What are the best loudspeakers you have heard?

Discussion in 'Hi-Fi and General Audio' started by hifi addict, Jun 27, 2008.

  1. hifi addict

    cooky1257

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2007
    Messages:
    797
    Likes Received:
    1
    Westlake TM3's
    Tannoy Westminster Royals
    Funktion 1's
    Bose 601's

    Tee hee just kidding with the last one:D
     
    cooky1257, Jun 28, 2008
    #21
  2. hifi addict

    pixies a menace to society

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    Messages:
    119
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    cambridgeshire
    I keep trying expensive convential speakers; just borrowed some £9,500 Wilson speakers but I always return to my Quad electrostatics -they're not perfect but I feel that other speakers just miss out on something that the Quads take for granted. Just when you think you've found a convential speaker that is near perfect it'll do something to the music that it shouldn't do because of the way it's made and no tweaking of placement, electronics or cables will change. I've had them several years now and I still sometimes listen to them with absolute disbelief of the detail and intamacy they provide without even trying. like all good speakers, you have to live them with to appreciate them - a two hour audition in a hifi shop isn't enough - probably why so many people are unfairly dissmissive. Best speaker on the planet for three and a half grand - their loss!
     
    pixies, Jun 28, 2008
    #22
  3. hifi addict

    cooky1257

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2007
    Messages:
    797
    Likes Received:
    1
    There's some going for a lot less than that in the classifieds.
     
    cooky1257, Jun 28, 2008
    #23
  4. hifi addict

    pixies a menace to society

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    Messages:
    119
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    cambridgeshire
    double the bargain then!
     
    pixies, Jun 28, 2008
    #24
  5. hifi addict

    titian

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2003
    Messages:
    973
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Switzerland
    FYI the speakers and the subs are considered to be together (System 16). They weren't made to be used seperately. Also consider that the electronics that was connected to them, when you were here, wasn't working properly. :D

    regards
     
    titian, Jun 28, 2008
    #25
  6. hifi addict

    hi-fi evangelis

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2007
    Messages:
    53
    Likes Received:
    0
    magnaplanner typanni think how its spelt heard some years ago at heathrow penta hotel.
    followed by
    lindley quad57 rebuild by peter lindley you have to hear these not normal stacked quads.
    avantguarde trios can be a bit in your face but very realistic
    impulse h1 s
    audionote E sp s
     
    hi-fi evangelis, Jun 28, 2008
    #26
  7. hifi addict

    Dev Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,764
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Ilford, Essex, UK
    Thanks Titian. I guess I shouldn't hear them now, I'd be even more envious:D.
     
    Dev, Jun 28, 2008
    #27
  8. hifi addict

    Knotty

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2005
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Agreed on the Horning Agathons, I heard these recently when listening to new amps and would gladly have come away with the speakers instead. Just out of interest has anyone heard the Aristoteles from the Horning range as they may be more suited to my room size.
     
    Knotty, Jun 28, 2008
    #28
  9. hifi addict

    narabdela

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2004
    Messages:
    407
    Likes Received:
    2
    Big Tannoys or Quad Electrostatics. Everything else sounds like loudspeakers.
     
    narabdela, Jun 28, 2008
    #29
  10. hifi addict

    D Louth 77

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    377
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi hi-fi evangelis

    I knew Peter Lindley about 15 years ago. What an amazing guy and a real gentleman. He did rebuilds on classic valve amps Quad ,Leak ,Radford,Tva etc as well as having his own speakers . however when is wife died he went of the rails a bit and i lost touch with him . Does anyone know if he made it or is he dead as i suspect ? He was one of those rare talents that needed a guiding hand to keep him on the straight and narrow(a role his wife had).

    Regards D Louth
     
    D Louth 77, Jun 28, 2008
    #30
  11. hifi addict

    titian

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2003
    Messages:
    973
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Switzerland
    No, because what is better for me doesn't mean that it is also for you. ... but Lee agrees with me (Lee says hi from Switzerland) :MILD:
     
    titian, Jun 28, 2008
    #31
  12. hifi addict

    Dev Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    5,764
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Ilford, Essex, UK
    Tell him I hate him!, and wish I was there with you guys instead of working on this beautiful sunny day.
     
