Top 10 Speaker Manufacturers...

[superpanavision70mm]

Well, for right now I am in debate over my next step exactly. I just bought a new house and I am probably going to set up a new room for music listening. The gear I am using now is going to be primarily for HT usage. Therefore I am considering several options. I would really like to just make a huge purchase and get it all done...I am really seriously considering something from Gryphon, but I don't know if I am going to make that much of an investment because I don't want to shortchange the other components. I am even considering planars since I will have a room dedicated to just the gear finally, which means space is available. Options options options. Do you think Krell or Classe would be a good option if I am unable to go with the Sphinx?

[Florian]

We should talk about this, send me a PM with your number and i can give you great advice.

Flo

[shokhead]

Infinity
Sony
Royal
CV
Bose
Telarc
KLH
Koss
Kenwood

[jocko_nc]

Soundesign
Yorx
Mangavox
Coby
Emerson
GPX
Panasonic
RCA
Magnavox
Bell & Howell

Oh yea, the best: Bose.

jocko

[Sentient Bipedal Mammal]

There are definitely some top-notch manufacturers listed here, but I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Polk. Granted, they aren't the best speakers around, but for the money you really do get alot of good sound and quality.

I'm not one of those people that will go for the cheapest thing around, such as Radio Shack speakers. Nor am I blinded by deceitful big names with no quality, like Sony, but rather a logical person. When deciding on my new system, I did the best thing- listen to every speaker I could find. Out of all the speakers, Polk won hands down. This is while taking money into account, mind you.

I'll nominate them for this list. Having decent, solid sound and excellent workmanship at very competitive prices deserves a spot in the top 10. Strangely, I find they sound much better than any Bose speakers I have heard. I think Bose is slipping into the Nike trend- lessening quality and relying on the name instead.

Another manufacturer that definitely deserves a slot here is Mirage. Some of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard have come from Mirage speakers!

[audio amateur]

hehe you know when they mention 'bose' they are jocking. Everybody hear absolutely despises bose, and I have grown to despise bose as well.

[anamorphic96]

Not a single person has mentioned Dynaudio. I'm dumbfounded.

I picked up the Audience 42's and still have not been able to pick up my jaw from the floor. While these are there entry level bookshelf model the midrange and high's are to die for. I have almost listened to all my cd's again and have not been this excited about a speaker in a very long time.

Are there no Dynaudio fans out there.

[sethmckiness]

Well, I haven't seen Tannoys listed, hmm, but probably not good enough since they aren't made out of some expensive material and cost 10k...

[jeffatus]

I have a pair of Dynaudio 3.0's with McIntosh Integrated Amp. I think that the vocals are excellent, jazz sounds incredible and the base seems very balanced and strong. I have not been impressed with classical music on the system. It may me because I have inexpensive speaker cables and connectors. It's a bummer because I really like classical and I am just not wowed like I am when I listed to Jazz or R&B....which is not really my kind of music. DId I buy the wrong system or do I just have cheap cable issues? HHhmmm?
Either way, I think Dynaudio's can run against the best in vocals/midrange category.

jeff

[yesstiles]

I'm surprised. What about Epos?

[hermanv]

No one has mentioned Thiele, haven't heard his newer stuff. The magazines certainly seem to like them and they claim he keeps improving and getting more neutral with each series.

Technically his designs make great sense. Any comments?

Quads?

[misterq4u]

Jensen
Fisher
RCA
Audiovox
Acoustic Kingdom
White Vans
Radio Shack
Realistic
Bang Olufsen
Bose

[Feanor]

Jensen
Fisher
RCA
Audiovox
Acoustic Kingdom
White Vans
Radio Shack
Realistic
Bang Olufsen
Bose

Acoustic Kingdom?? Never heard of them, otherwise the list's pretty much bang on.

[nish01]

BOSE
I think that bose can quite likely make it in the list because it has all the attributes that a good speaker manufacturer requires.Like bose speakers have the looks,are reasonably priced,have decent performance and their after sales service is the one of the best in the market.

