what's best sounding speaker you have ever heard?

[ScottK]

I think a better question would be what were your first HiFi speakers. Mine were AR2a then I moved to the pinnacle AR3a's when I was a senior in HS!

 

[PeterA]

Giving away all the secrets

(Diatone that is.... I think there are a few other non Lamm SET that can work in a pinch )

Yes, but the thread title refers to “best“. I know the concept is offensive to some here. I guess it should read “favorite“.

 

[Salectric]

For me two Bests both heard at CAF a couple years ago:

1. Dave Slagle’s Double Quad 57s with built-in biamped 300B PP.

2. DejaVu Audio’s 3-way with Western Electric 713b in 32A horn, GIP 18” field coil in open baffle, GIP replica of WE 597a. Tungar power supplies.

 

[Al M.]

Yes, but the thread title refers to “best“. I know the concept is offensive to some here. I guess it should read “favorite“.

Audio is a subjective hobby. I don't think anyone has argued against a subjective "best" or found the idea offensive. There was backlash, however, against the idea that a general consensus on "best" could be reached. This would require an objective "best" in audio, which does not exist. And no, Peter, just because you and a few others whom you agree with find something the best does not mean it is objectively the best. It's still the subjective opinion of a bunch of like-minded people.

On the other hand, there are areas where nobody who is reasonable doubts an objective best. You will find broad consensus among knowledgeable people that the James Webb Space Telescope is objectively the best space telescope, period. Just as everyone with knowledge will agree that the Large Hadron Collider is objectively the best (most powerful) particle collider out there. Nobody is offended by such consensus.

 

[MRJAZZ]

I think a better question would be what were your first HiFi speakers. Mine were AR2a then I moved to the pinnacle AR3a's when I was a senior in HS!

Wow....great speaker in your youth....AR3a....Classic.... Unfortunately my medium for music playback, while in High School was a portable transistor radio.....but it played the tunes of the day.....loved it...

 

[PeterA]

Audio is a subjective hobby. I don't think anyone has argued against a subjective "best" or found the idea offensive. There was backlash, however, against the idea that a general consensus on "best" could be reached. This would require an objective "best" in audio, which does not exist. And no, Peter, just because you and a few others whom you agree with find something the best does not mean it is objectively the best. It's still the subjective opinion of a bunch of like-minded people.

On the other hand, there are areas where nobody who is reasonable doubts an objective best. You will find broad consensus among knowledgeable people that the James Webb Space Telescope is objectively the best space telescope, period. Just as everyone with knowledge will agree that the Large Hadron Collider is objectively the best (most powerful) particle collider out there. Nobody is offended by such consensus.

so does all of that simply mean that the “best“ is the same as my “favorite”?

 

[Rexp]

Some speakers offer better imaging, that is a sonic truth.

 

[Al M.]

so does all of that simply mean that the “best“ is the same as my “favorite”?

In the case of the subjective hobby of audio, pretty much, yes.

At the very least, the two concepts come close to overlapping with each other.

 

[Al M.]

Some speakers offer better imaging, that is a sonic truth.

Since there is disagreement about what constitutes "good imaging", you will also find disagreement about this "sonic truth".

 

[andromedaaudio]

so does all of that simply mean that the “best“ is the same as my “favorite”?

I think so , yes .

 

[PeterA]

I think so , yes .

So then you should not get triggered when Ked says SETs and horns are best.

 

[andromedaaudio]

So then you should not get triggered when Ked says SETs and horns are best.

I have no doubt they are for him the best choice .
When he states " HIS " best i have no problem with that.

The "ARE " is the issue here

 

[Solypsa]

Yes, but the thread title refers to “best“. I know the concept is offensive to some here. I guess it should read “favorite“.

I was just kidding around. It never crossed my mind to find the thread title offensive as it asks for an opinion based on personal experience.

 

[Al M.]

I have no doubt they are for him the best choice .
When he states " HIS " best i have no problem with that.

The "ARE " is the issue here

Exactly, The dogmatic absolutism as if this were an "objective" hobby with a "universal truth" is what we criticize.

Look, if someone is happy with their approach and thinks for them it's the best in the world, fine. But let others be happy with theirs too, without denigrating them as "they would choose differently if they knew better and had more experience" -- while forgetting that this is a subjective hobby, and more exposure may not yield the same outcome with each individual.

Or saying -- or strongly implying -- that you can achieve "Natural Sound" only with certain SET and certain high-efficiency components. If it's your preferred "Natural Sound", that's fine, but it may not be others' "natural sound".

 

[bonzo75]

If it's your preferred "Natural Sound", that's fine, but it may not be others' "natural sound".

No your natural sound comes from adjusting your tube traps every few months

 

[bonzo75]

So then you should not get triggered when Ked says SETs and horns are best.

he doesn’t get triggered when I say it. He often triggers it himself going about the forum anti horns, often when I am nowhere in the discussion

 

[Ron Resnick]

I have no doubt they are for him the best choice .
When he states " HIS " best i have no problem with that.

The "ARE " is the issue here

Thank you.

This post just saved you from being the first person I have ever put on "ignore."

 

[Ron Resnick]

Exactly, The dogmatic absolutism as if this were an "objective" hobby with a "universal truth" is what we criticize.

Look, if someone is happy with their approach and thinks for them it's the best in the world, fine. But let others be happy with theirs too, without denigrating them as "they would choose differently if they knew better and had more experience" -- while forgetting that this is a subjective hobby, and more exposure may not yield the same outcome with each individual.

+1

 

[andromedaaudio]

Thank you.

This post just saved you from being the first person I have ever put on "ignore."

You can put me on ignore Ron if you want
No problem , its a free world

 

[Rexp]

+1

Perhaps you should change the forum name to 'what's best according to me'