hugginduff
Member
I would like to know what the AK community thinks are the top 5 speakers are considered the best ever? I am going to buy a new or used set of speakers and I need a reference set from which to choose. Thanks
top 5 speakers ever
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similost
Rockin and Rollin....
My personal top 2... Altec Voice of the Theatre A5 and A7... and also Klipsh K-horns..
OK.. I'll add a third, but good luck ever finding a pair.. RCA Theatre 9D speakers... (I believe it is 9D.. or D9, or something 9)
Good luck, you're going to get about 5000 top speakers listed... We all have different tastes and opinions.
OK.. I'll add a third, but good luck ever finding a pair.. RCA Theatre 9D speakers... (I believe it is 9D.. or D9, or something 9)
Good luck, you're going to get about 5000 top speakers listed... We all have different tastes and opinions.
ponderbear
waltzing with sin
Also depends on various factors: is price no object? Is this a two-channel vintage setup, or modern surround? For your living room? For a bedroom? For a street festival?
will you be listening to CDs, BluRay, 8-tracks, studio master reels, long playing records, 78s?
For instance, if it were for my work desktop, and plugging into a modest integrated amp for semi-private listening, I'd rank the Realistic Minimus 7 as #1. Not exactly a direct competitor with the VOTT.
will you be listening to CDs, BluRay, 8-tracks, studio master reels, long playing records, 78s?
For instance, if it were for my work desktop, and plugging into a modest integrated amp for semi-private listening, I'd rank the Realistic Minimus 7 as #1. Not exactly a direct competitor with the VOTT.
hugginduff
Member
This could be floor standing, or bookshelf, for instance the Paradigm mini monitor could be considered one of the best since they are of high quality and low cost...so in general considering price and quality.
markus
Master Procrastinator
I'll go with the top 5 speakers I've owned, or have heard (in no particular order):
Altec 19's (@ fcarpcarp's place):
AMAZING dynamics ! they floored me running off a little Magnavox EL84 PP tube amp . . . I can only imagine what a VOTT Altec can do . . .
Chartwell LS3/5a's (sold looooong ago):
I'm not sure anything could beat these in the 'nearfield' . . . zero bass to speak of, ridiculously complicated crossover, but midrange & imaging to die for :yes:
High Emotion Audio Pipedreams:
HOLY SH*T. . . words really can't describe these babies . . . 7 foot tall line arrays, isobaric (IIRC) dual subwoofer / bassbins . . pushed with MONSTROUS SS amps of similar caliber, these convinced me I was on the right track with my open baffle KLH line arrays.
KLH Model 6:
great sounding 'consumer' grade speaker . . . like most of Henry Kloss' creations, they aren't perfect, but throw some vinyl and tubes at 'em, and you will never grow tired of them. My proof: I got 3 pairs - all different vintages :thmbsp:
Quad ESL's (1st generation - @ mhardy's):
again, I can't really put into words *how* these sound, but, despite their tiny (by modern standards) 'sweet spot' thery throw a 3-D soundstage, and have a transparency that (I've heard) only ESL panels can provide . . .
those are off the top of my head . . . .
hugginduff:
what kind of budget are you looking at ? since, just using my examples, they run the gamut in 'average price' (KLH 6's: $40, LS3/5a's: $1800, Altec 19's: $1000, Quad's: $1000, Pipedreams: $50,000 +)
also, what do you plan to use for an amp ? SET tubes ? 'high power' P/P tubes ? Class A SS, PA monster SS amps ?
so many variables :yes:
Altec 19's (@ fcarpcarp's place):
AMAZING dynamics ! they floored me running off a little Magnavox EL84 PP tube amp . . . I can only imagine what a VOTT Altec can do . . .
Chartwell LS3/5a's (sold looooong ago):
I'm not sure anything could beat these in the 'nearfield' . . . zero bass to speak of, ridiculously complicated crossover, but midrange & imaging to die for :yes:
High Emotion Audio Pipedreams:
HOLY SH*T. . . words really can't describe these babies . . . 7 foot tall line arrays, isobaric (IIRC) dual subwoofer / bassbins . . pushed with MONSTROUS SS amps of similar caliber, these convinced me I was on the right track with my open baffle KLH line arrays.
