Magnepan LRS - why because I like good sound on a budget.
Plus my room is the right size anything bigger wouldn’t work.
I agree for the same reasons.
What are the best speakers you have ever owned and why?
I just recently recieved my long awaited Shahinian Diapason 2’s from Vasken And they are absolutely spectacular! This got me thinking about my long journey to get here. Bless my wife for putting up with the many many many speakers that have passed through. The lifelong saga began with Magneoan MG 1’s back in college which were replaced by Dahlquist DQ 10’s. Then we traveled down a long road of speakers and systems. Magnepan Tympanis, Misson 770, Randall Rsch DQ10’s, Quad ESL single and stacked, Acoustat II, rogers LS3/5A’s, Linn Isobarik’s (2 pairs) B&W 801 Matrix, Hales Signature, Martin Logan Monolith2, Apogee Scintilla (1 ohm) Apogee Full Range, Theil SC 5A, Egglestonworks Andra, B&W Nautilius 801,Quad 63 and some I’m sure I forgot! Each speaker had its virtues and flaws but oh what a fun and a times frustrating trek! I think I have finally found my speaker to take me to retirement they do everything that I value wonderfully . They are detailed without sounding so, very dynamic, they have great low end reach, power and detail, are open sounding like a planner, their tonality and timbre seem spot on and they sound wonderful on any kind of music. Tell me about your journey!
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My current Ohm F5 series 3. They do it all well and are adjustable to most any room large or small. They are a pleasure to listen to for hours on end until something finally pulls you away. I also have much smaller kef ls50 metas which are also way up there within their limitations. But pound for pound these things are near perfect in a smaller room along with a powered sub up to about 85db SPL or so. I’d need something like KEF blades to take on the Ohm F5s. Maybe someday. |
I've owned 20 pairs of speakers, some pretty expensive, and the ones Ive stuck with for the last 14 years are Klipsch Epic CF4 version 1. I have bought several other pairs during that time, but they couldn't beat the Epics. The main reasons are coherence and dynamics. I think the main reason is that I often forget that I'm listening to speakers. |
I’ve not had nearly so many speakers as many here. I’ve found a pair I was happy with and stuck with them for a long time. Large Advents mid 70s to early 80s Boston Acoustics A400s early/mid 80s to mid 90s 20+ years away from HiFi Large Advents (again) Late 2010s to 2022 New KLH Model 5s 2022 to early 23 (love them) Harbeth SHD5+ XD early 23 to possibly forever Not a speaker there I couldn’t live with forever, but the Harbeths may well be the last speakers I ever own. I still have all except the first pair of Advents, BTW. Oh, and a pair of Wharfedale Dentons in the bedroom. |
For me, older used Raidho D2 small floorstanders, sealed ribbon tweeter and two tiny 4.5" mid/woofers ported. Replaced large Dynaudio Sapphires (3way). D2s did everything better than any speaker I'd owned except play loud enough to make you go deaf. Probably my end-game speaker at my age. Fine by me. |
During my years in this hobby, I’ve owned Boston Acoustics, Bose 901s, Dalquist DQ-10s, then Randall Research DQ10s with the crossover updated, and the Pizo tweeter, woofers redone, with a high power amp these were special. Open baffle from the midrange up with sealed woofers. Proac Response, Legacy Focus, Paragon Regent (just wonderful) with Dynaudio drivers and lead-lined cabinets, the Dynaudio Confidence 5’s, Bass could shake the room, fast and detailed to boot, one of my favorites of all time as long as you had an amp with the current. Then after hearing about Quad ESL 57s many years earlier, I purchased the Quad ESL67s totally rebuilt from top to bottom by Electrostatic Solutions, had those for many years, and once I learned how to setup them up they could be jaw-dropping good and they loved my 400-watt McIntosh Amp, then after 9 years with them I found the Spatial Audio Sapphire M3 speakers that were one of the only speakers I could live with after the Quads, then sound like panel speakers but with true bottom end and dynamics to spare when having no box sound, so best of both worlds. 2 years now with them and still shake my head at times how they sound so present like the performance is in your room. Electrostatic/Panels sound but with balls! Can finally let them rip when the music demands it, and they play from early jazz, big band, Blues, all eras of rock and roll, classical, and folk equally well. Are these my last speakers, could be, retired now and I’ve heard many others on top of what I’ve owned and I find I’m at peace with these speakers they make listening to music enjoyable and that is what this hobby comes down to in the end, and it has been 40 years now and I fully understand when good is good, then it becomes a change for change sake. |
