Best Speakers Money Can Buy?

AudioNew

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May 26, 2025
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Hello everyone. I already posted this before in the general forum, but realized this forum is more appropriate. The title question was probably a dead giveaway, because it is probably pretty dumb. I am new to audio in general, and fairly oblivious to my own tastes in sound.
For reference, I have a bluetooth Bose speaker I bought at a mall 10 years ago that I'll sometimes connect to my phone.
My cursory understanding of audio is that it's subject to a ton of variables, like matching amps and speakers that go together, the condition of the room, and your subjective tastes in sound.

Having said that, the world of high end audio is fascinating to me, especially speakers, in how they are seemingly very divergent in appearance/underlying technology, often from brands that are more obscure than mainstream electronics, with very high prices, that all aim to offer superior sound. As a newbie, I am drawn to speakers that "looks cool" like the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus, MBL 101 X-Treme MKII, and Steinway Lyngdorf (for the piano brand association, with little knowledge about how better that makes them compared to regular Lyngdorfs).

So I hope to ask veterans in the world of high-end audio what speakers you consider to be the finest that money can buy. Googling lists of best speakers seem to inevitably bring up haphazard lists of expensive speakers.

Thank you for your time, and I apologize if the question is not really worth it. I have other hobbies that I am more versed in, where I understand it can be frustrating when someone asks a blanket question like this.
 
The answer to your ”best” question is not very useful, but commonly Wilson, Magico, MBL are included. However, low tube amps, panel speakers (electrostatic, planar, ribbon, cone…), horn speakers, etc it’s not easy to define “best”.

I had Bose before stepping into high-end audio. They sounded great for box store offerings, but it doesn’t compare to high-end which can get to “fool you it’s real” level.

There is no perfect speaker, therefore user sonic preference and affordability are key to finding an audio chain that subjectively resonates with you. Therefore, to truly understand it’s best to go out and demo yourself. Audio shows are a great place to hear a variety of speakers, but keep in mind that sometimes/often room conditions may cause subpar sonics.

Ten years ago I was also a newbie. So I made a list of top speakers, sources included Stereophile and The Absolute Sound. Then I went out to demo at many audio stores and audio shows like AXPONA to find the sound that subjectively “resonates” with me, then try to duplicate within my budget.
 
This one ..
1000usd used, hard to find much that beats it, in fact no one I have heard the last 25 years have done that. But maybe I am biased, I own a pair.
To bad it is hard to demonstrate in a forum, but what you can do is to compare the measurements with present high end stuff..on a technical level.

 
Last edited:
Hello everyone. I already posted this before in the general forum, but realized this forum is more appropriate. The title question was probably a dead giveaway, because it is probably pretty dumb. I am new to audio in general, and fairly oblivious to my own tastes in sound.
For reference, I have a bluetooth Bose speaker I bought at a mall 10 years ago that I'll sometimes connect to my phone.
My cursory understanding of audio is that it's subject to a ton of variables, like matching amps and speakers that go together, the condition of the room, and your subjective tastes in sound.

Having said that, the world of high end audio is fascinating to me, especially speakers, in how they are seemingly very divergent in appearance/underlying technology, often from brands that are more obscure than mainstream electronics, with very high prices, that all aim to offer superior sound. As a newbie, I am drawn to speakers that "looks cool" like the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus, MBL 101 X-Treme MKII, and Steinway Lyngdorf (for the piano brand association, with little knowledge about how better that makes them compared to regular Lyngdorfs).

So I hope to ask veterans in the world of high-end audio what speakers you consider to be the finest that money can buy. Googling lists of best speakers seem to inevitably bring up haphazard lists of expensive speakers.

Thank you for your time, and I apologize if the question is not really worth it. I have other hobbies that I am more versed in, where I understand it can be frustrating when someone asks a blanket question like this.
Looks like you got kicked off the other forum.
Plenty of advice there seemed sound, like getting house and room, before asking about speakers that cost more than a house or room.

As people there suggested you were trolling,I would have expected to at least have modified the wording.
 

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