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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
baranyi's avatar
baranyi
719 posts
 
Hamr,
         I am glad to hear that Shahinian is still around after the passing of the father.  I have had the Obelisk and the Diapason in the past and still think about getting them again sometime.
Do you know if they will be introducing new products or just continue on with the current line up? Your list of speakers in your past is very impressive. I have a number of them including the Apogee Scintillas, Quad ESL, Acoustats, Tympani etc. What do you power the Diapasons with?  I remember Richard used to talk about the Bedini and then the older Plinius Sa 100. Most of their sales recently seemed to go away from North America (maybe most of the high end shares this.)
All the best,
Bob
baranyi's avatar
baranyi
719 posts
 
My previous post should have said that I have had in the past a number of the same speakers.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Never heard of Shahinian, so did a quick search. Holt and Atkinson totally butchered them in Stereophile. Holt did insist they sounded good when he heard them at shows. But couldn't stand them at home in their systems. And not for lack of trying either. 

Gordon says above that he knows these speakers can sound much better than they did in his home. I'm not so sure. Despite their clean sonic quality, I think their tonal balance is idiosyncratic enough that playing around with room placement and ancillary equipment just won't make a difference large enough for them to merit a recommendation.
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/shahinian-diapason-loudspeaker-system-ja-takes-listen#TqrthcOUZh...

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hamr OP
57 posts
 
Bob: I  drive them with a pair of Mcintosh 501's and they work great together. They really are the best all around speaker that I have had and not just on large scale classical as I listen to a wide variety of music. I also have the Obelisk 2 and the ARC 2 which I enjoy and could live with, but the Diapasons are in another league. As for the Stereophile review who knows? I don't know what went wrong there and I do know that the latest Diapason modules contain different drivers. I would be guessing as to what went wrong. All I can say is they are fantasic here!

bsimpson
167 posts
 
There is no de facto 'BEST' speakers, but I could share the top 3 speakers that I hold onto the longest:

Kharma CRM 3.2 FE <still owning>
Wilson 3/2 (upgraded drivers and crossovers) <still owning>
Vienna Acoustics Mahler

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