Most beautiful speakers in the world ?

[Mr. Widget]

How would one go about selecting speakers for the poll? +200 pages have listed so many outrageous designs that any such poll would be... unwieldly to put it mildly. I am in agreement with @JoshK, most of these speakers qualify for a thread about the ugliest speakers.

100%

A herculean task that wouldn't be worth the effort, but just the same, I would love to see the results.

 

[Ken1951]

Yet another apparently alien design, which in fact is homage to the mighty dragons...

In blue, just like the boys like it

Delta Acoustics
Model - Dragon M2

1” tweeter - B&C DE 250
2” midrange driver - Visaton B200
2 x 12” bass driver - Visaton W300
Amplifier - Hypex FA251

Freqency - 32 Hz-18kHz
Sensitivity - 100dB
Impedance - 6 Ohm
Power - 200 W (Bass)

Dimensions - H x W x D - 1.470 x 0.65 x 0.92 m
Weight - 2x 95kg


View attachment 423033

My first thought when I saw this was that it is right out of a Dr. Seuss book!

 

[Count Arthur]

My first thought when I saw this was that it is right out of a Dr. Seuss book!

Given that it has wheels, I was thinking more of Wacky Races.

 

[Oddball]

I would think that the best thing in this tread would not be a poll as it would be admittedly difficult to set up. But I would also think that individual opinions would also not need to be entertained for each post. It is hardly relevant in the big scheme of things what we individuals think of beauty of design. And obviously our individual thoughts are different.

This thread continues to serve its purpose with expanding the shallow minded perception of what speaker design needs to be. I am fully behind its concept, and while acknowledging humour and light thoughts, it seems that if that is what people want to do it might be counter productive?

 

[dagfinn]

Yet another apparently alien design, which in fact is homage to the mighty dragons...

In blue, just like the boys like it

Delta Acoustics
Model - Dragon M2

1” tweeter - B&C DE 250
2” midrange driver - Visaton B200
2 x 12” bass driver - Visaton W300
Amplifier - Hypex FA251

Freqency - 32 Hz-18kHz
Sensitivity - 100dB
Impedance - 6 Ohm
Power - 200 W (Bass)

Dimensions - H x W x D - 1.470 x 0.65 x 0.92 m
Weight - 2x 95kg


View attachment 423033

Another Dragon, in red, at $893,878.00. Heavy specs!

Dragon

Six ways with ten units, all field coil units with carbon fiber big horns, such super speaker flagship system is what Stereophile magazine commented as “the biggest, most relaxed, most natural, uncolored sound I heard in any room”. The Super Dragon system is a culmination of all the cutting-edge...

esdacoustic.store

 

[JohnnyAudio]

Another Dragon, in red, at $893,878.00. Heavy specs!

View attachment 423074


View attachment 423076

Dragon

Six ways with ten units, all field coil units with carbon fiber big horns, such super speaker flagship system is what Stereophile magazine commented as “the biggest, most relaxed, most natural, uncolored sound I heard in any room”. The Super Dragon system is a culmination of all the cutting-edge...

esdacoustic.store

They would be good on the front of the Peterbilt.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Munro Eggs

 

[Count Arthur]

Another Dragon, in red, at $893,878.00. Heavy specs!

View attachment 423074


View attachment 423076

Dragon

Six ways with ten units, all field coil units with carbon fiber big horns, such super speaker flagship system is what Stereophile magazine commented as “the biggest, most relaxed, most natural, uncolored sound I heard in any room”. The Super Dragon system is a culmination of all the cutting-edge...

esdacoustic.store

Now I'm thinking Heath Robinson:

W. Heath Robinson - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Pearljam5000]

Atlantis lab

 

[Magz]

I guess I'm prejudiced but I love the look of my speakers...circa 1985 RSIIb from Infinity. Big, but not too big. Exotic but not too exotic. Solid oak, not veneer, on the wings as well.

 

[Mr. Widget]

Yes, you are biased... but loving what you have is pretty awesome and key to happiness.

 

[Frank Dernie]

Lyngdorf Model DView attachment 420657

These are stunning "in the flesh" and in a big room with Lyngdorf room compensation one of the best sounds I have heard.
I went to a dealer for a demo of a home theatre and he had these on demo too.

