what is the best super speaker and why?

kirk930: IMO, none on your list are as sonically satisfying as the avalon eidolons, which are under $21k (standard finishes-msrp). the most overpriced speakers in your group are the jm labs utopias. i have it on very good authority that the utopias were priced at the $30k level to attract a demographically-identified group of audio snobs who felt it necessary to raise the highend speaker entry bar to that level; according to my authorities, jm labs would still make a substantial profit were the utopias sold for $15k. FWIW, i have listened to all the speakers on your list. -cfb

I read somewhere that the burl finish on the avalon eidolons sounds the best :)

I would put my actively bi-amped, Krell driven, B&W800's up against any of these speakers. A few years back, Krell used them to introduce their FPB line. Dan D'Agostino chose them over the Wilson X-1's (which he also owned). He had called the bi-amped 800's "the best speaker on the planet."
At the original price of only $15K, it was a steal. On the used marked, it shouldn't be passed up if one can afford the amplification and crossover.

Richard

never heard sound lab speakers but I second the eidolons.
Tim

I wont make a claim about the worlds best but I will offer food for thought.On a piece of paper draw a cutaway of the drivers in the critical mid and high section of a speaker.Notice the dramatic differences in the way the dispersion occures away from the drive units.Convex from the tweeter,concave from the midrange.One driver mounted above or below the other presenting furthur problems.Now view the new Piega concentric driver from a cutaway.Tweeter contained in the center of the midrange.Time alingnment,dispersion patterns,coherency all in perfect sinc.As these seem to be the most difficult problems to conquer it easy to see why this should be best.Also we are using the same material to generate the most important bands.Just food for thought.