What speaker is the most musical, one you never want to sell?


I've ran into a few "permanent" components over the years, 

I'm wondering what are the most satisfying speaker you've owned?

traudio

Apogee Duetta II upgraded by Truesound Audio Works.  These have the soundstaging, speed and transparency of other planar speakers with better bass reproduction than the others.  No box speaker I know of would work as well in my asymmetrical listening room.  I agree with tom8999 that once you get used to the soundstage thrown by tall planar speakers, small speakers just don’t cut it.  Tall speakers can even simulate the height of the soundstage by placing cymbals and ambience at ear level and above, bass instruments lower, etc. 

Maggies and electrostats may be a bit more realistic in the midrange with acoustic instruments; if I only listened to chamber music, I might prefer those.  But I like rock and ambient music that demands strong, deep bass reproduction, and so the Apogees are the best compromise I've heard.  

I've been through 20 pairs of speakers over the years -- Klipschorns, Maggies, Spatial Audio,Tektons,  Harbeths, etc., etc.  I thought the Harbeth SHL5plus were as good as things get musically, but 18 months ago I purchased a used pair of Wilson Audio Sabrinas and I'm done. They are in a league of their own and I've lost all desire to try any other speakers. 

Size of each listening space and Preference for Tubes makes a difference which speakers I love.

Main: I had my currently beloved speakers starting in 1973, in two locations. I worked on 44th street in NYC, heard a lot of high quality speakers in nearby audio stores, especially Harvey's on 45th street, as well as actively going to the many hifi shows in NYC.

While impressed by 'out of my league', and/or 'too big for my space', the only speakers I ever truly wanted for my home were JSE Infinite Slope Model II's.

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11418

I got a used pair, replaced the burnt tweeters, drove them for many years with McIntosh SS MC2250, loved them, everyone who hears them does.

Eventually I wanted to get back to tubes, gave the JSE's to my son, he gave them to a mutual friend, I still enjoy them at his place.

I perked up my horns/15" woofer, new L-Pads, test tracks. SPL meter, 1-1/2 days carefully adjusted them to the space, they never sounded better, and I have a full set of spare drivers.

It occurred to me, I never tried a Tube Preamp back then, it was a McIntosh SS C28, I wonder what my current McIntosh mx110z Tube Tuner/Preamp would have sounded like driving the SS MC2250?

Home Theater Front L&R:

I said to Donna "we're just looking, not buying anything, I just read about them, want to hear them" as we went in the original 6th Avenue Electronics store on the east side of 6th avenue in the high 30’s

After I heard them, and the salesman gave me the price, I said "where do I pull up my car when I come to pick them up?" 

DBX Soundfield 100, are uniquely designed to provide a wide center image when sitting off-center in a small home theater. 

"dbx Soundfield 100 is a high-end vintage speaker system introduced by dbx in the late 1980s, designed to deliver a realistic, immersive stereo soundstage regardless of listening position.  Unlike conventional speakers, the Soundfield 100 uses a unique phased-array design with five drivers per speaker—a large woofer, a midrange, and three tweeters—aimed in a crossfire configuration to create a consistent sonic image across the entire room"

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11516

I’ve tried 3 different center speakers over the years, but I never thought about changing these.

@baranyi - not "off the AN carousel", they are fine speakers and electronics. Still have my AN/e and enjoy them at my summer spot. I just came across a set of custom Valencias done by a local shop and thoroughly enjoy them more than anything I have or had. I knew the second I heard them that they were right in my lane. As far as Audio Note, I would get a set of TOTL J if I were to go that route again. The AN/e are amazing but need to be in corners to get the most out of them. I don't have that kind of room at home so didn't work where I had originally planned. If you have AN in your sights, they are great, you will NOT be disappointed in any way unless you have a same corner-less situation. Just my experience.