extremely high quality and extremely loud

[larry7995]

What speaker are out there that will go way loud and still have excellent quality - flat response all across the range?
I just noticed I have to watch the volume a little when I am listening to techno stuff, I was listening to Paul van Dyk Politics of Dancing 2 and was overdriving the speakers during parts of it till I turned them down.
So someday when I marry into wealth and can afford them, what would be great choices?

[croseiv]

Not sure of brands (except Klipsch), but my guess is you'd want horned midrange/tweets if you want to go really loud with minimal distortion. I think most if not all PA speakers are horned. Also look at efficiency in the specs, higher efficiency means they'll play louder (probably without as much distortion).

I've found that by running my mains set to small with the sub that I seem to be able to really crank them without as much distortion. THe sub is doing all the work with the low end (750 watt amp to boot).

[TLS Guy]

What speaker are out there that will go way loud and still have excellent quality - flat response all across the range?
I just noticed I have to watch the volume a little when I am listening to techno stuff, I was listening to Paul van Dyk Politics of Dancing 2 and was overdriving the speakers during parts of it till I turned them down.
So someday when I marry into wealth and can afford them, what would be great choices?

Buy your hearing aids before you empty your bank account. Very accurate high power speakers are rare, and pretty much custom jobs.

[croseiv]

SOme people swear by this guy:

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/klipschorn.aspx

[croseiv]

http://legacyaudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=209

I've always considered Legacy to be my "price no object" dream speakers. I bet these would fill the room nicely.

[TLS Guy]

http://legacyaudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=209

I've always considered Legacy to be my "price no object" dream speakers. I bet these would fill the room nicely.

I have heard Legacy speakers. All I can say is the member with the signature that says "A fool is soon parted from his money," describes purchasers of these speakers exactly.

[croseiv]

I have heard Legacy speakers. All I can say is the member with the signature that says "A fool is soon parted from his money," describes purchasers of these speakers exactly.

Well, I must admit I've never auditioned them, but I've read really good things about them (in the past). So are you saying that they are crap?

[TLS Guy]

Well, I must admit I've never auditioned them, but I've read really good things about them (in the past). So are you saying that they are crap?

In the words of the great Monty Python gang: - "Say no more!"

[croseiv]

In the words of the great Monty Python gang: - "Say no more!"

Also, just because something sounded "bad" to you hardly means they would sound bad to me, or someone else for that matter.

However, my money is my money. And just because someone can spend more of it hardly makes them a fool. Monty Python sucks...That's my opinion.

Now whether or not I'd actually spend 10-15 grand on speakers is another story.

[FguerraG]

Monty Python sucks...That's my opinion.




Oh no you didn't!!! :eek:

[mazersteven]

Oh no you didn't!!! :eek:

LOL :eek:

http://images.cafepress.com/image/12412695_400x400.jpg

[TLS Guy]

Also, just because something sounded "bad" to you hardly means they would sound bad to me, or someone else for that matter.

However, my money is my money. And just because someone can spend more of it hardly makes them a fool. Monty Python sucks...That's my opinion.

True, but I think people have to develop a good personal reference. Now I admit that is difficult in the pop/rock world. The music is largely already electronic!

However in the classical world it is possible and essential. Regular attendance at concerts is de rigeur. Now I recorded live concerts over many years. Those years were pivotal in honing my speaker designs. Which was one of the reasons I recorded so many concerts as a public service to the local public radio station. Once you have a good internal frame of reference it does not take long to tell whether a speaker is accurate or not. We are not talking just pleasing here, but pleasing and accurate.

I have designed a few custom high powered speakers in my time. Not many, as my designs are much higher in cost than commercial realizations and bids.

Until a few months ago I had a modular high performance high spl system that I used on location very occasionally. Unfortunately due to lack of storage space available to me now, I had to break it up and some of the drivers will go up for sale on eBay.

In 1988 I was engaged to record the ND Centennial Opera, Sakakawea.

