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What were the greatest speakers you've ever heard?

post #1 of 102
12/9/02 at 3:00pm
Thread Starter 
I was prompted to write this because of a recent post where stevesolo asked if he needed to upgrade his system because it was dated by almost 20 years.

I don't necessarily think age (within a reasonable period, say 30 years, and perhaps longer) necessarily renders a piece of audio equipment obsolete.

Just look at those who still feel turntables are superior to digital, or Macintosh valve amps, or a Stradivarius violin for that matter.

Anyway, maybe that is another discussion entirely, but, for now, I'm interested in what kind of loudspeakers you've owned (or auditioned) that won a special place in your heart.

I'll start:
I remember spending many hours in my frat house with my friends Allison One loudspeaker. FLAT, uncoloured, beautiful.

The greatest MIDRANGE I ever heard for vocals was on a pair of speakers made by Chartwell. (I later found out they used the same KEF drivers as Rogers and Spendor - which I've actually never heard!)

Then later I owned a set of Audio Research's top of the line AR9 loudspeakers (circa 1979 not the new ones). They had such WEIGHT and PRESENCE that I still lament losing them.

I guess in the "daydream category" - I've always loved the absolute INVISIBILTY of Martin Logan speakers. Oh man, if I was a rich man...

So, what other speakers have struck you as "classic" over the years? And what was their greatest strength (midrange, bass, soundstaging...)?
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post #2 of 102
12/9/02 at 3:06pm
I have owned the Dahlquist DQ-10 with the Janis sub , a pair of Fourier 1 , big honking pair of Cerwin Vegas with 15 " woofers , JBL L100 , varios mini monitors

But my favorite is my present pair circa 70s Klipsch Heresys.
They probably do nothing extremely well on paper other than sensitivity and sheer volume levels but are flat out enjoyable to listen to no matter what I play
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post #3 of 102
12/9/02 at 5:16pm
B&W CDM 7NT For me these are the best I have ever heard.


(for now at least)
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post #4 of 102
12/9/02 at 5:20pm
Wilson Audio Grand SLAMM ($80,000) connected to 2 floorstanding Mark Levinson Amplifiers costing $38,000 a pair.
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post #5 of 102
12/9/02 at 7:46pm
Wilson Grand Slamm for me too. When I heard an orchestra on them, it was an uncanny likeness to what I've heard in Carnegie, from the stage as well as the audience. However, I'd never have those huge ugly things in my house, or pay that sort of money for any speakers.

AR9s: Those were the best speakers I'd heard back around the early 80s, but I don't think they rank today.
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post #6 of 102
12/9/02 at 8:06pm
to be brutally honest... the most enjoyable i've heard are moth cicadas, out of a moth system. They just sounded so damned realistic.
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post #7 of 102
12/9/02 at 8:26pm
Im a reletive audiophile newbie,but I auditioned a pair of Martin Logan Aerius i, a couple years back, and was really blown away by them.
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post #8 of 102
12/9/02 at 8:29pm
the Moth is very cool looking product as is most of thier unique lineup (shamelessly stole my preamp layout from them ).

and I have only heard good things from full range drivers ,sorta a complete sound with no crossover induced mid band aberations , kinda like headphones.
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post #9 of 102
12/9/02 at 8:59pm
B&W 801's were the best I ever heard, but then again I avoid listening to really good speakers for the same reason most avoid spending too much time here: it gives you ideas of spending money!!!


As to equipment being dated or out-of-date: digital sources and DACs are about one of the only thing that goes out-of-date quickly. The rest is simply a desire to have the latest, or better unit.
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post #10 of 102
12/9/02 at 9:09pm
One of the best speakers I've heard was a single 4" Fostex FE108S fullrange driver in a rearloaded horn. beautiful clean sound, with an excellent soundstage. very realistic!
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post #11 of 102
12/9/02 at 9:18pm
Quote:
Just look at those who still feel turntables are superior to digital, or Macintosh valve amps, or a Stradivarius violin for that matter.
There are people who think turntables are superior to a Stradivarius violin? And I thought I had bad taste
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post #12 of 102
12/9/02 at 9:46pm
Quote:
Originally posted by ServinginEcuador


As to equipment being dated or out-of-date: digital sources and DACs are about one of the only thing that goes out-of-date quickly. The rest is simply a desire to have the latest, or better unit.
Only with the qualification "quickly" do I agree.
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post #13 of 102
12/9/02 at 10:05pm
The "best" I ever heard were in my house for all of about 2 weeks. I brought home a pair of Altec Model 19 speakers.....each about the size of a rather stout refrigerator. The sound, using Dynaco tubed equipment was incredible. And man, could they play LOUD and CLEAR!
Unfortunately, my wife laid down the law......it was me or them. Well, I'm still here.
Today's speaker listening (rare these days) occurs with a pair of Klipsch Forte. They have a traditional horn sound reminiscent of the Altecs. Close, but no cigar.
PS....It's a helluva lot easier bringing headphones into the house.
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post #14 of 102
12/9/02 at 10:23pm
One of the big Magnepans... 3.6 I think? Truly unbelievable speakers. People compare them to to the Martin Logans, but these have a much more pleasant sound: the Martin Logans are extraordinarily precise (and transparent) but are extremely harsh.

The Maggies are much more musical.
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post #15 of 102
12/9/02 at 11:04pm
no way the wife lets in Fortes ! The Heresys are as big as I go.

And they get played a lot for DVD viewing combined with DIY rears,sub,center
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