In the same vein as the Meyer Sound X-10 are Danley's SH-50 and TH-50 combination. I've heard nothing but good things for their ability to play cleanly with tremendous headroom. Tom Danley is clearly taking an innovative approach with Horn-loaded speakers that begs a closer examination.

Hard to argue with any of the choices, but the list seems incomplete without the Revel Ultima Salon 2s - the best speaker I've ever heard by far - and something from the Genelec line.

Picking only ten speakers with all the excellent ones out there is difficult, but I would have included Thiel speakers. The CS 3.7's are not cheap, but they sing beautifully and are better built than most. Want more of a value with great sound? CS 1.6 or the new SCS 4 bookshelf speakers. I wholeheartedly agree with the choice of the current version of the Paradigm Atom. I have the originals and they still sound great today!

Picking only ten speakers with all the excellent ones out there is difficult, but I would have included Thiel speakers. The CS 3.7's are not cheap, but they sing beautifully and are better built than most. Want more of a value with great sound? CS 1.6 or the new SCS 4 bookshelf speakers. I wholeheartedly agree with the choice of the current version of the Paradigm Atom. I have the originals and they still sound great today!

2 speakers I would add:
1) Quad ESL-2905 Electrostatic.... Dipole speaker, boxless (I can always hear the box in a traditional speaker) , point source, fantastic natural sound, micro detail that is unbeatable... and with this latest version it plays loud and low when needed, while still being able to play softly without ever losing resolution.... that Quad electrostatics remain my alltime favourite speaker. - but they do need room...
2) Gallo Nucleus Reference 3/3.1 (maybe now the 3.5) - Good, very very good speaker, and at a pricepoint that leaves everything else available for dead... Lacks some of the micro detail capability of the Quads (I replaced some older Quad 63's and 989 with Ref's due to space restrictions) - the gaps in ability are only noticeable in very complex music - massed orchestra's and such, where the sounds can get a little confused compared to the Quad electrostatics. When I first auditioned these I was absolutely floored at this small speaker achieving sound that is almost as good as some of the absolute reference speakers, at somewhere between one third and one quarter the price..... A real value benchmark, and a fantastic speaker in absolute terms as well. Deserves to be in the top 10 as a result.

We came REALLY close to posting the QUAD speakers

With all due respect to my Piasan, Anthony Gallo - his speakers are UGLY. They sound really good however. They are worthy of consideration. Good value.

Jerry

This is "the law of the excluded middle" with a vengance, going from multi-thousand dollar speakers to the bottom-of-the-line speakers from companies like Paradigm and PSB.

How about those lines' mid-priced speakers, like Paradigm's Studio 20 and 40 lines,and other speakers that are not limited in affordablilty to only the very rich?

It was cognitive dissonance verging on whiplash, going from an introduction that talked about expanding the interest in good audio beyond the snob set to a listing of speakers selling for as much as an automobile!

Just wondering why none of AV123 speaker series made the list, at one point the ELT525 5.0 system was available for around $800. And what about their top of the line Rocket series?

Also wondering about Ascend Acoustics...

AV123.com is run by a man who stiffed me for a $40,000 ad contract when I ran AVRev.com. He knows what he did. He hires his "shils" all over the net and best of luck to him. Most savvy net buyers know this.

But to suggest that those speakers make the TOP TEN speakers of all time list is respectfully a joke.

All the best!!!

Jerry

I see, that is very unfortunate. I own the X-LS Encore speakers as well as the ELT525 5.0 set. I like the laid back style of the LS's and the more natural sound of the ELT525, and coming from Klipsch Promedia 4.1 and Logitech Z-5500 5.1 sound systems, they sound infinitely better; though I of course wish I had speakers from other companies to audition and hear differences such as Ascend Acoustics, PSB, Paradigm, and Aperion Audio.