A New York director was hired, and the assistant conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Only two of the singers were fully professional, and the orchestra pit in the Chester Fritz Auditorium is on the small size. Sound reinforcement was required, and an outfit hired to do it. When I arrived the composer was having a fit over the sound, and asked me if there was anything I could do.

I went home, organized a crew and brought in my modular system and 1200 watts of amp power all together.

I carefully set up microphones in the orchestra pit, and hid microphones in the scenery. When I got the system working, the New York director vowed the system was not working, as he was used to his "commercial sound."

I took the director up to the first balcony. I had an assistant at the control desk. When I raised my hand, I had the assistant cut my system, when I lowered it, I had him restore it. When the system came in the sound increased about 10 db, but the character of the sound did not change.

Members of the audience surveyed after the performance did not believe sound reinforcement had been used. That is what I mean by an accurate high spl system.

Honestly, the only highly accurate high spl systems I have heard, have been custom.

The reason is cost. If you can build it for a one off, it is OK. But once you talk low volume production, the cost becomes prohibitive. I did a cost analysis just for fun, I did a cost analysis of what the final retail coast of my three front speakers would be if you produced them for retail. The cost with manufacture, freight distributor and dealer, would put the front three speakers at around $100,000.

[croseiv]

Oh no you didn't!!! :eek:

I really tried to like it, but it just didn't work for me...:)

[croseiv]

I did a cost analysis just for fun, I did a cost analysis of what the final retail coast of my three front speakers would be if you produced them for retail. The cost with manufacture, freight distributor and dealer, would put the front three speakers at around $100,000.

But none of us are willing to drop that kind of cash. Shoot, that makes 10-15 grand look like chump change.

[TLS Guy]

But none of us are willing to drop that kind of cash. Shoot, that makes 10-15 grand look like chump change.

That is the point! Those sort of systems can generally only be done as one offs, like the famous BBC Roger/Quad monitors. Once everybody gets their pound of flesh it is prohibitive. Although the cost of developing and building these speakers was significant, it was not $100,000! Set up a situation for small production runs, and market it up through the food chain and you get there. As Senator Obama said in his speech to Wall Street, "Pain trickles up."

[fredk]

Posts like this should really come with a price qualifyer. The comercial recording studios 'make due' with mass produced speakers. even those like Deuche Gramaphone, which produce high qulaity classical recordings.

TLS Guy, you set the bar much higher than most of us do and seem to have the passion and skill to meet those expectaions for yourself.

I know I will be happy with my $1500 fronts. They will play plenty loud and quite clean enough for me.

To the OP, you can probably add the B&W 801D to your if-I-win-the-lottery list.

Fred

[Soundman]

So someday when I marry into wealth and can afford them, what would be great choices?

Let me know how that turns out... and also how you pulled it off. :D

[fmw]

Buy your hearing aids before you empty your bank account. Very accurate high power speakers are rare, and pretty much custom jobs.


Not at all. The pro audio world has all kinds of them. A good bet would those manufactured by Genelec. I'm not suggesting they are cheap. But they certainly aren't rare or custom.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Monty Python sucks...


Oh no you didn't!!! :eek:

This is totally off topics, but I agree that Monty Python sucks too...:D

I guess we're all different.:)

Now back to the topic-- Those Legacy Helix speakers are like $40,000 each, right?:eek:

[gwilks98]

This isn't my area of expertise, so I may get laughed at, but....

My college roomate bought some nicer Cerwin Vega floorstanders. Those babies could get LOUD. I didn't have the ear for distortion, so I can't tell you how bad they would sound to me now. You want techno bumping, those will do it.

If that doesn't cut it, go for speakers with a powered sub in them. (Definitive Tech bipolars)

I have no idea if I'm in your price range, so please keep that in mind.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

To the OP, you can probably add the B&W 801D to your if-I-win-the-lottery list.



