Any great speakers out there?

Great question!

I have recently been in search for a "cost no object" (within reason for me) speaker. I have listnened to quite a few and have found that most of the time, the difference in price does not correlate with the sonic gain, except for two speakers.

The Rockport Antares and the Kharma Exquisites are the exception. I heard the Rockports in a somewhat difficult room (very low ceiling) and they were MAGNIFICENT! They absolutely disappeared and were so seamless, it was reminiscent of a planar / ribbon with none of the drawbacks associated with those types. The Exquisites did the same for me. Both are gorgeously built, neutral and incredibly dynamic. I wish I had the opportunity to hear them in the same room, but alas, that was not possible. Both were on a totally different sonic level than I have heard before.

Gosh ladies and gents. Is nobody out there familiar with the Revel Salons and Studios? The Salons were Stereophile's speaker of the year last year, and the Studios were there pick this year. And you can now find them out there at a decent price if you are looking for pre-owned.
I know that Stereophile is a breed of highbrows who get some special treatment from the high end industry, but they are right on the money with the Revels. I have spent many hours around a set of Salons, and, because of room limitations, I opted for a set of Studios. I am driving them with a Wadia 860 cd player and biamped Levinson 332's.

Thiel 7.2's

I agree that the Studio Grand was a great speaker IF properly set up. But, I also agree with the designer that the older Diva was better.
Did you ever hear the "cost no object" Apogee Grands at $85,000? Talk about goose bumps!

In my personal opinion (and prior to his making speakers, Dan D'Agostino's pick of the "best speaker on the planet"), the greatest speakers are actively bi-amped B&W800's.

Richard

I was a good little soldier in the army of electrostatic lovers until I heard the Revel Salons. Against the Martin Logan Prodigy, they made me realize (and quickly) that the big soundstage that good electrostatics throw can be as much a function of panel size as it is of source material.
The Salons can seem smaller on some material, but thats responsiveness, not lightness. For my wallet, they constitute a "price no object" purchase, and they still make me shiver when I hear the bass solo in Lonnie's Lament on Coltrane's Crescent.