The best speaker out there

[Gbiz]

As I was out looking online for speakers for the first time I was shocked at just how expensive some of them get. Seriously, if you guys had this kind of money would you spend it on a set of speakers. I'd like to know what you guys think is the very best set of speakers and how much do they cost? And of course why are they worth that much? :)

[rikmeister]

question of money but of rather what your ears perceive. that is my opinion.

[abboudc]

If money was no object, i'd probably go with the Krell LAT series.

On a realistic budget (<$15k), i'd go with multiple M&K S-150PK's.

[furrycute]

Infinity once made a model where each speaker had a line array, a powered subwoofer section (each incorporating 10 or so 12inch woofers). You literally had to use a truck to tow these speakers. And you have to have reinforced concrete floor in your living room for these speakers.

Genesis followed up on that concept, I think they made a model that was even larger.


Man, I wish I had the cash for those speakers.:D

[jaxvon]

Are you talking about these?

http://www.exoticaudio.org/page37/mydadssystem.jpg

[Buckle-meister]

Are you talking about these?

Hey! Stop taking pictures of the back of my head! :eek:

Seriously, if I had the cash, I'd probably get B&W's flagship Nautilus speakers. Naturally I've never heard them, so I'm basing my choice on looks alone; I think they are simply stunning speakers, and they look the most natural shape for their function I have ever seen.

Regards

[furrycute]

Are you talking about these?



YES! Is that you in the picture? If you have that setup, then you are my HERO!!!!!!!!:D

[furrycute]

Here's the link to the Genesis website, click on Genesis 1.1

http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/

http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/images/prd_1p1Large.jpg

[jaxvon]

YES! Is that you in the picture? If you have that setup, then you are my HERO!!!!!!!!:D

I wish! I'll post pictures of my setup at some point, and it's nowhere near that :(

I got the pic from here: www.exoticaudio.org

There are some really great rooms there, such as the one featured on pg. 40. Wilson Alexandrias, room treatment, Rockport Technology Sirius III, etc.

[furrycute]

When I have money, I'll definitely splurge some serious money on a pair of Genesis 1.1's, and a pair of those Mark Levinson monoblocks pictured in that picture.

Man, can you imagine the kind of sound pressure coming from all those 12inch woofers? Who needs a sub when you have twelve 12inch woofers!?:eek:

[jaxvon]

I'd like to audition these as well. The high-frequency drivers seem very interesting:

http://german-physiks.com/Bilder/Gaudi/GaudiTitel.jpg

[Buckeyefan 1]

Statement E2...if I had the room.

[mfabien]

http://www.exoticaudio.org/39Alexandria1.jpg

Exactly like in my dreams! But I would like to see their HT room.

[Xsound]

best speakers around. One of their vintage models (maybe the 53?) has consistently received reviews that place it at the top of the heap. No dealers near me, so I haven't heard them, but would love to give them an audition.

X

[majorloser]

If money was no object, i'd probably go with the Krell LAT series.

On a realistic budget (<$15k), i'd go with multiple M&K S-150PK's.

If money was truly no object you should get the whole Krell HEAT system.

[jaxvon]

If money was truly no object you should get the whole Krell HEAT system.

I've gotta wonder about their sound. They have so much crossover circuitry that one would think it would start to color the sound more than it has to.

http://www.krellonline.com/html/m_LAT_p_LAT1b_ALL.html

That's a lot of crossover. Is it really necessary?

[Bevan]

.....in my dreams, its usually the dynaudio evidence master, or a ferarri red wilson alexandria......

[furrycute]

I've gotta wonder about their sound. They have so much crossover circuitry that one would think it would start to color the sound more than it has to.

http://www.krellonline.com/html/m_LAT_p_LAT1b_ALL.html

That's a lot of crossover. Is it really necessary?


I used to be a purist. But lately my opinions on absolute sound purity have changed somewhat. A lot of the sound we hear depends on the room acoustics. So sometimes an absolutely pure reproduction of the sound may not sound its best in a particular room.

If the speaker is too accurate, it may sound bright and even shrill in a room with bare walls and hardwood floors. So in that kind of a room, warmer sound speakers may sound better.


Anyway, these are just my thoughts.

[KIRKLIN]

As I read your question as you discovered the VAST WORLD OF SPEAKERS, I chuckled to myself, because I too was in your shoes. I agree with a lot of what 'rikmeister' had to say, but I know, without-a-doubt, money/funds has a lot to do with what I'm able to listen to. Sure, my ears are the final 'say' in how a speakers sound, but my wallet is the final say on whether or not I'm able to get 'the speaker' in my listening room ultimately.

I conceded, this is my current practice, I decide how much I'm willing to spend and I will search hi-and-low for a speaker in that price range (new or used)

2nd, I have found, once you enter into the world of "audiophile/audioholic/music fanatic, etc, etc," gear is usually fairly well taken care of; therefore I have no problem buying it used/2nd hand/broken-in or whatever acceptable (for the ego) term ;) .

Lastly, speaker/amp relationship is, IMHO, more important than any one piece individually. If they don't work well together - they don't work!

I know I didn't give you an answer :D From personal experience, the best combination I've heard was the McIntosh combination; they made a speaker (I don't remember the name or model, because it was out of my price range at the time) that in the show room, sound phenomenal.

