Best Speakers Money Can Buy?

[AudioNew]

I would suggest:
(1) Ask yourself what genre of music you prefer or will listen to the most. My experience is that high-end speakers tend to favor in terms of "believable reproducibility" one genre over another. For example, Sonus Faber speakers excel on orchestral, classical, jazz, especially strings. They are not particularly "good" on hard rock or metal genres. In contrast, I find Focal, Magico do not reproduce classical music well, but are tuned more toward rock and similar genres. Wilson has a unique sound that is very clinical to my ears.

(2) Do you like very detailed sound even at the expense of "warmth?" Wilson's provide every last detail, clearly differentiated. Detail is present, but perhaps in a warmer or more natural way with Sonus Faber and hence the latter may not sound as "articulate".

(3) Be aware that the "upstream" components greatly influence the sound of the speakers. Do you want "tight" impactful bass? Perhaps you would prefer a solid state amp. A "warmer" tone, then perhaps a tube based amp. The preamp also influences the sound and you can certainly mix and match (I have a tube preamp and a solid state amp so I get the "best of both worlds".

(4) Cables make a large difference in the sound as well. I find, for example, the NOrdost line of cables to sound as if there is a veil compared to the Shunyata cables.

In other words, there sound that emanates from the speaker is not dependent only on the speaker per se. You have to go and listen to entire systems.

(5) The precise speaker placement, the room and its treatment are critical. This will take days of experimentation, but in the end can truly provide a wide and deep soundstage and speakers that seem not to exist.

Good Luck on your endeavor!

I do prefer to listen to classical music the most. I know that Sonus Faber has naming and visuals that allude to violins, so it's satisfying to hear that they functionally excel with strings and classical music.

I honestly don't really know what type of sound I truly like, but I did read that very clinical sounds can be tiring for prolonged listening. Do you agree?

It's fascinating to know that the cables also make a difference. I have seen systems where the cables are placed on small stands. Do they also make a difference?

So I understand now that only the sum of the parts can be assessed as being the best for anyone.
Thank you for the kind words and insight!

 

[AudioNew]

do you have any small audio dealers in your area? The ones who have several rooms of different sizes. A visit to a dealer who specializes in true customer support is very helpful. Such folks ask about your goals and try to match your tastes and budget to gear they sell.

Thank you for your advice! I will definitely keep that in mind. For now, I don't think I have clear enough tastes for now.

 

[AudioNew]

Personally I cannot think of an amp I want less than Gryphons.

Now maybe if I had a massive room, with no intention or desire for the presence of any lady folk, then a statement room of gear might be what I want.
But I do not begrudge people that desire a big blingy systems.

With Gryphons, I was referring more to their loudspeakers, and the vertical stringy grilles that they have (like Sonus Faber, Steinway Lyngdorf etc), which is a trivial point on aesthetics that is probably irrelevant to functionality.

Is Gryphon more of an amp focused brand? Most discussions on Gryphon that I've seen on high end audio forums were about their amps and rarely their speakers.

I like to listen to classical music the most. How do people typically get started knowing what type of system they like? It seems like starting with a promising setup would be important even if one fine tunes it with different gear along the way.

Thank you for your time and expertise.

 

[TooCool4]

I have seen systems where the cables are placed on small stands. Do they also make a difference?

For me they do not, I place my cables on risers purely because it makes cleaning the floor easier. I clean the floor easily without having to disturb the cables. I made up the cable risers easily by buying some round discs and gluing them together for the correct hight I needed.

 

[cal3713]

Go to https://www.audiogon.com/systems and start browsing. That's probably the best place to get internet exposure to a wide range of possibilities.

And @Mike Lavigne system is well-respected by everyone that hears it -- in case you want to see one "all out assault" that was done thoughtfully:
https://www.audiogon.com/systems/615

Or if you feel like reading, Romy likes to write about his gospel for how audio should be reproduced and has a very different all out assault system: http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Playback/MyPlayback.aspx

There's roughly an infinite number of ways to skin the cat. Especially if you have unlimited funds. Any poster could go on and on...

 

[Holmz]

…
I like to listen to classical music the most. How do people typically get started knowing what type of system they like? It seems like starting with a promising setup would be important even if one fine tunes it with different gear along the way.

What do you listen to it on now?

Thank you for your time and expertise.

I have no expertise, but I do have 4 opions.

 

[PYP]

Thank you for your advice! I will definitely keep that in mind. For now, I don't think I have clear enough tastes for now.

You are welcome. In reply to your original post: Many, many years ago, when I knew nothing about so-called high-end audio, I took one CD and visited a boutique audio shop. This shop was actually one person whose work was in his home. He had many different speakers attached to the same source (which is perhaps unusual since it seems the more common presentation now is multiple rooms with different priced setups). The benefit was that I was able to listen to a familiar CD using the same gear through different speakers. Of course, they all presented the music in a different way (all very good). It was enlightening and got me on my way.

