View Full Version : Your Forever Endgame Speaker?
southall-1998_mk2
17-12-2019, 20:23
If I won some money, even if it's just 5-8k. My last ever speaker, will be the new JBL L100 Classics. If not JBL's. Then the Harbeth SHL5. The original model, not the plus.
How about you lot?
S.
For me it would be the Graham Audio LS5/9 (https://www.grahamaudio.co.uk/products/ls59/). Loved them every time I've heard them.
If we're allowed a second - Fujitsu TD712z (https://www.eclipse-td.com/uk/products/td712zmk2/index.html). I love my TD512 speakers, and would love to replace them with this model.
walpurgis
17-12-2019, 20:29
My endgame speaker? Well actually I'd have a pair :).
JBL's and Harbeths are about as different from each other as it's possible to get Shane.
As for mine, I guess I'd have to build them myself, as they can't be bought. I'd probably go for serviced (by me) Tannoy HPD 295A drivers in 1/4 wave transmission line cabiniets.
southall-1998_mk2
17-12-2019, 20:33
My endgame speaker? Well actually I'd have a pair :).
JBL's and Harbeths are about as different from each other as it's possible to get Shane.
As for mine, I guess I'd have to build them myself, as they can't be bought. I'd probably go for serviced (by me) Tannoy HPD 295A drivers in 1/4 wave transmission line cabiniets.
Indeed. But I can happily live with either.
S.
The edingdale are my endgame. As good as it gets for non silly money
Marten Coltrane 3 perhaps
https://www.stereophile.com/images/styles/600_wide/public/616marten.promo_.jpg
——————-
I recently heard the Marten Bird 2 and it really was excellent - if the Coltrane is better then I’m happy!
http://www.ultrahighendreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/marten_getz.jpg
Hibster_2000
17-12-2019, 21:09
I think that the speaker/room interaction needs to be taken into consideration, so an endgame speaker is only possible with an endgame room....
Yeah, I nearly added that I would also have to move the whole system to a different room ;) - but I guess that’s not really what the spirit of the thread is about?
Spectral Morn
17-12-2019, 21:24
I think I have them, Anthony Gallo Ref 3.5s
There may be better out there, but they give me zero cabinet colouration, fantastic imaging, soundstaging and as close to full range in a small room as I think I can get.
Harbeth SHL5 still my favourite speaker I have listened to so far. My Spendor SP1's though are not too dissimilar, and will remain until I win the lottery, though they've been in storage for over 18 months. Should be getting them back in use in the New Year, can't wait. :)
@ Anthony Gallo Ref 3.5s - A very interesting speaker given its construction, Linaeum style tweeter and extremely minimalist crossover.
————
I’m afraid none of Harbeth’s speakers would even make my top ten (despite some being excellent speakers).
My endgame speakers are the ones currently in my living room, not mega expensive but the best balance in the room, Q Acoustics Concept 40s, if I had unlimited funds and a bigger room that would handle them then it would be the Concept 500s.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RobbieGong
17-12-2019, 22:36
Hard to say as I'd want to hear a few in my own system (Never easy I know)
But, I do have a hankering for the bigger brother to my Spendor D7s, the D9 one day.
I really liked these too when I heard them:
https://www.stereophile.com/images/styles/600_wide/public/713yg.promo_.jpg
YG Acoustics Sonja 1.3
I've been tussling with this for a long time, and as well as agonising, and spending a lot of money and time in a frenetic attempt to get a final resolution.
I Had Tannoy 15" Gold Lancasters from '71 to '85, when I bought some ESS Monitors and rebuilt them - much time and money.
Then I got the idea that accuracy was the important thing and bought a pair of ATC S50s second hand, which I never really liked, and then changed to the ATC Mk 1 SCM 50A. All my associate telecoms engineers said that I was going backwards.
Then I changed to ATC SCM50 Mk 2, better, but in a new house and room they were lost, so I changed to SCM100s. Still not happy with 'lack of air', I rebuilt them, two months and £1k, and they were better; Bill Woodman asked me to provide an account of my work which I did.
