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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
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
Coronavirus shut-in fever... made the list from my tortuous travels :)

Mine:

Ohm C2 (from 1979)
Ohm B2
Large Advents
ADS 810
Chartwell LS3/5A
Maggie IIIa’s
Epos ES11
B&W 801
Epos ES14
Totem 1’s
ProAc Response 3
ProAc Response 2S
Thiel CS1.5
NHT Sub Zero (still have)
NHT Classic 3
Epos M22
Spendor S100
Spendor SP2/3
Spendor SP1/2E
Spendor SP2/2 (still have)
Harbeth Compact 7
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor
Sonus Faber Concerto Home
Acoustic Energy AE2 S2 (still have)
Harbeth M40.1
ATC SCM 10 Active (still have)
Quad ESL 63 (still have)
ProAc Response 3.5 (still have)
ProAc Tablette 2000 (2nd system)/Rel Q400E
ProAc Response D15 (still have)
ProAc Response 1.5 (still have)
ProAc Response D30R (mains)
various REL and a couple Velodyne subs

Most memorable, leaving aside my obvious love for ProAc’s of course, are the active ATC’s, Quad ESL’s, Spendors... extraordinary speakers...
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simao
1,830 posts
 
@jjss49 what about the ProAcs draw you to them?
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simao
1,830 posts
 
@lukaske.   How'd you hear about the Illumnia? I checked them out after reading your post and I've never seen a design like that. has anyone else had experience with these Belgian speakers?
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steve59
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Thought I pissed thru a lot of speakers, that list is impressive. Sold the ushers to help fund a pair of persona 7f’s that my salesman wouldn’t sell me! I used that money to buy a pair of DSP8000’s and shortly after the se kit. Why? Bass. Many speakers could get most of the music right but these guys are the best I’ve ever heard in my room.
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@simao

To me the ProAcs give the best combination of wonderful imaging/layering, true transparency/speed, midrange/vocal realism AND yet they are not fatiguing for long listening sessions. Other Brit speakers I have tried, while very good, are either too slow, too polite or they can be edgy if they try to be fast and super transparent.

I listen to jazz, vocals, some pop/soul - often rhythmic stuff with bass, but no headbanging stuff. The ProAcs are not rock or party speakers, but for what I listen to, they and the Quad ESL’s (requiring different placement) remain unmatched.  Some ProAcs can be a little bass light in terms of quantity (not quality) but I have also learned to integrate in good Rel subs for a very solid bottom.

Other very important factor here is I discovered long ago to mate ProAcs with Audio Research tube amps. ProAc’s are developed using ARC tube amps (among others, I am sure) and the good ARC amps really control the speakers, give very good bass response AND give utter transparency with a good dose of tube magic.


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