BEST AUDIOPHILE SPEAKERS of 2023!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ก.ค. 2024
- The Audiophiliac picks his favorites, links to the reviews.
Vandersteen 2Ce Sig III • OLD Name, NEW Sound: V...
Vivid Kaya 25 • VIVID Kaya 25: Form Fo...
Zu DWX • Zu DWX, a TOTAL KNOCKOUT!
Eminent Tech LFT 8B • EMINENT TECH LFT8b, wa...
Eminent Tech LFT 8C • EMINENT TECH's newest ...
GoldenEar T66 • GOLDENEAR T66 The Sear...
Borresen X3 • Børresen X3, You Gotta...
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Twitter: @AudiophiliacMan
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Best shirt of 2023! 😍
Hahaha
YES…YES!…This shirt is spectacular! 👍🏼😀👍🏼
Seriously!
I was getting dizzy looking at it.@@allandresner
Agreed. Steve really outdid himself with this one. Where can I get one?
Best shirt of the year by far! Love ya Steve. What a great year. Good run down
Seeing your colourful shirt ,I too get confidence to wear colour! Now listening your full video 😊
I have the ZU DW6 with the upgrades based on your recommendation. I love them couldn’t be happier.
Glad to see that Zu made it to your list. I'm still in love with my Zu, Soul Supremes (with cherry wood finish, drool) which I bought based on your review. Thanks Steve!
Great stuff! Love learning from you about good hifi. Thanks!
Thank you Steve. Merry Christmas
Thank you for this video. I am in the process of build a new stereo system, after 30 years. The new system is replacing the system I sold off in the early 2000’s. The old system was based on Vanderstein 2C's (I loved those speakers) bought in the late ‘80s. That makes your video that much more meaningful to me. Sadly, my budget for the new system can’t afford new Vandersteins, but ZU DWX seem very interesting and in my budget. I like the full range driver design; it should time and phase align the sound naturally. Thank you for your insight.
That has got to be the maddest piece of clothing I have ever seen you wear to date. Bravo Steve. Bravo...
Andrew, if you read this, your audio setup is gorgeous. Elegant, inviting, and relaxing.
What a cool compliment, thank you, I appreciate you! 🙏🏼
Great video Steve. As you know, all of us at HiFi-Loft love the X3.
A friend and I traveled to Cincinnati to visit around 5 high end stereo shops. We listened to everything from magnepan, focal, paradigm among others. One store had the Golden ears which both of discussed, that at the end of the day, the Golden ears were the ones that really stuck with us. I hope to one day be able to afford a pair. Glad to see they were on the list.
I have the grandfather to the Goldenear, the Definitive Technology Mythos ST's with built-in powered subs and feed with good gear sound pretty darn good and go down to 20 hz
The GoldenEar were on the list but with a little qualifier that you overlooked. Yep Steve used a strange Beam Tetrode tube design to drive the ribbon tweeter. This was a low power ZOTL amplifier using some old television components and that's why they were on the list, because Steve and everybody else adores the $5000 ZOTL controller amplifier that powers speakers up to $167000.
@@keplermission I wasn't commenting on Steve's setup. I was just merely expressing my opinions towards the Golden Ears. When I heard them they were being ran with Mcintosh equipment.
Thanks Steve you do a great job in describing all the various different equipment & speakers that are available. As for me, this hobby is in many ways like men's watches, there are a lot of great watches below $1K and a lot of great watches costing $5K, $20K , and $50K +++++.
I been working on high end audio equipment since 1976. I worked for Big sound system repair shops fixing many systems and got to know a lot of them from my bench.
Out of all my sound system stuff, I have the Vanderseen floor standing model I purchase back in around 1991 and it stll blows me away in how well it brings music to the room.
Short story, one friday night I brought home my crew from work ( 4 guys ) to treat them for a great install we did with a new large dental office. The thing is, we were debating bands and how they record and play live, So I wanted to play for them my Dark Side of the Moon LP I had that was Cut, not pressed from the Original master.
None of them were aware I put on a record.
I had a Sansui reciever to these Vandersteed Speakers.
These guys sat, mesmerized in front of the system listening in very deep thought.
When the record came to the end of the 1st sside, one guy got up and pushed the eject button on the CD player only to find no CD inside. He turned to me and with a super suprized face said " Theres no CD, what the F were we listening to ? "
I poined out the record and all 4 of them could not believe the sound the system had and it was a record.
I also had the CD, so I popped it in and played it. No Comparisson. All 4 guys instantly became Audio lovers and we got into a deep discussion about the system and what I alway belived was the most important part, The Speakers.
I have to add this, I used my preamp into an old Dynaco st-70 one day and There Is A Difference !
