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"The Ultra High-End Speaker."

My entire relatively simple high end audio system retails for approx. $70,000, with my speakers alone retailing for approx. $24,000 (Revel Salon 2 speakers).  I've been around high-end audio for over 40 years.  I attend audio shows and visit local and non-local high-end audio shops on a regular basis.  I get to hears a lot of high-end audio speakers and gear all the time.  That said, I honestly believe, along with others who've visited my home and have listened to my system, that my system (speakers) produce that ultra high-end, reference quality sound.  Others would suggest that, when it comes to speakers, that the "Ultra High-End" sound can only be achieved by megabuck speakers costing 50K, 100K, 250k and beyond.  I do not believe that ultra high-end ("Sound Quality") is excusive to those speakers costing a king's ransom.  And, I think my own system is am example of what can be achieved at a lower (not for most people) price point.  I absolutely believe in the law of diminishing returns, especially when it comes to high-end speakers.  What's your definition, idea of, what you consider to be, a "Ultra High-End Speaker, and at what price point does the ultra high-end start?????            

kennymacc
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,632 posts
 

Kenmy good for you a well matched and tuned system will work wonders I too have heard extremely expensive systems that didn’t sound magical

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,917 posts
 

High end SOUND not high end gear begins when any speakers at any price is well embed mechanically, electrically and acoustically ( and i dont spoke about mere room acoustic here ) ...

Ultra high end sound ask for very ultra costly gear for sure ...

There is a difference in cost between a minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold and the higher acoustical optimal threshold possible ...

My point is : it is acoustic science not the gear price tag who define the conditions for the winner ...

My point is two subjective/objective thresholds in the law of diminishing returns are DETERMINED more by acoustics knowledge in the design and in the subjective acoustic experience than by the mere price tag ... Sorry for some of those who own one million bucks system , it is not a warranty for owning a ULTRA high end sound because the gear component cost such and such, it is way not enough ...

Then i will not speak mostly as the OP about the ultra high end speakers choices because this is less meaningful than speaking about this specific system/room or this other specific system/room with or without the BACCH filters for example correcting any faulty stereo system nevermind his price ...

Psycho-acoustics rule the show not the speakers price choices linearly ordered ...

My two cents ...

 

 
 

 

 

erik_squires
15,880 posts
 

I've gotten to a point in my life when I no longer care about "best" if I can't actually live with it in my living room space. 

For me, I go with large dynamic range, laid back, low distortion in small packages. I know the dynamic range plus laid back seems like a weird combination. For commercial brands I like Monitor Audio a great deal, with some appreciation for the modern Wilsons, and Magicos. With the right amps I might see myself enjoying some Klipsch Heresy’s as well.

It’s hard to separate the room from the speakers though. The best high commercial speakers I could fit in my living room may be far smaller than the most expensive. As such there’s a lot of very large speakers I would not realistically consider. Perhaps the largest commercial speaker I’d consider in my home is the Arion Apollo. Always had a soft spot in my heart for line sources and AMT drivers.

czarivey
5,741 posts
 

For me no speaker is ultra- high-end unless it's a headphone. There you have a lot more possibilities to get as close as possible to the raw natural sound.

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