The Top 10 greatest audiophile speakers

As a reviewer I get to hear lots of speakers, and I immediately forget most of them.

It's not that they're bad, just unexceptional. Here's a Top 10 list and photo gallery of the very best-sounding speakers I've heard for less than $3,500 per pair. The brands may be unfamiliar, but each speaker is a stand-out winner. I will at some point do a Top 10 without price constraints. For now I want to highlight more affordable speakers that you can buy new.

Photos: The Top Ten greatest audiophile speakers

[feverboy777]

Where's the Quad 57 on your list. Magnepan's #1 ... what's your address I'll send you a box of Q-Tips.

[stattube]

Read the description. "affordable speakers that you can buy new". Quad 57 does not fit.

I'll send some wipes for your glasses.

[James Anderson Merritt]

When I clicked the link, I thought this would be a list of the top 10 audiophile speakers of all time, but I see that you have restricted yourself to "current" models. Looking at the price tags of most on the list, I guess I can see how the Bose 901s didn't make it. But they've always been my gold standard of value-for-money. Excellent sound, the ability to handle very high-volume without frying, and a decent price per pair are among the qualities that endear my 901s to me.

[RandomCoolzipXPD]

Also missing: Martin-Logan Purity series, Klipsch Cornwalls, Revel Performa F30s -- but then again, maybe he just didn't have a chance to audition these. I suppose it's possible that all the other speakers on this list sound better than those three, but I doubt it. I have personally listened to the Klipsch RB-81s and the Gallo Reference 3.1s, and neither is as good as the three I named. They're good speakers, and the RB-81s are a great value (I wasn't overly impressed with the Gallos), but I feel there are some more worthy examples that should have made a "Top 10" list.

[baconstang]

I make my own.

[zbangando]

Where are the Beolab 4000s'. Self amplified speakers are the way of the future, ICE power is the way of the future.

[pubmat]

Presumably in the toilet where they belong. Just kidding, I've never heard them, but I'm skeptical of fancy, overpriced "lifestyle" speakers, as most of us occupying this niche in audio often are. I agree with you that ICE power is a viable option for amplification...when done right. Analog is still the best option as of now IMO.

[wkatzir]

I have the Magnepan 1.6QR's and I love them, they just need to be paired with a sub to get a "full" sound. I paired them with the Martin Logan Depth i, which was the best sub I found to mate with the Magnepan's. (I was fortunate enough to have extended in house comparisons with equally priced REL and Velodyne subs and it was the clear winner. For a separate Magnepan MMG setup, which should also be on this above list at only $600, I use the Martin Logan Grotto i which is also amazing.)

[one_flat_monkey]

i had a lot of trouble with the amplification of my 1.4s. i wonder what you are driving the 1.6s with...

...and, incidentally, i didn't think the 1.4s needed a sub, but i don't care that much about deep bass.

[jerrydel]

Steve,

You have a few good speakers on your list but you missed the most obvious and most successful audiophile speaker EVER - the Wilson Watt Puppy. With over 6,000 units sold at prices ranging from $10,000 a pair to now $28,000 a pair - the Wilson Audio WATT Puppy is the single most successful high end speaker ever. Possibly the best sounding. Comes in the a rainbow of colors including custom car colors (I had a pair in Audi pearl white and another in Aston Martin Dark Titanium).

Other speakers missing:
- B&W 802d's
- Quad ESL 63's
- MartinLogan E2 Statements (or anything from MartinLogan like the CLS)
- Meridian DPS8000's
- Meyer Sound X-10's
- Paradigm Atoms

I mean no disrespect to ZU Audio but do you want to compare the volume and significance of their speaker with Paradgim Atoms?

There also are too many speakers on the list made in China. The speakers I mention above are made in Canada, the US and the UK by hand.

[cheinonen]

He clearly states that there is a price ceiling of $3,500 a pair on the speakers listed above, otherwise I'm sure this list would wind up being 10 sets of speakers that almost all of us would be able to lust after, but never afford ourselves. That rules out almost every speaker you listed, except for the Paradigm Atoms I think. I also don't think he listed significance as a reason to put a speaker on the list, so if he thinks the Zu sounds better, there's no reason to put the Atom's on the list, since he has some cheaper speakers that he likes listed already as well.

Of course, all of these lists come down to what sound people like, and what speakers they get to spend time with in their listening rooms. I might love my Epos ESL-3's, but I also don't get to easily switch between them, and Paradigm Atom's, and another set of bookshelf speakers to compare either.

