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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
enzo618
30 posts
 
Rockport Arrakis in a purposely built and tuned room mated with all Gryphon electronics (Mirage and Colosseum) is the best setup I've ever heard. I just can't imagine anything better, only different. The Clearaudio Statement turntable might have helped too.
mogysux
1 posts
 
tidal sunray
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Or the Tidal Contriva Discera SEs. There is no question in my mind. I was convinced that all speakers were compromises somewhere. I now realize I was wrong. I only wish that I had them for the previous 45 years of my audiophile life.
enzo618
30 posts
 
I do not believe the Sunray is better than the Arrakis. I listened to Sunrays in Hong Kong. However the room wasn't as good as the room the Arrakis was in. Also IMO there is no question that the cabinet construction and overall build quality is better with the Arrakis.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
I have not heard a broken in Sunray and have only heard the Arrakis once at a show, but I have heard the Tidal Contriva Discera SE under comparable circumstances and have always been shocked at their fidelity to the instruments and voices in the recording as well as the realism of the sound stage. I have never heard any other speaker do this.

I now have about 400 hours on my Contrivas and realize how much better they sound here rather than in the shows. Frankly, I don't think any speaker even approaches them. Until these I thought that I had to accept that all speakers were compromises and that you had to choose where you wanted the compromise. I now know that is not true.
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