What Speakers Have You Owned and Loved?
 

In another forum there is a personal speaker evolution thread that has been very popular - but I, and maybe others of us, would enjoy a speaker history thread from our own AA friends and colleagues.

List your speaker history, starting with the earliest - up through the latest and greatest - or your current speakers.

I would start this off, but my own list is ridiculous so I'd love for someone else to go first.

Please, for this thread, no pictures are necessary - just a list of your speakers and perhaps some anecdotal information about them.

But, just as a kick-off, I will show my first "good" speakers and system - Electrovoice EV-2 - two-way speakers that I bought in 1963, and used for several years The speakers were rated for 35 watts and peak input of 60 watts. I used them with a Fisher X-101-B integrated amp and a Garrard type A turntable - (record changer) with a Shure cartridge and I probably cut the plugs off of a pair of extension cords to get a "really good" set of speaker wires. We had never heard of dedicated speaker wire in those days, and I can't imagine the poor quality of whatever interconnects I used.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...m/EV_front.jpg. . .http://www.theanalogdept.com/images/...rard/TypeA.jpg. . . http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/petst...0650687905.jpg

Nice thread Julian !

Mine were :

JM lab Symbol II
JM lab Megane Carat
Linn Keilidh
Monitor Audio Bronze 1
Mission 711
Final 1.4 mk2,
Tannoy Autograph mini
PMC EB1i

I don't use them but I still have the Finals and the Keilidhs...

This list may not be complete, but it is a walk through the cob webs of my old gear going back to 1967.

Pioneer CS-88
Altec Voice of the Theater
Large Advents
Altec Valencia
JBL L100
JBL Model 37 Lo Boy
JBL 4312A
JBL LSR6332
JBL LSR6312SP
JBL LSR6328P
JBL EON10 G2
JBL Control 5
Infinity Beta C360
Mackie HR824
B&W DW-303
Velodyne CT120
Definative Technologies BP2000
McIntosh XLS112
JL Audio Fathom f113
Sonus faber Creamona Auditor
Sonus faber Guarneri Memento
PMC EB1i

But, just as a kick-off, I will show my first "good" speakers and system - [I]Electrovoice EV-2 - two-way speakers that I bought in 1963, and used for several years The speakers were rated for 35 watts and peak input of 60 watts. I used them with a Fisher X-101-B integrated amp and a Garrard type A turntable - (record changer) with a Shure cartridge and I probably cut the plugs off of a pair of extension cords to get a "really good" set of speaker wires. We had never heard of dedicated speaker wire in those days, and I can't imagine the poor quality of whatever interconnects I used.

JULIAN: The Electrovoice 15" extended range was also my first speaker in 1964. My brother and I built the cabinets and I built the Eico Integrated Amp from a kit. Lampcord was always my choice.:D

First "good speakers"...AR 4x (I was about 13 years old...I still have them).

Dynaco A-25
Acoustic Research AR-2ax
Windsor 700 (mid-70's, never heard of them before, or since!)
JBL L100A
JBL L220A
Phase technologies PC80 tower
JBL B460
JBL4401
JBL PB10
JBL 4313B
JBL PB12
JBL 2241-based sub


Pete

I have been in the high-end audio scene for about 6 years only and I am still on my first pair of speakers: Thiel 2.4 :D

JBL L100
JBL 4311
JBL 4312
JBL 4343
JBL L300
Mac HT-1
Mac HT-2
Mac HT-3
Mac HT-4
Mac XR27
Mac WS350
Mac LS360
Mac XRT28
Mac XRT30
Mac XLS112
Mac XLS350
Mac XLS360
Mac XRT2K
Mac XCS2K
JL 112 Fathom
JL 113 Fathom
JL 213 Gotham
Vienna Acoustics Bach Grand
Vienna Acoustics Teatro
SF Stradivari
SF Amati Anniversario
SF Cremona
SF Auditor M

I may have missed a few. :)

Klipsch Heresy
JBL 4301b's
Klipsch Cornwalls
McIntosh LS360
PMC TB2i
PMC EB1i
DeVore Super 8

Very impressive Dan ! no wonder if you know so many things in audio !
I like to see the EB1i on top of your list !

Impressive Cyril !!!
This is "HIGH FIDELITY ":thumbsup:

Already some long lists of extraordinary speakers. So I guess I'll post mine. Remember that I've been at this for a long, long time. The speakers may not be in absolute chronological order and I may have missed a couple.