[RandomCoolzipXPD]

I think the list was for the best *sounding* speakers, not the most "successful". Based on units sold, the Porsche Boxster is more successful than a Ferrari F40, but I doubt anyone would argue that it performs better.

[Mindstyle06]

Hello folks,

Many of the comments here are made by people who know what they are talking and have been users of these systems (with due respect to the author of this article)
I don't consider myself a real audiophile but I can definitely say that my ears sense more subtle issues than rest of the people. I would like to buy high-end audio system in future, in about 5 years time (currently about to graduate grad student, so by the time, my life is on the track, it will be 5 years), which publications, websites and forums would you recommend to read?

Thanks in advance.

[reinbry]

I have and love the gallo's. Like all list, things are very subjective, overall i think this is a pretty list though. I still haven't heard those Magnepan's.

[vaulting16]

Hello to all,

I was reading this article and can't help but wonder if these speakers are great sounding with only music? I started to read up more on all the speakers once reading about them here in this article and it seems that a lot of the reviewers I read used music as a way of testing the speaker's sound quality. I tend to be more of a movie guy and would like to know if these speakers would translate over to good home theater speakers? If so, can you state which speakers would perform best in a home theater setup? If not, can you recommend some speakers (within the same price range)? Thanks for your input and answers to my questions.

[textorama]

I have to apologize in advance for my bad english for I am not a native speaker.
I love the older Focal Electras 926 or the Boesendorfer VC7.
reinbry is totally right saying lists are subjective. Maybe the point is, that every speaker has it´s weakness, and it´s own colour, even the socalled best ones. So you can name ten speaker, ten people and get the ten best speakers in the world. But one thing for sure: it´s the ear not the money that decides what´s the best.

[Ericamd2]

Usher Be-718 - Very very nice
JM Reynaud Twin - Regret selling those
Ascend (Axiom) Speakers
Paradigm S2?
Mark and Daniel?

[coprock]

My new favorite speakers are my the ADS L570s in teak cabinets that I just got off ebay for $129.

[vincetastic]

This is a really great top ten list, Steve. I see a lot of disagreement among all the comments left. Anyone can post their own list to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.

[marksteiner88]

Hi Steve!
I read your blog about the Magnepan 1.6/QR speakers, and I'm very interested in acquiring a pair. Will my present receivers work fine with the Mags or should I get a new receiver (the Onkyo that you reviewed a while ago). I have a Sony 5.1 receiver from 1999 and a JVC from 2006. Should I get separates or a receiver to drive these and which would you recommend if I go with a receiver (i prefer receivers..)

Thanks!

[Kitchen_Warfare]

Maggies need lots of power AND an amplifier that can provide it at 4ohms. Most receivers (including my Onkyo) that do have a setting for 4 ohm will work but severely limit the watts fed to the speaker, far below the rating given in the spec. Result is it will work, but you get no where near the power the maggies need. One solution is to be sure your receiver has pre-outs and then get a separate amp for at least the maggies. You can get a top shelf amp or even an inexpensive pro-amp, anything that delivers a lot of power at 4ohms is going to make a LOT of difference with the maggies. Mine get 600+ watts per channel and they sing!

[marksteiner88]

Thanks Kitchen_Warfare for the reply!

[chazzbodejazzbo]

Zu's are a speaker folks love or hate.Few fence sitters.Yeah $3500 is a good price point (I sold B&W and Krell so know diminshing returns).Would throw on Usher as a company from Taiwan that makes killer speakers by stealing tech from everywhere they can and has Joe D'Appolito make their cabinets.So much gear this was a mmisson impossible.Whjat about B&W 302's (they screwed pooch when they dropped that),NHT's and well you know it could go on.Want to hear the Energy 5.1.You can't also miss a major offerings from billion dollar Harmon.Maybe not for us snobs but Infinity will work for your brother in law.This list is a mission impossible.It could be a history lesson from Klipsch,Quad,KLH 9's and AR's to post 60's/70's design when industry took off.But other than Thiel can't say I'd be bummed with anything if forced (I have tubes and $6500 German horns).Antnthony Gallo is jerk but 3.1 (soon to be replaced with waaay overpriced replacement) made a good speaker.Maggies?Not my fave but a cult following like few others (maybe Quad,Spendor,Harbeth crowd).For my friends and their possible 5.1 and livable spaces I'd take the Totem.
Cheers
Chazz
Chazz