Hey Tom:
I guess beauty is in the eye, or in this case, the ear of the beholder. That is why their are as many opinions as there are manufacturers. Personally, I wouldn't lamb-baste your speakers and say they are crap. Although they are not my cup of tea since I don't like metal tweeters which make my ears bleed, I wouldn't insult what you own. And as a matter of record, many recording studios in Europe do use Dynaudio and in this country they use a lot of M&K. But you are most welcome to express your opinion just the same.
Happy Listening,
Steve Bachman
Phoenix, AZ |
The ones in my rec room, the Revel Salons. I used to have a pair of Dunlavy SC-V's and prior to them the SC-IV's. The Dunlavy's were good but the Salons just do it better. The detail is better at low volume levels, there is more bass punch and the speakers image so well that they dissapear. They are power hungry though, I use to run either of the Dunalavy's with a Bryston 4B-ST and I had to go to 7B-ST monoblocks for the Salons.
I have auditioned the big Wilsons, Avantgarde, Sonus Fabers and others and none have matched the overall performance of the Salons. |
The new Piega C-10 Ltd are definitely a major upgrade from the P-10s. Deep and tighter bass with to die for midrange. New ribbon technology and 4 woofers makes a marked improvement |
I have listened to so many different speakers either floorstanding or monitor at my friend house and at any shows from the price range of $2000.00 to $15,000.00 but I never been exited when listening to a pair of Rosinante Dulcinea moniter speakers made by Ric Cummins (retail at $6500.00) in my system. They sound incredibly awesome with the tonal balance, musical, detail and dynamic. The speakers can handel all kind of music (vocal female in jazz, rock pop, classical and instrumental) without disappointed by the listeners hours long. |
Tom writes: "nearly 100% of all professional recording studios use the B&W Nautilus 801 as their reference for the best quality sound".
Really? Nearly 100%? Well, the nasty little Yammie NS10 is ubiquitous too.
I think studios have different requirements to many domestic situations and often master at higher volumes than much of our home listening is done at. If one lives in an apartment and has to respect one's neighbours, one wants speakers that are enticing at low levels.
Regards, |
Where is the compression driver advocates? I lust after a complete Ales system, but there are other quick horn and compression driver system, which although expensive have, I suspect, never even been approached by any of the speakers mentioned above. The new JBL K2s may come close, however, for $12,500. |
Not that it makes any difference, but I would like to see evidence of nearly 100% using B&W. I would also like to know what they pay for these speakers. |
Naim Audio DBL. Because it is one of the few reasonably sized loudspeaker that is able to capture the live "you are there" kind of musical experience. This loudspeaker and I emphasize the word loud is not an audiophile loudspeaker but one that allows the listener to get to the soul of music without any form of compression. Best used in the active format to fully exploit the potential of the loudspeaker albeit at a humongous cost on the amplification. You will require 3 stereo amps to operate this loudspeaker in active. |
Montana WAS's. Heard them and was really impressed with the seamlessness of the cross-overs; the midrange clarity; and the deep, realistic bass that extends evenly toward the midrange. Had to buy them. They are not even broken in yet and they continue to astonish me every day. I can't believe how clear the cymbals and vocals are!
Someday, I'd love to be able to hear all of the speakers referenced above (that would be a noble quest). In the meantime, I'm plenty thrilled with these. If any of you are ever in the Charlotte, NC area, drop me a note. |
Dunlavy SC IV-A's. Great clarity and soundstage. Excellent bass. Huge speakers but sweet music! |
AR-2Ax pushed with a Fisher 500C, in 1964. First time I ever heard Stereo, nothing has made such an impact on me since. |
Heard all speakers here accept the Piega's and the Wisdom's. I would not trade my Talon Khorus's for any of them that I have heard. Period. I have some frieds and collegues that have the Piegas and say the same thing with very similar equitment that I am using, but my sound is so good that I am now not thinking of what the next upgrade will be-I am looking for new music that blows my socks, pants, and shirt off! The Talon's with the right equiptment are simply amazing, but must be matched with the right stuff to your liking. Highly recommended. And for those bass junkies out there they are unmatched in there ability to go low and then simply go away-SPEED...And play at concert levels if you have the amp... |
jbl 4412's in a studio in burbank playing a newly mastered cd whose music was mastered using a similar type monitor 30 years before. i guess thats why the pros dig'em. |
I think that 'Luke' system proves the best bang for your buck speaker I've heard is the VMPS RM40s. (Tubes rule, Luke!)
The sound is exceptional for the money ($4K). Over $10k, the jury is still out. The Sound Lab A-1s are the best so far, but I'm going to SF next weekend for the show, so the jury is still out.
Enjoy the music. |
Green Mountain Audio flat out makes everything else I have heard sound bad. I've heard a lot too. I was in the retail high end audio business for 8 years. I'm also a musician. Nothing speaks to me musically like Green Mountain Audio.