Still Yearning fore the Heil airiness, I bought a pair of ESS AMT 1bs in '02, and rebuilt them to to AMT1d spec. Happy with Late Junction for a few years, but the accuracy thing got the better of me, and I decided to change the mid/woofer for the BBC LS 5/8 one, rebuild the cabinets, and redesign the Xovers. More accurate, but I was still in doubt, not able to measure the results which were based on numerous calculations.
In Oct '16 I went 'out on a limb' and bought a pair of ADAM Tensor Gammas, very good but odd bass in my room, and I sold them to a guy on AoS. I then won a legal case and bought a pair of the Betas which I now have and am still evaluating and questioning. They produce the widest range of SQ with material of any speaker I have had. Speech quality from broadcasts is now so variable that much is unintelligible. I considered buying the Alphas.
So I have been considering Blades and Revel Salon2s. Friends say that what I have is as good as can be done for the money, and the hassle of changing and trying is a mentally exhausting thought, let alone the activity itself.
I have come to the conclusion that we have golden/perfect moments in our auditory experience, usually when we have a revolutionary, (to us) breakthrough, and that we try to keep that going, but it is a rare thing, and also affected by cultural events.
When Hi-Fi was in its real growth phase, the music was not only poignant, and for a wide section of the population, but also used the increased resolution as a part of the art, so it was revelatory. No we get almost everything resolution wise, and IMO the art generally is poor. So it was an age and time of renaissance, not to be regained.
There are a lot of speakers out there, especially up to £30k, but above that price the jewellery factor comes in very much, and also a large number of very competent speakers below that price point.
Quite content with these babies
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49104342843_89185c991d_h.jpg
paulf-2007
18-12-2019, 12:56
Have mine in my room, well the drivers for sure, the cabinet design could change if I had a bigger room. The only other speaker itch I have is for rullit field coils, so if I had money to waste I would give them a try.
AJSki2fly
18-12-2019, 13:27
Quite content with these babies
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49104342843_89185c991d_h.jpg
Snap, I love my pair too.:)
https://i.postimg.cc/2y5SrJGT/fullsizeoutput-3e42.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PpBjMSB8)
Hibster_2000
18-12-2019, 17:24
I am not sure what my end game speaker is.
I would want something that does scale and dynamics in an epic way, but conveys the softer passages as well.
My listening room will change when Inretire, and I will assess new speakers at that point of my life.
Coming next year with the TAD reference range
I'm intrigued by your dismissal of Harbeth Mark, why exactly?
topoxforddoc
18-12-2019, 17:54
I'm at the end game now for everything - very happy with my Avantgarde Duo speakers, which have been there for 15 years now. I can't see me changing anything now.
https://i.vgy.me/0tcXOh.jpg
At the moment I am using my favourite speakers (so far) a 1972 pair of Spendor BC1 - no mods. They are very musical and I just love the rhythm they can convey (listen to Santana or Buena Vista Social Club without moving - I dare you). If their newer speakers are better then they must be something very special.
Previously I have used KEF Reference 104ab and B&W DM2a speakers (can you see a theme here?)
I also was impressed by a pair of Mission 753 speakers that a friend had a long time ago. Or Gale GS401.....
The most impressive speakers I have heard (a long time ago) were a pair of AMCRON (Crown of America) ELS speakers. I'd love to try them again or a pair of B&W DM70. Is anyone still using them?
My mighty edingdale towers
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191218/a19bc1d2b4daaa32396ad54bd25bfcf4.jpg
Rosewind
18-12-2019, 20:19
I've got them here: Quad ESL 57. I would love another set for my livingroom (although they would be placed on the floor).
https://i.imgur.com/1tunI2Bh.jpg
Hi Mark
New designs coming promising a good step up in performance.
hifinutt
18-12-2019, 21:33
The tad cr1 in the aos gallery certainly look the business. My end game speaker would probably be top of the range verity audio as they are beautifully built, flexible and sound so natural.
Hi Mark
New designs coming promising a good step up in performance.