[basite]

BOSE
I think that bose can quite likely make it in the list because it has all the attributes that a good speaker manufacturer requires.Like bose speakers have the looks,are reasonably priced,have decent performance and their after sales service is the one of the best in the market.

oh god, don't get us started...

bose is overpriced and too small. that's all it is. they are not reasonably priced, especially not for what you get. go to a hifi shop, and listen to something real.

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[Feanor]

BOSE
I think that bose can quite likely make it in the list because it has all the attributes that a good speaker manufacturer requires.Like bose speakers have the looks,are reasonably priced,have decent performance and their after sales service is the one of the best in the market.

nish01,

Surely you know that BOSE garners nothing but distain from serious audiophiles, therefore one wonders whether you post this with serious intent.

Consider the attributes you mention:

• Looks: how important is that (unless you're a "wife")? Other than small, there is nothing especially attactive about them, IMO.
• Resonably prices: there are many reasonably priced speakers and Bose is considered by many to be very poor value for the money given the quality of components that they use.
• Decent performance: huh?!?
• After sale service: I expect never to put this to the test.

Don't take me too seriously, bro. You're entitled to your opinion.

[hermanv]

You can't discuss speakers without a price bracket.

No mentioned Magnapan, long regarded as excelent value for the money.

Then no one mentioned Sonus Faber, Martin Logan, B&W or Vandersteen either. There are more, ho boy are there more. Speakers more than any other component elicit personal taste and value. Go listen, listen a lot, just don't listen at Best Buy or Circuit City.

[PeruvianSkies]

Goodness gracious...this thread is so old it still has my old username on it...superpanavision70mm, which has been out of commission for 8 months. Sheesh.

[Feanor]

You can't discuss speakers without a price bracket.

No mentioned Magnapan, long regarded as excelent value for the money.

Then no one mentioned Sonus Faber, Martin Logan, B&W or Vandersteen either. There are more, ho boy are there more. Speakers more than any other component elicit personal taste and value. Go listen, listen a lot, just don't listen at Best Buy or Circuit City.

By me. But I was shot down by Topspeed.

[basite]

and sonus faber was also mentioned and so was B&W...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[samgupta]

hermanv--if your still looking at this...I'm with your recommendation for Thiel...they sound great, are decently priced relative their market. Costmetics...umm...let's just say that part is subjective. While their wood finishes are great, overall the shape of the speakers is a odd--at least it's down with a fucntional reason, however.

-Sam
PS. This thread is nearly a year old!

[PeruvianSkies]

Can we retire this thread?

[superdougiefreshness]

Jensen
Fisher
RCA
Audiovox
Acoustic Kingdom
White Vans
Radio Shack
Realistic
Bang Olufsen
Bose

White Van huh, LOL
Go ahead an retire this thread all you want, but I have to tell ya this was very funny to read. I laughed my ars off at the lists of favs here. And yes I have heard the White Vans at my local thrift store, they must be some dudes top drawers if you might think Yorx turntable boom box is high end. Funny thing though my mom still likes her old Fisher credenza boom box over anything she has ever listened to before. Thats why we just had to put her down for major ear wax build up. LOL Oh I also have a buddy from high school who just loves his Chevy Nova (1974) stock factory stereo, but he also has alot of resin in his lungs left over from our glory days that needs to be peeled off. LOL

Yeah thanks Bose, NOT.............a very good old drinkin buddy has partial hearing gone in his left ear from a mastoid infection and he swears by his dam bose system, cause his hearing is bad.......so go figure. It's really subjective at the end of the day.

So go ahead and retire this, but I have to say I had more fun reading this then most of the current stuff on here from the last month. At least it made me laugh......

Thanks

[cl_steele]

id personally recomend the spendors which arnt back brakingly expensive, the magnepans or the makintosh's <- that spelt right?
x

[Hyfi]

Not a single person has mentioned Dynaudio. I'm dumbfounded.

I picked up the Audience 42's and still have not been able to pick up my jaw from the floor. While these are there entry level bookshelf model the midrange and high's are to die for. I have almost listened to all my cd's again and have not been this excited about a speaker in a very long time.

Are there no Dynaudio fans out there.

I was just reading thru asking the same thing. I have been using 82s as mains for several years and picked up a set of 42s for rears recently. I did hook them up as mains temporarily and also had a jaw dropping experience from a little speaker driven with an Odyssey Stratos amp.