Speakers: all-time worst

The worst were Acousti Phase sold by Crazy Eddies in NYC back in the 70's. They would disconnect the tweeters on JBL L100's or put speaker upside down and then play Acousti Phase with an equalizer hidden away to improve the sound. They sold many of these speakers with Kenwood receivers which they would sell for close to dealers cost. (They made big bucks on the Acousti Phase speakers though) Second place goes to Ultralinear! Also mid seventies.

In the late 70's I heard "Savard" speakers. Very efficient, very cheap drivers, very dishonest demo. They sold based on loudness - did not let you adjust volume so a/b was at equal volume levels. The demo'd against Bose 901's WITHOUT the Bose equalizer in the circuit. Otherwise, the Bose killed them. That's right. They were that bad.

Come on people - he said speakers not noise makers.

EPI microtower

Bose certainly deserves the all around award for hype, horribleness, and hubris. However, I once heard a pair of cheap Kenwoods that were so bad the manager actually told me to go to another store to buy speakers as a kindness.