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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
normansizemore
601 posts
 
Boy, great question. I really like the B&W 801's, but I remember years ago listening to some huge McIntosh speaker set up. I mean, huge. Six foot midrange / tweeter panels per side and separate subwoofers for each channel. It was incredibly smooth, defined, and spacious sounding. Bottom end like I have never experienced before. Anyone know the speakers I am trying to describe here?

I also remembering being in love with a set of Apogee Scintilla's. Oh, and EPI 1000's were pretty nice too. This is really a tough question. Martin Logans, Maggies, Quad ESL 63s', so many to choose from.... so little time... Sonus Faber... makes a line of incredibly good albeit expensive systems. Beautiful finish.

Oh, and the Wilson WAMM.... breathtaking speaker... Hmmm could go on and on.

ruxtonvet
7 posts
 
Double KLH Model 9's
Large Nolas at Lyric
Large IRS at lyric
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,976 posts
 
How about the best full range driver loudspeaker. And for me its been new SEAS exotic. Can produce HI-SPL can run on low power can be used near field or in large space, bass is strong detailed non resonate since driver does best in AS cabinets. No port noise, no BLH colorations, pretty cool. Point source, phase and time correct, sounds great off axis, even better in sweet spot but still images when one sits far off axis. Trebles clean detailed never heard such out of any full range. Plus the detailed real sounding mid range. If I watch TV with the SEAS my dogs bark at every door knock, door bell, horn honk,car or truck noise etc. They are only fooled by the SEAS and my massive front horns other loudspeakers I use dont triger this. Since sound is real sounding to even a dogs ears SEAS exotic must be doing something right.
mjcmt's avatar
mjcmt
711 posts
 
B&W Nautilus
texas42
98 posts
 
Wow, so many speakers, so little time. I heard thousands and owned hundreds so it is difficult to compare them all as the room, setup, components, and source material were all different. Add to that I have changed in my listening tastes and even hearing changes as you age. Having said that, right now I have a pair of Dunlavy C-IVs that sound incredible as well as a pair of little known Digital Phase AP-4s which might be even better. A friend came over today and we A/B'd them for a bit and both felt te AP-4s were a bit more accurate and dynamic. The SC-IVs though have a certain musical quality in the sweet spot that is very seductive just 'right'. Longer term listenng to both will definately be required as space constraints dictate I only keep one. I have to concede though; the journey can be as enjoyable as the destination at times...
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