What is the Best Sounding Stand Mount Speaker in the world?

Really like the PMC IB2se- but range goes up to MB5se (hard to call them stand mount though)

Borresen 01. I’ve heard them fill medium to large sized rooms without a sub, and their openness and tonal balance are worth drooling over. 

“Best sounding standmount speaker” is an undefined and highly variable bespoke value judgement, so I will post it in two different ways:

(1) Best I’ve auditioned at length AND thus purchased and currently own

TOP CHOICE : HARBETH 30.2XD on TonTraeger speaker stands ( because of their thin wall cabinet build that permits this BBC monitor derivative to resonate like a grand piano or violin soundboard )

- derived from the BBC’s LS5/9 design, - my personal experiences mirror the following review excerpt:

” …. Used on 24"-tall stands from TonTräger Audio ($1495/pair), the Harbeths delighted HR with easy-flowing music, vivid colors and textures, "unshakable clarity," and stereo images that were "tangibly there." Herb’s verdict: "the most tuneful, accurate, neutral, fun, and music-loving stand-mounted two-way speaker I’ve I’ve heard.""

CONTENDER: HARBETH 40.2 XD . These were key contenders but my room size, and acoustics were primary drivers to consider the 30.2’s. Surprisingly , the latter is the “sweet spot” in their model offerings, so they were the “Best Buy Option’ for me.

(2) Excluded “Best ,,,,” but strictly only a whimsical option.

There are several “ fantasy wish-list” options composed of Uber-expensive, interesting and engaging standmount speakers I’ve auditioned at audio expos that I will never be able to afford.

They were setup with $500,000+ electronics and graced with ka-Ching NORDOST ODIN cables that sounded fabulous but an impossibility for most of us … thus a pass on this post .

What qualifies as a stand mounted speaker?  I noticed someone mentioning the Harbeth 40.2 XD.  It is a box on a stand, but, it is a big box on a stand and is meant to be treated as a big speaker--placed in big room, well away from the walls.

My local dealer, Deja Vu Audio in Northern Virginia makes custom speakers, including a stand mounted speaker that looks very much like a 40.2 Harbeth on steroids--similar proportions.  The drivers include an 18" woofer and Western Electric horn and compression drivers that now cost well north of $20k just for the drivers, and a Fostex tweeter.  The crossover includes some scary expensive Audio Note capacitors.  This is one of the better stand mounted speakers I've heard, that is, if it qualifies.

Very, very subjective.

I am going to say the ones you are listening to now.