Best sounding speakers you have ever listen to..

[MidnightSensi2]

Interesting speaker.

It looks like a powered monitor using Seas' licensed copy of the 4th generation KEF Uni-Q. Previous Bag End monitors used Radian coaxes, I think. (The Audio Critic reviewed a previous model, the MM-8B, in Issue 25, at 20. It is available for download on their site, though I found the cite by pulling up a local copy.) I suspect the Seas driver (also used, inter alia, in the Gradient Revolution) will be smoother than the Radian.

If you like those, though, IMO you should listen to some modern KEFs. They've improved the Uni-Q quite a bit, and haven't shared those advancements (such as the "tangerine" phase plug) with licensees such as Seas.

Yeah, it's an active monitor, pretty sure it's the Seas driver your talking about. Very well braced, solid cabinet, super heavy. Their crossover they claim is 'time-aligned' and a bunch of other hooblaa (although that may explain why it images so well.... I mean it's literally 'strange' how well they image)... but the fact of the matter is, one way or another, technology or luck, these speakers are amazing.

I will for sure check out the KEF's, thanks for the recommendation! Do they have an active monitor version of the new Uni-Q? I couldn't find one on their website.

Yeah, at the desk all day it sucks that most monitors you have to pin your head dead on center to get a good mix. These even off-axis are amazing and the sweet spot is so wide and the delicacies are ridiculous.

*edit*

I want to demo this:
http://www.kef.com/html/us/showroom/hi-fi_series/r_series/fact_sheet/Bookshelf/r100/index.html

 

[GranteedEV]

I cannot find any objective measurements on the Tannoy's. Do you have a link?

Here's Dennis Murphy's measurements of some $35,000 Tannoys:

MurphyBlaster Productions



That said I liked the 5 minutes I spent with some $400/pr Tannoys

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I guess some of these companies don't even measure their own speakers or something? How can they buid expensive speakers that measure so poorly?

I like Dennis Murphy builds, of course. I also like NHT.

 

[GranteedEV]

I guess some of these companies don't even measure their own speakers or something? How can they buid expensive speakers that measure so poorly?

Oh, I'm sure there's not enough info in that link to pass any widespread judgement.

I'm guessing that treble dip dissapears off axis, which is typical of large round coaxials like that.

Which leaves the midrange.

I think british speakers try to appeal to a different crowd.

Not us, who want 100% accurate speakers.
Not normal people, who just wanna hear the 808 massage their back.
But rather.... British People.

Still, it's an older model and I know I've read AJ in FLA say something positive about Tannoy speakers, so maybe the newer stuff measures better. But the absense of evidence indicates evidence of absense of FLATNESS

 

[Docks]

Lately Salk and Vandersteen have been looking interesting. I recently auditioned the Dynaudio C2's fed by some pretty expensive gear, I expected more.

 

[Impelled]

I guess some of these companies don't even measure their own speakers or something? How can they buid expensive speakers that measure so poorly?

I like Dennis Murphy builds, of course. I also like NHT.

They said this in the article

In any event, I'm not sure ruler-flat response is what these machines are all about. They are obviously intended to recreate certain aspects of a live performance smaller, more conventional speakers can't manage.

Not sure if its an excuse or genuine.

 

[Impelled]

Lately Salk and Vandersteen have been looking interesting. I recently auditioned the Dynaudio C2's fed by some pretty expensive gear, I expected more.

It was because of the Salk Songtower that I bought my IPLs (another TL + Ribbon speaker).
The cost of importing the Songtowers +tax and duty was ridiculous, I so wanted a pair too.
Pretty happy with these though

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Lately Salk and Vandersteen have been looking interesting

Based on your auditions of them?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

They had to be de-throned...

So what has dethroned the mighty Vandersteen?

 

[Nuance AH]

So what has dethroned the mighty Vandersteen?

You know, I don't know yet...still pondering it. I simply feel that because of the poor off-axis response and the extra work involved in getting them to sound their best that they should no longer be number 1. Still, on that day I hadn't heard anything as accurate in the midrange department, and acoustic memory is too short to definitely determine if I've heard better since. I suspect the SoundScape's would be very very close, if not on par with them, but the Orion's and Dyn's could be up there too. It would help if I had them all in my home, like you do. That really is the best way to compare. For now lets just say I'd be happy with the SoundScapes, Revels, Orions or Dyn C4 II's if I owned a pair. I'd probably be done with speakers for life, especially since I've been disappointed by so much of what's out there (big names, like the Maggicos, Wilson, Bang and Olfson, etc - all super disappointing and way overpriced). Its funny...my top contenders are two little guys (Salk and Linqwitz) and two power houses (three if you count Vandersteen, which I still do). Based on that, and since I'm such a fan for the "underdogs," I may have to lean toward Salk on this one. Factoring in price, well, then there's only one option for me.

Well okay, I guess I've chosen then. Now if someone would just buy me a pair of SoundScapes I could be done with all this.

I can't wait to get your impressions of the Phil's, ADTG. They'll definitely give you a good idea of what the SS's sound like.

 

[Seth=L]

No one has mentioned Thiel yet.

Thiel CS3.7

I went to another room to listen to some more costly Wilson speakers, boy are they a waste of money.

I also have a pair of Thiel CS.5s, best sounding speakers I've had in my home. Imaging and soundstage are beyond anything I've owned.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...I'm such a fan for the "underdogs," I may have to lean toward Salk on this one...

I don't consider Salk an "underdog".

How can I consider Salk an "underdog" when the SS12's price "starts" at $16K + shipping?

When I got my Salon2 brand new for $14K shipped?

When I almost got (should have gotten) the KEF 207/2 brand new for $10K?

I no longer consider Linkwitz an "underdog" either since the Orion is now $15K.

