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

Really enjoyed hearing the Wilson Benesch Discovery 3Z monitors.  

($31,000 US) 

“I share the same first name”
@jeffseight 
Joseph Audio PULSAR2 Graphene - $8995

As a suggestion, don’t buy above until you hear TAD CE1.

I can give you some hints which should make it easy.

1.  Made in USA

2. MSRP $9,000

3. I share the same first name.

 

Drum roll....Anybody?

Wow! I just looked up those Borresen M1. I was expecting something way more impressive looking for 100k. Cabinet is made of good ole wood.  

GIve us a hint Jeff!! lol. How much approx is the self proclaimed best stand mount in the world? 

Response Recap in no particular order-

 

1.PMC MB2 $73,800

2.Wilson Benesch Endeavour 3zero $74,000

3.MBL Radialstrahler 120 $24,000

4.Borresen M1 $100,000.  Plain 01  a mere  $30,000

5.SCM 300 ASL Pro (Active) $44,000

6. Graham LS 5/5 $25,000

7.Sonus Faber  Guarneri Tradition $15,100

8.Focal Diablo Utopia 3  $15,000

9.Dutch & Dutch 8C (Active) $12,500

10.Alta Audio Celesta $15,000

 

No one voted for the self proclaimed "Best Stand Mount in the World"!

We are missing a couple brands I expected votes for.

I am extending this another day. Euros please chime in.

 

 

 

 

 

Graham LS 5/5; and you're done.

It’s a big stand-mounted speaker, but nonetheless: the ATC SCM150ASL Pro’s certainly sound great, as does their even bigger stand-mounted sibling - grotesquely big in this category, I know - the SCM300ASL Pro. That being said, thinking that the latter with built-in amps, electronic cross-over and top-of-line drivers (incl. dual 15" woofers and what’s arguably one of the best midrange drivers around) can be had in the same price category or cheaper than some more typically sized passively configured mini monitors appears much more grotesque to me. For that reason in particular I’d gladly bend the rules a bit for the ’typically expected size of a stand-mounted speaker’..

Jeff, what maker is claiming to be the best? 

Best Sounding Stand Mount Speaker in the world ?

I don`t have to hear it. Totally subjective.

It is what sounds best to you.

MBL Radialstrahler 120

Wilson Benesch Endeavour 3zero has got to be on this list.  I have the Discovery 3zeros and the Audiophile Junkie speculated they might be the best stand-mount speaker in the world when he was in my room at AXPONA.  The Endeavours are technically superior in terms of cabinet design and should push the absolute limits in terms of sound quality.  

There is no best. In a youtube channel someone said: "let’s not use ’best’ - let’s say my favorite"

-ADC L710, L910. for vintage they are remarkable. 

-Proac Tablets these are what got me started as an audiophile. 

- BBC monitors, as above with the tablets they were based, as so many, on BBC's work so you really need to consider the BBC monitors as some of the best as they influenced so many other designs. 

-Omega SAM, inexpensive and one of the best at sound stage I've heard. most full rangers excel in this area though these are just one of the less expensive ones that really shined.  

- Living voice, auditorium line, they are superb at making music. wish i didn't sell mine...

Never a fan of stand mounted speakers.  But I did hear some Raidho 1.2's backed up with REL subwoofers that were very good.

Alta Celesta 

No need for a subwoofer 

 

@thieliste I think you meant to say Borresen 01 SSE. The 05 is the biggest floorstander. :)

I have heard the 01, the 02 SSE, and the 05. All are endgame. I own the Borresen Z3 Cryo myself. 

NIMBUS 2000 (I actually prefer it to the more expensive NIMBUS 2001).

It sweeps the competition.

 

DeKay

Sf  Guarneri Tradition. Still love the sound, cant afford them. 

Dutch and Dutch 8c 

Borresen 05 Silver Supreme Edition.

I've heard the whole line even the new M1.

Very, very subjective.

I am going to say the ones you are listening to now. 

What qualifies as a stand mounted speaker?  I noticed someone mentioning the Harbeth 40.2 XD.  It is a box on a stand, but, it is a big box on a stand and is meant to be treated as a big speaker--placed in big room, well away from the walls.

My local dealer, Deja Vu Audio in Northern Virginia makes custom speakers, including a stand mounted speaker that looks very much like a 40.2 Harbeth on steroids--similar proportions.  The drivers include an 18" woofer and Western Electric horn and compression drivers that now cost well north of $20k just for the drivers, and a Fostex tweeter.  The crossover includes some scary expensive Audio Note capacitors.  This is one of the better stand mounted speakers I've heard, that is, if it qualifies.

“Best sounding standmount speaker” is an undefined and highly variable bespoke value judgement, so I will post it in two different ways:

(1) Best I’ve auditioned at length AND thus purchased and currently own

TOP CHOICE : HARBETH 30.2XD on TonTraeger speaker stands ( because of their thin wall cabinet build that permits this BBC monitor derivative to resonate like a grand piano or violin soundboard )

- derived from the BBC’s LS5/9 design, - my personal experiences mirror the following review excerpt:

” …. Used on 24"-tall stands from TonTräger Audio ($1495/pair), the Harbeths delighted HR with easy-flowing music, vivid colors and textures, "unshakable clarity," and stereo images that were "tangibly there." Herb’s verdict: "the most tuneful, accurate, neutral, fun, and music-loving stand-mounted two-way speaker I’ve I’ve heard.""

CONTENDER: HARBETH 40.2 XD . These were key contenders but my room size, and acoustics were primary drivers to consider the 30.2’s. Surprisingly , the latter is the “sweet spot” in their model offerings, so they were the “Best Buy Option’ for me.

 

(2) Excluded “Best ,,,,” but strictly only a whimsical option.

There are several “ fantasy wish-list” options composed of Uber-expensive, interesting and engaging standmount speakers I’ve auditioned at audio expos that I will never be able to afford.

They were setup with $500,000+ electronics and graced with ka-Ching NORDOST ODIN cables that sounded fabulous but an impossibility for most of us … thus a pass on this post .

 

Borresen 01. I’ve heard them fill medium to large sized rooms without a sub, and their openness and tonal balance are worth drooling over. 

Really like the PMC IB2se- but range goes up to MB5se (hard to call them stand mount though)

I don't know if it's the best as I haven't heard many, but I have the Reference 3A Reflector's that I'm very happy with.  I had to downsize to a smaller room and sold my Legacy Focus as they were too large.

Best I have ever heard is the Nola Micro Reference, but I bought them 9 years ago and haven't really listened to anything since then.  I'm sure that the state of the art has moved since then.

"price no object?"

Where do you live? LOL!

In whose room with what amp? I like active speakers but if I chose passive the Focal Diablo Utopia and their custom stands.

BBC LS3/5A - Rogers, Goodman's, Chartwell, Spendor, KEF ... all produced them! They still command high resale prices - around $2K/pr. I have the Rogers. Yes, they need a sub for the bottom octave but the rest of the frequency range is so well balanced that nothing seems amiss!