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What is your perfect speaker?

I wouldn't point to a particular commercial speaker, though the Gedlee Summa Cum Laude, Linkwitz Phoenix/Orion, and Unity Horn based lambda acoustics towers come to mind. I would say that my perfect speaker would have certain traits. Flat freq response, controlled directivity (dipole or waveguides) to avoid room reflection problems, excellent extension from below 20hz in room to above 20khz. I'd want only the drivers producing sound, not cabinets, so acoustically inert (as possible) cabinets or preferably without cabinets (dipole). I'd want them very sensitive (95-100dB range would be ideal). I'd want the drivers time aligned via either driver alignment or electronic compensation. If using horns/waveguides, I'd want a geometry on the horn that would minimize higher order modes (HOMs-the characteristic that is pretty consistently the problem people have with front loaded horns).

I'd want them supplemented with 4 subwoofers to minimize placement issues, make integration in the room easier, and to get very consistent bass levels throughout the room.

All active crossovers, of course. :)
 
cubdog said:
...make it a speaker you can afford.
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What I can really, honestly afford without the wife fussing: Infinity RS-IIbs.
If I stretch a little: RS-Ibs.
If I stretch a lot and eat nothing but rice and Ramen noodles for a year: IRS Betas.
 
Yeah, bring on the 2 year old threads!! I missed it the first time so...

dnewma04 said:
I would say that my perfect speaker would have certain traits.
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Dang, Dave. You don't want much do you?

I'd want only the drivers producing sound, not cabinets, so acoustically inert (as possible) cabinets or preferably without cabinets (dipole).
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FWIW, I know a few people who have built totally inert (or as close as possible within reason) cabinets and none of them like it. This guy did some out of billet aluminum, checked with accelerometers and he said he couldn't listen to them. He sells $35k/pair speakers and used top notch guts he just said they were "dead" sounding. Funky. I've heard some of his work and he's good, if a bit of a tweakophile.

For my personal favorite...hmmm, I dunno. If I had a few grand laying around and went to buy speakers tomorrow then Magnepans would be high on my list. I've also liked Apogees since I first heard Duettas back in the late 80's. For horn stuff the Edgarhorn Titans mentioned back in antiquity when this thread was young are pretty impressive but I've always liked planars better than horns for whatever reason. For cones-n-domes I'd probaby do something myself like my MTM TLs but with high end drivers like SS 9500/7" revelator. Guess I'd better start saving some pennies.

Ray
 
JBL 4311's
Smaller Advent's

Never heard, but want to:
Altec Model 19's
AR-9's
Altec VOTT's
Large Advent's
 
Perfect speakers?.........

Howdy,
My question would be, Perfect for what?....Perfect for Jazz, Perfect for
Rock, Perfect for Classical? Don't know about everyone else, but I'm still
looking.....And since it is subjective, and even possibly to whether I need
a 'fresh' battery for my hearing aid, (I hear you chuckling!) Have not found
Perfect yet, but am looking.....Love the Cornwalls, Love the JBL's, Am liking
the Phase Tech's more and more, BUT, the Holy Grail is still as illusive as the
mist,....Hmmm, So happy seeking, fellow knights,....Stay in touch,....Cheers!:yes:
 
Perfect Speakers?

I just finished the crossovers tonight.

They're two-ways with extended-bass woofers and compression driver/waveguide mids and highs compensated to provide flat frequency response.

Yeah, time-aligned and all that other stuff, too.

[Dave will have to get his subs elsewhere, tho.... :yes: ]

:music:​
 
There were a Swedish loudspeaker brand manufactured during the -70´s
called Sonab. They were very popular and were exported to many contries.

The Sonabs were the only speakers I could find in these days that didn´d sound like normal speakers.They did not have the coloring and distorsion that were significant for most speakers.
Today these Sonabs have become a real cult speaker,and there is a site where You can find information how to renovate and so on.
I have renovated OD11,OA12 and OA14 with newly designed woofer replacements,tweeters and updated xo,according to this site.
I can tell You this is speakers without any speaker sound,the clearness and openess is unbelievable.
/gusten
 
cubdog said:
Ok, previously I have asked for opinions on favorite vintage speakers. I have also posted about my inability to find a speaker that is hard to find fault with. So, if you can only choose one speaker to live with, what do you choose. Be realistic make it a speaker you can afford. I'm really interested in what everyone might consider to be a near perfect speaker.

cubdog
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What a dumb question.:D

cubdog
 
I thought my AR9's were the ultimates...then I found, had repaired, and listened to Magnapan SMG's (augmented with individual 10", 80hz subs)- now those are my all time favorites. I am currently putting together 5.1 preamp and amps HT system....
DC
 
"I just finished the crossovers tonight.

They're two-ways with extended-bass woofers and compression driver/waveguide mids and highs compensated to provide flat frequency response.

Yeah, time-aligned and all that other stuff."

Would you care to share more about this design Zilch. Thanks.
 
Given a limited budget and space I haven't tried nearly as many varieties of speakers as I'd have liked, but for the moment my favourites are my Vandersteen 2C's. I got them for very little $$$I don't tend to listen at really high levels. A high proportion of my listening is to classical or jazz and the depth and imaging I get from the 2C's is just the thing. They're really non-fatiguing and they get down low enough on the bottom end that organ recordings don't have notes dropping out, but aren't boomy. My NS 1000's would be my second choice, lovely speakers (as many attest here with regularity), just not quite the depth and imaging in my small room. Maybe once I have a larger room things will change on that front. Both speaker designs bring out a wealth of detail, something I absolutely have to have and at very low distortion levels. I think both are quite neutral and that's another "must" for me.
 
I bought a brand new pair of AR 2ax's 32 years ago and have been listening to them continuously ever since, so I would have to say these fit that description for me. I listened to and rejected something like two dozen other speakers (including then higher in the AR line AR-3a and AR-5) before buying these, so they were not a cost compromise for me, I just liked their sound better. I've since picked up a pair of 3a's and a pair of 6's that I use in other rooms, but the 2ax's remain my favorites.
 
I suppose I will have to say Realistic brand speakers are my perfect speakers. They are surprisingly good. I like anything that sounds natural. I've got a pair of MC-1200's. I've heard they can only handle 25 watts each but they sound awesome within their range. I've got them hooked up to a 100w amp and they start cutting out around 6 out of 10 on the dial which isn't bad in a small room. I've always wondered why each 8" woofer can only produce up to 20 watts of power. Most woofers I see today that are the same size put out 50 watts or more.
 
Trance88 said:
I've always wondered why each 8" woofer can only produce up to 20 watts of power. Most woofers I see today that are the same size put out 50 watts or more.
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I think you're confusing capacity with capability. Speakers don't really "produce" power, they consume it. If your speakers are rated at 25W vs others rated at 50W or more, they need less power from the amp than the others. Your speakers are more efficient; be happy and spend less on your amplifier.
 
gkimeng said:
I think you're confusing capacity with capability. Speakers don't really "produce" power, they consume it. If your speakers are rated at 25W vs others rated at 50W or more, they need less power from the amp than the others. Your speakers are more efficient; be happy and spend less on your amplifier.
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I think you are making a correlation that doesn't necessarily exist. Power handling and sensitivity aren't directly correlated. It's true that in terms of bass extension, increasing efficiency by way of increasing the box size will lower power handling. However, power handling ratings on speakers are typically driven by thermal ratings. Some mfgs will actually show both thermal and mechanical power handling ratings, but it's fairly rare.
 
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