Mark initially shipped me a pair of ELT525M's for no cost to try out, something none of the other companies I was looking at at the time seemed to be interested in doing, and I liked what I heard so I got it. Despite the fact that I've only really heard home audio speakers from AV123 (apart from vintage sets friends own, or family friends' $xxxx setups which don't give fair comparisons) I did plenty of online research for months. At the time, I was only interested in purchasing 1 pair of speakers to replace my 'computer grade' speakers and my budget was $300(although shortly after I came down with 'upgrade fever' and sought to expand into 5.1 territory, and ended up getting the ELT525T's and ELT525C). While I did come across threads where users declared they had been screwed by Mark in some way, I guess I was lucky to have quite a pleasant experience with them.

Despite your unfortunate experience with Mark, surely the ELT525M's are in the same level of quality as the PSB Alpha B1's.

And for under $1K, what other 5.0 systems compare with the ELT525's? All that comes to my mind is the SVS 5.0 set, maybe something from Elemental Designs, and Infinity.

I would recommend Bose and or Axiom, Aperion, Maxxsonicx, Orb, Fluance or any other direct speaker over Rocket or AV123.com's speakers on ethical issues without questions.

To be clear - I am saying to HTR reader DO NOT NOT buy these speakers. Buyer be warned - you too could get screwed by Mark Schifter. And the only reward you will get is a test drive in his Porsche Caman if you are lucky. If you own a Porsche Turbo - then you were once again warned.

I have listened PMC Fb-1+ and PMC Fb -1is, and these are truly audiophile speakers at affordable prices. I am sure these British speakers are equally good as the speakers which you have mentioned. When you couple these with good audiophile system, you can amazing sound stage and clear voice including deep base.

MERIDIAN 8000 DSP

Nothing has ever been able to come close to the sound stage of the Meridian DSP speaker line-up. Incredible room adjustment puts this Digital speaker in a class by itself!

Gary J. Wasserson

10 best is impossible. Speakers all sound very different and are a VERY personal choice, even with the comments included, there are TONS more great speakers, MBL, JBL, Totem, Montanna, McIntosh, Vienna, Sonus, Focal, Tyler, Snell, Eggleston, Dynaudio...... I could do this all day......

I second the mid-range priced vacuum and excluding Revel Salon II's and Meridians. Ten is a simply number in the wind. 30 with 3 groups of 10 would have been better for a little copy 'n paste research project.

Better: Three price ranges including recommended room volumes listed for each price recommendation. "Less than 2K listed by listening room sizes...., 2k to maybe 5K listed by room volume and above 5K". Good selections for 10 speakers, but not great.

Look over Audiogon lists and other forums. Owner's who have cycled up through these buying decisions personally can be valuble.

Advice from these owners who invest their real earnings following much time and effort researching system matching is much more validating than these little copy 'n paste research projects.

2-3 months of personal research will provide much more valid advice, leading you to the best personal choices from many more great selections.

Stereophile.com's annual recommendations graduated from "A+" and so on can be very helpful. System matching and proper component set-up's are a absolute MUST DO.

Proper in-room calibrations alone can make many systems sound great and save buyer's thousands.

It's easy, too. Learn how to perform in-room calibrations by using a simple analog sound level meter, test disk, with owner's manuals wide open and on-screen menus taking your inputs.

I know 10 speakers is a short list but failing to list a Dynaudio loudspeaker seems like a huge oversight. The Confidence C1 at the very least should be here.

Placing PSB and Paradigm budget speakers on a ten best speakers list is the height of lunacy. You said ten best not ten best with a couple being the best bargain wise. I don't dispute that the PSB and Paridgm speaker models you have included are outstanding budget buys. That's all they are, budget buys. The ML Source instead of the CLX, please!!!!! Are you trying not to offend all those people who think anything more expensive than a "Blose" Wave Radio is wasted money? I guess that explains some of the other choices also.

No question bigger Paradigms, PSB or MartinLogans would be ultimately better sounding - but these speakers are specifically an EXCELLENT value. That's why they made the list.

It wasn't designed to be a cost-no-object list despite the fact many of these speakers are REALLY EXPENSIVE.

