A while ago a serious survey was done by audiophile editors and other groups of audiophiles to find the 25 Best Expensive Audiophile Speakers of All Time irrespective of price!
The 25 Ultimate Audiophile Speakers of All Time - survey is at:
https://audiophilereview.com/audiophile/the-25-ultimate-audiophile-speakers-of-all-time.html
(Click Small arrow next to the photo to scroll through the list.)
They created five weighted categories to judge speakers including:
- Performance 100 total points max
- Longevity/Relevance 25 points max
- Value 25 points max
- Aesthetics 25 points max
- Lust Factor 25 points max
-----Total of 200 points maximum
The top 5 on the list came as follows:
#1 Wilson Audio WATT Puppy Sasha W/P
($26,950/pair)
#2 Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series Diamond ($24,000/pair)
#3 JM Labs - Focal Grand Utopia ($180,000/pair)
#4 Wilson Audio Alexandria/Grand SLAMM ($158,000/pair)
#5 Wilson Audio MAXX ($68,000/pair)
B&W 800 Diamond model came 2nd and only a few points behind the 1st in the list. Interestingly B&W 800D2 was ahead of many other speakers several times its price.
It is not surprising that B&W 800Diamond virtues are appreciated by many recording studios in the world.
From B&W point of view, Where do you go if you are already producing one of the best speakers in the world!!
Bowers and Wilkins Nautilus was also in the list at number 10!
#10 - Bowers and Wilkins Nautilus - $60,000/pair