What's the (best sounding) High Resolution Speakers You've Heard?

megasat16
megasat16 Posts: 3,521
edited November 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I am looking for a set of Ultra High Resolution, Ultra FASTTtttttttt speakers.

I have Sound Lab Huge Panels or Martin Logan ESL in mind but something from Focal JM Labs or Sonus Faber is a possibility if they are quick enough. I don't need another bright or laid back speakers please.
Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • Amherst
    Amherst Posts: 695
    edited October 2010
    Fast and Accurate and Natural = Dynaudio.

    Look at the Contour or Confidence series.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2010
    What's the (best sounding) High Resolution Speakers You've Heard?

    MMG's: $400
    Wood Frame & Xover mods: $400 plus labor
    Best sounding speakers I've heard: Priceless.

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  • LuSh
    LuSh Posts: 887
    edited October 2010
    Dynaudio's are many things...fast they are not.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited October 2010
    your not going to find what you seek in a box.

    RT1
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  • skipf
    skipf Posts: 694
    edited October 2010
    I'm pretty partial to my ALS Platinums. Haven't heard anything better for less than $10K.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited October 2010
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    your not going to find what you seek in a box.

    RT1

    Absolutely....stick with panels if you want ubber fast. Horns maybe too,for high resolution.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,448
    edited October 2010
    http://www.legacyaudio.com/

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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited October 2010
    skipf wrote: »
    I'm pretty partial to my ALS Platinums. Haven't heard anything better for less than $10K.

    x2 on any of the Carver Amazings....the ribbon panels are WAAAAY fast.

    IMO, they are the best speaker VALUE on the planet.
    TNRabbit
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited October 2010
    What makes a speaker faster or slower? Sounds like you may have to adjust the speed on your TT. :D
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited October 2010
    Ricardo wrote: »
    What's the (best sounding) High Resolution Speakers You've Heard?

    MMG's: $400
    Wood Frame & Xover mods: $400 plus labor
    Best sounding speakers I've heard: Priceless.

    I bet those ARE sweet sounding through the Pass amp. Nice. That's my "lottery" amplifier...LOL
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2010
    Steve, when you win the lottery I will personally deliver this amp to your door. Just tip me well ;)
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited October 2010
    Avantgarde horns, they are so fast they make you jump.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited October 2010
    Efficient drivers such as horns/compression drivers/efficient ribbons are better for dynamics due to less power compression losses.

    I hear the RAAL ribbon and Accuton's neo mid are the bees knees due to super low distortion and high efficiency, I hope to find out this winter.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited October 2010
    Price no object: YG Acoustic Anat II's, though you'll need the winning lotto numbers to afford them. Plus, to my ears they are so intense that I felt exhausted after my two long sessions with them.

    Reality priced, the Magnepan 1.7's at $1995 is a definite possibility.
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  • jinjuku
    jinjuku Posts: 1,523
    edited October 2010
    For high resolution it check out Linkwitz Orion +.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    your not going to find what you seek in a box.

    RT1

    What he said . . . Open . . . Baffle . . . listen outside the box.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    I love my Emerald Physics with Spatial HD. You could also try Hawthorne Audio. I made a custom Hawthorne Solo and am amazed by the Sterling Silver Driver. These Solos will be relegated to surround duty when I receive my custom Hawthorne Trio. Based on my impressions of the Solo, I'd say the Hawthorne Trio will probably sound better than the Emerald Physics CS2.3. Of course, both will benefit from the Spatial HD.

    Here's a link to my Hawthorne build: http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3527
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited October 2010
    Thanks Guys! Keep the info coming.

    I love the idea of Open Baffle and Panels. I got Carver Plats but I am at the end of the road with them. I need something faster (uber fast as Tonyb puts it) and think outside the box as RT1 put it.

    I am not ruling out Avantgarde Max pointed out. I like the speakers that makes me jump up and down with the music. Now, only if they comes without horn color, I am sure to be jumping all over them.

    Dynaudio makes superb speakers. I have never heard YG Acoustics but I will look for a demo. Emerald Phyiscs speakers look really solid too but I think I prefer more of the ribbon type like Maggie or Quad or SoundLabs or Logan.

    Orion + is what makes me wanted to DIY a pair of Mega speakers. I will see how that's going but the speakers I am looking for now is to replace my Plats.

    To recap, I think most ppl saying Panel or ESL is the fastest speakers out there.

    Face, I will get a new table. My old table is a little wacko now. :D
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited October 2010
    megasat16 wrote: »
    I am not ruling out Avantgarde Max pointed out. I like the speakers that makes me jump up and down with the music. Now, only if they comes without horn color, I am sure to be jumping all over them.