It depends on how big the lotery is.:D

If I won $300 Million, B&W speakers would be too CHEAP for me.:D

If I'm going to dream about winning the big one, I might as well dream about the $1,000,000 speakers.:D

[Midcow2]

Denon AVR 5805CI
McIntosh MC2KW
Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2
Wilson Audio Maxx
Quad - JL Audio FATHOM 113f

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If I won the lottery, I would get...

Seven of these:
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=1729&terid=1583&sc=hf

Seven of these:
http://www.marklevinson.com/products/details.asp?prod=no33h

Four of these:
http://www.marklevinson.com/products/details.asp?prod=no32

And this:
http://www.marklevinson.com/products/details.asp?prod=no51

:D:D:D

[DD66000]

Since you're talking very good, very loud, and spending someone else's money, my choice would be JBL's top of the line Everest, @ $60k/pr.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii4/hifiguy268/JBL_Everest_Rosewood.jpg

[Midcow2]

Since you're talking very good, very loud, and spending someone else's money, my choice would be JBL's top of the line Everest, @ $60k/pr.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii4/hifiguy268/JBL_Everest_Rosewood.jpg

The $500,000 bionic ear channel upgrade to full 7.2 HMI ( Human Machine Interface) sound input. What good is 7.2 sound if you have to down-convert it to two channel low quality human ear interfaces ?

[croseiv]

This is totally off topics, but I agree that Monty Python sucks too...:D

:

Whew! I thought I was in the minority here.:D

[fredk]

Sigh... Comfy chair's not big enough for this crowd.

Fred

[larry7995]

I don't listen to techno all the time, I think that type of music is just hard on speakers when played loud, I am a musical schizo - one day its techno, the next I probably listening to the infamous stringdusters, the next might be earth wind and fire, and the next beethoven,and then maybe lamb of god and pretty much every third day is Steely Dan so its all good! I think after I get a massive sub in fall I will be happier, then when my future wife gets me the B&Ws it will all be ok :D

[croseiv]

I don't listen to techno all the time, I think that type of music is just hard on speakers when played loud, I am a musical schizo - one day its techno, the next I probably listening to the infamous stringdusters, the next might be earth wind and fire, and the next beethoven,and then maybe lamb of god and pretty much every third day is Steely Dan so its all good! I think after I get a massive sub in fall I will be happier, then when my future wife gets me the B&Ws it will all be ok :D


I noticed you're running Axiom M80s. While those are fairly efficient, they are 4 ohm speakers. I bet they're taxing your receiver a little (especially cranked), hence the distortion.

[larry7995]

Actually I am running them through Outlaw M2200 monoblocks so I am hoping that isn't the problem.

[croseiv]

Actually I am running them through Outlaw M2200 monoblocks so I am hoping that isn't the problem.

Didn't see the monoblocks in your sig. In that case you must have really been cranking them...:eek:

[Haoleb]

True, but I think people have to develop a good personal reference. Now I admit that is difficult in the pop/rock world. The music is largely already electronic!

However in the classical world it is possible and essential. Regular attendance at concerts is de rigeur. Now I recorded live concerts over many years. Those years were pivotal in honing my speaker designs. Which was one of the reasons I recorded so many concerts as a public service to the local public radio station. Once you have a good internal frame of reference it does not take long to tell whether a speaker is accurate or not. We are not talking just pleasing here, but pleasing and accurate.




So, Basically what your saying is that unless one attends classical music concerts and largely listens to classical music they dont know what sounds good or accurate and their opinion is not important.

[TLS Guy]

So, Basically what your saying is that unless one attends classical music concerts and largely listens to classical music they dont know what sounds good or accurate and their opinion is not important.

You added the last five words.

However the fact remains, that all good speaker designers I have known have done crucial final voicing by ear.

To do that you have to have frame of reference. I can not voice with music whose genesis is reproduced to a large extent electronically.

If you look at one of the largest influences in the development of loudspeakers, it was their use as recording monitors in the recording music in concert halls, churches and the opera house.

