Best speakers in the world?

[tuga]

Measurements?

Hard to find.
Only Kef's and this FR plot from Polish magazine Hi-Fi Voice:

 

[Count Arthur]

Once you get north of £10,000.00 for a pair of speakers, I would think something that measures and performs well should be expected, rather than a pleasant surprise once you've cobbled them together.

 

[soundwave]

Dynaudio Master Evidence

 

[soundwave]

Kef Blade

 

[krabapple]

Imaging is one of those epiphenomenal characteristics of speakers. If a speaker measures well, then it is likely to image well.

Creating a phantom center image for example is not rocket science, it's basic (psycho)acoustics. I posit that a speaker could test rather less than well in say, FR on axis, but still 'image' quite well. Even two quite mediocre L/R speakers can do it well, if placed correctly. The EQ of the image may not be 'accurate' but the image itself between the speakers can be as 'solid' as one would hope.

 

[andreasmaaan]

Dynaudio Master Evidence

The dual tweeters make that speaker very erratic vertically off-axis:

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Creating a phantom center image for example is not rocket science, it's basic (psycho)acoustics. I posit that a speaker could test rather less than well in say, FR on axis, but still 'image' quite well. Even two quite mediocre L/R speakers can do it well, if placed correctly. The EQ of the image may not be 'accurate' but the image itself between the speakers can be as 'solid' as one would hope.

I've found that imaging and frequency response are not necessarily related - its more important that the left and right speakers have as close to identical responses as possible and that includes influence from the room which should be symmetrical. I've deliberately equalized response, and have run, say, the HF driver only with no real impact on imaging. But asymmetrical room influence plays havoc with imaging, as does differences in frequency response and relative phase between the left and right speakers. Having the speakers as far as possible from wall boundaries is important.

The vertical plane of the HF and LF drivers in my system is adjustable, and a fraction of an inch can make a relatively large difference in response at the listening position at the crossover region. This effects imaging to a degree, which is why I go to the trouble of getting it right.

 

[krabapple]

I've found that imaging and frequency response are not necessarily related - its more important that the left and right speakers have as close to identical responses as possible and that includes influence from the room which should be symmetrical. I've deliberately equalized response, and have run, say, the HF driver only with no real impact on imaging. But asymmetrical room influence plays havoc with imaging, as does differences in frequency response and relative phase between the left and right speakers. Having the speakers as far as possible from wall boundaries is important.

The vertical plane of the HF and LF drivers in my system is adjustable, and a fraction of an inch can make a relatively large difference in response at the listening position at the crossover region. This effects imaging to a degree, which is why I go to the trouble of getting it right.

Reinforcing the idea that loudspeaker 'imaging' is essentially about speaker pair location relative to listener location. Even the room can be factored out if desired, by listening in the near field. Or by going multichannel, where you are getting direct 'imaging' cues that overwhelm reflection cues.

If your left and right speakers are for some reason significantly unmatched in output, which I doubt ever happens in real life except when something is broken, then possibly that would mess up imaging, skewing it to one side. I also remember well how often 'center' imaging with vinyl playback was skewed left or right, but that's one of the many reason not to bother with vinyl in this day and age. It's a flaw in either the LP or the TT/cart setup, not something to do with the loudspeakers.

 

[Davelemi]

Tubes are just like mechanical watches in that you are making a choice to use old technology for fun, even though there is cheaper solid state technology with better objective performance. The only difference is some people think tubes actually sound better. I don't think they are better, but I think mine sound just fine. Mine probably color the sound far less than the best passive speakers, though I I don't really know as I have never seen measurements.

Someday I will get around to making a test load and see how they actually perform.

As a lover and owner of a few mechanical watches, I completely agree.

 

[Dialectic]

The dual tweeters make that speaker very erratic vertically off-axis:

View attachment 90379

I have wondered about some of Dynaudio's design decisions. The Dynaudio Consequence (their former flagship) is one of the strangest speakers I've ever laid eyes on. Another one that I have seen but not heard, sadly...

The picture does not provide a good sense how huuuuuuuuge it is.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

I have wondered about some of Dynaudio's design decisions. The Dynaudio Consequence (their former flagship) is one of the strangest speakers I've ever laid eyes on. Another one that I have seen but not heard, sadly...

View attachment 90380

The picture does not provide a good sense how huuuuuuuuge it is.

It looks upside down....strange.

 

[andreasmaaan]

I have wondered about some of Dynaudio's design decisions. The Dynaudio Consequence (their former flagship) is one of the strangest speakers I've ever laid eyes on. Another one that I have seen but not heard, sadly...

View attachment 90380

The picture does not provide a good sense how huuuuuuuuge it is.

Wow! Is the speaker 5 metres tall, or does the tweeter point at your shinbones?

 

[Pearljam5000]

I have wondered about some of Dynaudio's design decisions. The Dynaudio Consequence (their former flagship) is one of the strangest speakers I've ever laid eyes on. Another one that I have seen but not heard, sadly...

View attachment 90380

The picture does not provide a good sense how huuuuuuuuge it is.

MOAR DRIVERS

 

[richard12511]

Reinforcing the idea that loudspeaker 'imaging' is essentially about speaker pair location relative to listener location. Even the room can be factored out if desired, by listening in the near field. Or by going multichannel, where you are getting direct 'imaging' cues that overwhelm reflection cues.

If your left and right speakers are for some reason significantly unmatched in output, which I doubt ever happens in real life except when something is broken, then possibly that would mess up imaging, skewing it to one side. I also remember well how often 'center' imaging with vinyl playback was skewed left or right, but that's one of the many reason not to bother with vinyl in this day and age. It's a flaw in either the LP or the TT/cart setup, not something to do with the loudspeakers.

Speaker directivity also heavily affects imaging.

 

[avanti1960]

For your interest, some of the best speakers I have ever heard include-
1) Voxativ ZETH. The German DSP controlled single full range driver with integrated bass module. Something about a true point source single driver configuration that brings an incredible amount of coherence and realism. Granted there are limitations with certain music but if you love vocals, the extended demo I heard of female opera singers didn't sound life like- it sounded better !
2) Martin Logan ESL 11A driven by the impeccable Benchmark AHB2 and LA4. Musical transparency so crystal clear, clean and palpable as if to be physically present in the surrounding room in the form of tiny delicate air borne notes.
3) Avant Garde Duo. The pinnacle of high end horn loaded speakers. With such high efficiency (107db) the music sounded as if connected by direct wire to the performers and instruments. Mind blowing explosive micro and macro dynamics.

Some disappointments-

Magico mid line (model not available at time of demo.) Loud and clear but horribly poor quality sustained bass notes with of all things an aluminum enclosure.
Audio Note. Darlings of the audiophile world I found them bland and blah.
KEF Blades. Had their moments but an overall a cold, barren, lifeless presentation. As if projecting images of a cold, barren lunar landscape They were loud and dynamic but had no soul whatsoever.
Possibly due to the amplification.

 

[Dialectic]

Wow! Is the speaker 5 metres tall, or does the tweeter point at your shinbones?

It does point at your shinbones. Something about time alignment, blah blah blah.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I have wondered about some of Dynaudio's design decisions. The Dynaudio Consequence (their former flagship) is one of the strangest speakers I've ever laid eyes on. Another one that I have seen but not heard, sadly...

View attachment 90380

Here's the designer:

 

[Dialectic]

Some photos of the Dynaudio Consequence from Yongsan ETLand in Seoul, November 2018:

Now it should be apparent why I couldn't listen to them.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

There's some vintage JBL and Altec in those photos!

 

[SineWave]