The best speaker you ever heard?

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.

The best speaker I ever heard? Well, there was this motivational speaker that made my jaw drop!

Magneplanar MG-20.1, Apogee Studio Grand (unfortunately out of production), Wisdom Audio L-75, MBL 101-Xtreme, German Physiks PQ-402. and then there is the Genesis G-1.1 ! The Genesis is the only system what comes close to real live music. i don't know any speaker with conventional dynamic drivers who can reproduce a realistic soundstage. i'm curious about analysis audio and i really want to hear the gryphon audio pendragon some day. but there's no better place than a classic concert hall or a church with a organ :-)

There are plenty of dynamic driver speakers that deliver realistic soundstage. I personally haven't heard too many ribbons or panels that I can handle the elevated highs on. Again, personal tastes. I have Vandy's that crush the soundstage even better than my older Proacs have done. Large when it was recorded that way and very real. Have you ever heard the Vandy 7's? If not, you should give them a listen as they are some of the best sounds I've heard and I have heard tons of the larger speakers on the market and have for many years now. The Vandy's have sounded better for me than the Rockports I've heard too. Different speakers for different ears.