Also note: there are far more than 10 TRULY GREAT speakers out there. Why don't you post your list? We'd like to hear from you on it.

Legacy Audio speakers aren't to shabby either... The Focus HD & Signature series are quite good..

Lipinski L707 speakers (in a good room) stack up well against every audiophile grade speaker I've ever demoed. A relative bargain at about $3K each. Clarity and accuracy while tipping more towards the warm, I could listen to them everyday!

Listen up, you bunch of geekified panzies: getting your panties in a bunch because of one web site's Top 10 list is idiotic. If this is the opinion of Jerry and the boys, fine. While they've probably heard more speakers than any of the people responding to the list and, thus, are much more qualified to make such a list, it's still just one opinion.

Ladies, my advice is grow a pair and conserve your valuable time for flaming the AV press that promotes magic power cords, cable lifters, CD demagnitizers, ceramic room deresonators, vinyl and other hoaxes that are being perpetrated on and promoted to the audio community by pseudo-high-tech charletans and their pundits.

Personally, you all digust me (HTR staff excepted).

Jerry, can you comment further on what you meant by being stiffed for 40K for an ad contract? Was this a handshake agreement, something written, or what?

I CAN comment more. And I will.

Mark Schifter KNOWS he signed a $40,000 ad contract with me at AVRev.com years ago and NEVER PAID A PENNY. I offered him a settlement and he laughed in my face. It was pennies on the dollar. His line as I remember it was "sue me". I should have.

Since then he has offered me a "steak dinner and a drive in his Porsche Caman" For the record, I drive a Twin Turbo. He can kiss my ass and I have told him as much.

He is the single most disrespected man in the AV business. He has screwed over people EVERYWHERE and anybody who does business with him does it without my blessing. That is my opinion.

The contract is still in my files. Its signed with his name on it. That commitment is meaningless to Mark Schifter. Highly meaningful to someone like ME.

Lastly, it has basically ruined my relationship with his partner which is a shame as I like him a lot but ethics are ethics. I would have it NO OTHER WAY.

Jerry

PS: AND please Mark - don't call me with your BS. Nobody wants to hear from you. Not a soul.

The Dahlquist DQ-10A are one of my favorites from a time ong ago. They incorporated time aligned drivers, dipole radiation at a time when most speakers sounded like a box. They were similar to Quads in many ways although the technology was distinctly different.

A great sound for classical music and rock. They were not designed for incredible high sound levels but could pump out more thatn enough for most hime venues. A shame Dahquist brand was brought to shame with run of the mill products after Dahquist's accident.

The Salk Songtowers are great speakers, that have had rave reviews, hard to believe they are under $2000.00. Great low end, stunning midrange, sound great with rock, blues, jazz, and classical. They are custom made in Ohio.

So that was a contract for services to be performed or in anticipation of services to be performed, Jerry? I don't know if Schifter has any more bona fide partners. Most that I know of have long since cashed out like Walter Liederman, Ceto, McGowan, etc. AFAIK, it's just him, his wife, and his step-daughter that are running the show.
Apart from that, have you been following the matters concerning people who've had prepayments and no products for years as well as several charities that Schifter has admitted to underfunding (that's his words)?

The best speakers I have generally heard are active-crossover non-baffled speakers with each driver separately amplified. The best bargain of these are the Linkwitz Orion's. Their only "flaw" is that they need about 3-4 feet behind them (as they are open baffled) and about 3-4 feet from the side walls, which usually isn't problematic. They are designed by Siegfried Linkwitz (of the Linkwitz crossover fame) and I recommend going to the Linkwitz site. It is a very informative site on a whole bunch of audio topics.

Greg

Agree with the Atom's, they are stunning value, while picking only 10 is impossible it would have been nice to see the Jamo R909's there...

