What is the Best Sounding Stand Mount Speaker in the world?

The one in the right room

Best I have ever heard, TAD CE1

Best I can afford (and own) Buchardt Audio S400 MkII

what’s the best food in the world, cost no object??

... and don’t answer if you haven’t eaten it  😉

I currently own both the Focal Diablo Utopias and the Borresen 01s, and while both are truly fantastic, the Borresen 01s are by far the best standmounts I've ever heard.  They just break onto that next level we're all tirelessly searching for and the non-fatiguing nature of the tweeter is an added plus.

Absurd question. They’re are many flavors. It depends on your preference. Everyone’s ears are different!

For tone and beauty  I ha e have to look along time  to have my phase dome poison  speakers bested. For speed and musicality  I would go with a set of harbeth sch 5 speakers on sound ankor stands. 

Fyne F1-8, ~$10k

Wilson Maxx - but you need a big stand.

On a more serious note, the Borresen 01 is the best sounding stand mount speaker I have listened to.

When I was looking for myself a couple of years ago (and price was definitely part of the consideration), I ended up with the Piega Coax 311s.  I expected to go with smaller Harbeths but they ended up sounding too laid back for my taste and listening room.  I'm adding the Piegas to the conversation here because they don't often get mentioned.

Best I ever listened to was the Magico Q1. Also the Sonus Faber Extrema, which I am surprised nobody mentioned. 

Totem Element Fire V2. Read the latest TAS review.

The new Sonus Faber Elector Amator III is awesome and priced right at your budget , minus stands i think.  

Truly a great sounding speaker 

My vote is the Rogers LS3/5a.  Sounded darn good in the 80's when I first heard them.  Sounds darn good in my system now.

Many speakers' great speakers have come and gone but the LS3/5a's have stood the test of time.

Haven't heard a lot of different speakers.  But, for my small room the best I've heard are my Dynaudio Heritage Specials.

Seems silly but I will say Fritz Carerra BE.  Have heard standmounts in shows that cost well over 20k that are bested by the Fritz.  Just had to throw Fritz in the running just to get people to look more at his speakers.  He is the nicest guy you will talk to and deserves more recognition in my opinion.

With price no object there are some stunning possibilities out there. I also have heard the Borresen B01s and they show Michael's further success. (Had older borrowed Raidho D1s for two months and now 'suffering' with older D2s  :-)

Without having heard the latest I'd consider Sonus Faber, TAD and others too.

Best sounding "Stand Mount" speakers I ever heard has to be Dick Sequerra’s MET 7’s. Hands down the best sound state and realistic presentation of anything I’ve heard in that class. The bottom end can be lacking, but let’s face it; they're stand mount for a reason and with that you will always give up a solid bottom end.

Sonus Faber Extrema. I have owned the Sonus Faber Electa Amators (originals) for thirty years, without regret. If I had it to do over, I would have sprung for the Extremas.

Gamut RS3i.  A superb standmount.

Yamaha Ns 5000

@yowser 

Reference 3A’s are magnificent. I have the Royal Virtuoso with the Corian cabinets and Beryllium tweeter. 

It is a stretch to call the Yamaha NS5000 a standmount. It is an incredible sounding speaker. My second choice behind the KEF Blade 2. The Yamaha NS300 (not heard) is a standmount and suitable for a smaller room.

I was all set to buy the NS3000 from a dealer in Canada, but my old KEF LS50 got damaged so I replaced it with the new KEF LS50 Meta standmount + KC62 sub. After that, I realized I do not need to spend $9K on the NS3000. The KEF LS50 Meta is great.

The TAD ME-1 is also a great standmount. I saw a used one pop up last week on A'gon. You need some warmer electronics for it though. There is likely more detail on the TAD than my KEF LS50 Meta but that is going on different listening sessions.

Fleetwood Deville SQ (superior quality; the upgraded model). Per Steve Huff reviews, "The speaker has Soul". Absolutely. 

After that, I realized I do not need to spend $9K on the XYZ.....The KEF LS50 Meta is great.

Bingo! Folks have been trading in $10k speakers for the LS50 Metals with KC62 and loving life! Easily b the best stand mount speakers I've ever personally heard. Price no object......

Infinity IRS on jack stands?