There is no way to say how many pieces of gear have flowed through my system. Literally dozens of speakers. At times, like now, I have multiple pairs around. But, here goes. Non-descript store brand speakers. Magnepan 2.5R JBL L-1 JBL XPL-90 Audiovector M1 Signature Energy Veritas 2.2 Still have the Audiovectors and the Energy. Been oddly happy with them |
@simao To me the ProAcs give the best combination of wonderful imaging/layering, true transparency/speed, midrange/vocal realism AND yet they are not fatiguing for long listening sessions. Other Brit speakers I have tried, while very good, are either too slow, too polite or they can be edgy if they try to be fast and super transparent. I listen to jazz, vocals, some pop/soul - often rhythmic stuff with bass, but no headbanging stuff. The ProAcs are not rock or party speakers, but for what I listen to, they and the Quad ESL’s (requiring different placement) remain unmatched. Some ProAcs can be a little bass light in terms of quantity (not quality) but I have also learned to integrate in good Rel subs for a very solid bottom. Other very important factor here is I discovered long ago to mate ProAcs with Audio Research tube amps. ProAc’s are developed using ARC tube amps (among others, I am sure) and the good ARC amps really control the speakers, give very good bass response AND give utter transparency with a good dose of tube magic. |
Thought I pissed thru a lot of speakers, that list is impressive. Sold the ushers to help fund a pair of persona 7f’s that my salesman wouldn’t sell me! I used that money to buy a pair of DSP8000’s and shortly after the se kit. Why? Bass. Many speakers could get most of the music right but these guys are the best I’ve ever heard in my room. |
Coronavirus shut-in fever... made the list from my tortuous travels :) Mine: Ohm C2 (from 1979) Ohm B2 Large Advents ADS 810 Chartwell LS3/5A Maggie IIIa’s Epos ES11 B&W 801 Epos ES14 Totem 1’s ProAc Response 3 ProAc Response 2S Thiel CS1.5 NHT Sub Zero (still have) NHT Classic 3 Epos M22 Spendor S100 Spendor SP2/3 Spendor SP1/2E Spendor SP2/2 (still have) Harbeth Compact 7 Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor Sonus Faber Concerto Home Acoustic Energy AE2 S2 (still have) Harbeth M40.1 ATC SCM 10 Active (still have) Quad ESL 63 (still have) ProAc Response 3.5 (still have) ProAc Tablette 2000 (2nd system)/Rel Q400E ProAc Response D15 (still have) ProAc Response 1.5 (still have) ProAc Response D30R (mains) various REL and a couple Velodyne subs Most memorable, leaving aside my obvious love for ProAc’s of course, are the active ATC’s, Quad ESL’s, Spendors... extraordinary speakers... |
I am using Ultimate Ears ROLL 2 Waterproof Because 1. fully waterproof 2. amazing sound quality 3. Good battery life |
The latest Diapasons are a very different speaker than the 1996 models. They don’t sound rolled off as you said your pair did nor bright as Stereophile said they did. They are very neutral tonally. I listen to a wide variety of music so I am not evaluating them just with classical music. They don’t have much of a presence in the USA either, but neither do a lot of great products. As far as selling them, I don’t plan on it so it really doesn’t matter to me! I wonder if some of the different opinions are due to listening distance and room treatments. My pair image very nicely with a great center image and a very localized soundfield. |
Hello, i had the old (produced about 1996) Shahinian Diapasons for some years. They were great for classical music, very good wall of sound, but not very exact in localization and micro images. Not very fast, more a kind of rolling sound. The later should be better, the actual version 2 maybe even better. i had Bedini 501, they sounded good, a big Plinius SA-103 was fantastic. Other recommended amps are the Sanders Magtech! Maybe bigger Jeff Rowland or Pass, and yes, the Mac 501 should be very good. Shahinian in Europe, especially in Germany is not present at all, it is even very difficult to sell it. I needed about 1 year, another user of even two pairs of Diapasons tried to sell them over 2-3 years for a fair price, but nobody wanted to buy. It is not any more known, the time of the reviews in the magazines are way back in the 1990ies, and the most people don’t know them. Some have maybe heared the smaller ones, but not the big Diapasons. Maybe the situation is different in the UK, I don’t know it. |
