The best speaker you ever heard?

Probably the most startlingly realistic sound I've ever encountered was the Overkill loudspeaker at T.H.E a few years back. I've heard tremendous horn systems (in homes) tweaked to the hilt, effortless, clear, powerful etc but never in 30 years have I heard what felt and sounded like a live event like this. Even at great volumes the smoothness, coherence, and sound-staging were locked and breathtakingly free of cabinets AND THE ROOM. Not even MBL on their best day or the likes Wilsons or the big glass 8's were even close. Don't mean to bash but what that Manger driver and awesome bass cabinet were doing with DEQX was a game changer for me.

08-10-14: After_hrs
Probably the most startlingly realistic sound I've ever encountered was the Overkill loudspeaker at T.H.E a few years back. I've heard tremendous horn systems (in homes) tweaked to the hilt, effortless, clear, powerful etc but never in 30 years have I heard what felt and sounded like a live event like this.

Its a shame they appear to have gone out of business. After reading through the reviews, it was indeed a balls-to-the-wall design.

As an addition to my last post the associated amplifier being used to drive the Overkill loudspeakers was also by Overkill.

Reading through a few posts on this thread I noticed very few respondents mention the associated amplifier being used to drive the speakers that left such an impression. Perhaps, to the best of their recollection, past and subsequent posters can include this very valuable association to the experience. The reason being several of the loudspeakers mentioned I have also heard and, at the time sounded not so special. I heard the Focal Grand Utopia's powered with class A rated Spectral mono's at a dealership in Santa Barbara that sounded (for me) awful; shrill and painful. Yet with the right amp and associated gear the FGU's can sound exceptional. Electrical synergy that translates to emotional and component harmony is key. As we all know a speaker is only as good as what the amplifier is doing for it primarily and what the room is doing additionally.

After hrs,
You make a good point. Of course source, pre and cables are important variables as well, along with room acoustics.

Completely agree. The way I look at it, most folks choice here was heard at a store or maybe a friends house. To me, that's on the person showing them. Audio is still all about a system and not just a component. I've heard the same speaker sound awesome at one place and like crap elsewhere. Yes, everything in the system matters greatly. Too many don't listen to cables or even amps.