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What are the best speakers you have ever owned and why?

I just recently recieved my long awaited Shahinian Diapason 2’s from Vasken And they are absolutely spectacular! This got me thinking about my long journey to get here. Bless my wife for putting up with the many many many speakers that have passed through. The lifelong saga began with Magneoan MG 1’s back in college which were replaced by Dahlquist DQ 10’s. Then we traveled down a long road of speakers and systems. Magnepan Tympanis, Misson 770, Randall Rsch DQ10’s, Quad ESL single and stacked, Acoustat II, rogers LS3/5A’s, Linn Isobarik’s (2 pairs) B&W 801 Matrix, Hales Signature, Martin Logan Monolith2, Apogee Scintilla (1 ohm) Apogee Full Range, Theil SC 5A, Egglestonworks Andra, B&W Nautilius 801,Quad 63 and some I’m sure I forgot! Each speaker had its virtues and flaws but oh what a fun and a times frustrating trek! I think I have finally found my speaker to take me to retirement they do everything that I value wonderfully . They are detailed without sounding so, very dynamic, they have great low end reach, power and detail, are open sounding like a planner, their tonality and timbre seem spot on and they sound wonderful on any kind of music. Tell me about your journey!
hamr
big_greg
6,662 posts
 
I found a pair of Legacy Audio Focus 20/20 at a reasonable price and they are the best speakers I have owned.  They create an enveloping soundstage and are detailed without being harsh and have no problem plumbing the depths.  I've had a lot of more "sophisticated" speakers, Vienna Acoustics, Canton, Spendor, Monitor Audio, etc. but the 20/20s just rock and are fun to listen to. 

I've also owned a lot of Klipsch speakers and my KLF-30's with Bob Crites crossovers, mids, and tweeters are my second favorite, more for sentimental reasons.  I remember early in my "audiophile" journey hearing some Klipsch RF-7 II and also some KLF-20 and being blown away by those.  I looked for the KLF-30s for a while and finally found a pair at a reasonable price and after spending some time fixing them up (I also had to fix rattling back panels), they are really musical.  A little "smoother" on the top end than some of the Heritage Klipsch like the La Scala (which hurts my ears at loud volumes).  They are very detailed and can play really loud without distortion or being "shouty" or "bright". 

I recently went through a similar journey with a pair of Klipsch Heresy I.  Replaced all the drivers and the crossovers and mated them to an ARC Vsi55.  The combination is very nice.

I guess I am an unsophisticated "meat and potatoes" kind of music lover.
larstusor
59 posts
 
My humble, 50 year, journey includes these as well as some KLH, AR or Infinity that I can’t really remember much about:

Lafayette Radio Electronics Minuets (excellent little bookshelf units)
Wharfdale W70 (room shaking bass)
Janzen Electrostatics (early ribbon tweeters - quirky electronics)
Ralph Vaughn - custom build (big woofers, mids and Janzen tweeters)
Paradigm Espirit Towers (my first eBay purchase)
KEF 105/2 (the "laid back" British sound)
Mirage OMD-15 (omnipolar; very holographic and sweet)
Joseph Audio Profile (neutral, clean and clear)

lourdes's avatar
lourdes
20 posts
 

In high school started out with KLH 17 and over next 40+ years:

  • KLH 5(?)
  • double Advent
  • Bose 901
  • Klipsch
  • Maggies
  • multiple Martin Logan's
  • now Rockport Avior and I love them
orenstein
67 posts
 
I'm amazed about how many in this group have gone through a dozen or more pair of speakers.  It almost seems a bit schizophrenic.  lol  When you drop some serious coin on a world class speaker, how do you lose interest so quickly.  I've often wondered whether some people enjoy buying new speakers, or other equipment, more than actually listening to them.  I can certainly understand the thrill of acquiring a new rig, but let's not lose sight of what (hopefully) the real goal is...... enjoyment of the music itself. 

That being said, a few months ago I purchased a pair of Grandinote Mach 36's.  Presently, they are the only pair in the world.  They are supposed to be formally unveiled at the Munich High End show this spring.  If you have curiosity about them, my pair of custom made red ones may be viewed by Googling Grandinote Mach 36.  There are pics of them taken the day they were installed in my house on Long Island by Massimiliano Magri or Max, as his friends call him, the owner and chief engineer of Grandinote, who flew in from Italy to do the work himself.

I have never heard anything like them before.  The 36 drivers (hence, their name) and 25 tweeters in each speaker create an expansive soundstage with clarity and neutrality to the nth degree.  Powered by my Naim 500 Series electronics, with Danny Labrecque's Luna Cables, the music, whether it be Beatles, Beethoven, or anything else, has a vibrancy and life that makes it near impossible to turn it off, though I must admit, my wife does not always feel that way.
Anyway, these are the speakers with which I shall spend the remainder of my (hopefully, many) years!
eagleeye7
23 posts
 
The Best Speakers I have owned to date, are Anthony Gallo 3.1's, which I bought used.  Note, they are no longer in production.

They are essentially Crossover Free, utilizing the following:

1) An Electrostatic 300 Degree Dispersion Tweeter with transformer, etc.,  from 13 K upward, no crossover.

2) Two 5 inch Carbon Fiber Reinforced mid range speakers, no crossover.

3) One 10 Inch Woofer with two voice coils, no crossover

The High Frequencies are amazing with great Mid & Bass Response, Clarity & Slam. 

Bass is great down to 40 HZ or so, rated to 28 HZ with an optional amplifier on the second voice coil.

I chose to augment Bass with two Sub Woofers & an Electronic Crossover set @ 40 HZ & Down  to get base down to 20 HZ in the system.



 




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