wisnon Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 No love for Vapor Audio, ie Stiff Breeze, etc? Link to comment
blueixus Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Call me old fashioned but the BBC LS3/5a remains my favourite... Trying to make sense of all the bits...MacMini/Amarra -> WavIO USB to I2S -> DDDAC 1794 NOS DAC -> Active XO ->Bass Amp Avondale NCC200s, Mid/Treble Amp Sugden Masterclass -> My Own Speakers Link to comment
Paul R Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 A friend of mine has a pair of them, and I borrowed them to test out here. They enchanted us. I have been considering spending the dollars for a set of them, but I keep procrastinating, hoping a pair will magically show up on the used market around here. No such luck! I am really intrigued with Joseph Audio right now... I am trying to restrain myself, but they keep popping up everywhere and with glowing reviews... Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never dealt with a cat DAC. Robert A. Heinlein Link to comment
MrAcoustat Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 I am really intrigued with Joseph Audio right now... I am trying to restrain myself, but they keep popping up everywhere and with glowing reviews... Here is another one getting great reviews also VERY affordable, Blumenstein Orca speakers & Dungeness subwoofers. - - - - - Chord CPM-2600 - integrated amplifier - Chord One - cd player - Acoustat 1+1 - speakers. Life without Acoustat is possible BUT senseless Link to comment
AudioDoctor Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 A friend of mine has a pair of them, and I borrowed them to test out here. They enchanted us. I have been considering spending the dollars for a set of them, but I keep procrastinating, hoping a pair will magically show up on the used market around here. No such luck! Thanks Paul, that's exactly what I wanted to hear... I will send you the bill... No electron left behind. Link to comment
AudioDoctor Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Here is another one getting great reviews also VERY affordable, Blumenstein Orca speakers & Dungeness subwoofers.[ATTACH=CONFIG]9312[/ATTACH] - - - - - [ATTACH=CONFIG]9313[/ATTACH] - - - - - Those look very interesting! No electron left behind. Link to comment
MrAcoustat Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 Those look very interesting! Blumenstein Audio Chord CPM-2600 - integrated amplifier - Chord One - cd player - Acoustat 1+1 - speakers. Life without Acoustat is possible BUT senseless Link to comment
Audio_ELF Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 The best bookshelf speakers are ones you don't place on bookshelves :-) Eloise Eloise --- ...in my opinion / experience... While I agree "Everything may matter" working out what actually affects the sound is a trickier thing. And I agree "Trust your ears" but equally don't allow them to fool you - trust them with a bit of skepticism. keep your mind open... But mind your brain doesn't fall out. Link to comment
MrAcoustat Posted December 9, 2013 Author Share Posted December 9, 2013 The best bookshelf speakers are ones you don't place on bookshelves :-) Eloise I agree 100% Chord CPM-2600 - integrated amplifier - Chord One - cd player - Acoustat 1+1 - speakers. Life without Acoustat is possible BUT senseless Link to comment
soundhd Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 JBL 4301's and 4401's.......... Link to comment
JeffH Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Joseph Audio Pulsars at around $7K. -Paul I have not heard that many speakers,but I would have to agree with Paul that the best I have heard are the Joseph Audio Pulsars. When I heard them, at AXPONA last year in Atlanta, I asked them where they had the subwoofer. There was no sub! Jeff Main system: MPaD -> Fanless VortexBox -> Emotiva XDA-1 -> Adcom GFA-555II -> Working on the restDesktop System: J.River Media Jukebox -> WIN7 -> HRT Music Streamer II -> Virtue Audio One.2 -> DIY Martello speakers Link to comment
MrAcoustat Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 I have not heard that many speakers,but I would have to agree with Paul that the best I have heard are the Joseph Audio Pulsars. When I heard them, at AXPONA last year in Atlanta, I asked them where they had the subwoofer. There was no sub! With the right speaker, you don't need a subwoofer or subwoofers Chord CPM-2600 - integrated amplifier - Chord One - cd player - Acoustat 1+1 - speakers. Life without Acoustat is possible BUT senseless Link to comment
realhifi Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 The Harbeth Monitor 30's are my favorites right now with a close second to the fantastic old Rogers LS5/9's. Both are big time keepers in that form of speaker. They both do human voices so well it's spooky. You can't discount the gorgeous new Sonus faber Olympica I's though. I have only heard them briefly but they were beautiful and to me sounded like a hell of a contender. David Link to comment