There seems to be various worlds of speakers <1k 2K - 5K >5k but less than 10k And over 10K Higher than that is out of my league.

Blind listening AND the goosebump test. Take your favorite music, turn off the lights and go-for-broke until you find that "got-to-have-these" speakers AND pray the combination yields something your pockets and intellect can and will afford (or justify).

Welcome to the madness! ! ! ! !

[Gbiz]

Thank you all. I'll tell you "madness" is right. Unreal the money that can be spent. Let me tell you this. I'm going to school to be a doctor and I don't care how rich I become, I am not going to spend 100K on speakers. "Honey, I was just out shopping and I picked up these $145,000 speakers." I better hope that those speakers keep me warm for the next month. Guys can we find more expensive than that, I really want to se how high it goes. Keep em coming.:p

[t3031999]

The Inferno. (http://www.krellonline.com/html/m_SYS_inferno.html)

I have heard those amps cost almost 100k each and you get 7 of them.

[majorloser]

I've gotta wonder about their sound. They have so much crossover circuitry that one would think it would start to color the sound more than it has to.

http://www.krellonline.com/html/m_LAT_p_LAT1b_ALL.html

That's a lot of crossover. Is it really necessary?

Is seven mono block amplifiers each weighing in at 700 lbs. or four 2,600 watt powered subwoofers each weighing in at over 400 lbs in the Inferno system NECESSARY?:rolleyes:

HELL YES:D

I'd be happy just to find out how much something like this would cost delivered. I can't even imagine having a system that weighs over 3 tons. Once those amps are in place that's where they'd stay.

[jaxvon]

The Inferno. (http://www.krellonline.com/html/m_SYS_inferno.html)

I have heard those amps cost almost 100k each and you get 7 of them.

Sounds like the ultimate HTiB. Except when I say "box", I mean a huge steel shipping container.

[furrycute]

Sounds like the ultimate HTiB. Except when I say "box", I mean a huge steel shipping container.
:D


Man, would I love to have one of those HTiB's.

[langong]

Does anyone know how much a pair of LAT1 cost ?

[majorloser]

Does anyone know how much a pair of LAT1 cost ?


Like the old saying goes, "If you have to ask........"

[Shadow_Ferret]

I don't know why, but I like the Nola Exotica Grand Reference (http://www.audiolimits.com/html/speakers.html). ONly an MSRP of $120000.00.

[Sheep]

thats a good question. I think everyone has there own tastes.

One of my personal favs in the Energy Vertias i line. I love the way they sound.

Obviously theres better out there, but I could settle for those.

For money = no problem, I would have nearfield acoustics pipe dreams for 2 channel music. For HT, the inferno system looks nice.... just a little....:)


SheepStar

[Mudcat]

Some of the pictures posted make me feel that if I'm not wearing a tux when listening I'll be kicked out of my own listening room.

[dis]

How about a pair of wilson watt/puppy 7 speakers for $22,000, never heard them and likely never to hear em...I'm afraid of getting sucked in...
http://www.wilsonaudio.com/products/wattpuppy/index.html

[spider_duggan]

I second the Wilson Alexandria. Tops

[toquemon]

I would go for Dynaudio Evidence Master series at 120,000 pair and they don't look like a damn Star Wars robot (like those Wilson over there!)

[deftech]

I would have to listen to egglestonworks ivy and genesis 1.1 and choose between the two. egglestonworks.com/ivy.htm (egglestonworks.com)

[VS540]

How bout the $115,000 Avalon Sentinels? http://www.avalonacoustics.com/sent.html

Then there is also the $225,000 Kharma Grand Exquisite Reference
http://www.kharma.com/

Or the Acapella Spharon Excalibur for $325,000?
http://www.acapella.de/german/

[WmAx]

Speaker cost is not represenative of actual performance. It's odd that one of the best performing speakers in the world is not even mentioned here, maybe because it's cost is not stratospheric?

The Linkwitz Orion is a no-holds barred speaker designed by one of the world's foremost and respected[by the engineering community I should point out] loudspeaker engineers. It's not a retail product, but it is available for order. For about $7,000 USD the speaker system includes the required active crossover system and amplifiers.

-Chris

[WmAx]

http://www.exoticaudio.org/39Alexandria1.jpg

Exactly like in my dreams! But I would like to see their HT room.

With the almost total absorbtion of wall reflections[look at the panels covering almost all of the walls] and the close positioning to listener relative to position to walls, this is basicly a giant nearfield monitor set-up. So much for a natural/realistic sounding soundfield....

-Chris

[Sheep]

With the almost total absorbtion of wall reflections[look at the panels covering almost all of the walls] and the close positioning to listener relative to position to walls, this is basicly a giant nearfield monitor set-up. So much for a natural/realistic sounding soundfield....

-Chris

Yeah, I think she's hot too. ;)

SheepStar

[furrycute]

Yeah, I think she's hot too. ;)

SheepStar


I can't help but think that she's some middle aged wealthy businessman's trophy wife on display

[Sheep]

I can't help but think that she's some middle aged wealthy businessman's trophy wife on display

Well, lets look at the evidence...


Trophy's go on display in nice cabinets.

This Trophy is on display in between 2 nice cabinets.

Yep, she's a trophy wife.

SheepStar