There probably was no greater influence than what came out of the collaboration between the BBC engineering department and a number of designers, especially Jim Rogers, Peter Walker and Raymond Cooke.

Now the BBC did, and still do record a huge number of live musical events day after day. There have set benchmark standards in natural balances resulting in accurate tonality and perspective. They record large symphonic works, and during the Proms multiple concerts every day for two months associated with what is by far and away the worlds largest music festival. They also maintain their own orchestras though out the regions of the British isles, recording at various venues and their own studios. In addition to regular concerts in London and the regions, they record a large number of major Festivals through out the isles, such as Aldeborough, Cheltenham, and the three choirs festival. Recordings are made in the cathedrals if the British Isles at least weekly. Their archives are truly vast.

With that sort of program, one of heir essential needs was for accurate loudspeakers for monitoring. The development of superior speakers became one of the big areas of research in the BBC engineering department during the sixties, seventies and eighties. This was curtailed after Margaret Thatcher cut their budget following huge cost over runs, developing the worlds first digital mixing desk with mixer manufacturer, Rupert Neve.

This speaker program at the BBC was seminal in the development of many British speaker companies, such as Mordant Short, Harbeth, Castle acoustics and quite a few others. There was significant cross fertilization with Rogers, Quad and KEF whose managing directors were heavily involved in these endeavors. Peter Walker was a flute player also and regularly seen in the flute section during the Three Choirs Festival.

Now the point of this, is that accurate speakers are essential tools for making accurate recordings of non amplified music. I found that to be absolutely true in the 20 years or so I was making regular live recordings largely for Public Radio broadcast. I can tell you that hearing the live event at rehearsal and going to and fro the monitoring control location soon lets you know if you have an accurate speaker.

So yes, I believe you do need a strong aural reference from live events to not only voice a speaker properly, but to choose one, at least if it is accuracy you are after. I fail to see how that reference can be music that does not have a life independent of speakers and electronics. I'm not alone in that belief at all.

I honestly can not tell if a speaker is any good or not, reproducing music that has no life outside electronic reproduction. So if live acoustic music in a variety of venues is the sheet anchor of your internal frame of reference, then yes, regular attendance at concerts free from electronic reproducing devices and microphones is essential.

Peter Walker had this slogan for Quad from inception: "The closest approach to the original sound." He would have told you you have to have an original sound.

[larry7995]

Didn't see the monoblocks in your sig. In that case you must have really been cranking them...:eek:

Bad habit from my metal maniac days...

I was listening to the DMP Big Band cd Carved In Stone today after work and had it cranked up pretty loud and it sounded super. I don't want anyone to think I don't like my M80s, they are great speakers.

[Seth=L]

If I won the lottery, I would get...

Seven of these:
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=1729&terid=1583&sc=hf

Seven of these:
http://www.marklevinson.com/products/details.asp?prod=no33h

Four of these:
http://www.marklevinson.com/products/details.asp?prod=no32

And this:
http://www.marklevinson.com/products/details.asp?prod=no51

:D:D:D
Why? You are like one of those Sen. Clinton fans screaming and yelling her name for no reason (at least no real reason other than pure confusion). I will never understand why you feel there is an advantage to having your system seperated in such a fashion, it makes ZERO sense, NONE!

[3db]

True, but I think people have to develop a good personal reference. Now I admit that is difficult in the pop/rock world. The music is largely already electronic!

However in the classical world it is possible and essential. Regular attendance at concerts is de rigeur. Now I recorded live concerts over many years. Those years were pivotal in honing my speaker designs. Which was one of the reasons I recorded so many concerts as a public service to the local public radio station. Once you have a good internal frame of reference it does not take long to tell whether a speaker is accurate or not. We are not talking just pleasing here, but pleasing and accurate.

I have designed a few custom high powered speakers in my time. Not many, as my designs are much higher in cost than commercial realizations and bids.

