Best sounding speakers you have ever listen to..

[zumbo]

While I agree with the high-end B&Ws sounding awesome, I don't think it is neccessary to go that far up the line to get there, especially in a smallish room. I have only rarely heard speakers that sound better to me than my B&W 705s.

This is the question:
Best sounding speakers you have ever listened to?

 

[captain_tinker]

I see a lot of you have mentioned B&W speakers. I would have to agree that some of the higher end stuff does indeed sound incredible. However I have to admit that the best sound I have ever heard from speakers of any kind that I have listened to so far have been some of the larger Martin Logan's, that have been set up properly, and have some high end electronics behind them.

However I went to a B&W shop in Sacramento a few weeks ago, and listened to some B&W 800 or 802's, I don't remember which, using meridian and classe' electronics, and really liked them, but found that I preferred the way my ML Mosaics at home on my Marantz SR5600 sounded. Though, the ML Summits with the Anthem Statement electronics on them at the other shop I've been to, when positioned properly, just blow away anything that I have ever heard. It's more than sound at that point, it's a feeling and it's like experiencing a phenomenon you have not experienced before. It's very different from regular boxed speakers, and a lot of fun.

Unfortunately for me, I have not really heard else other than Paradigm, Monitor Audio, and DefTech, which also really sound very good in their own rights. I've heard Bose too, and wondered how anyone could be swindled into thinking that they really sounded any good. I guess that they may sound better than some boomboxes from times past, and maybe some clock radio's, but in my opinion, not that much better.

I wish I had had a chance to hear some Magnepans, since I have heard some nice things about them, but I just haven't found any nearby yet that I can listen to.

-capT

 

[Joe Schmoe]

This is the question:
Best sounding speakers you have ever listened to?

That would be either the B&W 802s (which don't actually sound that much better than the 705s, which was my point) or the Shahinian Obelisks. These are hard to compare directly, as they are quite different. (The Obelisks are omnipolar.)

 

[zumbo]

That would be either the B&W 802s (which don't actually sound that much better than the 705s, which was my point) or the Shahinian Obelisks. These are hard to compare directly, as they are quite different. (The Obelisks are omnipolar.)

They don't sound much better than 705's?

I am talking about 802's, not 805's.

$5999.95 ea

http://www.bwspeakers.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.models/label/Model 802D

 

[captain_tinker]

That would be either the B&W 802s (which don't actually sound that much better than the 705s, which was my point) or the Shahinian Obelisks. These are hard to compare directly, as they are quite different. (The Obelisks are omnipolar.)

I just noticed you said that the Obelisks are omnipolar. I thought, Huh? An Omnipolar speaker? That sounds neat, so I looked it up and found the website for the obelisks. Boy do they look neat! I'd sure like to hear one, it sounds like it could be very interesting.

-capT

 

[Joe Schmoe]

They don't sound much better than 705's?

I am talking about 802's, not 805's.

$5999.95 ea

http://www.bwspeakers.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.models/label/Model 802D

Obviously, the 802s have much more powerful and extended bass, will play much louder without strain, and will fill a much larger room. When the comparison is done between the 802s and 705s, each placed in a room of appropriate size for that speaker, and both played at moderate volume (I hate loud), I don't hear a huge difference in the quality of the sound. Better? Yes. Anywhere even remotely close to eight times better? No.

 

[zumbo]

Obviously, the 802s have much more powerful and extended bass, will play much louder without strain, and will fill a much larger room. When the comparison is done between the 802s and 705s, each placed in a room of appropriate size for that speaker, and both played at moderate volume (I hate loud), I don't hear a huge difference in the quality of the sound. Better? Yes. Anywhere even remotely close to eight times better? No.

I do agree about the price. However, they are the best I have ever heard.

 

[jaxvon]

I just noticed you said that the Obelisks are omnipolar. I thought, Huh? An Omnipolar speaker? That sounds neat, so I looked it up and found the website for the obelisks. Boy do they look neat! I'd sure like to hear one, it sounds like it could be very interesting.

-capT

Once you've heard an omni speaker in a properly treated room, "normal" speakers just don't do it anymore.

 

[Hoystidd]

I just sat down with a pair of Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario speakers... I could not believe what I was hearing...