    Dev, Jun 28, 2008
    #32
  13. hifi addict

    zanash

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2003
    Messages:
    3,826
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Notts.
    For the lower end of the market I've not heard better than the Aurausal [?] ali full range driver jobies .....

    I could easily live happily ever after with a set if I had too.
     
    zanash, Jun 28, 2008
    #33
  14. hifi addict

    LiloLee Blah, Blah, Blah.........

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2003
    Messages:
    789
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Maidenhead, Berkshire
    You'd hate it. Had a BBQ outside with the family, came in listen to a couple of things then when it got dark watch the Drummers of Kodo on his new 100inch screen, full whack (literally) into his subs, phew. No Dev you'd hate it.

    Oh better make this on topic.
    Tannoy Westminsters are so wrong but so right. As are ESL57's. I well remember a room jammed with Wilson Sophia with full on AR valves. That was yummy.

    Oh and the best was Living Voice AirForce and AirScouts driven by a prototype Border Patrol 300b with a Marantz CD63KI. Who says you need expensive CDP's?
    [​IMG]
     
    LiloLee, Jun 28, 2008
    #34
  15. hifi addict

    JANDL100

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2004
    Messages:
    411
    Likes Received:
    1
    I love my current Quad 57 ESLs, and I've owned Martin Logan CLS2z full range stats and Electrostatic Research Vista II stat hybrids - both fantastic speakers. My old Avantgarde Unos and Kharma Ceramique 3 weren't exactly chopped liver, either! :D

    But my all time fave must be big MBL 'radialstrahlers'. I've only heard them at Shows but ... Ooooh, I want them real bad - but no way can I afford them or the room to put them in! :(
     
    JANDL100, Jun 29, 2008
    #35
  16. hifi addict

    larkrise Sheepdogs prefer red wine

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2005
    Messages:
    735
    Likes Received:
    0
    Quad ESL63 PRO version with silver capacitor mod (currently using these)
    Sonus Faber Extrema
    QLN (the older pyramid shaped speaker) really, not kidding!
    Alison One (under-rated yet can sound astonishing)
    Quad ESL57 if you can get them set up right in your room
     
    larkrise, Jul 2, 2008
    #36
  17. hifi addict

    Rocker

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2005
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Ireland
    It is fashionable on internet Forums to claim to NOT like Wilson Audio speakers but if I had the room size and the money to buy them, I would have a pair of System 7s in a flash. In racing green.
     
    Rocker, Jul 2, 2008
    #37
  18. hifi addict

    Class A

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2004
    Messages:
    334
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Martin Logan CLS-2Z. Best midband....
    Nola Baby grand Reference....best scale/ soundstage
    Revel Ultimate salon.....Awesome bass.
     
    Class A, Jul 2, 2008
    #38
  19. hifi addict

    bottleneck talks a load of rubbish

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    6,766
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    bucks
    aah yes - love that early living voice system. So cheap and easy to copy if you drop the Vitavox S2 out of the equation too. Top stuff!

    Having a big enough room is the main reason not to do so of course :)

    Also, looks like Dali 104's next to them - the predecessor to Living Voice Auditorium/Avatar. A great second hand buy if you can get a pair for a few hundred quid... rare I know...but..

    I agree to on ESL57s and large Tannoys (GRF's and Autographs in my case). I love what they do, but they will always be a curate's egg for me.


     
    bottleneck, Jul 2, 2008
    #39
  20. hifi addict

    robM

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2004
    Messages:
    347
    Likes Received:
    0
    in no particular order:

    ATC SCM300ASL PRO
    ATC SCM200ASL PRO
    ATC SCM150ASL PRO
    ATC SCM100ASL PRO
    Acoustic Energy AE1 MK3 Signature/ Reference Series
    1980's Realistic mini monitors (about £50 in 1989).
     
    robM, Jul 2, 2008
    #40
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.