Cool, I look forward to seeing and hearing those - TAD make fantastic speakers and drivers.
paulf-2007
18-12-2019, 22:10
I'm at the end game now for everything - very happy with my Avantgarde Duo speakers, which have been there for 15 years now. I can't see me changing anything now.
https://i.vgy.me/0tcXOh.jpg
Very special Charlie
Thetiminator
18-12-2019, 22:36
My Living Voice horns have proved to be my endgame speaker. Standing 6ft 6in and finished in black leather....now they just need stilettos to go the full S&M :eek:
There’s a couple of B&W DB1’s in each corner to add support sub 50hz.
https://i.imgur.com/PGysZbH.jpg
Beobloke
18-12-2019, 23:26
My endgame speakers are the B&O Beolab 90s in our lounge.
No contest. Audio Note ANJ’s. I’ve never heard a speaker I enjoy more. The craftsmanship on my current pair is simply ‘exquisite’!
southall-1998_mk2
19-12-2019, 13:21
No contest. Audio Note ANJ’s. I’ve never heard a speaker I enjoy more. The craftsmanship on my current pair is simply ‘exquisite’!
I'm quite fond of the AN-J's. My father used have some with silver internal wiring. Which AN-J do you have?
S.
My Living Voice horns have proved to be my endgame speaker. Standing 6ft 6in and finished in black leather....now they just need stilettos to go the full S&M :eek:
There’s a couple of B&W DB1’s in each corner to add support sub 50hz.
https://i.imgur.com/PGysZbH.jpg
love the pictures Tim
scotty38
19-12-2019, 13:32
I'm quite fond of the AN-J's. My father used have some with silver internal wiring. Which AN-J do you have?
S.
I know Mark has AN-J/LX Hemp in high gloss olive as I have his "old" AN-K/LX in high gloss olive and I couldn't want for more either....
Ammonite Audio
19-12-2019, 14:12
The most extraordinary and unexpectedly wonderful speakers that I've ever heard are the Japanese Maxonic TW1100. They cost £75k, including the field coil energisers, look hideous, but play music better than anything else that I've heard, to date. As a bonus, while hideous, they are relatively modestly sized so no need to live with some sort of monster looming over the room, and the odd looking feet remind me of Bleep & Booster from 1960s Blue Peter annuals. These are without doubt my cost-no-object speakers.
Here's a pic, borrowed from Brook Audio:
https://www.brookaudio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/maxonic-tw1100-loudspeakers00.jpg
The most extraordinary and unexpectedly wonderful speakers that I've ever heard are the Japanese Maxonic TW1100. They cost £75k, including the field coil energisers, look hideous, but play music better than anything else that I've heard, to date. As a bonus, while hideous, they are relatively modestly sized so no need to live with some sort of monster looming over the room, and the odd looking feet remind me of Bleep & Booster from 1960s Blue Peter annuals. These are without doubt my cost-no-object speakers.
Here's a pic, borrowed from Brook Audio:
https://www.brookaudio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/maxonic-tw1100-loudspeakers00.jpg
Look homemade.:)
The most extraordinary and unexpectedly wonderful speakers that I've ever heard are the Japanese Maxonic TW1100. They cost £75k, including the field coil energisers, look hideous, but play music better than anything else that I've heard, to date. As a bonus, while hideous, they are relatively modestly sized so no need to live with some sort of monster looming over the room, and the odd looking feet remind me of Bleep & Booster from 1960s Blue Peter annuals. These are without doubt my cost-no-object speakers.
Here's a pic, borrowed from Brook Audio:
https://www.brookaudio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/maxonic-tw1100-loudspeakers00.jpgI heard those at a show and I thought they were poor. It just shows how important the room is and also personal taste.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
I’ve heard the Maxonic speakers a number of times in the, excellent, Brook Audio dem room. As all drivers are field coils designs I feel they may be more to my own taste with a bit of adjustment to the drivers power supplies (which the speakers do allow).
It is important to accept that hearing is a brain function, and this is dependant on development and education.
I'm quite fond of the AN-J's. My father used have some with silver internal wiring. Which AN-J do you have?
S.
Yes, ANJ LX’s in High Gloss Olive with Blue Hemp. Sound fab!
My endgame speakers are the B&O Beolab 90s in our lounge.
:eek:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zwVnDcUngA
Pieoftheday
19-12-2019, 18:44
It is important to accept that hearing is a brain function, and this is dependant on development and education.