Unbelievable sound with and unbelievable price though


Stidd

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I just noticed you said that the Obelisks are omnipolar. I thought, Huh? An Omnipolar speaker? That sounds neat, so I looked it up and found the website for the obelisks. Boy do they look neat! I'd sure like to hear one, it sounds like it could be very interesting.

-capT

I ran across a store that carried them once while travelling, and was extremely impressed with the sound. Dealers are few and far-between, though. Also quite expensive. (If I remember correctly, I was on my way to see the Wright Brothers launch site, so the store must have been in North Carolina.)

 

[Jess@av123.com]

Wison WAMM, Infinity IRS IV.

Best real world? NHT 3.3, Infinity Beta, B&W 802.

 

[1tribeca]

Well, if I can narrow it a bit...

If you're talking about value in a small package, then I'd have to go with Boston Acoustics A40's. I know, I know, they aren't huge, or $100k, or composed of 25 drivers...but they do sound sweet for a small box under $200! Have yet to hear a wee bookshelf with bass that comes close!

As for the big boys, haven't been fortunate enuff to have heard any of the aforementioned beauties!!

 

[Joe Schmoe]

If you're talking about value in a small package, then I'd have to go with Boston Acoustics A40's.

Good choice. The old A series were great speakers for the $. They used an acoustic suspension (sealed) design for detailed bass and soft-dome tweeters for smooth highs. Why Boston switched to ports and metal domes in their newer models, I will never understand.

 

[auujay]

Mackie HR824

I have not heard many really high end systems and I know there are many systems (even in this thread) that cost way more but the best set up I ever heard was the Mackie HR824. The HR824 simply blew me away, they were paired with the matching sub (Mackie HRS120).

If I could afford them (or if I was not married) I would have bought a pair years ago.

 

[Yamahaluver]

Just my few cents, Yamaha NS-1000 which I own, both X and M, NS-2000, NSX-10000, NS-300 and the new Soavo-1, also JBL Studio Monitors, Paradigm Studio Monitors, Camber LS series, Canton Ergo 120, own them as well, Magnepan MMG 3xx, Maggies are my sentimental favorites, MB Quart, Sonus Faber Cremona and for bookshelf, the cheap and mighty Pinnacle PN8+, best value for money.

 

[dave1490]

Back in the mid 80's, there was a high end shop in NE Ohio that ran a pair of Polk SDS/SRS flagships through some McIntosh amps. Those were impressive. They also had a set of Klipsch Cornwall's that blew my socks off. Back then, it was all 2 channel audio with big amps. I'm sure there's much better, but nothing has impressed me as much as those did at the time. Those really got me into this expensive mess we call a hobby!

back in the 70,s i had a friend {the guy that got me started on all this}that had a pair of jbl L300,s,powered by a marantz 125watt per channel amp.great top end.also i went to a hifi shop and listened to a pair of Klipsch cornerhorns also very good sound but $4500 at the time was unreasonable.

 

[dd24skater]

Martin Logan Statements
B&W 801 Matrix---Classe A
B&W 802 Nautilus---Krell
B&W 803 Nuatilus---Krell
Carver Amazings....Nice!
Mine
B&W 604 s2---Rotel 1090

 

[peterw]

Infinity Reference Standards from...could it be 30 years ago already?

And Maggie 20.1.

Very different speakers. Both wonderful.

 

[highfigh]

I would really like to hear a pair of Ohm F's someday. I have newer Ohms, two-ways, but I'm curious about the original.

Sheep, go out and listen to as many different types of speakers as you can - both expensive and not. Although the Energys are pretty good (I also hate it when designers bump up the 1-4K range to create more excitement...), you'll get a good idea of what makes a great speaker. You'll probably hear where the Energys actually exceed some of the pricey guys and where they may fail. The trade-offs might not mean a thing to you but at least you'll know what they are!

Do they still make the C+ or something like them? That was a nice speaker, too.

 

[highfigh]

the Missions had the worst midrange I'd ever heard.SheepStar

If you ever get the chance to listen to the Micro Acoustics FRM-1A, you wouldn't say that about the Mission speakers. The Micros were really bad. A 10" woofer and 5 cone tweeters in a stamped sheet metal mount. I still have nightmares about them and I tried really hard to keep from selling them but some people just liked them, I guess.