 

[Oddball]

I guess I'm prejudiced but I love the look of my speakers...circa 1985 RSIIb from Infinity. Big, but not too big. Exotic but not too exotic. Solid oak, not veneer, on the wings as well.

I don't think you are prejudiced, these seem like beautifully designed speakers, without knowing what is inside. And the setup seems quite interesting too - admittedly I am not into tubes.

The fact that your speakers might not appeal to some is really quite irrelevant. Not much you can do about it but to enjoy your setup that seems visually quite pleasing to me.

 

[Waxx]

These 1972's Pioneer CS-05 omnidirectional speakers are something special. I heared a pair last night, while replacing the broken amp from the owner (an older lady in my village). And with the Yamaha R-202D that she bought (on my advice) this speakers sound surprisingly good. She had a Quad 405 power amp/Quad 34 preamp combo before that needs a big service (which will happen, so we can sell them).

The speaker has an 20cm (8") downfirering woofer and 3 3" cone tweeters set 120* apart so they cover the whole 360*. It was in surprisingly good condition as far as i could see.

The pictrue is not from there, it's from the internet. The lady did not want me to take pictures as too many wanted to buy this speaker in the past and she's fed up with all the nagging about it.

 

[TankTop]

These are stunning "in the flesh" and in a big room with Lyngdorf room compensation one of the best sounds I have heard.
I went to a dealer for a demo of a home theatre and he had these on demo too.

Specs say they play down to 20hz, that’s crazy with an open baffle. I guess if you use enough huge drivers with tons of power anything is possible.

 

[DanielT]

These 1972's Pioneer CS-05 omnidirectional speakers are something special. I heared a pair last night, while replacing the broken amp from the owner (an older lady in my village). And with the Yamaha R-202D that she bought (on my advice) this speakers sound surprisingly good. She had a Quad 405 power amp/Quad 34 preamp combo before that needs a big service (which will happen, so we can sell them).

The speaker has an 20cm (8") downfirering woofer and 3 3" cone tweeters set 120* apart so they cover the whole 360*. It was in surprisingly good condition as far as i could see.

The pictrue is not from there, it's from the internet. The lady did not want me to take pictures as too many wanted to buy this speaker in the past and she's fed up with all the nagging about it.

View attachment 423449

It seems to be relatively popular with round speakers in the 1960s-1970s. Luxor/Skantic made this one which has 4 pieces of 5 inch bass drivers and 4 pieces of 2.5 inch mid/tweeter. I think they can be considered to be fairly omni. I have not heard any such round Luxor/Skantic speaker, unfortunately. They would have been fun to listen to.
They are usually sold for around $60, depending on the surface condition of the wood and speaker fabric. It is not possible to get hold of replacement drivers, so if it does not work as they should (very likely that one or a few drivers are bad or even broken) it is a complete DIY replacement project in front of you.

They ooze late 1960s, so if you like that style, they might be something to think about. Beautiful? As usual, in the eye of the beholder so they can be.

Technical information:

 

[Waxx]

This lady bought them back in the days because they don't look like speakers, more like furniture and she can (and does) use them as stands to put flowers (in pots) on it. They are standing in the living room between the seating area and the dinner table. And if you don't know that they are speakers you won't even notice it. The amp is sitting in a cupboard and the cabling goes under the suspended wooden floor to the speakers (who have connectors on the bottom). I also replaced the 50 years old speaker cable btw... (with generic 1.5mm stranded OFC wire)

Those luxor still look like speakers and won't fit her living room to her standards i think. certainly not with that white cable comming out of it. Could they not hide it in the feet?

 

[thewas]

Luxor/Skantic made this one which has 4 pieces of 5 inch bass drivers and 4 pieces of 2.5 inch mid/tweeter. I think they can be considered to be fairly omni.

Its funny that nowadays similar configurations with multiple small angled drivers have a comeback in smart loudspeakers.

 

[Waxx]

Its funny that nowadays similar configurations with multiple small angled drivers have a comeback in smart loudspeakers.

Those pioneers are not small or very light at all, and are fully passive with a complex crossover system.

A (ad) picture of that time shows a better view of the size.

 

[Audionaut]

Grundig Audiorama