Hearing is not dependent on education ,it depends on whether your lugs transmit sounds to your brain,
Shovel_Knight
19-12-2019, 22:06
I have bad taste and poor imagination, I would get Klipsch Heresies :D
Actually, financially they're very much within reach, but they definitely require a separate listening room which I cannot afford at the moment.
Realistically, and unless I win the Lottery and buy a massive house, think my Impulse H2’s are it.
May go down the road of rewiring internally, external upgraded crossovers at some point, but aside that?
Think I’m done speaker wise.
James, what I have stated is well established fact. I did not mean by "education", studying at college, but the internal 'software development' which the brain undergoes. hearing is largely an interpretational function.
Opti-cal
20-12-2019, 10:27
It is important to accept that hearing is a brain function, and this is dependant on development and education.
A brain function indeed but hearing is a product of evolution and genetics, nowt to do with "education" (however you meant it).
You can 'educate' (train) your ears and brain to listen for certain things but it can't improve your ability to hear. Is that what you mean possibly?
hornucopia
20-12-2019, 10:40
Improve your hearing? Marihuana, maybe?
As to speakers....there are so MANY to choose from.
Cube Nenuphar, until the bigger ones arrive.
Opti-cal
20-12-2019, 10:44
Improve your hearing? Marihuana, maybe?
Appreciate the music . . . maybe. Ha
Phil
The CR-1 has now ceased production so they will be even more sought after
What is coming is pretty special
hifinutt
20-12-2019, 18:52
mmm sounds good
Pigmy Pony
20-12-2019, 18:58
Tannoy Kingdom Royals. Who am I kidding? These are "maybe in the next life" speakers :(
The Maxonic Field Coils are the most expensive speaker I have heard for extended listening.
It has always been a pleasure to hear personal owned devices through them, when visiting Brook Audio.
The most memorable speaker I have heard is Ali Taits Four Way Active OB :eyebrows::eyebrows::eyebrows:
Close to Ali, is another OB produced by Steve Shiel's.
I've had 57's in the system since the late 90's,
My can't part with speaker that is yet to be beaten of their pedestal, is my 2014 OTA Refurbed 57's, being driven by the 845 Mono's.
I gave them a blast at the Wam Show in 2019, that was great fun :)
VanDerGraaf
20-12-2019, 21:55
:eek:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zwVnDcUngA
I think I could put up with those:)
I doubt I will reach "end game" anytime soon. Last year I thought I had perhaps reached it with my purchase of the Neeper Perfection Ones- in their day a 5 figure price tag speaker. Superb in many ways, but I could not get to grips with the low end. They went low but I think they proved I can never own speakers with small drivers...
The things I like in a speaker are things you don't find much in modern design- infinite baffle, large drivers, something not shaped like a slim tower!
Anything end game for me would preferably have some curves and unusual styling as well as stellar sound.
A brain function indeed but hearing is a product of evolution and genetics, nowt to do with "education" (however you meant it).
You can 'educate' (train) your ears and brain to listen for certain things but it can't improve your ability to hear. Is that what you mean possibly?
The fundamentals of the mechanism are fixed by genetics, (hearing), but by listening, as with so much else in the body, it can be trained, and if improvements are made this can be thought of as education. We can learn to be discriminate and selective for example.
The 'software' is separate from the hardware, the latter of which degenerates, and for which I think the former can compensate to an extent.
We can work at increasing our perceptive ability, spies do it, and so do weapons engineers and bomb defusers.
Idlewithnodrive
21-12-2019, 16:43
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kp7cD4oea2zzf2KS9
Give up, it shouldn't be this difficult.
topoxforddoc
21-12-2019, 22:55
Even Norman Watt-Roy liked my Avantgarde Duos :)
PS the Gin and Tonic helped
https://i.vgy.me/0tPxae.jpg
Frazeur1
22-12-2019, 00:37
I love my current speakers, Duevel Venus, maybe moving up the line would be great but my end game choice would probably be the Shahinian Diapasons, or a little cheaper, the Hawks. I used to have the Obelisk and still regret getting rid of them!
VanDerGraaf
22-12-2019, 10:46
I love my current speakers, Duevel Venus, maybe moving up the line would be great but my end game choice would probably be the Shahinian Diapasons, or a little cheaper, the Hawks. I used to have the Obelisk and still regret getting rid of them!