If you don't mind telling folks where you live (approximately), you might get some suggestions about dealers who are supportive of someone who is starting out and wants to learn. You aren't making a commitment to buy when you visit, but you would want an initial phone conversation regarding expectations with the dealer. There should be no pressure to buy. You bring some of the recordings you listen to so that you have a familiar standard.

 

[cal3713]

With Gryphons, I was referring more to their loudspeakers, and the vertical stringy grilles that they have (like Sonus Faber, Steinway Lyngdorf etc), which is a trivial point on aesthetics that is probably irrelevant to functionality.

Is Gryphon more of an amp focused brand? Most discussions on Gryphon that I've seen on high end audio forums were about their amps and rarely their speakers.

I like to listen to classical music the most. How do people typically get started knowing what type of system they like? It seems like starting with a promising setup would be important even if one fine tunes it with different gear along the way.

Thank you for your time and expertise.

And if you'd like to know more about Gryphon, Hugh, the owner of this thread would be a good source: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...om-build-thread-aka-the-big-dig.28408/page-25

 

[chuck]

I do prefer to listen to classical music the most.

YG Sonja XV3 are the best speakers money can buy for classical music. What color are you going to get?

 

[AudioNew]

What do you listen to it on now?

I usually listen on a streaming service (Youtube Music or just Youtube) with my laptop, with in-ear earphones, so somewhat distanced from the primary focus of this forum....

I have no expertise, but I do have 4 opions.

Are opions kind of like the Confucian onions in your bio? Haha.

 

[AudioNew]

You are welcome. In reply to your original post: Many, many years ago, when I knew nothing about so-called high-end audio, I took one CD and visited a boutique audio shop. This shop was actually one person whose work was in his home. He had many different speakers attached to the same source (which is perhaps unusual since it seems the more common presentation now is multiple rooms with different priced setups). The benefit was that I was able to listen to a familiar CD using the same gear through different speakers. Of course, they all presented the music in a different way (all very good). It was enlightening and got me on my way.

If you don't mind telling folks where you live (approximately), you might get some suggestions about dealers who are supportive of someone who is starting out and wants to learn. You aren't making a commitment to buy when you visit, but you would want an initial phone conversation regarding expectations with the dealer. There should be no pressure to buy. You bring some of the recordings you listen to so that you have a familiar standard.

That sounds like a solid approach to set expectations prior to making a visit! I hadn't considered that before.

 

[AudioNew]

@cal3713 Thank you for the sources! I did not know about Audiogon. I guess all-out assault is the better term for the type of thing I was imagining.

In terms of skinning the cat, with speakers at least I seem to encounter two different approaches. Speakers like MBL and Steinway Lyngdorf Model D market that their speakers allow for good sound across their spaces, while others seem to give ideal sweet spots that give precision in a listening room. The former does seem a bit too good to be true, or there is a tradeoff between them. May I ask for your thoughts on this topic? Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

[AudioNew]

YG Sonja XV3 are the best speakers money can buy for classical music. What color are you going to get?

Haha good one! Is YG Sonja XV3 a good speaker? From my other hobbies, usually when a recommendation is memed on, it's a) the least appropriate choice, b) an overhyped brand with weak fundamentals, or c) a solid but rather bland choice.

 

[Holmz]

I usually listen on a streaming service (Youtube Music or just Youtube) with my laptop, with in-ear earphones, so somewhat distanced from the primary focus of this forum....

What not just stick with ^that^ then?
It seems like it works and makes you happy.

@cal3713 Thank you for the sources! I did not know about Audiogon. I guess all-out assault is the better term for the type of thing I was imagining.

In terms of skinning the cat, with speakers at least I seem to encounter two different approaches. Speakers like MBL and Steinway Lyngdorf Model D market that their speakers allow for good sound across their spaces, while others seem to give ideal sweet spots that give precision in a listening room. The former does seem a bit too good to be true, or there is a tradeoff between them. May I ask for your thoughts on this topic? Thank you for your time and consideration.

There is like a 1/2 century, or maybe more like almost a century, of solid research on ^that^ topic.
It is not opinions - it is more like facts.

Most design choices then do not allow for the alternative choices.
And the choices are made for engineering decisions, cost, and other tradeoff decisions.

Hence there is no generally and universal “what’s best”, until one gets deep into the cul de sacs of decision spaces… where there might be local minimas and maximas.

 

[AudioNew]

What not just stick with ^that^ then?
It seems like it works and makes you happy.

I likely will for the foreseeable future, because it does work for now and don't really have a permanent space right now that makes it practical to assemble a big setup.

There is like a 1/2 century, or maybe more like almost a century, of solid research on ^that^ topic.
It is not opinions - it is more like facts.