The Salon2 & especially 207/2 are the underdog here since I can get both for less than both the SS12 & Orion.

Now when Bob said the $2K Phil2 sounded better than his $12K SS10 in the midrange, the Phil2 is the underdog in this case.

If the Phil3 sound as good as Salon2, KEF Reference, Orion, the Phil3 would be "underdog" in this case.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

No one has mentioned Thiel yet.

Thiel CS3.7

I went to another room to listen to some more costly Wilson speakers, boy are they a waste of money.

I also have a pair of Thiel CS.5s, best sounding speakers I've had in my home. Imaging and soundstage are beyond anything I've owned.

The Thiel 2.4 had pretty good measurements:

SoundStage! Measurements - Thiel Audio CS2.4 Loudspeakers (11/2003)

 

[cpp]

If the Phil3 sound as good as Salon2, KEF Reference, Orion, the Phil3 would be "underdog" in this case.

if the Phil 3 sound as good as they should, you might have spent a whole lot more than you should on the other speakers due to "color".

Just because a speaker cost a lot doesn't mean it sounds good.


Of course I did buy a pair of J.M. Reynuard's Offrande Supreme v2 speakers when I was over in France as they did sound really good when driven with a pair of nice mono blocks and a good preamp.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

No one has mentioned Thiel yet.

Thiel CS3.7

I went to another room to listen to some more costly Wilson speakers, boy are they a waste of money.

I also have a pair of Thiel CS.5s, best sounding speakers I've had in my home. Imaging and soundstage are beyond anything I've owned.

Yeah, I listened to some Wilson Puppy's in a nice listening room and they sounded really good, but didn't blow me away. Wonder what their response looks like, I didn't leave wanting to drop huge money on them. I've actually seriously considered products from Avalon and Wilson and decided against it after demos. Both are great speakers, but, I'll tell you the Wilsons didn't sound as good as the mid-level Dynaudio towers in my opinion.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

if the Phil 3 sound as good as they should, you might have spent a whole lot more than you should on the other speakers due to "color".

Myself and a lot of guys too.

We will see.

Kind of like the Denon 4311. Did you know Electronics Expo is selling the 4311 for $1330 + $30 s/h?

Wasted money on 5308 & AVP-A1HD. Oh well. Life goes on. You live. You learn, right?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, I listened to some Wilson Puppy's in a nice listening room and they sounded really good, but didn't blow me away. Wonder what their response looks like, I didn't leave wanting to drop huge money on them. I've actually seriously considered products from Avalon and Wilson and decided against it after demos. Both are great speakers, but, I'll tell you the Wilsons didn't sound as good as the mid-level Dynaudio towers in my opinion.

All the FR measurements of Wilson Audio I've seen looked pretty bad. Really bad.

Dynaudio FR looked pretty good. Really good.

 

[Nuance AH]

No one has mentioned Thiel yet.

Thiel CS3.7

I went to another room to listen to some more costly Wilson speakers, boy are they a waste of money.

I also have a pair of Thiel CS.5s, best sounding speakers I've had in my home. Imaging and soundstage are beyond anything I've owned.

Good point. Thiel is another 1st order crossover manufacturer, but their off-axis doesn't seem to suffer as much as Vandersteen. I sure wish Dunlavy was alive and still in the speaker business.

I don't consider Salk an "underdog".

How can I consider Salk an "underdog" when the SS12's price "starts" at $16K + shipping?

When I got my Salon2 brand new for $14K shipped?

When I almost got (should have gotten) the KEF 207/2 brand new for $10K?

I no longer consider Linkwitz an "underdog" either since the Orion is now $15K.

The Salon2 & especially 207/2 are the underdog here since I can get both for less than both the SS12 & Orion.

Now when Bob said the $2K Phil2 sounded better than his $12K SS10 in the midrange, the Phil2 is the underdog in this case.

If the Phil3 sound as good as Salon2, KEF Reference, Orion, the Phil3 would be "underdog" in this case.

You misunderstood me and have it completely backwards. Underdog as in the size of the company and the amount of profit they make, not as in the speaker cost or performance. Clearly Salk isn't an underdog regarding sound quality; they can hang with the best. Underdog means the company, size and annual revenue. Revel and Kef are NOT underdogs. They are the opposite. Salk and especially Philharmonic are clearly underdogs, because they are small operations and hardly make any money at all (actually, Dennis probably makes no money at all).

if the Phil 3 sound as good as they should, you might have spent a whole lot more than you should on the other speakers due to "color".

Just because a speaker cost a lot doesn't mean it sounds good.

Very true, very true.

All the FR measurements of Wilson Audio I've seen looked pretty bad. Really bad.

Dynaudio FR looked pretty good. Really good.

^ This.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You misunderstood me and have it completely backwards. Underdog as in the size of the company and the amount of profit they make, not as in the speaker cost or performance.

Actually, I knew exactly what you meant. Size of the company, profit, long history, many professional reviews, measurements, advertisements, endorsements, etc.

I was just giving my side of the definition of "underdog".

My definition is based on actual cost to the consumers.

My definition of "underdog" is a speaker that actually costs less, yet measures superbly and sounds superbly as if they cost more.

Let's say we have company X & company Y.

Company X has been around for decades, reviewed/measured by many magazines, and folks can buy speaker X for $1K.

Company Y is up and coming, has never been reviewed /measured by the magazines, and folks have to spend $3K to buy speaker Y.

Why should anyone consider company Y the underdog when folks have to pay more money?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Can't claim I heard best speakers in the world and I have auditioned relatively very little , but from speakers I did listed to my favorite were MartinLogan Vantage (or Theos - don't remember exactly), but best speakers I own is my jbl pro monitors

Some top brands I did listed to : couple of B&W, Wilson, Monitor Audio and a few more