I enjoy a good video and shoutout. Thats how my attention gets drawn to products. I hope the snarky commemts don't drive future posters away.
Best speakers I've ever heard under $350,000
- Thread starter Synaxis
- Start date
If the item in question costs more than $30k I’m not going to buy it. I am retired and I want to stay that way. If the question is simply what is my favorite speaker up to $350k I couldn’t narrow it down to just one. So many speakers which do so many things I like and do not.Let me ask you something. Are you going to purchase anything based on an influencer You Tube video? Any of these how it sounds videos to me are a complete waste of time YMMV. If I haven't had real sit down time listening with someone I have no trust what so ever in what they are describing. At least with real time shared listening you build a shared dialog and an understanding of what the other person is saying and hearing.
So yeah I get the obvious but it goes beyond that. You can't even audition speakers at a dealer and know for sure how they will sound when you get them home.
Based on that alone why would anyone with common sense put any value to these videos and more importantly let the videos influence them on a purchasing decision?
Rob
Charles S quoted many influencers in defence of his XVX purchase. Surely there are many. YT or online mag doesn’t matter
I've had several speakers in and out of the system lately.
And while they each had things that were nice about them, I am so happy to have the Tobian 12FH's back in mix. I LOVE these speakers.
And while they each had things that were nice about them, I am so happy to have the Tobian 12FH's back in mix. I LOVE these speakers.
I'm not a fan of giant speakers. Some of the most expensive setups that I've seen are paired with high cost giant speakers . Those types of setups do little in the way of sound to thrill me.
Klipsch Heritage Series: Heresy, La Scala, Khorn, and Jubilees are compelling in the way of sound with well mated electronics. ATC SCM50 passive speakers are also quite excellent as are Linn current Isobarik speakers. All of which are no where near the price of $350K.
Just my opinions
Klipsch Heritage Series: Heresy, La Scala, Khorn, and Jubilees are compelling in the way of sound with well mated electronics. ATC SCM50 passive speakers are also quite excellent as are Linn current Isobarik speakers. All of which are no where near the price of $350K.
Just my opinions
Yeah, it's a little hard for me to say what you really gain in a speaker past a certain dollar amount. I mean, the individual parts of a speaker really are kind of humble. Or perhaps don't need to be ultra-rarified. I've been more involved by a lively Klipsch Cornwall IV than, say, a $35k pair of Dynaudio towers or a big pair of Wilson. Nothing against those latter two--I wouldn't mind owning them if I could--but more modest old school designs have grabbed me more immediately.
The best speakers I've heard were the AvantGarde Trios at Axpona 2022. They're, what, $100,000. But you'd need the right (large) room for them. And then you've got a different, perhaps more ambient listening environment that needs to be tamed. Some of the really big speakers at audio shows seem kind of lost in the huge rooms they get demoed in.
A lot of the DIY horn speakers that Ked features in his videos don't appear to be megabuck affairs. But probably do represent a lot of hours of tinkering. I also see a lot of vintage Tannoy in dedicated listening rooms, particularly in Japan, and they don't get past a certain $$ amount.
I recently heard and really liked the KEF Blade 2. I actually liked them more than the huge Muon in an adjacent room. Maybe it was the music choice, maybe my mood.
What happens if it's REALLY GREAT and it costs $31K? Is it out of the question? Just kidding.
For me - nothing. I could be happy with it forever.
But I also like the sound very much of other speakers and sometimes having a different sound to use would be great.
But if I could only have one - for me based on what I've heard TO DATE - it's the Tobian's without a question based on the low watt tube amps I love to use.
I have not watched your video, but as a reviewer I feel you should be able to articulate the strengths and weaknesses of the equipment you review.
I heard the Muon in Munich a few years' ago and it was awful. The tiny standmount next to it was better so I can easily imagine a pair of Blades being superior!
I didn’t have enough time with the Muon to make a real evaluation, I admit. But I was taken by the Blade 2 Meta.
That's exactly what I do in my house. I have 4-5 systems, each centered around a particular concept. For example, in one system, I use a Klipsch La Scala with single-ended SETs driven by a single-ended Conrad Johnson GAT 2 preamp fed by some single-ended sources (e.g., right now, a Lampi Pacific running SE with a pair of PX4 tubes). In another, my most recent speaker acquisition is a pair of gigantic Soundlab G9-7c's, the largest speaker I've ever owned in 40 years that's 9' tall by 4' wide, driven by solid-state Mola Mola electronics. And so on. I find it much easier that way to understand the pros and cons of different approaches, and I don't get biased into thinking that model XYZ is the best ever in some category (source, electronics, speakers). There's a lot of ways to design good hifi, and they all come with some compromises. If you can afford it, and have the space, then you should try a few different design concepts. Some days I feel like basking in the dynamics of a horn driven by SETs, and others I feel like luxuriating in the sound of a massively large panel speaker.Funny enough that is exactly what I'm thinking - perfect scenario would be to have two/three sets of different speaker concepts with matching electronics (I don't believe in one electronics (amp particularly) solution fits all the bills) and I could live happily ever after.
