What's the best speaker you have heard?

245

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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited January 2010
    For me it would have to be Reeltrouble1s current rabbit hole rig; Sound Lab Millienium ELSs powered by Wolcott Prescence Monoblocks. You wanna talk about soundstage........
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited January 2010
    Boston Acoustic,,,,,,real good in the upper mid range,but my polks 1.2 will blow them out of the water with it's bass.
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited January 2010
    Dawgfish wrote: »
    For me it would have to be Reeltrouble1s current rabbit hole rig; Sound Lab Millienium ELSs powered by Wolcott Prescence Monoblocks. You wanna talk about soundstage........

    That's a great system,I heard it with my own ears.......I wish I had those speaker cables and interconnect cables,,,,all MIT BABY,"Shot gunnnnnnn",shoot him before he run now... That was a song guys,remember Junior walker and the all stars?.........
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited January 2010
    I've heard a number of speakers I really liked.

    I've only heard a few CP member rigs, but really liked George Grand's Carver Platinums (George - the AR9 was really nice too, but I preferred the Plats) and Lasareath's 1.2TLs. My brother has a nice rig that features Maggie 1.6QRs that I like a lot too.

    However, the best I've heard were Von Schweikerts - I think VR4Jr on an Audible Illusion preamp (I think the amp was an ARC tube amp). Every time I listen to my rig, which I think is sounding pretty nice, I always hear the gap in SQ and want to make it better.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited January 2010
    Jerry's (Atlanta) Vandersteens.......smooooooth and open.
    Of course I was a little tipsy at time.:o
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  • dave shepard
    dave shepard Posts: 1,334
    edited January 2010
    That's alittle hard, for music it would be the Klipch Ref (20k a pair) with Mac power. For movie it would be Triad Plat. with Mac.

    Dave
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited January 2010
    Wilson Audio WattPuppies (Series 8).

    wilson-watt-puppy-8-special-wow.jpg

    I find their looks rather ugly - but damn do they sound good.

    I have heard them on 3 completely different rigs and they have sounded awesome every time. Also heard the Wilson Maxx speakers at the same time and preferred the sound of the Watt Puppies.....

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited January 2010
    Over all my years in the business I have heard all the greats our Industry has to offer. I have a few actually , memories of being moved to the point of no return.

    1) B&W N801's .
    2) Dynaudio C4's
    3) Dynaudio Contour 1.8's.

    Not in that order but those speakers have moved me. There are many good offerings out there.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited January 2010
    McLoki wrote: »
    Wilson Audio WattPuppies (Series 8).

    wilson-watt-puppy-8-special-wow.jpg

    I find their looks rather ugly - but damn do they sound good.

    They do have a very strong resemblance to trash cans. For that reason alone, I would not have them in any of my systems no matter how glorious they sounded.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited January 2010
    mantis wrote: »
    Over all my years in the business I have heard all the greats our Industry has to offer. I have a few actually , memories of being moved to the point of no return.

    1) B&W N801's .
    2) Dynaudio C4's
    3) Dynaudio Contour 1.8's.

    Not in that order but those speakers have moved me. There are many good offerings out there.

    Have you heard the Dynaudio Evidence Temptations? If so, what did you think of them?
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • mini-me
    mini-me Posts: 70
    edited January 2010
    The best I heard is Polk Speakers in the dealer show-room. Saying some other brands are better than Polk, makes me wondering aren't you all Polkies?
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited January 2010
    DarqueKnight wrote: »
    Have you heard the Dynaudio Evidence Temptations? If so, what did you think of them?

    Absolutely I have Installed them as well as the Masters many times. Unbelievable how real they sound. It's like you can smell the instruments.

    They kinda suck to Install they are freaking heavy and come in wooden crates.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited January 2010
    mini-me wrote: »
    The best I heard is Polk Speakers in the dealer show-room. Saying some other brands are better than Polk, makes me wondering aren't you all Polkies?

    Being a polkie doesn't mean they are the best. Polk is that company that most of us got started in the Audiophile path. They are a special company to me and I will always have polks somewhere in my house. I don't use them as main speakers anymore but all of my In ceiling , in wall and outdoors are all polks.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2010
    DarqueKnight wrote: »
    They do have a very strong resemblance to trash cans. For that reason alone, I would not have them in any of my systems no matter how glorious they sounded.
    Are these any better? :D
    signaturediamond12l2w81.jpg
    "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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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited January 2010
    probably these

    http://www.hqspeakers.com/avalon-acoustics-sentinel/
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2010
    Wilson Audio Watt Puppys with all Audio Research Reference series equipment including 600wpc tube monos...
    Jake
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited January 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Are these any better? :D
    signaturediamond12l2w81.jpg

    Well, they are better at looking like trash cans since they have the little cut out at the bottom for a pedal to raise the lid and there is a convenient carrying handle on top.:)
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • mini-me
    mini-me Posts: 70
    edited January 2010
    mantis wrote: »
    Being a polkie doesn't mean they are the best. Polk is that company that most of us got started in the Audiophile path. They are a special company to me and I will always have polks somewhere in my house. I don't use them as main speakers anymore but all of my In ceiling , in wall and outdoors are all polks.

    Since the day I fell in love with Polk Speakers, I pledge my life long commitment to them no matter what is better or how much better.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2010
    Joseph Audio Pearl on Joule Electra 'Rite of Passage' monoblocks, using TOTL Esoteric transport and DAC.

    Wilson Watt's couldn't have underwhelmed me more, F that speaker.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,420
    edited January 2010
    Any chance it might be the next gen SDA's or LSi's and you just don't want to say anything Doro?
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    mini-me wrote: »
    The best I heard is Polk Speakers in the dealer show-room. Saying some other brands are better than Polk, makes me wondering aren't you all Polkies?