ELECTROVOICE EV-2 (1963)
DYNACO A25
TANDBERG LOUDSPEAKER (Actually had two pairs and used them doubled like the Advents)
DOUBLE LARGE ADVENTS
KLH-9 (two pairs, doubled up)
ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR 3A
ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR 2AX
MAGNEPLANAR TYMPANI IU
ALTEC VOICE OF THE THEATER
GALE LOUDSPEAKER (in my opinion, this was an awful speaker)
KLIPSCHORN - corner horn
OHM F
MAGNEPAN MG II
MAGNEPAN MG 3
MAGNEPLANAR TYMPANI IV (Loved these great big things)
MAGNEPAN MG 3.3
MAGNEPAN MG 3.6r
FULTON J SPEAKER (huge things, sounded pretty good)
DAHLQUIST DQ-10
THIEL CS 3
THIEL CS 3.5
THIEL CS 3.6
THIEL CS 5i (Great speakers)
WILSON WATT
WILSON WATT 3 PUPPY 2 (Couldn't live with that Wilson tweeter)
MARTIN LOGAN MONOLITH
MARTIN LOGAN REQUEST
GENESIS 200 (Extremely large, separate tweeter and bass towers)
GOLDMUND DIALOGUES
EGGLESTONWORKS ANDRA
AVALON EIDOLON (Two pairs- still have one)
MAGNEPAN 20.1 (Loved these but blocked the view)
LINN KANS
VERITY PARSIFAL ENCORE (Two Pairs)
QUAD ESL 63 CROSBY MODS
JOSEPH AUDIO PEARLS (Possibly the best I've ever heard in my system - wish I hadn't sold them.)
PSB PLATINUM M-2 MONITORS (In second system)
JM LAB 907Be (Second system)
JM LAB MICRO UTOPIA Be (in a second system)
JM LAB SUB UTOPIA Be ( Used with the Micro Utopia Be speakers)
SONUS FABER CREMONA AUDITOR (second system) SWEET!
KHARMA 3.2 FE . . . (I don't like the titanium tweeter - gives me a headache)
MARTIN LOGAN SUMMIT (A great speaker)
EGGLESTON ANDRA II
AUDIO PHYSIC CALDERA 3 (I really like this speaker in spite of what Mikey Fremer says.)
SONUS FABER GUARNERI MEMENTO (The best small speakers in the world - I can't afford the Magico so these will have to do . . . . )
JL AUDIO F-112 SUB

Currently, I'm llistening to the Audio Physic Caldera 3 and Avalon Eidolon speakers in my first system and the Sonus Faber Guarneri Mementos with the JL Audio F-112 sub in the second. Couldn't be happier!

Perhaps someday, I'll stop looking.

Acoustic Research AR 2ax
Acoustic Research AR 5
Acoustic Research AR 3
Advent
Yamaha NS 1000
Dahlquist DQ 10
Precise 10
Vandersteen 2CE Signature
Magnepan 3.5R
Green Mountain Audio Europa Max
Martin Logan CLS
Magnepan 3.6R
Avalon Arcus
Magnepan 20.1
Martin Logan Descent i

Altec Lansing
B&W 803's
B&W 802's
Lipinski 707's
Totem Tribe III
JL Audio 113
PMC IB2's
Hansen Prince's

I'm on the 5 year plan since college..
B&W 602 s2
B&W 704
PMC EB1i

In no particular order:
Panasonic SB550
Technics SB7000
Polk RTA12
M&K something or another
Klipsch Cornwall
Ohm Walsh 2
Klipschorns
Boston Acoustics A40's
Beovox RL120
Totem Arro
Totem Mites
Klipsch Heresy
Legacy Focus
Legacy Studio
Magneplanar MMG
B&W 601
Ohm Super Walsh 2.2000
McIntosh LS360
McIntosh LS320
McIntosh CS 350

Julian,
Great thread - those Electrovoice speakers look a heck of a lot like the speakers my dad had with his Fisher receiver c. 1968, although I never knew what brand they were. It's a short list over 28 years:

Infinity RS4s (1983)
B&W 802Ds/803Ds/HTM2D/ASW825 (2008)
Infinity RSIIIs (2009/vintage c. '81)

All speakers are in use today, and I get just as much pleasure (well, almost) from that first pair as the current main system.

B&W 804
B&W 805S
Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento

I can't remember model numbers

Advent
Yamaha studio monitor
Altec
JBL
Magnepan
Vandersteen 2
Martin Logan
Vandersteen 5
Vandersteen quatro

Newest speakers for game room are PSB Synchrony One. For 5 thousand a pair these things are a great value. Look real nice too.

Hmm. Maybe I'm wrong but I sense one missing. :dunno:

Easy list for me - all McIntosh:

ML2c
SL6
HT4
HT3W
SL1
LS360
CS350
WS350
PS112
HT12
XR27

plus two JL Audio F113 subs
and NHT O2 Outdoor Speakers (which are quite good BTW :yes:)

I have to dig thru my piles of old photos, receipts, etc, .... before I can remember what I have owned all these years. I do missed some of them I would still considered gems.