I know you specifically said this list is for speakers that are currently in production, but, I still have to add my 2 cents. I'm not one that can afford most of the high end speakers on this list. With that being said, I auditioned tons of speakers (and bought and resold on ebay probably 10 times since 2000) in the $2000 price range, and ended up with the Klipsch Reference 7 Series. Yes I know their not the best looking speakers, and are also horn loaded (which some refuse to buy), but I still think they were one of the best sounding speakers from 98' - 06' for their price. I auditioned tons of speakers at Star Power, in which they had everything from $250 bookshelf speakers all the way up to some $80K exotic speakers I've never heard of (with most major brands including McIntosh, Revel, Canton Karat series and many others). I too did a blind test as the sales professional ran the control board switching speakers for me using the same source for all (Krell Amp and CD transport, and also vinyl, dont remember the turn table brand) with Diana Krall and some other big band stuff, Classical, and Rock. The Klipsch were set on the #12 switch button out of 24 different speakers with their corresponding buttons. After about 2 hours (it was apparent the sales proffessional was starting to get a bit impatient with me) I kept asking him to hit the #12 button playing the Klipsch RF-7's (which again I had know idea what they were at the time), and I just could not believe what I was hearing! The low end sounded great, especially with the kick drum which I could feel in my chest, and although these are rear ported speakers, they were still very quick much like a sealed enclosure is. I realize their very effecient speakers, and they did sound louder versus some of the speakers with soft dome tweeters. So I asked him to turn them down a bit so I could do as fair of a comparison as possible. Folks I'll stop here, but I bought them on the spot I was so blown away with their sound. Yes, it's all an opinion, but check out audioreview.com and see their rating and how many people bought them and agree with me. They were one of the most sought after speakers while they were in production. I cant say the same for their successors the RF-83's, as they just dont have the same imaging and overall soudstage that the RF-7's did with their twin 10" mid bass and bass drivers. Their still out there, you just have to look for them.

I'd be more interested in seeing a list of the 10 WORST speakers, since it seems like on any audio forum, you will get earnest recommendations for at least 40 different speaker brands. Everyone appears to be making great speakers lately.

Besides Bose, who else is churning out overpriced crap? That's what I want to know.

If I were to add currently produced speakers to make the top 10 list I would have included the System Audio SA-7K Masters $13,000.00 a pair. These speakers are from Denmark and have to be heard to be believed. Wired with Nordost cabling inside and housing 2 5 1/4" active drivers and 4 passive with a 1" silk tweeter and wave guide internal system they require 16 weeks to produce and can play down to 22 Hertz. I used to be a System Audio dealer and the 7K's are the flagships in the line, but all of the System Audio line is incredible.
My second choice would be BG Corp R-800 In-wall speaker system. $16,000.00 a system. They are planar ribbon speakers and come with their own 2500 watt dedicated amplifer to drive them. Again, they have to be heard to be believed. The shear impact and suttle nuances these speakers are capable of is hard to imagine. Imagining is superb with out limiting the listener to one "sweet spot". BG is another company who's speakers are well built audiophile grade components. I became a dealer after hearing the Z-1 bookshelf speakers, the demo of these bookshelves at $599.00 was enough to sell me on the company and the lifetime warranty speaks highly of BG's belief in their own products.

Anyone remember Yamaha's beryllium speakers from the 80's, specifically the NS-1000X or the NS-2000. They can "out speak" any speaker in the list above.

MBL 101's anybody??

MBL's are killer.

They can be a bit finicky however.

What no Klipsch?

Is this an advertisement for speakers manufacturers that sponsor you?

Dave,

Please allow me to make something clear about your above, mis-guided comments - 3 out of the 10 are clients.

Buying ads has NOTHING to do with this list.

I am not going to participate in this debate as I am the Head of Cabasse , a 60 years old french manufacturer of high end speakers . This comment just to inform you that our flagship product La Sphere will be displayed in 2 locations in september , in Italy Milano during the High end audio show (sept 17th -20th ) and in UK Silverstone (sept 25th -27th ) , two occasions to listen to a unique product (For the US , you will have to wait until end of November in NY ). I thought that these informations would be valuable for these who share our passion for true sound reproduction!

