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What's your speaker IQ, and the best speaker?

Please forgive the fact that this is a direct overlap of the popular "The best speaker you ever heard?" thread. However as much as I love the original thread, far too many of the respondents do not list what other speakers they have auditioned, severely limiting the value of that particular answer. For example if you say, "The Dunlavy SC-V are the best speaker bar none" and all you ever heard before that are whatever was at Best Buy, it is hard to give that opinion a lot of weight. But if you say, "The Dunlavy SC-V are the best speaker bar none" and I've listened to Von Schwiekert VR-11s, Avalon Eidolon Diamonds, and the entire Wilson line .. well then NOW you're saying something.

So in my perfect world, the posts would go something like: "Krix Equinox, Rogers Studio 1a, Quad 12L, Quad ESL989, ATC SCM 20SL, Kef C40s, most of the Thiel line, but I have to say far and away the best speaker I've ever hear is ..."

Forgive me again, but I guess this also overlaps the popular "Personal speaker evolution" thread! However if this topic takes on any traction, I think it can be a perfect marriage of the other two threads and very valuable resource.

Try to answer by listing the speakers first, so that when the answers post they will be seen in the 1st line of the post and anyone browsing the thread can then click on those answers that mention speakers that he/she is interested in.

This could be fun, thanks!
studioray
drseid
201 posts
 
A partial list (most recent) is:

Legacy Audio Studios,*Whispers
Dali *Megalines, Euphonia MS5s, *Helicon 800s
McIntosh *XT-28s, 30s
Von Schweikert VR4SRs, *VR4JRs, *DB99s, *VR-11s
*Tyler Acoustics Taylo Ref. Monitors, Linbrook Signature Monitors, *Linbrook Signature System (models I and II), Super Towers, *Woodmeres
*Salk Sound Veracity HT-3
Martin Logans (cant remember the model name, but it was the second to the top of the line)
Audio Note E/SPEs
*Spendor SP3/1s
*Ayon Butterflies
*Acoustic Zen Adagios
*Merlin VSM MXs
...etc the list goes on and on...

My favorites at any price that I can remember from the above list are the Von Schweikert VR-11s. I placed an * next to speakers that impressed me at their various price points.
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,219 posts
 
Speakers I have owned over the past 10 years.

DCM TF-350
Klipsch KG 3.5
Def. Tech BP 2000
Von Schweikert VR4 Silver
Magnepan 1.6 (modified xovers)
Meadowlark HR Shearwater
ACI Jaguar
Montana SP2 Signature
Usher X-929
Bob Brines FTA-2000
Reimer McCulloughs/Onix Rocket UFW-10
Alon Lotus Esprit
Roman Audio Centurion
Von Schweikert VR2
Silverline Sonata II
Magnepan 3.5r

As you can see, I have been all over the map. I have ended up with the Montana SPX loudspeakers and they seem to push all of my hot buttons. But my nature is to keep moving on, so you never know.

Oz
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,924 posts
 
I just picked up a pair of Guarneri Hommage's, which IMHO are the best speaker I have ever heard for what they do. No real bottom end but everything else is magical, especially in my small room.
Prior to buying these, I listened to B& W 802D's, Maggies( 20.1's), Quad's ( 988 and 989's), Kharma's ( 1.1's), Spendor's.. cannot remember which one's ( I think 8's), AvantGuarde and several others that I cannot remember. The G's replaced my Hales Sytem 2 Sig's, which were a great speaker for their time. Prior to that I owned Acoustat 3's that were well modded and Maggie 1c's.
Have not heard the Magico mini's, but that is probably the only speaker in my small room that would compete with the G's.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
quad esl 57, quad 63, quad 989, the lastest quad
magnepan 1.6, mg 2.7, mg 3.0, mg 20, mg 20.1
eminent technology 3s, 8s, 12s, 9s
sound lab a2s, b1s, + others whose model numbers i have forgotten
martin logan cls, cls2, cls2z, sequel, sequel 2, sl3, quest, request, monolith, odyssey, aeon + others
klh 9s, accoustats--several models
accoustech, crown and koss electrostatitcs
apogee, scintilla, caliper, duetta, duetta signature + others
vmps--various models
von schwiekerts--various models including top of the line
vandersteens, 1s, 2, 2c,2ce, 4,5
proac, response 2, response 3 + others

i have heard so many speakers, i have forget the model numbers.

the best speker is the quad esl 57.

sorry i could not specify all of them. i could list many more. i prefer panels but i have heard many "cone" designs .
Ag insider logo xs@2x
dlanselm
111 posts
 
I have owned or did extensive auditions with these speakers they are just my OPINIONS.

Speakers: The Top 4 are Worlds Better then the bottom 6!!!!!
(All speakers were evulated with the EXACT same componets cables, and turntable, EXCEPT the VR-9's which were evulated wiht the owners own equipment.

1. MBL 111e or 101e Closest to live music I have ever heard. Don't know how they sound in a "real world room". (The best without regard to cost, very expensive $27,000 and $47,000, and requires big dollar amps.) Some say they image to diffuse, but so does live music. Can't fault a speaker for being like the real thing. I think most speakers over image unnaturally.

2. ATC Anniversary 50's (Best "real world speaker". Doest not require $30,000 worth of amps. Awesome tone. BEST midrage of all speakers. (Best Vaule for what you get.)

3. Von Schweikert VR-9
Gives up midrage tone to the above two, bust adds thunderous bass, and ultimate high frequency response.

4. Goldmund Active Speakers. $33,000 (Very nice but, for price should go deeper.)

5. Rockport (The $30,000 ones, don't know exact model)
6. Martin Logan Summits (Good Value at $10,000)
7. Kharma 3.2 Fe (At this price point $20,000 in my opinion you should get more bass.)
8. Wilson Benesh (Overpriced for what you get at $26,000)
9. Maggie 20.1 (Great tone, and even great bass, but images larger than life, think 8 feet around vocals.
10. Vandersteen 5A. (To dark for my taste)
11. B & W 802 D (To much like good HI-FI, not like good
music.
12. Wilson 7.1's (Explosive dynamics, very average midrage tone. Only good for home theater,IMO. (Worst value of all)
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