Which speakers gave you the *wow* factor?

[Pearljam5000]

Mine was the 8050, it was the first time i heard such perfect tonality (to my ears) was also impressed by Focal Solo6

 

[Rednaxela]

Fane Sovereign 15-300TC on open baffles.

Too much wrong with them eventually but they wowed me big time.

 

[Astoneroad]

Mcintosh XRT 2.1k... for $130k a pair... wow is the least that I would expect.... but yes... there was definitely WOW.

 

[dominikz]

There were several occasions, and really what drew me deeper into the hobby:

• One of my first 'wow' experiences was listening to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" in a treated listening room on the old Altec-Lansing 604-8K (I believe) loudspeakers built into huge ported boxes. Very narrow HF directivity loudspeaker, but on-axis I felt enveloped with the sound and got goosebumps Not sure if I'd feel the same today, though!
• Hearing Dali Mentor 5 towers and Dali Mentor Menuets at one of the first HiFi shows I attended years ago - probably first good HiFi loudspeakers I heard, I thought they blew-away much more expensive systems,
• First time using room correction EQ on my old monitors (JBL LSR305), and later, first proper subwoofer integration with my mains

These days I have a feeling there won't be much more 'wow' moments in stereo for me, I feel I'm well into diminishing returns already.
Perhaps some day with multichannel...

 

[Rednaxela]

First time using room correction EQ on my old monitors (JBL LSR305), and later, first proper subwoofer integration with my mains

I can relate to this. Did something similar on my AVI ADM 9.1 speakers and was quite astonished by the transformation.

 

[DMill]

I‘ll play. The Bose Lifestyle system I bought when I got my first real job. I know they are awful. As I started learning about audio I had a boss who had B&W 800s. Again, they are not gonna get a ton of love here on ASR. They seemed impressive to me at the time. Just being honest. it’s easy to knock brands like these for being over-hyped or over-priced, but for many of us in the masses they showed that there was something more than a boom box. So I guess I give them credit for introducing me to hi-Fi.

 

[Rednaxela]

Now that you mention it @DMill, I’ve been wowed by Bose 901’s more than once.

 

[Plcamp]

The first time I heard horn speakers was ‘Johnny Winter and live’ played in a guy’s large basement where he had Klipschorns.

 

[BDWoody]

My 708Ps still give me that 'Holy Shit these are amazing' feeling regularly.

 

[Moonhead]

AVI ADM40 …never gave a thought to passives again and then KH120.

 

[Rednaxela]

AVI ADM40 …never gave a thought to passives again and then KH120.

Out of interest does this mean you moved from one to the other?

 

[Vintage57]

My Neumann KH420’s.

 

[Moonhead]

Did not buy Neumann, because kids.

 

[riker1384]

PSB Image B25. First good, pretty accurate modern speaker I owned and heard, coming from hand-me-down vintage speakers and muddy Vandersteen 1C's. I felt like I could hear a hundred times as much detail as I had ever heard before.

 

[Doodski]

Both of these speakers have great top end and are both thumpers too.
JBL 250Ti, 38cm Woofer, 20cm mid bass.

Infinity Kappa 9, dual 12" woofers.

 

[LTig]

Did not buy Neumann, because kids.

The Neumann grills are insanely expensive but almost indestructable. You could treat them with a hammer and don't destroy a driver.

 

[DVDdoug]

Altec A7's back in the 1970's. Definitely the "wow factor" and the best & most impressive speakers I'd ever heard.

I probably wouldn't have said "perfection," and I don't know how I'd rate them today. I have a feeling I'd still like 'em!

 

[LTig]

ME Geithain RL901. Played some jazz at a dealer and the sound was fantastic, almost like live.

Grimm Audio LS1be with sub at Highend in Munich. Not a real wow factor but after listening to a soprano with closed eye I just wanted to give applause but then realized that it was not live.

 

[Marc v E]

Ok, I'll play too.
I first experienced a heavenly sound through the B&W 805S.
Didn't have any money to speak of as a student. So I went for the sennheiser hd650. The cd player at the dealer was an arcam. It cost me a while to reproduce that sound

The second time was the Beolab 5. Incredible imaging and effortless bass.
Couldn't afford them


The 3rd time was the Beolab 9. Couldn't afford them new either! But I could stretch to 2/3's of the asking price on a demo pair. The B&O retailers were very kind and patient with me, but told me that was a stretch too far. Gave them my number in case they received a 2nd hand pair for that price. Got a phone call from them 2 weeks later for the ex demo pair!

 

[AdamG]

My Dual JTR 2400ULF Captivator Subs. First time I ever felt actual 20hz and below outside of real world experience. The rumble of engines, the slap of thunder, the sound of large caliber guns, the feel of an earth quake. The slam and punch of low hz drums/brass/organs. Still amazes me. Second place was the first and every time afterwards of hearing Martin Logan Electrostatic speakers

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