Most design choices then do not allow for the alternative choices.
And the choices are made for engineering decisions, cost, and other tradeoff decisions.

Hence there is no generally and universal “what’s best”, until one gets deep into the cul de sacs of decision spaces… where there might be local minimas and maximas.

Are most design choices from high-end audio companies, especially with speakers, based on that century or half century of solid research? There seems to be a wide variety of approaches. I find it difficult to separate the marketing from facts in brands' marketing blurbs.

 

[Holmz]

I likely will for the foreseeable future, because it does work for now and don't really have a permanent space right now that makes it practical to assemble a big setup.

Since a speaker generally speaks in a room, it seems easier to me to start with ‘a room’.

There is sort of no dishonour in getting something like a TDAI-3400 and some used speakers and using that sort of “all in one” amp set up in an apartment type of space.

Alternatively: some DAC/streamer playing into some powered (active speakers).
And you already have something that the IEMs plug into.

Personally I would take that streamer/DAC with you, if you were to find any place to ‘demo’ speakers.
But I forget which city or state you are in?

Are most design choices from high-end audio companies, especially with speakers, based on that century or half century of solid research?

I doubt it.
Harmon and JBL and others do and the trend towards that, whether or not they share it.

There seems to be a wide variety of approaches. I find it difficult to separate the marketing from facts in brands' marketing blurbs.

Welcome to the club.
If you find a speaker then see if there are say Stereophile reviews with graphs.
And there are other sites that do measurements and reviews as well.

The measurements can allow one to find the more flawed designs, and what remains from that initial “sluice box effort”, might be things to try and get a listen to.

If there are no measurements that usually a sign that the marketing may be a fare bit stronger than the engineering.

 

[chuck]

For reference, I have a bluetooth Bose speaker I bought at a mall 10 years ago that I'll sometimes connect to my phone.

That is not a reference. My mom had a Bose Wave Radio, it was awful. Unlistenable on classical music, it would drive me from the room.

Haha good one! Is YG Sonja XV3 a good speaker? From my other hobbies, usually when a recommendation is memed on, it's a) the least appropriate choice, b) an overhyped brand with weak fundamentals, or c) a solid but rather bland choice.

Whatever you say. Let's just say they are not in the same league as a Bose bluetooth speaker.

 

[AudioNew]

That is not a reference. My mom had a Bose Wave Radio, it was awful. Unlistenable on classical music, it would drive me from the room.

Whatever you say. Let's just say they are not in the same league as a Bose bluetooth speaker.

I brought up my Bose to highlight that I am someone with no real point of reference. I am aware that Bose, and bluetooth speakers in general, are poorly regarded by audiophiles from online reading, even though my ears are inexperienced enough that I don't see the horror personally. I apologize if that intent was lost and it seemed like I was making light of this hobby, which I am not.

I suppose YG Sonja XV3s are good speakers. I never heard of the brand so wasn't sure what you meant.

 

[PYP]

I usually listen on a streaming service (Youtube Music or just Youtube) with my laptop, with in-ear earphones, so somewhat distanced from the primary focus of this forum....


Are opions kind of like the Confucian onions in your bio? Haha.

headphones/earphones are their own world. Since you don't have sufficient space now, you might want to think about listening to a few headphone setups. Since that isn't my thing, I cannot suggest where to start. However, as others have said, second hand components are one possible purchasing choice once you have heard a few setups. These folks do a good job of testing second hand gear before selling it: https://tmraudio.com/personal-audio/ You can see a selection of headphone amps and headphones.

There are, of course, forums dedicated to headphone setups. Not sure which is best. Here is one: https://www.head-fi.org/forums/

 

[cal3713]

You're just not going to be able to learn without listening. It's an experiential hobby, there's no objectively best solution that works for everyone. We've all got ears that are sensitive to different weaknesses and brains that enjoy different strengths. And we like different types of music that differentially are affected by both.

The proposition of moving from a Bluetooth speaker to an all-out-assault system is akin to only having driven a go-kart and then buying a McLaren or something.

There's no similarity except they both drive. And you'll probably just wreck the new car the second you touch the gas. Or accidently put basic gas and oil in it and ruin the engine.

Similarly, without the experience of listening and setting up a stereo system on your own, hearing how much the little things change, you're going to end up with a very expensive thing that isn't really working as designed. And maybe isn't even the type of system you'll enjoy.

To go back to the car analogy, if you don't know anything about cars except that they drive, you could easily buy something very fast that's designed only for straight line speed, when what you'd really enjoy more - based on your still undeveloped driving style - is something designed to be incredibly agile. How could you know when you've got no frame of reference?

After moving to a new house I've been working on getting my system setup properly -- without buying a single new component -- for a year and a half. And I'm still extracting more from it every time I make a change -- to the room, the component location, the component supports, the speaker angle, subwoofer locations, subwoofer digital correction, etc, etc, etc.