- B&W DM2a
- Bose 501
- KEF 104aB (using an 8 inch wooden stool as stands)
- ESS AMT1a (first high end speakers)
- Gale GS401a (truly a futuristic nice design, chrome end caps comes with an equally impressive chrome stands).
- Bose 901 MKIII (comes as a package with the then Bose Spatial Control receiver).
- Dahlquist DQ10 (with matching stands) & DQ1W Passive Subwoofer.
- Yamaha NS1000 Ebony veneered (with Yamaha SPS1000 stands)
- Cerwin Vega S1 "turbo" speakers
- Linn Sara
- Celestion SL600
- Yamaha NS1000M (using bricks wrapped in BBQ tin-foils as "stands. First hifi "tweak" learnt).
- JBL Project K2 S5500. (Bose 901 Concertos (powered) - 2nd System).
- JM Labs Mezzo Utopia
- Wilson Watt Puppy 6
- Wilson Watt Puppy 7
- McIntosh XRT30 (McIntosh ML1C - 2nd system)
- Acapella Violon MkIV
- Meridian DSP8000 (manufacture 2008)
- Meridian DSP8000SL (manufacture Oct 2010)

Now, are we going to reminisce Turntables, Arms, Cartridges, Tuners, Receivers, Cassette, Open Reel, CD Players Pre & Power Amps?

This would be interesting and sometimes, hilarious, knowing the "hits" and "misses" of our hifi journey.

Norman Labs Ten
Norman Labs Eight
Norman Labs Seven
Boston Video Reference home theater mains (c. 2001)
Focal Chorus 806V
Paradigm PW-2200 powered sub
and of course, the incomparable Karma Indignia 3.5 - thanks Zilch, et al

Currently dynaudio contour 1.4 bookshelf on their stands

My gosh, Bill is right. I forgot one of the best speakers of all time that I didn't include on my list. I did own a pair of Metaphor loudspeakers which were, as I recall, really terrific speakers.

I remember that I didn't have them too long - 6 months or so, but enjoyed them tremendously.

I traded them back to the dealer I bought them from - Steve Campbell in Huntsville, Alabama, for a pair of Crosby modified Quad ESL 63 speakers, just because . . . I wanted to try something new - and looking at my list, you might surmise that I often wanted to try something "new".

The Metaphors were built by one William Peugh II of Goldmund fame, later the world class expert on all things Sonus Faber and author of many remarkable posts in the "Friendly Forum for High End Audio", otherwise known as Audio Aficionado, under the nom de plume "metaphacts". and known to all as just plain Bill.

There were two versions of the Metaphor speaker and I don't remember the model name of the one I owned but it was the larger of the two.

Below is a picture of the Metaphor, and what a beauty to behold. Looked good, sounded great!, And, Bill, I didn't forget the speaker, I just forgot to put it on my list.

http://usr.AudioAsylum.com/images/y2.../METAPHOR2.jpg

My Corrected List . . .

ELECTROVOICE EV-2 (1963)
DYNACO A25
TANDBERG LOUDSPEAKER (Actually had two pairs and used them doubled like the Advents)
DOUBLE LARGE ADVENTS
KLH-9 (two pairs, doubled up)
ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR 3A
ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR 2AX
MAGNEPLANAR TYMPANI IU
ALTEC VOICE OF THE THEATER
GALE LOUDSPEAKER (in my opinion, this was an awful speaker)
KLIPSCHORN - corner horn
OHM F
MAGNEPAN MG II
MAGNEPAN MG 3
MAGNEPLANAR TYMPANI IV (Loved these great big things)
MAGNEPAN MG 3.3
MAGNEPAN MG 3.6r
FULTON J SPEAKER (huge things, sounded pretty good)
DAHLQUIST DQ-10
THIEL CS 3
THIEL CS 3.5
THIEL CS 3.6
THIEL CS 5i (Great speakers)
WILSON WATT
WILSON WATT 3 PUPPY 2 (Couldn't live with that Wilson tweeter)
MARTIN LOGAN MONOLITH
MARTIN LOGAN REQUEST
GENESIS 200 (Extremely large, separate tweeter and bass towers)
GOLDMUND DIALOGUES
EGGLESTONWORKS ANDRA
AVALON EIDOLON (Two pairs- still have one)
MAGNEPAN 20.1 (Loved these but blocked the view)
LINN KANS
VERITY PARSIFAL ENCORE (Two Pairs)
METAPHOR 2 LOUDSPEAKERS
CROSBY MODIFIED QUAD ESL 63 LOUDSPEAKERS
JOSEPH AUDIO PEARLS (Possibly the best I've ever heard in my system - wish I hadn't sold them.)
PSB PLATINUM M-2 MONITORS (In second system)
JM LAB 907Be (Second system)
JM LAB MICRO UTOPIA Be (in a second system)
JM LAB SUB UTOPIA Be ( Used with the Micro Utopia Be speakers)
SONUS FABER CREMONA AUDITOR (second system) SWEET!
KHARMA 3.2 FE . . . (I don't like the titanium tweeter - gives me a headache)
MARTIN LOGAN SUMMIT (A great speaker)
EGGLESTON ANDRA II
AUDIO PHYSIC CALDERA 3 (I really like this speaker in spite of what Mikey Fremer says.)
SONUS FABER GUARNERI MEMENTO (The best small speakers in the world - I can't afford the Magico so these will have to do . . . . )
JL AUDIO F-112 SUB

VMPS RM30m's - I want another pair. Price is right and they look and sound great.

