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
Number one problem with any answer, it depends on the environment you heard it. My first trip to the Munich hifi show I fell in love with all things Infinity. Their display was a 50 ft wall of Quantum 2 and three, QLS, Reference systems. I went to Wilson and heard Alexandria - love at first hearing! Went to Legacy to hear the Focus and sent it home to test, yes bought. I went to an audiophile home, 450 miles away to hear the Coincident and within 5 minutes that was all I needed. So much depends on where you listen. I have since added two big subs to fill in my room. Room is 38 long, 20 wide, and a ceiling going from 9 to 23 feet high. The sound is totally mesmerizing. Always remember the best test will always be your in the end. Good luck
The very best under $1k is my parameter, as I can't ever afford the very best I've ever heard, which were probably Joseph Audio Pearls.

I've found a pair of speakers to hang on to for life. Daber Audio Monitor 2's. Where shall I begin,,,

The word AMAZING comes to mind. I had been warming them up for a couple of days, just pushing low volume current through them 24/7,getting them a little broken in and getting my new Rega stuff all good and warm (Rega Brio R and Rega Apollo R)

First cut: Adele's "Rolling in the the Deep". Soundstage was first thing i noticed, how the background vox were layered behind her lead Incredible!!!

Then the bass presence: obviously not thunderous but on that particular cut the depth and resonance is there while still being ultra-tight; palpable and fantastic. Hard to believe that kind of bass can come out of a monitor so small!

I've now changed to a small EL34 tube amp and they are even better. Amazing little speaker, and I see myself having them for life.

I believe this speaker is a world beater. They're obviously not for rockers, but they are precise, realistic beyond words, and incredibly articulate. I know of no speaker under $1k that can touch the Monitor 2, and very few under $2k. WOW WOW WOW!!!!"
The best speaker, which I have heard at $50k or above, is the Vandersteen 7. The midrange was the best I have heard from a cone speaker. The runner up is the MBL 101e speaker. The tone was less transparent, but a pair has the best image and air.

The best speaker that I have heard below $50k is my own Salk SoundScape 10. To a much lesser degree, this speaker combines the strengths of both of the speakers above.

The best speaker, which I have heard below $5k, is the Philharmonic 2. This speaker has the most natural sound of any speaker that I have heard, but it doesn’t have a totally dead cabinet like the others do. Also, it is not as commanding a speaker as the more expensive ones.

As you can tell I like a natural transparent speaker rather than a warm speaker.

Bob
For me it would have to be the Magnepan MG20. I have always been a big Maggie fan. I love the deep low end but also the wide open sound stage typical of a planer speaker. Since the sound of a speaker is subjective to individual taste that is the one that does it for me. That is the best of the best.