What's your favorite boutique speaker maker

Watkins would be another for monitors.

Caintuck Audio. All open baffles, single full range drivers offered in 8", 8" Alnico, 12" and 15". He even has 12" and 15" open baffle subs. I heard a pair of his 8" Betsy open baffles hooked up to a 2 watt set amp. They sounded stupidly good. Imaging and soundstage were fantastic. I was floored. I got to meet Randy the owner. It is a one man show. All of his speakers are under $1k/pair.

www.caintuckaudio.com

Treynold , the alnico are great speakers, musically transparent, the 3i do have PRAT characteristics, tubes is the way to go on most omega speakers.

MAGICO Q3s,M2s,M3s and M6s the best.

I don't know if you would consider them exactly "boutique" since they have been around so long, but Magnepan makes actual speakers.  The rest are having fun, I am sure, but if you want to hear only what you put into a transducer, try them.

Cheers!

I, too, wondered about what defines "boutique".
Janszen qualifies if we're referring to factors such as small production numbers, products built-to-order, distinctive design features, and direct involvement of the owner/CEO in the production and sales processes. Oh, and relatively high prices. $5K (or so) and up?

Janszen offers 30-day trials and only sells direct.  I don't think Devore offers in-home trials (or maybe it depends on the dealer).

Generation 4s by Watkins Stereo
They are made in Kingsport, TN by Mr Bill Watkins Jr. Bill and his father, now passed away, have been building speakers for over 40 years. Bill Sr said he couldn't build a better speaker than the Gen 4s. Amazing sound for the price. 

So far it’s been US companies. Here are three of my favourite from the rest of the world.


The Swiss company Boenicke make speakers which are elegant hand-made beauties, all made from solid wood. They look and sound like no other speaker, so musical and with a wonderful sense of air and space, and massive depth. Without a doubt my favourite speakers. https://boenicke-audio.ch

The British company Wilson Benesch are another great boutique company, run by a British family. They make speakers with high tech materials and they sound very impressive - fast and detailed and very transparent. http://wilson-benesch.com

From Taiwan Lawrence Audio make quirky looking speakers which have a superb rich sound.
http://www.lawrenceaudio.com

An observation: from looking at the recommendations in this thread it seems the US boutique speakers are mostly very much conventional rectangular boxes. The European and Asian boutique makers seem to be more open to pushing speaker design into something more attractive whilst still keeping the sound as a priority.

I too!!!... would second the vote (of  nonoise) for Tony Minasian’s G6 stand mount speakers. They are my favorite (best kept secret) for musical bliss! Transparency, fast, neutral, sensitive, and what I might call, emotional musicality.  Since my purchase, it’s become very difficult to pull myself away from the sweet spot, quite addictive!

Yes, the look is certainly early Vandersteen, but the sound is wonderful. 

Interesting. I get an early Vandersteen vibe from that lineup. Would like to hear them.

Chapman Audio in Washington state: https://chapmanaudiosystems.com/

I’m a little confused over what actually categorizes boutique branding and price will play a big factor in the level of engineering that goes into the design of a good speaker system. The type of music genre you are trying to accommodate as well as room size and acoustics can totally make or break any sound system. As for my system, I am a tried and true Harbeth fan. Sold exclusively in impedance matched pairs the midrange drivers are unparalleled. I would suggest you research a set of SHL5+ or if you have the room, Harbeth 40.2 reference monitors. They will set you back a pretty penny but man I learned long ago that the biggest investment in any sound system should be the speakers.
https://harbeth.co.uk/index.php

Hard to tell what a boutique brand. Is it determined by company size? Audition accessibility? RBH Sound is forever an unsung brand in my book. Long established but not that large a company. Catering to the custom market, it's always been difficult to find a pair to addition. Shane Rich is their terrific speaker designer. Find a pair of RBH signature reference series or RBH's Status Acoustic line to take a listen.

Volti was mentioned by emil and tinhorn.    I did get to hear the Volti Vittora at the NYC audio show. Very impressive!

Beauhorn (Virtuoso model) w/Lowther DX4? Love what you have!

Devore Fidelity 

GamuT and Janszen

I'm going to put a proxy vote in for Al, (Almarg).  If he was still with us, he would vote for Daedalus.  Huge fan.

Brooklyn NY
Devore, Bache, Ohm. 

Salk Sound
Daedalus
Egglestonworks

At this point I think Legacy Audio has moved beyond boutique status but it’s what I own.

Zu and Devore

I like and own Salk.
But I think my favorite and the best looking speaker in the world is the Klipsch LaScala.

Salk.  Also very helpful and cost-effective when repairs (e.g. ribbon tweeter repair/replacement) is needed (in my case, after more than 10 years of use).

Another + for Omega. 

Does Magnepan qualify as boutique? If yes, +. If no, ignore me (except for the Omega part).

Volti

Fritz for his price point and superb reviews 

Aerial Acoustics is a great speaker maker!

Boutique: small business producing fashionable high level articles.

Kyron Audio
🇦🇺

I like mine....I had a set of 123 LS6s (GR) crossover and design, Still have  their Servo bass columns... I like mine... I like the look of the original LS9s, too. Open baffle is just HARD to get right...I gave up on them... I still use planars, just not OB.. Way to weird to tame down..

Regards

Yes, I've heard Silverline are great. @dodgealum That's quite a bundle (in more than one sense)!

Plus one on Volti and Tekton..I don’t think Ryan Speakers or Silverline, were mentioned..

Sorry, forgot the link:

https://www.daedalusaudio.com/bundle-muse-lta

@hilde45 Check out the bundle that Daedalus and LTA are offering. This pairing is exquisite and the Muse are very modestly sized. I heard them at CAF and was blown away by the sound. 

+2 for Daedalus,  and add to it Selah Audio.

@treynolds155: If you think Kenjit’s Concrete Classics are good, wait until you hear his infinite baffle (drivers installed in the wall) model, or his open baffle. Of course, you really need him to come to your house and "custom tune" the CC’s to your ears for them to sound their best.

omega for me too! 

Omega - I've had my Hemptones for about 15 years, and they still sing so wonderfully.

Rockport Atria but I haven't heard as much as the rest of y'all.

I was very curious about Daedalus but a bit steep for me and too big, I think, for home audition, shipping, etc.

I was also very curious about Legacy Audio; they have a dealer in Denver but he would not let me drive them 3 miles back to my house for a home trial and I didn't want to sit in a closed room with Covid (I have parents in their 90s that I'm helping out.) So, the door closed on Legacy, but I have heard they're amazing.

Daedalus for sure. The epitome of "boutique" loudspeaker design and production. Each pair hand crafted from real wood, custom inlays and finished to the clients specifications. You not only get that, you get class-leading sound quality.

I'm going to everyone of their sites, what amazing speakers!

JWM Acoustics Alyson AML II stand mount speaker will blow you away.  Amazing dynamics and impact. 

Prana Fidelity speakers are also outstanding.

+1 on Daedalus

Kenjit Concrete Classics

LOL just messing with you dude, though you usually deserve it!

Tony Minasian of Tonian Labs.
His latest, the G6, would wipe the floor clean of a lot of speakers out there, 
leaving room for all the dropped jaws.

All the best,
Nonoise

I'll add Volti Audio to the list

Fritz.
Salk.
Daedalus.

Audiokinesis. Duke is a great guy (probably best-known for his Swarm subwoofers). His regular speakers have always been a good combination of performance batting far out of his price points. Easy to drive and good on making bass for the size of the speaker without colorations.