You took the words right off of my hands, Cyril. :yes:

I got through college with a pair of Polk RTA 11t speakers that I still have (that is, they and my trusty Sony STR-GX6ES II two-channel receiver are on creeping-near-permanent loan to my neighbor). I suppose my entry into high-end audio would be marked by my purchase of an MA6900 and Thiel 2.4 speakers in 2003. It was an amazing combination that I would still be enjoying if the 6900 had not bitten the dust. Fortunately, the 2.4s sound even better with my new MA7000.

Good to know that another audiophile has had a great experience with the 2.4s. Cheers!

Good lawd, Julian! That's quite a list, my friend. Remind me to be in the neighborhood next time you have a garage sale. :D

AR-18 bookshelf
Klipsch RB-5 II reference
AR-3a (still have)
AR-9LS (still have)
Allison Four
Apogee Acoustics Duetta
Alon Acarian Lotus Signature
SF Cremona Auditor M
JBL 4312D
Nola Micro Grand Reference

I am not even going to mention the Bose 901 series 3's I had in college for those parties I can't remember. :D I'm so ashamed. :(

Oh, I see I'm not the only one. Thanks Rock!

Joe

My list is rather short:

a) Sony Speakers - (can't recall the model number but 1973-74 vintage)

b) Tannoy Cheviots

c) Bose 901 Series VI

d) Technics Micro Series (SB-F1)

e) ProAc Response 1.5

f) ProAc Resonse D38R

Here's my meager list.....

KLH 5

Quad ESL 57

Magneplanar Tympani 1D

KEF 104/2

PMC GB1 i

Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento

Wilson Audio Duettes

My list is rather meager too as I got seriously out of audio for 20 years...anyway:

Large Advents (walnut)

Cambridge Audio Ensemble IIs (still have these as part of my Home Theatre Surrounds)

Era Design 4 (now my home theatre speakers along with a D4 LCR)

Dynaudio Audience 72

Dynaudio Contour S3.4

That's it!

Triangle Meridian
Arcam 2 +
Asa monitor
SF concerto
SF minima amator
SF cremona auditor M
SF elipsa

in 25 years of time

Nice progression, great speakers, and with your final choice, the Elipsa, you may never have to look again. That one is a definite "keeper".

Thanks Julian
It was very difficult to choose between guarneri, cremona M floorstander and elipsa :scratch2: And I shall also like very much listening to Avalon

This list goes back about 35 yrs. Includes several of my father's speakers I enjoyed while living with my parents.

JBL Paragon (owned by my father for 25+ yrs)
Bose 901 (first series)
Avid 103
Ultralinear (don't remember model)
Spendor SP1
Magnepan 2.5R
Magnepan 2.6R
B&W 804
Energy Veritas
Revel F32
Revel Salon 2

Thanks!
Mike

My list is pretty sparce (and covers 40 years)

Ohm E monitors (1972)

Bose something or others (cubes) (1996 - ish)

AV123 Rockets (stock and then custom modded)

Wilson Audio Sophia 2's (Jan. 2010 with some guy saying "Welcome ... to the real world") :D

Polk RT600i
Polk RT800i
Onix Rocket signature
Martin Logan Ascent-i
----and my current,
Martin Logan Vantages

I tend not to change out speakers that often. I've had the Vantages for 6 years and counting, and unless I find a killer deal on a pair of Spires, the
Vantages are not going anywhere.:music:

There are only four that I can say I liked a lot and the all of the rest like L-100's, the Von Schweikert's, 111e's etc just passed on thru some iteration of my systems.

My four favorites are:
MBL 111F's
Dahlquist DQ-10's
JM Lab Micro Be's
B&W 802D's

Jim

Ive had a few because my dad buys speakers because he likes to collect them and ive switched alot untill i found ones i really liked.

Bose 901
Big Advents.
JBL 4406
Klipsch KG 3.2
Klipsch heresy II
Klipsch KG4
Paradigm Eclipse Moniter
Psb Image 4T series floor stander
Definitive BP 2002
KEF Q series
Sansui SP-X8000
PSB Stratus Minis


I now regret selling the Klipsch Heresy II. :(