what is the best super speaker and why?

Bioman, considering your posts of the last few months and your Bio, I am totally surprised at your interest in Avantgarde.

Owing to the fact you hail from Central Texas, it would be interesting to know who the dealer was that demonstrated both Soundlab Ultimate ones and Avantgarde.

Sound Mind has never had a pair of Soundlab U-1 and could not have demonstrated with the best electronics even if they did.

As you state, set up and attention to detail is paramount, as well as room acoustics and associated equipment.

My "problem" is my own, in that I dislike the Avantgarde so intensely. The topic specifically refers to the Soundlab U-1, and I had to clarify that it was not involved in your listening test.

I took your advice and telephoned Sound Mind in Austin. What you heard are the (old) gold finish Soundlab U-3, not the U-1. There is no comparison between the two.

I hope you find what you are looking for.

The Soundlab U-3 is discontinued. If you want this size speaker, the new M-3 is better.

Sound Mind's web site lists these as new U-3, gold finish, and on sale for $12,888.00. The U-1 retails for $32,000.00, making the lowest dealer cost near 20K. I cannot imagine a dealer selling new stock at a $7,000.00 loss. That is why I doubted they were U-1's, but I guess anything is possible.

If you are ever in the DFW area, your welcome to listen to my U-1 Soundlabs.

Bishopwill, nothing is on the top of the heap. There are flaws in every speaker ever built. Each listener must decide how many flaws and which type can be tolerated on a consistent basis.

I agree with your comments about Avantgarde, but as for the comb filtering sound you mention concerning Soundlabs, you must have heard an early model.

Soundlabs now utilizes "Distributed Resonance" (their buzz word) , that eliminates membrane resonance and dipole energy cancellation. The diaphragm is sectioned where instead of comb filtering or resonant peaks, different sections of the diaphragm resonate at different frequencies in a graded fashion."

This essentially makes dozens of phase matched micro panels that are combined in the quarter circle radial pattern that Soundlab is famous for. The design is in fact, a giant electronic microphone in reverse. Much like the microphones used to record most of what we discuss in these forums.

If there were a cone speaker built that was phase accurate full bandwidth, and with as low distortion as Soundlabs, I would be interested in them. The (gross) dynamics of cone speakers are superior and that is their strength. The Soundlabs phase accuracy, speed and ultra low distortion is its strength.