    Yes we are and very honest!

    Hyperions on an all tube Granite audio rig. However I still love the sound of the SDA/SRS 2.3 TLs and the 1.2TLs.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2010
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Any chance it might be the next gen SDA's or LSi's and you just don't want to say anything Doro?

    Ahhh....the tales I could tell but can't. :D
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited January 2010
    To those who have heard B&W 801's, is there a type of music that they excel at? Can you tell me what kind of performance they give (bass, dynamics, mids, etc)? I can't find any to demo.

    Many years ago, a friend of mine had a pair of B&W towers (can't remember model#) and they sounded fantastic. A little bright but I blame that on the Adcom amps he was running. But I was super impressed everytime I heard them.

    I can't afford 801's but would like to try some of the more affordable Beemers in the future.
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited January 2010
    The best i have heard were RM 40's with a pair of highly modded Response Audio 200 wpc ASL Hurricane tube monos on the tweets and mids and a pair of Edge electronics SS amps on the Bottom and SS pro amps on the larger subwoofers.
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited January 2010
    organ wrote: »
    To those who have heard B&W 801's, is there a type of music that they excel at? Can you tell me what kind of performance they give (bass, dynamics, mids, etc)? I can't find any to demo.

    Many years ago, a friend of mine had a pair of B&W towers (can't remember model#) and they sounded fantastic. A little bright but I blame that on the Adcom amps he was running. But I was super impressed everytime I heard them.

    I can't afford 801's but would like to try some of the more affordable Beemers in the future.

    They excel at Jazz , female voice , acoustic anything , The realism of this speaker is in my opinion the best B&W has ever made. They took the 800 and improved on the design of the N801 but the N801 is still my very favorite all time B&W speaker. If you can find a pair used and can house them , go for it. I would.

    They tend to get alittle ruff when playing fast metal type music. That music isn't recorded well and the N801's tell you how bad it is. Kinda sucks if you like that kind of music. No forgiveness. Bass response is powerful and hits you in the chest. The 15 inch woofer responds like a 8 inch. It's very fast like a Servo controlled woofer would be.

    One day if I can have a dedicated 2 channel room , I would love to own them.

    Other B&W models I like thats more in the affordable range is the CM line. Dude they are unbelievable. I can't say enough about them. The CM7's and Cm9's are simply incredible. You have to hear them to believe how damn good they are. Every time I hear either pair I wonder to myself why I don't own them. They are that good. I heard them on Rotel gear and I just wanted to bring them home on the spot and I wasn't shopping for speakers at those times.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • jaxwired
    jaxwired Posts: 201
    edited January 2010
    mantis wrote: »
    Other B&W models I like thats more in the affordable range is the CM line. Dude they are unbelievable. I can't say enough about them. The CM7's and Cm9's are simply incredible. You have to hear them to believe how damn good they are. Every time I hear either pair I wonder to myself why I don't own them. They are that good. I heard them on Rotel gear and I just wanted to bring them home on the spot and I wasn't shopping for speakers at those times.

    Agreed. I owned the CM7 for a little over a year and they really are fantastic value for money. With the right electronics they sound like a million bucks. The CM9 is even better. Not because of the bigger cabinet and extra bass driver, but because the mids are the tiniest bit cleaner. The CMs produce a very high end hifi sound.

    Don't think I can pick a single best speaker I've ever heard, but some of the speakers that have blown me away include the classic KEF Reference 104/2, Klipschhorns, Monitor Audio PL300. I've heard the B&W 800 series present and past models numerous times and I've never been blown away by those.
    2 Channel
    NAD C545 -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Bryston BP6 -> Bryston 4B SST2 -> Dynaudio Contour S1.4
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited January 2010
    This company is right down the road from me. They just finished a set of these for a customer as these are custom built. The sound was unlike anything I have ever heard, so detailed and precise. Sound-stage was huge, and so was the price tag, these particular ones went for around $85,000.

    Attachment not found.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    This company is right down the road from me. They just finished a set of these for a customer as these are custom built. The sound was unlike anything I have ever heard, so detailed and precise. Sound-stage was huge, and so was the price tag, these particular ones went for around $85,000.

    Attachment not found.

    They may sound great but they sure are fugly. Place an arm on each side and you have a robot!:eek:
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  • dagame27
    dagame27 Posts: 574
    edited January 2010
    organ wrote: »
    To those who have heard B&W 801's, is there a type of music that they excel at? Can you tell me what kind of performance they give (bass, dynamics, mids, etc)? I can't find any to demo.

    Many years ago, a friend of mine had a pair of B&W towers (can't remember model#) and they sounded fantastic. A little bright but I blame that on the Adcom amps he was running. But I was super impressed everytime I heard them.

    I can't afford 801's but would like to try some of the more affordable Beemers in the future.

    My neighbor used to have the 801's. I recall jazz music an female vocals sounding particularly good. He has since upgraded to the 800's, which sound great from the limited time I have spent over there. He did make a point of mentioning that my SRS 2's have more bass:D
    ChrisPreamp: Anthem Pre 2L (Jan-Phillips Green) Processor: Marantz SR7012 Amp: B&K 200.5Streaming: Bluesound Node 2IDAC: Eastern Electric Minimax Plus4K Bluray: Panasonic UB820Mains: Von Schweikert VR2Center: Von Schweikert LCR15 Subs: 2 SVS Sb13 Ultra (HT Only) Analysis Plus Cables
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    B&W 800Ds
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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