The Daedalus Apollo's I recently got are far and away the best speakers I've owned. Others that stand out in my long journey are the Spendor SP-100s and Harbeth Compact 7s that got so much right and played well with the different amps I threw at them. My Daedalus DA-1.1s, which preceded the Apollo's, were also really terrific. The worst--a pair of B&W 802s that were the most musically uninvolving speakers I've owned. |
Started out with a pair of two way Advents. Found my way into using Bose 901s for years. Then tried some Magnepan 1.7s. Soon replaced those with speakers I've always wanted AR-90s and Infinity RS-1. It's always a toss up on which ones I like the sound of better. The issue with the Infinities is having the proper room to let them breathe. I'm attempting to convert half my garage into a home for them. Until that happens I'll continue to use my ARs in the living room. Much easier to live with and my wife agrees. Lol |
Bob: I drive them with a pair of Mcintosh 501's and they work great together. They really are the best all around speaker that I have had and not just on large scale classical as I listen to a wide variety of music. I also have the Obelisk 2 and the ARC 2 which I enjoy and could live with, but the Diapasons are in another league. As for the Stereophile review who knows? I don't know what went wrong there and I do know that the latest Diapason modules contain different drivers. I would be guessing as to what went wrong. All I can say is they are fantasic here! |
Never heard of Shahinian, so did a quick search. Holt and Atkinson totally butchered them in Stereophile. Holt did insist they sounded good when he heard them at shows. But couldn't stand them at home in their systems. And not for lack of trying either. Gordon says above that he knows these speakers can sound much better than they did in his home. I'm not so sure. Despite their clean sonic quality, I think their tonal balance is idiosyncratic enough that playing around with room placement and ancillary equipment just won't make a difference large enough for them to merit a recommendation. ?? |
Hamr, I am glad to hear that Shahinian is still around after the passing of the father. I have had the Obelisk and the Diapason in the past and still think about getting them again sometime. Do you know if they will be introducing new products or just continue on with the current line up? Your list of speakers in your past is very impressive. I have a number of them including the Apogee Scintillas, Quad ESL, Acoustats, Tympani etc. What do you power the Diapasons with? I remember Richard used to talk about the Bedini and then the older Plinius Sa 100. Most of their sales recently seemed to go away from North America (maybe most of the high end shares this.) All the best, Bob |
My current speakers are certainly the best, Daedalus Audio DA-RAma. Are they the best ever speakers, of course not. They look stunning, which matters if you have a significant other. The case is beautiful solid hardwood, with dove tail joints. They just sound right, designed to sound like live music, I think they do. Having retired, I could not really afford an upgrade anyway, but I am very happy to keep these, till one of us finally falls apart. |
Impossible to answer unless you put parameters such as price range, efficiency etc. When it comes to price range in the under $1500.00 range my best were vintage Polk Srs-SDA 3.1TL. Why? They rocked huge and the soundstage was and still is the best I've heard to date. Great for rock music and video concert. I truly loved them. Are there better, of course, but not for under $1500.00. |
Merlin Black Magic monitors. Just plain musical. Great detail, reasonable dynamics, terrific imaging. Sweet vocals. Simply involving. Now, ATC SCM 40 A active floor standers. Slamming dynamics, coherent drivers....there are simply no holes in response from the lowest frequencies to smooth extended highs. Best midrange vocals I've ever heard. Crazy good imaging. Fastest vocal and instrument attack I've every experienced. Involving like no other speaker I've ever heard. No subwoofer needed. My JL sub is now superfluous. I believe I am truly off of the audio carousel for years. |
Two pair for specific needs. Bought a new pair of cerwin vega D-9s’ back when I was 16-18 I forget. Never heard a better rock and roll speaker. Altec lansing 510’s- bass was weak, but they shined in everything else, midrange, highs, were crystal, and never harsh, no matter the volume. Energy rc-70’s currently in use. midrange so smooth, bass is great for a pair of 6” woofs, highs extremely smooth, best I’ve ever heard, no fatigue no matter the song or volume. Keeping til I can no longer use. when I can afford, I may try some Dynaudio’s but have heard they have a bright sound. if anyone is familiar with the energy rc70’s knows the 600 crossover roll off on the tweeters. Such a relaxing sound, i can play mercyful fate, king diamond, rush, Helstar, loud as hell, and there is no fatigue, it is just pleasing and I ca listen all day. i love it!! the D-9’s have this as well,they are not harsh in the treble, as many would think. They would be. They are not. they are loud, clear, and minimal from fatigue also the BIC V 630 and 830 I own, both pairs not at Going at all, just a nice highs sound!no fatigue. I’ve heard others where the treble makes my molars grind, and I feel uneasy, wired, just “TURN IT DOWN, NOW, PLEASE” all these sepakers i use. Have no fatigue. Which is why I’ve kept them all these. Years. klipsch corner horns make me wanna to take a hammer drill to my ears. if you find the perfect solution, keep it. |