Until a few months ago I had a modular high performance high spl system that I used on location very occasionally. Unfortunately due to lack of storage space available to me now, I had to break it up and some of the drivers will go up for sale on eBay.

In 1988 I was engaged to record the ND Centennial Opera, Sakakawea.

A New York director was hired, and the assistant conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Only two of the singers were fully professional, and the orchestra pit in the Chester Fritz Auditorium is on the small size. Sound reinforcement was required, and an outfit hired to do it. When I arrived the composer was having a fit over the sound, and asked me if there was anything I could do.

I went home, organized a crew and brought in my modular system and 1200 watts of amp power all together.

I carefully set up microphones in the orchestra pit, and hid microphones in the scenery. When I got the system working, the New York director vowed the system was not working, as he was used to his "commercial sound."

I took the director up to the first balcony. I had an assistant at the control desk. When I raised my hand, I had the assistant cut my system, when I lowered it, I had him restore it. When the system came in the sound increased about 10 db, but the character of the sound did not change.

Members of the audience surveyed after the performance did not believe sound reinforcement had been used. That is what I mean by an accurate high spl system.

Honestly, the only highly accurate high spl systems I have heard, have been custom.

The reason is cost. If you can build it for a one off, it is OK. But once you talk low volume production, the cost becomes prohibitive. I did a cost analysis just for fun, I did a cost analysis of what the final retail coast of my three front speakers would be if you produced them for retail. The cost with manufacture, freight distributor and dealer, would put the front three speakers at around $100,000.


I guess thats one of the reasons I'm drawn so much to PSB. Paul Barton is first and foremost a violinist and he has a very solid idea of what music should sound like. Take this with his extensive work at the NRC in tuning his designs and you get an excellent speaker. My T45s sound soo good with classical music.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Why? You are like one of those Sen. Clinton fans screaming and yelling her name for no reason (at least no real reason other than pure confusion). I will never understand why you feel there is an advantage to having your system seperated in such a fashion, it makes ZERO sense, NONE!

Well, my approach would only appeal to the Purist Group who believes that the best sound quality comes from the separate analog stereo preamplifiers. They only believe in Source Direct Pure Direct without Tone, Balance, or Equalizer Controls. They don't even believe in bass/speaker management because they believe that all speakers should be full range 20Hz-20kHz.

That's why Mark Levinson still sells their analog stereo preamps for $25K. Krell and Bryston, to name just a few, still sell their analog preamps for $4K.

The human mind is a very complex piece of machine.

That's what makes humans special.:D

To this day, I still have yet to hear of anyone else doing what I'm doing, which is fine by me. It only makes my system more unique.

Hey, at least I'm giving some people something to talk about.:D

You may hear something like, "Man, I heard this crazy guy on my forum using 4 separate stereo preamps and 7 monoblock amps in his HT system. Does that make any sense whatsover to you? He is insane!":D

Not too longer ago, I was using FOUR Acurus RL-11 preamps and FOUR Acurus 200X3 amps!!!

Now I'm down to just 3 Integrated amps, and you're still giving me a hard time?:D

[GlocksRock]

but once you get tired of upgrading your preamps and amps, you will need something else to upgrade, and you will end up going back to 7.1, it's just a matter of time. Knowing you it's inevitable, and will happen probably sooner than later.

[DD66000]

but once you get tired of upgrading your preamps and amps, you will need something else to upgrade, and you will end up going back to 7.1, it's just a matter of time. Knowing you it's inevitable, and will happen probably sooner than later.

Well then he can upgrade the speakers. No matter how good your speakers are, which maybe the very best today, will, at some point, be out done by some newer, even higher end speakers. and the beat goes on, and the beat goes on.:cool:

[TLS Guy]

Well, my approach would only appeal to the Purist Group who believes that the best sound quality comes from the separate analog stereo preamplifiers. They only believe in Source Direct Pure Direct without Tone, Balance, or Equalizer Controls. They don't even believe in bass/speaker management because they believe that all speakers should be full range 20Hz-20kHz.