Good list. I would have included my own speakers (surprise!) Magnepan 1.6QRs. Accurate, detailed and airy. Take a lot of floor space and require a lot of clean 4 ohm power. For me the pluses outweigh the minuses.

This is disgusting. 15 years ago , one could buy outstanding high end speakers for under $5,000.
Now they want 3 - 4 times that amount for speakers that are not as good- lower quality parts, ugly, and sound horriable. Some are increadably flemsey and not even close to high end - in sonics or build quality

How in the heck can they justify some of these prices? Some of those speakers are just cheap drivers cramed in a box and the maufactures know it. It's like a sick joke. Who are they trying to fool ?

Selecting MartinLogans instead of a Sound Labs' electrostatic product and throwing up names of other fairly well covered big names in audio suggests the authors have very limited seat time with real high end.

"If audiophila is to be anything other than a niche, geeky hobby in ten years,"

That's exactly what it has always been. Real high end has never been mass market- and don't call Adcom or NAD highend - it's junk.

Having owned a reference Gallo and Paradigm system........Surprised not to see a focal utopia model ( micro,alto, nova, or grande) on the list.....they blow away the watt puppies BTW (in my opinion) .

escalante fremont, for me,this speaker is best buy and recommended

Ken Taraszka LOVES the Escalante Freemonts. He bought a pair.

Somewhat of an off-the-grid speaker in terms of value (not many dealers, no ads, not-blue-chip) BUT its a real sleeper. They play LOUDLY but keep with with any audiophile speaker. Compare with B&Ws, Wilsons, Revels etc...

Jerry,

In relation to your Canadian recommendations, can I ask you to clarify why you chose V5 for the Atoms and B series for the PSB? And if PRESSED to choose between the two, which one would you go for and why?

I would pick Paradigm because they advertise!!! :)

Seriously - both are great. Both are CULT speakers that people LOVE. They are like that $9 bottle of wine that kicks the hell out of the $30 bottle.

You can't lose with either Paradigm Atoms or PSB Alphas. Its like picking between a C-class Benz and an Audi A4. Different but both so good for the money.

Lastly, PSB and NAD will be back as a client in 2010. I can feel it. :)

Does it make a difference between the two brands if I can't get the specific versions you recommended (namely, v.5 or B) but can still get Atoms v.2 and Alpha minis? I might be splitting hairs... but then again, I'd choose the A4 over the C-class... ;)

You are splitting hairs.

Go with your gut. Whichever one you like best is best.

Hell - buy both?

Jerry, please tell Tarazka that Escalante upgraded their cross-over in the fremont. Not sure if the sound difference will be noticable, but worth a call to Matt.

I am a pleased owner that would like to see one more sound wave test under better test conditions

Mitch,

Ken knows that. Matt is going to install them the next time he is near Kenny in Tampa.

Jerry, thanks for the reply back. Good luck with all.

Usually anything with "audiophile" in it is nothing but snake oil. Wilson audio = snake oil.

Good Day, Avid Readers (and please skip my soapbox diatribe if you don't like rambling)

This on-line bantering reminds me of a religious discussion: some (not all) easily threatened "Y" believers devalue, condemn, and take personal offense to those with differing opinions (A - X and Z supporters). Let's keep this in perspective; Jerry has done an outstanding job of laying out select examples from the industry that embody the characteristics he spelled out in HTR's selection process. Some (again, not all) posters remind me of the kid who never had an original idea, or took a chance, but lambastes those that do.

For those of you that are secure enough to live another day just because your favorite, and probably owned, speaker didn't get called up for an Emmy award by HTR, kudos. You are probably the ones smart enough to realize the best speaker is the one that sounds good to you in YOUR listening environment, that you can afford, and that (ideally) has the support of a current manufacturer (not a requirement, but a recommendation).