    I can't detect any horn color with the Duos. I was amazed when I first heard them. Beware of other horns though if that bothers you.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited October 2010
    If you are looking for detail and transient response it is hard to go wrong with panels. ML’s, Maggies, ET’s all would fit the criteria.
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited October 2010
    Never heard decent horns, but I love planar speakers.

    Most detailed speaker I've heard yet are Maggie Tympani's

    Those tri-panels are just AWESOME!

    MagneplanarTympaniID.jpg.w300h398.jpg
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited October 2010
    I'd look into either Quads or Maggies. I have Quads but could live with Maggies.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • Pycroft
    Pycroft Posts: 1,960
    edited October 2010
    What exactly is a fast speaker? Based on some of the comments, about being bright or laid back make me think that you're looking for something neutral, but that doesn't make sense to me - neutral = fast? Can I get a better definition please?

    Thanks,

    James
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited October 2010
    You can't go wrong with Maggies, Apogee, or ML's. These need good power to run right.

    If you want more efficient speed go Quad or Horn's with La Scala's or Klipschorn's. Best with Tubes IMHO.
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited October 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    What exactly is a fast speaker? Based on some of the comments, about being bright or laid back make me think that you're looking for something neutral, but that doesn't make sense to me - neutral = fast? Can I get a better definition please?

    Thanks,

    James

    In short, FAST speakers are the ones that can move the air faster than the most speakers. Neutral does not always mean FAST but could be FAST too.

    But FAST speakers are almost always Neutral and FAST the same time.

    FAST speakers have higher resolution due to faster movement of the cone / ribbon element / ESL materials while keeping up with the changing of direction of sinusoidol signals (aka music).

    If you get a FAST speakers that can keep up with the FAST amps, you get closer to accurate music. I don't know if that makes sense to you or not but it's my scale down version of what FAST speakers mean.

    Sensitivity / Efficiency, Speaker Size / Element size, Materials, Building Techniques and a few other factors determine how FAST a speaker can move accurately.

    I am at a point that the ribbon in my Carver reveals they are panting. The surface area of the ribbon in my Plat is not large enough for higher resolution I wanted. I found that out incidentally when I played a CD with high pitch women voice and various instruments in the passages. Well, it's just one sound so I don't mind not listening to it. It was all too perfect till I pop the CD into the CD Player in one boring day.
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited October 2010
    Fast to me means quick reaction time from the speaker. For example horns are fast. If you hook a standard subwoofer up its bass hit lags the main speakers. Pretty much the main speaker sound has come and gone before the bass sound has fully unfolded. In this case the mains are fast and the subwoofer is slow.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • Amherst
    Amherst Posts: 695
    edited October 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    What exactly is a fast speaker? Based on some of the comments, about being bright or laid back make me think that you're looking for something neutral, but that doesn't make sense to me - neutral = fast? Can I get a better definition please?

    Thanks,

    James

    I'll try and give description of what my sense tell's me when listening. Sure you will get alot of help from others on this one.

    I would use the word "accurate" or "accuracy" to better describe "fast" or the speed of a speaker. To me a faster speaker seems to reproduce more detail, trailing image and soundstage.

    A slower speaker may seem "cloudy", amongst other things. Ribbon drivers are some of the fastest availiable types due to the design and low amount of inertia. Although I personally do not necessirarily find ribbons "neutral" sounding.
    A cone type speaker must overcome the mass of the cone and voice coil (higher inertia), which slows it down.


    ^^^^Wow^^^^ Seems everyone was typing at the same time...funny.
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited October 2010
    madmax wrote: »
    I can't detect any horn color with the Duos. I was amazed when I first heard them. Beware of other horns though if that bothers you.

    I think I should be in CES next year for the Avantgarde demo room.

    I am not rich but I can imagine a pair of Trios and a Basshorn doing the voices for me.

    trioc_bild1.jpg

    basshorn_bild1.jpg
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited October 2010
    megasat16 wrote: »
    I am at a point that the ribbon in my Carver reveals they are panting. The surface area of the ribbon in my Plat is not large enough for higher resolution I wanted.

    realizing.........

    This must be the place.

    recognizing........

    Time to roll.

    RT1
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited October 2010
    megasat16 wrote: »
    I am at a point that the ribbon in my Carver reveals they are panting. The surface area of the ribbon in my Plat is not large enough for higher resolution I wanted. I found that out incidentally when I played a CD with high pitch women voice and various instruments in the passages. Well, it's just one sound so I don't mind not listening to it. It was all too perfect till I pop the CD into the CD Player in one boring day.

    Huh?

    I literally have no idea what you are talking about.

    I dont' think surface area has anything to do with it. I KNOW that the Carver ribbon is capable of resolution on par with any speaker that I can think of including ESL's and Magnepans.

    I think that my Quads are capable of being more transparent with greater high frequency air and extension (but lack the dynamics of the Carver)...but as far as resolving minute detail on the recording....I dunno about that one.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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