That's why Mark Levinson still sells their analog stereo preamps for $25K. Krell and Bryston, to name just a few, still sell their analog preamps for $4K.

The human mind is a very complex piece of machine.

That's what makes humans special.:D

To this day, I still have yet to hear of anyone else doing what I'm doing, which is fine by me. It only makes my system more unique.

Hey, at least I'm giving some people something to talk about.:D

You may hear something like, "Man, I heard this crazy guy on my forum using 4 separate stereo preamps and 7 monoblock amps in his HT system. Does that make any sense whatsover to you? He is insane!":D

Not too longer ago, I was using FOUR Acurus RL-11 preamps and FOUR Acurus 200X3 amps!!!

Now I'm down to just 3 Integrated amps, and you're still giving me a hard time?:D

You have a little way to go to get crazy as me, but your closing in!

I agree with Seth do a degree, as you have more high gain stages, contributing their share of problems than a truly elegant solution would demand.

I think you did that to have control most likely. Obviously balancing all those amps is vital. I have fourteen amp channels to balance. I have one main preamp processor. I have three subsidiary pre amps for the turntables and three of the the tape decks.

Now I found that when I was using the 1 db steps on the master preamp speaker set up, the steps were too great. I was constantly fiddling. Since adding analog trimmers for all of the 7.1 channels I have not touched a thing since the last level calibration. I have just enjoyed it. Remote adjusted levels of 1 db increments are a pox. So you have a point there. I use no Eq. whatever, except to archive, or touch up a vintage recording. I firmly believe good systems do not need Eq I agree with you on this also.

Now in terms of integrated speakers I have to agree with you also. The biggest remaining problem with moving coil loudspeakers is that the musical fundamentals are separated in time and phase from their harmonic content. We are just too Cavalier about this problem. If ever you get a chance, listen CAREFULLY to a good full ranger. It is a revelation. I keep a set for reference and to keep a gold standard. I plan more full rangers for reference.

I try my very best in my systems not to be Cavalier about this and keep time a phase distortions to the absolute minimum required to obtain as flat a response as possible and keep divers in their optimal pass bands.

Now putting a sub woofer any place in the room does huge violence. The one thing that visitors stress time and again about this system is the realism and bass definition compared to anything else they have experienced. I think for a state of the art reference system having the sub right under the mains, or part of the mains is important. This is a problem with WAF. However, I had large speakers in my apartment. So my wife knew that the size of our speakers was going to be dictated by physics and not WAF at the start of the marriage.

You are beginning to show you understand something important in this post.

I should have defined full ranger. I'm referring to speakers that have no crossover and use one full range moving coil driver.

I have to say that if I were put in charge of the R & D department of a speaker driver manufacturer, I would make the development of full range drivers a top priority, or at least greatly extend the pass band of drivers. If we could just get the handover to the HF unit in the 5 to 6 KHz range, it would be a huge advance.

[DD66000]

I think for a state of the art reference system having the sub right under the mains, or part of the mains is important. This is a problem with WAF. However, I had large speakers in my apartment. So my wife knew that the size of our speakers was going to be dictated by physics and not WAF at the start of the marriage
Now there is a thought process good for most any system, having the main subs below the L/R speakers. I couldn't agree more. My system isn't as near high tect as yours, but I do have the Revel subs below my JBL PT800s, so no matter how I'm listening to music, be it stereo, 5, 7 channel the main stacks are always in the mix, and providing full range sound.
As for the WAF, it doesn't count in the audio room of my house.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...You have a little way to go to get crazy as me, but your closing in...I have fourteen amp channels to balance. I have one main preamp processor. I have three subsidiary pre amps for the turntables and three of the the tape decks...Since adding analog trimmers for all of the 7.1 channels I have not touched a thing since the last level calibration...You are beginning to show you understand something important in this post...



And they say my system is complicated?

So you have one Rotel pre-pro, which is connected to Analog Trimmers?