Jerry never said there weren't other phenomenal speakers out there, or that this was a be-all-to-end-all list, just their pared-down list of brands/models HTR believes will provide a religious experience (whether from the "A" or "Z" camp, and all in between). I would also wager a bet that some of the responses "highly recommending" only one brand - AND providing contact info for said brand - are somehow affiliated with that product (notice I did not say all, but some). Usually absolutes are bull-shiite, like extremists in any matter.

I'm not crying because my Vienna Acoustics Mahler (1.5's and original models) or Vienna Acoustics (LR-5's, LR-3's, CC-5, 10T's, and SW-12's) weren't mentioned. I know they're good, and I truly believe in them, so am not threatened by others with differing opinions. Don't squawk about how much I spent, they should be good, etc - I buy all my stuff used, I don't claim to have heard everything, and I don't make recommendations on sound because I know/like someone affiliated with any brand; I just know what sounds good to me, in MY house, and with MY selected components. Your experience(s) can and will vary ... as Jerry can attest much of sound has to do with room variables and system synergy, hence the reason stuff sounds different in the store than at home.

Deepest respect to those posters with questions trying to learn more about the industry; to Mr. Henning for verbalizing his beliefs, and not caring about upsetting the tide; to Jerry for his honesty in the $40,000 matter and for creating what I'm sure seemed at the time to be a harmless, inoffensive, and well-intentioned contribution; and to Mr. Gallo for his recognition of the System Audio stuff. My best friend has a pair of the SA2K's, and they are an amazing little number.

If I offended anyone for trying my best to use disclaimers, the repeated use of "Some, not all" phrasing, and avoidance of absolutes, then, clearly, you read each word like a Japanese Haiku, but are venomously focused on the word, not the meaning. Try being happy with what you have, and let others do the same. Buy what you like ... I'm loading another SACD and laughing at the mono-camp supporters. Narrow minds impede growth. I'll be standing by, licking the window panes and eating lead-based paint chips - should anyone wish to express their extreme displeasure with my use of insensitivity, er honesty. Blame Mr. Hanning, he started it.

Be well,
John

I am an entry level audio guy (and full time computer geek). I have the Klipch Reference series at home and love them (I know, I know...). RF-82s and an RC-62.

I am not sure if this is the right place, and please feel free to ignore/deride me if I got it wrong, but I am looking for some speaker advice for a friend and am not sure what to recommend. He has had a media room built that he wants to put a projector based HT in. The room is built as a HT so walls and floor are soundproofed etc.

Unfortunately, instead of pre-wiring his front speakers to the floor, they sent the wire to the ceiling. I have tried to convince him to run the speaker wire (either behind or in front of the wall) to the floor so he can use a decent pair of floor standing speakers at the front but he won’t do it.

So, short of using recessed in-ceiling speakers that “the guy at Best Buy recommended” (again, I know, I know... ), I am left with the option of mounting some bookshelves..... can you recommend something I should look at?

The room is not too big at around 15 x 20 feet. I would like to recommend something cheaper (300-400 each) and something better (800-1500 each), but it HAS to be mountable.

In terms of the center channel, I am currently thinking of recommending something like the Martin Logan Encore TF for the lower end setup and maybe the Definitive Mythos nine for the higher end (he has said that speaker size was a concern for the center because he will be using a wall mounted fixed projector screen and doesn’t want the speaker jutting out too far).

Any thoughts or recommendations would be welcome.

Thank you in advance!

Any thoughts?

Other than the PSB Alpha B's and the Paradigm V5's is there anything else good out there for under $300? I don't pretend to be able to hear every little detail on any speakers but I can hear enough that my current system is definitely going downhill in sound quality. I'm looking for something with great sound that won't cost too much. I also have a set of ancient Fried Model R's in my basement that I never hooked up, how good are those as far as overall sound quality?

I can't believe you didn't include the Bose® 901® Series VI Direct/Reflecting® speakers which have not changed since 1968 because of the outstanding value, rating, size and cost (1300.00 per pair that includes EQ but not stands). These speakers can handle unlimited power consumption 500 watts plus - with 50 watts minimum to start up. I have had 2 pairs over my lifetime and now still own a Double set.