The best 5 speakers that you have had
- Thread starter thomask
- Start date
Indeed it wasnt great , but it was still better then the category,
No Looks No sound.
Surely that comment was timed to coincide with lagonda's nap. Yet to see him miss an opening that wide.
I've heard quite a few speakers but have only owned four (and counting).
1. 1950s - single JBL speaker with a single 8" driver (dawn of the stereo age, but I couldn't afford a stereo pair)
2. 1970s - Acoustic Research AR9's
3. 1990s - Aerial 10T's
4. 2017 - Magico S3 MkII's
5. 2023 - Magico S3 2023 on order
1. 1950s - single JBL speaker with a single 8" driver (dawn of the stereo age, but I couldn't afford a stereo pair)
2. 1970s - Acoustic Research AR9's
3. 1990s - Aerial 10T's
4. 2017 - Magico S3 MkII's
5. 2023 - Magico S3 2023 on order
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I d rather buy a Multistrada pikes peak if were talking value for money , nice Superduke by the way.
In the Catch 22 sequel Milo minderbinder (in the catch 22 characters he is the shrewd businessman who makes money at every opportunity, no matter what the values) sells the pentagon stealth bombers you can’t hear and you can’t see.
i guess if he was in audio he would sell audiophiles willing to pay up multi million dollar systems that completely disappear
i guess if he was in audio he would sell audiophiles willing to pay up multi million dollar systems that completely disappear
These really do look as though some high level workmanship goes into their production. I like the way the shape reminds me of a Cello (perhaps?)
Somewhat out of my financial reach ha ha.
I had some KEF LS50 Meta speakers a few months ago. I bought them because they're apparently multi award winning speakers. I got them without audioning them, which according to many is a definite no no. Well, unfortunately it was a no. I thought they sounded rather lifeless unless cranked up. I suppose they are quite impressive considering their small size.
I'm Dutch so technically I'm Dutch Craftmanship... ;-)
With what kind of amplifier did you pair the LS50's with? I paired them with the Unsion Tube Amp and I don't think I found them sounding lifeless.. I really appriciate the way they gave a soundstage and how they detailed. But the Elipson's sounded more 'flesh and blood' and gave a bigger sound, maybe that aspect is what you call lifeless, and I understand that.
I partnered them with the Marantz PM8005 I was using at the time. That was a good amp though and the PM8005 (or6) is easily capable of delivering decent headroom (high current to the speakers) to deal with dynamics. The LS50 Meta are actually very impressive for their size. I think they do come to life with less attenuation applied to the amplifier.
I upgraded my integrated amplifier to a Marantz Model 30. I know that the gear I use is by no means "High End", however, it's within my budget and I'm very pleased with the system as a whole now.
I upgraded my integrated amplifier to a Marantz Model 30. I know that the gear I use is by no means "High End", however, it's within my budget and I'm very pleased with the system as a whole now.
What would be the ideal amplifier for each, in your opinion?I have had some speakers over the years that on reflection I probably never really did complete justice to before graduating from them including IMF RSPM Mk IV and I very much enjoyed the Proac Response 2s… plus I’ve been lucky to have babysat longer term some awesome speakers over the years from good mates memorably including Tune Animas and Devore 0/96…
but the best experiences from speakers that I have owned has come from;
Magnepan 3.7
Magnepan 20.7
Harbeth 40.2
Pureaudioproject Trio 15 horn
Pureaudioproject Quintet 15 horn
so much so that I still have 4 of these here
Thanks for including the amplification pairing, it helps paint a picture. Now if only everyone would do that, (and add what they think would be the world's best pairing if not what they had)Martin Logan CLS 1 with 2 Vandersteen subs, driven by Primare 928 monos.
Martin Logan Statement E2 driven by 2 Krell FPB 600 C
MBL 101 E with Martin Logan Statement E2 sub-woofer towers, driven by MBL 9011 amps.
Back to full set of Martin Logan Statement E2 driven by MBL 9011 amps.
Honorable mention to my most used speakers, a pair of very smooth and forgiving Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors with Vandersteen subs, driven by Primare 928 monos, playing TV sound trough a OPPO. All speakers are still around !
I haven't read more than a page after your question, so at the risk of being redundant: BD is for Bert Doppenberg, he is a designer and builder of horn systems in Nunspeet (Netherlands). Look up BD-Design (add "speakers" or you get something else on your search).
Not being evasive but my ideal certainly would not be everyone’s ideal pairings for these…
For the Harbeth 40.2s what I have is in many ways close to my ideal for them… so an otl type preamp and a larger SET (so in my fairly modest setup an LTA preamp into a Line Magnetic LM805, with 48 watts and WE300B driving an 805) but my mate prefers his with solid state so for a SS based listener something like Bricasti monos would be great.
I’m doing the same LTA into another Lm805 for the Pureaudioproject Quintets… but since I’m mostly rarely exceeding a watt or around that my ideal for higher efficient and horn based I’d run an otl or an 10 y based preamp into a really good 300B single ended amp… and if $$$ weren’t an issue I’d probably go Kondo.
With the Magnepan 20.7s I can’t afford and haven’t determined what I’d consider ideal amps to drive them… I sometimes think the issue with ribbon type panels is that they can tend to expose an amps limitations and I’m not sure there is even an ideal tube amp for the big Maggie’s (for me)… just the best compromise though for someone whose ideal amp is SS they might fair better in finding an ideal to drive them.
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