The best speaker you ever heard?


In my opinion, the speaker is by far the most important part of the audio system. After all, it is the only part you hear. OK, the other stuff really matters a lot, but without a great speaker... No go.

I am a bit 'speaker-obsessed' I guess, and now I am wondering: What are the best speakers you have ever heard, and what made them the best?
njonker
I heard the MBL 101e at THE show in LA and thought them one of the best for sure, although they benefited from crazy expensive electronics. Two other speakers at the show that stood out were ESP Concert Grand and Rockport Mira.
For under $10,000 the Reference 3a grand veena or any of the Reference 3a loudspeakers have a excellent midrange
for they use a very simple Xover and it shows in it's purity. The NSR Sonic D-3 is on par and a better balanced loudspeaker all around,please remember as good as the accolades at the show were they were just prototypes .The current production models are some 15-20% more refined ,and if you get the Reference Xover with either the Mundorf,or Duelund capacitors it gets even better.
Give them a long listen with any type of music then make a comment or decision.
ATC Active 150 anniversary. Bandwidth, detail, accuracy, dynamics and sheer effortlessness.
In my dedicated (so to speak) room, listening to classical and jazz music, by FAR, the Silverline Boleros.

The difference these speakers have made is profound. Now I know why some people become evangelistic about some audio stuff and say how the thingies allow them to relax and let the music flow. All of that and I don't feel I'm giving up anything important to audiophilia.

Detail/resolution in spades yet no brightness, just liquidity. Great balance. Its been interesting hearing a lot of old electronics, etc, which no longer have their potential inhibited by speakers. I've found a few very plesant surprises amoungst them. Time to sell all of my other speaker sets, save a back up set. :-)