What is an analog trimmer?

[AcuDefTechGuy]

but once you get tired of upgrading your preamps and amps, you will need something else to upgrade, and you will end up going back to 7.1, it's just a matter of time. Knowing you it's inevitable, and will happen probably sooner than later.

**hee**hee

In the back of my mind, I'm also afraid of that!:D

But if I'm going back to 7.1, I would have to get another pair of BP7001SCs. That is how my mind works. It cannot be anything else but the BP7001SCs.

However, my current HT room will not allow this due to space constraints. It would only happen when I get a new house.:D

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I should have defined full ranger. I'm referring to speakers that have no crossover and use one full range moving coil driver.

I have to say that if I were put in charge of the R & D department of a speaker driver manufacturer, I would make the development of full range drivers a top priority, or at least greatly extend the pass band of drivers. If we could just get the handover to the HF unit in the 5 to 6 KHz range, it would be a huge advance.

So what is the best sounding (commercially available) speaker you have ever seen?

Have you listened to the Linwitz Orion?

B&W 800D?

[GlocksRock]

**hee**hee

In the back of my mind, I'm also afraid of that!:D

But if I'm going back to 7.1, I would have to get another pair of BP7001SCs. That is how my mind works. It cannot be anything else but the BP7001SCs.

If that's how your mind works, and you have to have everything match, then you would need to get rid of your current BP7001SCs and get BP7000SCs... :D

[Pyrrho]

SOme people swear by this guy:

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/klipschorn.aspx

Who would have thought that these would be reasonably priced products for this thread? But if one needed to save a couple thousand dollars on a pair, and/or did not have the corners for proper placement of those, one could go with:

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/la-scala-ii.aspx

Personally, I am not a big fan of horns, but both of the above are mighty popular with some people. Then again, I am not wanting to go deaf with extreme volumes, so their capabilities are not needed by me. They do, however, have "effortless" dynamics, because with all reasonable in home use, one never approaches overdriving them. One can also use a very low powered amplifier with either one. (I have literally heard a pair of Klipshorns driven by a boom box. Look at the sensitivity rating and you will see why such things would be possible.)

Anyway, if I were looking for speakers fitting the description of the opening post, I would consider Klipschorns and Klipsch La Scalas. Sometimes, one can get a deal on them used. So you might not have to wait until you marry money to get them. They are big, and bringing them home will require a truck and probably a helper to get them into it.

[DD66000]

Personally, I am not a big fan of horns, but both of the above are mighty popular with some people. Then again, I am not wanting to go deaf with extreme volumes, so their capabilities are not needed by me. They do, however, have "effortless" dynamics, because with all reasonable in home use, one never approaches overdriving them. One can also use a very low powered amplifier with either one. (I have literally heard a pair of Klipshorns driven by a boom box. Look at the sensitivity rating and you will see why such things would be possible.)


Horns are more dynamic, but better horns can also be very suttle on their sound. The JBL Everest were described by one person, who was listening to Norah Jones, "it was like Norah whispering on the back of your neck."

[codexp3]

So what is the best sounding (commercially available) speaker you have ever seen?

Have you listened to the Linwitz Orion?

B&W 800D?


I like the Wilson WP8s over the 800D.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If that's how your mind works, and you have to have everything match, then you would need to get rid of your current BP7001SCs and get BP7000SCs... :D

That would be totally nuts!
No, even I have some self-control.:D

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I like the Wilson WP8s over the 800D.

The Wilson Audio Watt-Puppy 8s?
Aren't they like $25K/pr???

Man, I wish they had speakers like that where I live!

Has anyone heard these B&W Nautilus play:
http://www.e-hifi.com.au/b-w/PrestigeSeries/nautilus.aspx

25 Hz - 20 kHz +/- 0.5 dB???:D

Geezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[larry7995]

I am looking forward to listening to all sorts of stuff I can't afford when I go to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in October. Any other ultra cool audio festivals midwest to west this summer?