KLH Model 6:
great sounding 'consumer' grade speaker . . . like most of Henry Kloss' creations, they aren't perfect, but throw some vinyl and tubes at 'em, and you will never grow tired of them. My proof: I got 3 pairs - all different vintages :thmbsp:
Quad ESL's (1st generation - @ mhardy's):
again, I can't really put into words *how* these sound, but, despite their tiny (by modern standards) 'sweet spot' thery throw a 3-D soundstage, and have a transparency that (I've heard) only ESL panels can provide . . .
those are off the top of my head . . . .
hugginduff:
what kind of budget are you looking at ? since, just using my examples, they run the gamut in 'average price' (KLH 6's: $40, LS3/5a's: $1800, Altec 19's: $1000, Quad's: $1000, Pipedreams: $50,000 +)
also, what do you plan to use for an amp ? SET tubes ? 'high power' P/P tubes ? Class A SS, PA monster SS amps ?
so many variables :yes:
ponderbear
waltzing with sin
Now you'll get some useful responses.
Paradigm Monitor 3s, have you heard them? Great value for price point. I've hear some vintage Energys in that size range (8" woofer, 2-way) that are very impressive for the money too. They will need a refoam.
I suspect someone will suggest the Dynaco A25. I have never had the pleasure myself.
Well there are some classics out there.....
Quad ESL-63 (electrostats)
Rogers LS3/5A (mini monitor)
Apogee Diva (full ribbon)
Elipson 1303 FT (floor speaker)
Kef 104/2 (floor speaker)
Celestion SL6I (bookshelf)
Magnepan 3.6 (ribbon)
(european market)
tons of models can be added.....(JBL, Klipschorn, Altec Lansing, B&W etc. etc.) in all kind of different price classes, and in different sizes. lol
Quad ESL-63 (electrostats)
Rogers LS3/5A (mini monitor)
Apogee Diva (full ribbon)
Elipson 1303 FT (floor speaker)
Kef 104/2 (floor speaker)
Celestion SL6I (bookshelf)
Magnepan 3.6 (ribbon)
(european market)
tons of models can be added.....(JBL, Klipschorn, Altec Lansing, B&W etc. etc.) in all kind of different price classes, and in different sizes. lol
similost
Rockin and Rollin....
Starting to get confused yet?
Your best bet? Look on Craigslist for speakers. Shop your Goodwill and Salvation Army, Hit some yard or estate sales. Look for any and all speakers you can find. Try and find Forum members in your area that would probably be pretty happy to have you come over and listen...
Find them and give them all a listen then buy what appeals to you... Our opinions are a dime a dozen, or even more worthless when it comes to telling you what the top 5 choices are. THere are many many fine speakers out there, but each of us likes something differenet for a different reason.
Your best bet? Look on Craigslist for speakers. Shop your Goodwill and Salvation Army, Hit some yard or estate sales. Look for any and all speakers you can find. Try and find Forum members in your area that would probably be pretty happy to have you come over and listen...
Find them and give them all a listen then buy what appeals to you... Our opinions are a dime a dozen, or even more worthless when it comes to telling you what the top 5 choices are. THere are many many fine speakers out there, but each of us likes something differenet for a different reason.
Ask 80sLover!
jgmacv
Fluroscan Lover
Depends plenty on your price point -- what's your budget? Best 5 ever is just way too vague to answer.
VintInfinity
Tactophonic
Best speakers I have ever heard were about $80,000 including mods, with $100K in electronics behind them... MBL 101Es
Probably out of your budget, and mine.. but you asked.
I also quite like my McIntosh 1900 with some $140 Original Large Advents in the walnut cabs.
Probably out of your budget, and mine.. but you asked.
I also quite like my McIntosh 1900 with some $140 Original Large Advents in the walnut cabs.
Splatter Pak
High-End Scrounger
Stax (ear)speakers.
To cover most everything....
New Large Advent (own)
Realistic Minimus-12 (own)
Altec VOTT
McIntosh Line Arrays (don't know model heard at a demo)
Acoustic Research AR4x (own)
That's my list....I know that it will change.
New Large Advent (own)
Realistic Minimus-12 (own)
Altec VOTT
McIntosh Line Arrays (don't know model heard at a demo)
Acoustic Research AR4x (own)
That's my list....I know that it will change.
markus
Master Procrastinator
EASY one:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=121137
EXCEPT, there is also this:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=65536
