers of the show.

Casta D8 is my favorite. They don't sound like a pair of speakers to me tonality wise meaning I can't tell that the audio is coming from a woofer and a tweeter in a small sense or that it has artificial type sound like many other speakers do. Instead the D8's have a perfect realism that just sounds like perfect frequency response and pin point imaging floating in front of me. The dynamics in the audio are much better with these speakers at higher volume. When I listen to a big performance with many instruments these speakers remind me of how it would sound if I was at that live event. I find them very musical.

Kick Butt 332

This speaker features 12 NEO 10 planar ribbon push pull drivers, 32 NEO 3 high frequency drivers, 8 woofers and 2 supplied 1200 watt woofer amps. They are amazing I have owned Wisdom Rush System, Genesis 200's, Magneplanars and Apogees.
No comparison the new flagship BG speaker is in another league. The speaker can be used passively with one amp or you can order them for use with an electronic Crossover.
If you do not believe me check out Dr. Sakakini's You Tube Video Key Words: BG Radia Dipole800/FS880
Although these are the prototypes the actual speaker can be found on BG's website.

and at the end of the day it really is all about what you hear regardless of measuring. I fell in love with soundstaging and imaging. That was due to the proacs being more involving that way than other speakers I heard. I've since realized that my Proacs are even better than I tought when I got the new Ayre amp set up to it. I could keep it forever, but I like the Vandy sound better right now. Some wouldn't agree adn would rather hear Proacs. I can live with either and love them. Threre are a ton of speakers I coudl love I guess. Most would feel the same way if they heard them set up properly.

Agree Ctsooner...and it also needs to be set up for the listener's personal preferences. I realize in extreme examples particularly, it makes perfect sense as we all hear differently. some of us measure the frequency response in-room...few measure our hearing with an audiogram. If you have a slight high-frequency hearing loss...you certainly will perceive 'even' sound differently than someone with 'perfect' hearing. And both of these tests probably don't test for 'everything' that human brains use when hearing music, so the tests don't show everything either.

The more I start listening to higher end systems again, I find that it's most important to listen to any speaker in a true system that is put together for that particular speaker. I've heard some great ones sound poorly and visa versa.

I have heard the all TAD system at Pioneer Plaza in Japan, at their TAD showroom. Was shown around by one of their senior execs who happened to be there...a true gentleman. I was very very impressed...on Glenn Gould, I appreciated the clarity of the fingerwork by Glenn Gould...but found the tonal weight of the piano keyboard particularly in the middle a bit hard/light. Simply my opinion...and who knows...maybe it was recorded that way. But I have heard this recording for years and years and on multiple systems. And with the ones I preferred, the tonal balance and weight of the keyboard sounds much more like when I used to study piano. Nevertheless, I fully appreciate the appeal...and think it might be that the whole system could be setup more to my personal taste with a few different components rather than a necessarily deficient design or system. I don't think it would take much. in the end, I admit it did not compel me to investigate further. YMMV.

I've heard the TAD combo and though I thought the combo was very good they were a little on the boring side with less than exciting bass-slam, imaging was very good as was the tone but not a thrilling ride by any means.

Q

TAD Reference with all TAD electronics. If anyone feels "neutral is boring", he should check out this combo. It is the best illustration of how neutrality in true sense is actually the most believable presentation of the source.

I've heard many many speakers over the years. I cant say any which one was my favorite. Because I like many different speakers for different kinds of music and its a very personal preference just to pick one. :-)

I have loved teh Maggies for years. they are big (if you want full sound) and don't fit everyone's room, but if you can fit them, they sound awesome. I wouldn't buy them for personal reasons, not based on their sound or construction. I nearly did years ago, but instead went with a dynamic Proac. I think there are a few special speakers in various price categories that exceed what the competition can do and two Maggies fit that bill for me as do a couple of the Vandy speakers. Personally, I've been concerned with too many speaker companies who haven't been around long. Speakers will eventually breakdown and need to be fixed, refoamed or even need new drivers and I've been burned in the past by companies with strong designs that sound awesome for the money, but are not in business when I needed help and they became a scrap pile waste for the most part. I think more audiophiles who are my age or older have stuck with the tried and true companies for this reason.

One of the best systems I've ever heard was the largest Maggies with AR ref gear all the way around and MIT cabling. Crazy good, but after hearing the Vandy 5 and 7's, I'd stick with them as I think they get the music even more 'right' from top to bottom. Panel speakers seem to add something the more I listen to them. Maybe it's the extra energy they send out on the back wave that isn't dissipated. I think that's why I love the Vandy's and really liked the Legacy Aeris's I heard. We all heard different things and that's why they make so many speakers. Fun hobby and it's nice to see folks passionate about their gear.

Large Magnepan electrostatic panel speakers at hi-fi shows always leave me with the impression of best sound at the show; and they are actually relatively inexpensive.
However, I would never want to house these huge 'room dividers' in my living environment.

No, the ProAc's are one of the three pair of Proac's I'm selling as I"m going to buy the Treo's. I just didn't realize how good these Proacs are. The dealer installed new drivers and made some upgrades he said and right afterwards I had to switch out to a small NAD integrated as my wife wanted remote control. This is why I'm selling my Quicksilver pre and amps too. I have just decided to sell off everything and start over.