GAMUT RS3i

Acora SRB, QLN Reference, Borresen 01, and Gamut RS3i

I’d prolly go with the ATC’s or maybe the GAMUT's... But... these would be the contenders with the right electronics (Harbeths require something like the Hegel H590 to sound their best).

1. TAD-CR1TX =OR= ATC SCM100ASL or 150ASL =OR= GAMUT RS3i

2. HARBETH 30.2 or 40.2 or XX.1 (which I have driven by the H590)

MBL 126 is the best I've heard. Kii Thee is probably next.

I have TAD CR-1s.  A 101 lb speaker on a 35lb stand.   Best speaker I've ever had....  Powered by a Pass 250.8

I would love to hear the Gamut RS3i for a smaller room I have...

@mofojo I've seen the Borresen 5 for real and they look exquisite! I'm sure the M1 are also great looking. 

Fritz Carbon 7

Fritz Carbon 7

Probebly ,The best speaker in The world : The Belgian , Ilumnia Magister MK2. Never heard à better sound before!

I use ATCscm300 actives, stunning speakers especially for a large room on a ‘budget’ but hardly a stand mount speaker like the 150’s, unless you reckon 4 stillpoint ultra 5’s under each count as a stand!!!!

ATC scm 300 towers I’m referring to, not the studio stand mounted version

Yamaha calls the NS-5000 a bookshelf speaker, but it has to be put on a stand so Absolute Sound classifies it as stand-mounted and the stands are included and integral to the design.  It's a shame AS did not give it its own review but included it in a review of the series, and Stereophile didn't review it.  There's a bias in the USA against Japanese audiophile speakers although it's true basically only Yamaha and Sony in that market and then only when they want to be.  That said, name me another full-range (bass down to low 20's) speaker with a 12" woofer, a dome midrange (hard to do) AND all three drivers made from the same high tech material and innovations inside, with Yamaha's superb piano finish, AND at $14,995, Yamaha hasn't even raised the price.  With the Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack, the room will vibrate, but the speaker won't.  With piano music, well it's Yamaha after all.  Ask Sir Elton.

Silly question, but here is a serious answer - the Dynaudio C20

The choice is so subjective, and the defining factor is the ROOM.... (room and system synergy).

The Borresen 01's seem to be the consensus winner here, a speaker that I never have listened to.  I am surprised that the Focal Diablo Utopia III's have been nominated for that category of the "best ever."  I had them and they are great speakers, especially with a tube amp, but the "best ever,"  . . .? The Joseph Audio Pulsars, another speaker that I have owned, is a fantastic well-rounded stand mounted speaker, but I would put them in the same league with the Focal's.  A different sound between the two, both enjoyable.  Maybe I'm just jaded now regarding what the "best" stand mounted speaker should sound like . . .

My dream would be the Martens Oscar Duo

Optimus 7s.

Ask a ridiculous question, get a ridiculous answer.

Okay time for a wrap.

Thanks to all who offered an opinion.

The Borresen 01s are excellent.

Sadly not heard the Gamuts, Belgians or TADs.

Have heard Vimberg Ameas which were quite good.

Some of these names will form a base for consideration

in the 2023  event.

The Wilson Benesch Endeavor is the top on my list. It’s my forever speaker. 

Alta Audio Alyssa 

There are numerous candidates one could identify as excellent stand mount speakers, but there is no such thing as "best-sounding" because the matter is a subjective one.

No two persons' ears/brains are identical and therefore personal perception is a major factor. Moreover, one cannot discount personal biases, brand loyalties, aesthetic preferences coming having an influence. 

Sonus Faber Guarneri Evolution.

Hiding in plain sight is the often overlooked (but never under rated when heard) ESTELON XC DIAMOND. SOA drivers (ceramic & Diamond) in an equally SOA cabinet. Widely agreed to have transparency & balanced musical sound second to nothing else. Of course there are other ways to go, but nothing can be said to obviously beat them in really any area (bearing in mind a subwoofer is always recommended for any stand mount). I mean ANY area including surprisingly enough, compatibility with lowish power tube amplifiers. Their impedance is extremely high, as is their sensitivity. Probably the only SOA speaker that could be adequately powered by Lamm amplifiers or Conrad Johnson’s ART 27A for example. Could the same be said overall, of any of the other speakers listed here (or existing elsewhere)? Exactly.

Kii Three active speakers ($15,000)

Vimberg Amea. Heard with subs.