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The Kef R105/3 were dynamic threw a wall of sound and forced their will on you. sold Vienna Acoustics Beethovens, offered big sound with excellent contrast that was intoxicating.stored Kef R107/2 Bass! currently serving ht duties Revel F52. polished, full range that showed me how old my kef's were. soundstage champs. sold,oops Usher BE-20 DMD. destination speakers. done, finito, You name it these do it with style, big enough to be buried in. As long as I have a dedicated listening room i'll have these speakers. There's very little out there about these speakers so if you get a chance to hear them do it. |
For me after 40 + years are the original Nola Boxers paired with a Rythmik L12 sub. I think elizabeth said it best about all the things that go into the fine tuning of a speaker. To my ears this combo puts the grin and tears on my face for countless hours at a time and always feel satisfied every time. |
I've owned only two speakers over the last 35 years (was surprised when I wrote that 'cuz I've swapped out everything else multiple times): Dahlquist DQ-10s, from '82 to '13. Lovely, spooky midrange in the room. I loved that the music was "in the air," not coming from the speakers. Wilson Sophia IIIs, from '13 to present. Dynamic, detailed, sweet midrange, stable imaging, good bass too. Keeping these until I have to downsize and maybe even after that. Different animals, but each very good at what it does. |
Wireless speakers are very well-known nowadays and a many of guys all over the Europe are buying them, because wireless audio speakers are improving every season. Newest technologies, which are using by firm all over the world allow to create best product. A lot of wireless audio devices are working by a wireless connection. You may be sure, that with the help of wireless device you can get a lot of benefits. Currency there are a lot of types of wireless audio speakers. Some of them provide an opportunity to obtain compositions only in.mp3. You can as well use various other files. Before choosing wireless speakers we advise search and read in web articles. A lot of models of wireless speakers have various options. You shall however understand, that most the wireless devices have their own type, portability, and compatibility. If you don’t know where to buy quality wireless speakers, we advise going to technovolume, where you can find some of variants. One of the most great models is Harman Kardon onyx studio. This pattern is made from best materials, it has a legend design, and it is a very popular model. This system could work without recharging 8 hours. Battery lifespan gives an opportunity to work and to connect more than 100 speakers. You should enjoy high-quality sound and listen to various songs. If you are engaged in devices phantom, you can be sure, that this is an innovation system. Devialet phantom equipped with 4500W. Developers told that this system is one of the best all over the Europe currently. If you wish to search a system with the best sounds, you must buy a devialet phantom. It also equipped with the plastic case. You can use it with mobile phone or iPod. It works like a portable system. You may also use it in conjunction with Windows or MacOS. Most wireless audio systems are very comfortable to use. If you want to buy a wireless audio system but you don’t know which one is better, you can read details about them on the web. In the marketplace there are many of wireless audio gadgets and you need make your own choice. Specialists who are working in an virtual shop must help you. They could give any advice or consult about different products. When you will have questions, you may ask the managers. They answer various questions very fast and suggest buyers. |
ADS L810 - still a great speaker! given to a close friend who loves them Krell Resolution 2 -- too much bass for my room but images very good. Wilson WP7 - great tight bass but highs harsh Magnepan 20.7 + 2x Vandersteen Sub3- clarity and amazing wall of sound. now amazing low end punch. Can it get any better....? |
