Speaker of the Century Award Goes To ....

While I knew my Emerald Physics KCIIs played way above their price point, until last night I had no idea how good they can be.

My front end consists of a slightly moded Oppo 105 (aftermarket LPM and incoming pure silver wire harness) , Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5 and AA DPA 1 stereo amp

A friend brought over his lap top and connected it with a WireWorld USB cable. These eliminate the Oppo and the DDP 1/PS 5, which has a 24/96 DAC on board, far from the best, which still sounded quite good after removing his kit. So to move close to what I heard,, at the very least,  I would need a much better DAC + PC + USB cable 

or, leave the dark ages and get a monitor, a streamer, a USB cable, and subscribe to a monthly service. At 71, and avoiding digital tech ( I don't even have apps on my cell phone) I will try the better dac route first, but damn it was a phenomenal experience in my home with my system, crushing my front end 

lol, mrdecible  ...regarding "affording a dedicated listening room."  Here, the solution was simple...giving my wife the rest of the entire house, the basement and the garage.  This permitted me to "have" a dedicated "sound studio."  Now, it has taken 18+ years to get an almost cube 10'x10'x7 1/2' room to disappear: electrical panel circuit isolation /  ...dedicated lines / upgrade outlets / cables / rfi attention / much gear isolation both inside and outside / sealed monitors atop sealed subwoofers / uber-precise feathered DSP (no damage if done expertly) / careful attention to music sources hi-res streaming lately / lossless carefully selected redbook rips with attention to labels, engineering and good masters / major room tuning using open cell foam cut into 17" triangles including ceiling & room corners.   
Granted, it ain't pretty...however, when the Sweetspot Siren makes her nightly appearance with the lights off...  more peace.  Pinthrift

Well, apparently richopp is going to call most people here "hearing impaired" but keep the claim about which type of speakers he actually endorses a closely guarded secret.  Maybe we have to pay for it?

Having typed that, I suggest that everyone go to your dealer and pick up a few pair of various kinds of speakers, take them home to YOUR ROOM and listen to them.

Hahahha, yeah, cause I got that kind of time and money and space just lying around.

Helo, Monitor Audio had a few " lines " of speakers, and I agree that the more affordable lines left a lot to be desired. But, if you are saying that the Advents are, by todays standards, capable of annihilating them, in what specific areas of music reproduction are you speaking about ? I appreciate you enjoying the Advents, but I would have to disagree with the severity of the term annihilate. I can tell you, many details, speed, and spatial characteristics, would be better on the Monitors. Maybe not the warmth, or coherence. I enjoyed, at the cost back in the day, my stacked double Advents, in a 2ndary system. We all hear, and appreciate some things, differently, Just saying.

Monitor Audio Silver 8s ($2K/pair) to be exact. The Advents have a smoother treble while still producing superior detail. Coherency and imaging is so much better that the MAs that it’s laughable. What else?...better tone,  better scale, better midrange articulation, better transparency...