I used to have a pair of Duevel Planets. Excellent speakers- I can imagine their bigger more advanced relations (Bella Luna?) could represent the end of the road for someone.
The Diapsons look formidable!
Frazeur1
22-12-2019, 12:59
Yes, the Bella Luna Diamanté or Sirius would be nice! Then a bigger room, different amplifiers, would also need to be employed. It never ends!
Nexusmaximus
05-02-2020, 16:13
My Apogee Duetta Signatures will most likely be my final speaker. They began life as an itch to be scratched, until I heard them and unlike other panel speakers I had heard before, I heard the bass... soooo much bass, the sound was obscene in all honesty, but in the very best of ways. My collection will however remain fluid for the small part, but these gems will remain in my main system.
AJSki2fly
05-02-2020, 16:36
If I won the lottery and had my own dedicated music room then it would be these babies driven with a pair of Jardis amps pre and power as below, I have heard a very simpler set up and it all just sound so real:eek:
The Rockport Lyra's is a snip at $149,500 per pair delivered setup and voiced. By the way they weigh 560 lbs. each so shipping will be pricey.
Jardis JP500's
https://i.postimg.cc/zDsjJKC8/jp500-2-2019.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Jardis JA500's
https://i.postimg.cc/CLb4d57D/ja500-last-jpeg-site.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Rockport Lyra
https://i.postimg.cc/LsxJb3sR/Lyra.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
I hope to be hearing my end game speakers this coming Friday... home demoing a pair of Harbeth 40.2 anniversary model
Mac
Made in 1968
09-02-2020, 22:51
Nice those Jadis Adrian.. I always fancied the early Yves Bernard Andr'e [YBA] amps & the early Class'e stuff.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274010539935
My current Impulse H2 horn speakers.
More than supersede the boundaries of my amp and my room.
Mike Reed
10-02-2020, 15:16
My end-game speakers would be bigger versions of my current Quad 2905s. There was talk that they were developing one such but that rumour has gone cold. Bigger as in height, not width, of course. Having said that, I haven't heard M.L. Summit Xes so I could be swayed.
https://i.imgur.com/gmNFk0K.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gmNFk0K.jpg
Nice Levinson amps. You can keep the rest!
Made in 1968
10-02-2020, 19:22
B&W '808' were great speakers, i wouldnt say no..
southall-1998_mk2
10-02-2020, 19:33
https://i.imgur.com/gmNFk0K.jpg
No thanks!
S.
Nice Levinson amps. You can keep the rest!Are you insane?
I think the speakers might be the feature that wins over some ML amps.
I'd take them unheard then sell them if they were shite. But I reckon they'd probably do what I wanted them to.
End game speaker? Probably not what I'd choose with budget no issue.
Even Norman Watt-Roy liked my Avantgarde Duos :)
PS the Gin and Tonic helped
https://i.vgy.me/0tPxae.jpg
Great photo Charlie! His pink Jazz was for sale a few years ago, gorgeous and so much history.
Even Norman Watt-Roy liked my Avantgarde Duos :)
PS the Gin and Tonic helped
https://i.vgy.me/0tPxae.jpgYeah amazing shot. Saw this some time ago when first posted.
Wonderful bass player and to have him in your house? How did that happen?
One of the most enigmatic posts I have ever seen on this forum.
Are you insane?
I think the speakers might be the feature that wins over some ML amps.
I'd take them unheard then sell them if they were shite. But I reckon they'd probably do what I wanted them to.
End game speaker? Probably not what I'd choose with budget no issue.
I'm quite sane thank you.
If the ML amps shown under the MacIntosh amps are the ML2s, then at 25W (into 15 Ohm, doubling for each halving of load impedance), then I conceed the could be underpowered for some speakers.
Currently loving what my 989s do (who says Quad stats don't do bass) and not sure I could ever return to box speakers. In which case I would have to say my endgame speakers would be 2912s unless they introduced a newer model between now and my full retirement in 5 years time.
I am fortune as to already have my long term speakers.
Me too, in fact I have had them for over 45 years. Despite their limitations and flaws (but then no speaker is perfect), what they do well is important to me, and what they don't do so well is not important to me.
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