I personally prefer SE version more, but this drills down to preferences we have.
Other speaker I would love to have is the one you have at home now (I'm refereeing to type/brand)
I feel for you !
Really just kidding , I have dabbled with this concept over the years with a few systems but really didn't have the resources to make each system the best it could be. I even had two rooms at one point but I disgress.
So I absolutely agree with you that there are a lot of different approaches that are all valid but each comes with compromises. Presently enjoying the SET experience with high efficiency speakers in a room that accommodates them! I would love to be able to create what you have.
This is what I currently have as well (Aries Cerat with the Tobian's).
So far of all the gear mixes I've ever heard, this is the one the up till now emotionally engages me like no other set up.
I also have the BAT VK80i integrated here. What a fantastic integrated it is as well. At $10K, I've yet to hear anything else near its price point that can outdo it.
the manufacturers of loudspeakers and the end user/customer (his habits) the two key points of the whole...
the drama of the speaker manufacturer:
They should design a speaker that was at least 96 db with little tormented impedance, usually they build 89 db speakers that send under the threshold of two ohms, you like to win easy... forcing the use of solid state systems of many watts, even worse in class D...
The habit of a certain type of hi-fi sound (the one of the fairs is often like this) leads us to recognize our sound as correct and to look for developments of upgrades also in the sound of others! High efficiency and valves produce a different performance from the solid state sound with many watts and pushed negative feedback.
Think of high efficiency as if you were the wind that moves delicate and thin blades of grass in a huge field, just a slight breeze is enough to see the movement a natural, imposing, almost infinite movement; now think that these blades of grass were made of iron wire, it would take a tornado to make them move... well this is the traditional hi-fi of low efficiency speakers!
in the end both blades of grass will move, but the wind will be very different...
Tobian Sound Systems builds and designs high efficiency systems; I have had many speakers, both traditional high-level ones and mono driver ones always of very high performance, then I discovered the Swiss maison thanks to a friend, I have had a couple of their speakers, first the 12FH now the 12 Signature and very soon I will have the 15 Signature, for me the game ends here.
They should be listened to at least once, be careful of habits, you always have to get back into the game, drop old beliefs and sell the thousand watts scrap, they are not useful for our passion...
ps: honestly the 12FH is a great speaker and I recommend it to anyone even buying it with your eyes closed, but the 12 Signature is simply superior, ask the manufacturer he will be able to explain the substantial differences between the two projects!!!
finally the 15 Signature Horn Speaker uses a special 5.0 inch compression driver, there will be a new reference in town...
the drama of the speaker manufacturer:
They should design a speaker that was at least 96 db with little tormented impedance, usually they build 89 db speakers that send under the threshold of two ohms, you like to win easy... forcing the use of solid state systems of many watts, even worse in class D...
The habit of a certain type of hi-fi sound (the one of the fairs is often like this) leads us to recognize our sound as correct and to look for developments of upgrades also in the sound of others! High efficiency and valves produce a different performance from the solid state sound with many watts and pushed negative feedback.
Think of high efficiency as if you were the wind that moves delicate and thin blades of grass in a huge field, just a slight breeze is enough to see the movement a natural, imposing, almost infinite movement; now think that these blades of grass were made of iron wire, it would take a tornado to make them move... well this is the traditional hi-fi of low efficiency speakers!
in the end both blades of grass will move, but the wind will be very different...
Tobian Sound Systems builds and designs high efficiency systems; I have had many speakers, both traditional high-level ones and mono driver ones always of very high performance, then I discovered the Swiss maison thanks to a friend, I have had a couple of their speakers, first the 12FH now the 12 Signature and very soon I will have the 15 Signature, for me the game ends here.
They should be listened to at least once, be careful of habits, you always have to get back into the game, drop old beliefs and sell the thousand watts scrap, they are not useful for our passion...
ps: honestly the 12FH is a great speaker and I recommend it to anyone even buying it with your eyes closed, but the 12 Signature is simply superior, ask the manufacturer he will be able to explain the substantial differences between the two projects!!!
finally the 15 Signature Horn Speaker uses a special 5.0 inch compression driver, there will be a new reference in town...
Hi Glonaz - I've heard them as well. Very nice indeed. And they better be better - they are almost twice the price.
I personally though would rather save the price difference and use it to upgrade the rest of the gear to have a more complete system (which is what I did).
You can't go wrong with any of his speakers - they are all excellent!
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