'Nuff Said. |
Sonus Faber Cremonas paired with a Mark Levinson amp and cd. Clarity, depth, and warmth - magical |
Toss up between Thiel CS6 and Vandersteen 5s. Gotta drive the Thiels with current however i.e. Krell |
No single winner
Infinity IRS Beta driver by Carver Tube amps, I forget the name of the amp, with a turntable for the front end. I don't remember the entire setup, but I think the preamp was a Counterpoint & there was a solid state amp on the bass towers. I heard it in Lyric HiFi several years ago,
Also, Martin Logan CLS w. Eminent Technology Bass Towers. Great sound. I heard this several years ago. ARC tube amps on the Martin Logan
Cello speakers w. Cello amps - uncanny dynamics.
My Nautilus 801s playing loud with Rock.
Avalon Ascent or Eidolons playing at medium volumes.
I am still looking for a great speaker which can do it all. What I found is that intimacy & the ability to play loud are mostly mutually exclusive. |
I have to join the Avantgarde Duos with SET (300B) monoblock amplification. I always think other systems are lacking by comparison after living with the Duos for a couple years.
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What I have now off course.
Usher 738:form me the best sound for the price.
Fantastic medio low frequency managemente.
Spatiality too and dynamic.
Ciao |
Sound Lab A-1 delivers music better than any product I've heard. They are huge and power hungry, but if you can make that work, they are simply stunning. |
without a doubt the Cabasse Atlantic's are the best I have ever heard |
That's the one, Wilson Benesch A.C.T. Blew my mind.
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the best imaging speakers would be a pair of little 6&1/2 inch 2 ways that wally from speaker city in burbank thru together in june......Magic, just unbelievable......he has been doing this for 35 years and so have i,nothing kills us these do and they cost about 600 bucks.....okay volume,responce,and all the rest....who knows ???? but imaging ???? magic.... scan speak parts with an xover that makes NO sence at all but who cares ????? |
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BEST is the MONTANA WAS's. Not only do they sound extremely good, the workmanship, hardware, and attention to detail is spot on....built for a life time. |
I am using the Dynaudio Evidence Temptations, but it took six months of auditioning differnt equiptment and cables to bring out the magic. These speakers respond to the most minute changes in equiptment and room placement. They definitely belong on the shortlist of great speakers to audition. |
Jesse Jackson is a real good speaker.
So was Abraham Lincoln.
hehehe |
Linn Komri powered by all linn equipment. tri amped it was just amazing. I really like linn. So i am personally buying Linn Espeks next year because they sounded amazing as well. |
Genesis! The actual systems are 201 and 350 (and the 1.1 for very few). There is absolutely nothing which can be compared with these speakers in musical sound! They run very good/best whith Classé Audio amps, specially the 401. Often it is said they run good with tube amps, but there are limitations in loud passages with tube amps. Also the Classés give more vividness than tubes. (The Classés run very good also with other speakers) If you live in Europe, there will be a new company for this kind of speakers next year. Prices will be very interesting. If you are intersted please leave an e-mail massage on [email protected]. Also extremly good are the Martin Logan Statement 2, but they are not suitable for most people because of costings and space. The smaller Martin Logans do not have this quality. That does mean that the smaller Genesis models are much nearer to the big 1.1 than the smaller MLs are near to the Statement 2. So if you consider of a very big system both ML and Genesis are your choice, if you want a smaller system take a Genesis 201 or 350 (the smaller genesis models do not have this sound quality). ML Statement 2 and Genesis 1.1 are by far the best actual speakers in the world! Best regards from Germany! |
I can only disagree with the above post regarding the tube amplifiers being limited on loud passages simply isn't my findings with the Genesis 201 speakers even when using the VTL SIGNATURE 450 amps even in triode mode at ear damaging levels in a large room, needless I say the reference 750 in triode mode is much better sounding regardless the power difference. What tube amplifiers are you referring to tim777 ? |
Rosinante Dulcinea monitor speakers are the best in my opinion. |
~~~~Has to be Infinity Reference Standard Beta and 1a/b. A moving experience with each encounter!