astrallite Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Best stand alone I would say is the Dynaudio C1 Signature/MKII, if combine with a sub, I'd say the Revel Gem 2 beats it, as it has superior mids and highs, the only issue with the Gem 2s is their lack of bass response due to the sealed/acoustic suspension design. Link to comment
Tian Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Here is another one getting great reviews also VERY affordable, Blumenstein Orca speakers[ATTACH=CONFIG]9312[/ATTACH] Those drivers look very much like the Abaca banana pulp Fostex FE103En I have in my extremely affordable Fostex P1000-E DIY Kanspea 4" Full Range Speaker Kit which I built. www.Fostex.jp/Kanspi_eng/ Link to comment
mav52 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 No love for Vapor Audio, ie Stiff Breeze, etc? I have a pair coming. Can't wait to see how they match up to my Usher Be-718. The Truth Is Out There Link to comment
Oystein Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Boenicke W5 ... probably the biggest ratio in sound vs. size Rigelian iOS app -> BeagleBone Black with Botic driver + Linux MPD + XPEnology NAS -> Soekris dam1121 DAC I2S direct from BBB -> DH Labs Revelation -> NAD C162 -> DH Labs Revelation -> Odyssey Khartago Plus -> DH Labs Q10 -> Boenicke Audio W5 Link to comment
astrallite Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 A funny thing it is …….how we all have our own perceptions, experiences & preferences…… I just heard those Raidho D-1’s at the Capital Audiofest three weeks ago………at $24k (without the $3k stands) I found them to be at least $16k over valued & felt the JosephAudio Pulsar to be far superior at one third the cost. [ATTACH=CONFIG]7113[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]7114[/ATTACH] Thats interesting you consider the pulsars to be superior since the pulsars are often considered overpriced since the same seas excel drivers are used in many much cheaper designs. Link to comment
mayhem13 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 That's easy - Harbeth P3ESR [ATTACH=CONFIG]7138[/ATTACH] Not that easy!....don't forget the Rogers LS3/5a Link to comment
realhifi Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Not that easy!....don't forget the Rogers LS3/5a A pair of well kept LS3/5a's in a sympathetic system remain one of the wonders of the audio world. I once heard a pair coupled with an Audio Pro sub that filled a room (25'x35') with an orchestra playing Tchaikovsky's 1812 symphony and it was mind blowing. Oh, and this was vinyl. David Link to comment
mayhem13 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 For those interested, there's a DIY clone project that progressed over some time to replicate the Rogers with drivers available today called the Continuum which are astonishing. They're designed by Jeff Bagby. Google it and see if you're up to the task! Link to comment
DigiPete Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I am confused, didn't the OP ask for the "Best bookshelf speaker you have ever heard". Not the cheapest, most bang for the buck or the smallest! My premise for any system is fairly simple: - No sound signature - Reproduce everything I can hear and a bit I challenge you to bring me a bookshelf speaker system that attempts to do that! Mine was: Steinway - Lyngdorf model S @ USD 25.000,- Promise Pegasus2 R6 12TB -> Thunderbolt2 -> MacBook Pro M1 Pro -> Motu 8D -> AES/EBU -> Main: Genelec 5 x 8260A + 2 x 8250 + 2 x 8330 + 7271A sub Boat: Genelec 8010 + 5040 sub Hifiman Sundara, Sennheiser PXC 550 II Blog: “Confessions of a DigiPhile” Link to comment
gfroman Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I own both the Evolution Acoustics MM3 and MMMicro One speakers. Have to admit I probably listen to my MMMicro One speakers more than my Reference System - love them!! Found a pair,like new condition with stands, for about $2K. Office/Desktop - Computer Audio System : Evolution Acoustics MMMicro One speakers ESOTERIC RZ-1 Preamp/Amp/DA Convertor Jeff Rowland 925's EMM Labs DV2 Aurender N30SA/Paul Pang Quad Switch/Muon PRO Shunyata Everest MBL 101E MkII + (2) REL 212SE Cables : Inakustik, Shunyata, Stealth Audio Link to comment
Priaptor Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Well if we are discussing all these expensive "bookshelf" speakers that are really anything but a bookshelf speaker, I can tell you I owned a pair of Magico Q1s and sold them. They weren't for me. However, I don't know if Lawrence is still selling his Mandolins at his introductory pricing, but these may be one of the best bargains for a bookshelf speaker. Ted_B turned me on to them and they are exquisite and an amazing bargain and sound fantastic. Link to comment
webmanil Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Hey, I would suggest SONOS - PLAY, its cool. try it now! Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now