Just The Facts
By |
Hi fbi....I'm not completely sure about BEST speaker all around but I totally endorse your suggestions as I am a very happy RS 1-B owner. They just do everything thing so well (for me....for now). |
Did anyone go to CES this year? There is a reason the VMPS Elixer smoked evryone. Come to think of it, they smoked everyone last year too. Imagine that. A loudspeaker under 5K cutting 20K-50K loudspeakers to ribbons. See anything wrong with this picture??... |
Magnepan 20.1. Absolutely awesome. I belonged to Maggie after that. Vandersteen 5's close second. |
Revel Salon's for me hands down. I had the opportunity to AB directly again Wilson Watt puppies(Version 6 I believe),ML Prodigy,B&W 801,Revel's own smaller Studio,and Ariel 20 and 10T speakers.All great speakers Im sure everyone would agree. But I personally felt that it(Salon's) was the best speaker for my equipment combination,room size and listening preferences. I felt these speakers basically did everything just a bit better. Especially low level detail and imaging. Most people always talk about how the bottom end is on a whole different level, but its the midrange sweetness and detail,resolution and pinpoint imaging that floors me everytime I hear em. Goes to show you what absolute engineering is cablable of. I wish more speaker companies had a R&D dept. that was the calibur of Revel's. We would all be winners in the end. |
I haven't read many of the other responses so I'm sure this has been said before. I can't honestly say a speaker is the best I've heard because it always should be considered as part of a system. The best sounds have always come from systems with the best source componets. I don't have any experience with highend cd but when I was listening and comparing the Linn LP-12 was a common denominator. The SME III and Sleeping Beauty cartridge were also. Some speaker's personality change dramaticaly with different amplification. I suspect that Infinity Quantum Speakers were designed and auditioned using their switching amp and I never knew how good they could sound until I heard them with a Sony switching amp years later. A friend who was an Infinity dealer had their amp and preamp with a LP-12 and his system always sounded great with whatever speaker he had at the time. Same with the RS 2.5's and the switching amp. Polks with a Naim intergrated were outstanding, I'm not sure if they were elevated to such a high opinion because the sound so greatly exceeded expectations. Fried W's in two different systems were jawdropping. One system had an ARC SP-6. Dynamic range, ease of presentation, and shading with Linn Isobarics and the Naim equipment was the best I've heard. Mission 770's with Sony AudioLab equipment gave remarkable resolution of bass detail. The M2 by Meridian is another outstanding speaker great imaging and bass considering size. Other speakers I've auditioned which could amaze you at times were the Hill Plasmatronics and the Sony Esprit series, all three behemoths. Let's not forget Magnepans with GAS electronics, Linn, and homemade teflon interconnects. |
I completely agree with Ritteri. Just to add the Revel Salons have about the best bass also, I have ever heard. Similiar to the (very fast) Eidolon, but goes much deeper. |
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Now, If I dont go into a hi end store the best sound is in my home theater, check out the system, trying to upgrade the amps to modified B&K M-200 Mono blocks. |
The best speaker though would be Alan Watts, the philosopher. Check out Alan Watts .com , Amazing stuff. |
The best I heard was two pairs of Klipschorns powered by two Carver M-500t power amps. A true concert hall sound in a near concert hall-sized music room! Awesome!
Also the 79" tall Magnepan MG20.1 planars powered by Jeff Rowland Model 6 monoblocks. Transparancy was absolutely stunning!
There are other examples much more exciting than my '79 Klipsch Cornwalls, but they come in 3rd place to my ears. |
Polks srs are by far the best ive heard, but then i have not listened to a whole lot of speakers, i run the polks threw a Nakamichi Stasis PA-7II amp 225by 225 for now , soon i will hook up a Bryston 600by 600 to really know what they sound like. |
There really is no best speaker to list. Each one has their strong points & their weakness. Personally I think the Magnepan speaker is one of the best around for musicality & to really hear the performance from either a CD or record the way it was recorded. Close your eyes & you will be transported to the music completely. I have listened to Maggies for years & enjoyed them alot. |
Odeon horns driven by Accuphase electronics. An image so big & texture so massively palpable it felt like you were transported into Patricia Barbers emotional center. Totally mind-blowing! |
Focal JMlab Grande Utopia Be, nothing comes close, period. I listened to those in Paris not so long ago. I have the Nautilus 801, quite nice, but these are another experience, and price of course. All the other Focal-JMLab are outstanding for their quality vs. price. Wilsons use focal speakers anyway. And correct that you need the right electronics and cables to drive them. (I would vote for the top Moons from Simaudio and Siltech cables). Find any of the Focal-JMlab Be series to listen to, compare them with your favorites (equivalent),and you will hear the difference. |
I second the Quad ESL 63...NO sub woofers can keep up with these speakers,the seaming is just to ignoring so keep the panels pure...the 989 is more balance but not as transparent as the older 63's..... |
Best commercial speakers I've heard are the S.A.P. J2001 (with twin 12" woofers), which is why I purchased them. These speakers have a small Onken cabinet for the woofers, a horn midrange that is poised on top of the woofer cabinet, and a Fostex bullet tweeter.
I also like Soundlab U-1s. I've also heard some pretty wild custom systems, one in particular comes to mind. It had a pair of huge Western Electric horns for the midrange that have a throat that is curled like a ram's horn. The owner of this system just set up a new system in a huge dedicated room and uses a pair of $250,000 Gaku-On amps to drive the midrange. I have yet to hear this latest iteration, but I expect it to be something special. |
Well,I had the Artemis Eos for 5 years and just upgraded to the new JM Labs Utopia Alto Be.If more high end people knew about the Be tweeter.Everytime I hear it it remindes me of my very first indroduction into the the society of people who are no longer virgins.Peace,Jim |