That old st-70 showed me tubes still have a place in the high end stuff.
Thanks for your reviews, we appreciate your efforts.
I’ve always been impressed with the audio products from Scandinavia. Always with a style and sound quality that just sticks with you long after your initial experience. Now to be honest I’ve always been lacking the capital to own some of these true audio jewels but that doesn’t stop me from rendering a personal opinion on some exceptional audio products from exceptional companies. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all Audiophiles and Audiophiliacs world wide.
Bang & Olufsen was Scandinavian and you know was always 'the Sound of New York', everybody remembers the 1980 year systems and the following they had but very few buyers could look at paying the prices. But to be honest the prices in Radio Shack back then were such that nobody really could buy them either unless you know, landowning people. Talking about Christmas, I knew this Church goer and when he died we got his receiver for a good will store and it was a Realistic STA-450, that was one of the most affordable (maybe he was a Scrooge). But in those days these things were exclusive, that's why we made kits up and bought component speaker parts for home built speakers.
European brands were the best but they couldn´t keep up with japanese industry prices and have a nice christmas also hope all runs perfect
@@RUfromthe40s ...and talking about prices ... the Dayton Audio amplifier for $200 is Chinese and prices of Japanese stuff was higher than European. Britain had a Crimson Elektrik pre/power that was named after the split up of Robert Fripp's band King Crimson, they'd split in 1974. Well it used Japanese components cobbled-together in England and Steve would've loved these items. But the Japanese imported stuff had import tax on it, like Trump put on Kasrut whiskey and Joe removed right away upon gaining office. Well ... Japanese semiconductors best suit Japanese speakers and you know in Britain they couldn't be bought unless a whole set was bought. The Technics Homeycomb speakers were ONLY for whole systems, but in the USA we could buy Japanese separate speakers. But Britain did have some outsourced (secretly Japanese toned) speakers but with Dayton Audio 's HTA 100B I'd recommend Lanzar 6 x 9 speakers, make your own boxes.
@@keplermission no i bought after having the 79 SB-F3 some honeycomb SB-F2 that in the back it can be plugged as a 4ohm speakers or 8 ohms speakers, yes ,in the 70´s european brands were already struggeling for a piece of market and if i had not a entire neighboorhood of young militar family´s i wouldn´t meet the quality of schneider, Philips(amazing), Telefunken , Blaupunkt or Grundig or even the brand with more features Normende that somehow i found similarities with Nakamichi decks like the heads ,engine,etc. but in the 70´s i had a tv ,huge one with a support in crystal and the tv all white with a crystal on/off button that could be taken and children couldn´t see tv in the afternoon onmly study, then when arriving from work at4.30 p.m. i would take the crystall button insert it and turn on the tv that had wireless remote and headphones wireless ,this in mid 70´s and the all white huge tv only had for show two chracteres for the channel number and like in cassette decks the contrast, brightness ,colour and volume each had a litle display with leeds to see it´s levels, and the remote worked by radio frequencies and had a timer analog one till 2 hours, in Portugal due to the revolution in 74 had not colour tv but i lived and still live 40km´s from Spain and with high-quality colour image i could watch TVE and TVE2 ,i watched cartoons in Spanish TV whyen i was growing up so spanish or castellano as it´s called is a second language to me, all of this european brands i bought cheap from my german friends and also a mercedes 350SE from 71, a V8 and a ford Granada coupé 3.0L V6 or V8 i´m not sure
Based on your review, I ordered a pair of the ET LFT8 a month ago. Expected delivery is mid-Jan; can't wait! Thanks, Steve!
Nice!
With what amplifier will you be driving them?
@@FOH3663 I’m using 2 PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium poweramps as monoblocks (upgraded with KT150 tubes). I currently listen to Maggie 12/QR that I bought 12 years ago for $1200 a pair. Love them but can’t wait for the LFT 8s!
I did the same thing. I've had them for a couple months. They are wonderful on all types of music. Transparency and dynamic. You will love them. Tip, get a friend to help set them up, they are beasts. 😊
It was a very interesting year for me I had a bookshelf speaker actually astound me. I had read about the Wharfedale Litton anniversary 2 way and a pair used came up on eBay for a price I felt I could afford to lose on if I did not like them, was I shocked. Tremendous sound out of a little box. All my vintage speakers have nothing less than a 12" driver so I love these little gems. Steve I am older than you and following you for many years keep up the great work and your great humor!
Thank you!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thanks for all the hard work. Can I ask where you bought that shirt. thanks
@@chrisgrillo579 Steve's wife makes the shirts for him, she is quite the seamstress!
The Vandersteen 2 has always competed with the best in their price range since 1977. Got to meet Richard in Phoenix around 1980. He was a very nice and interesting person.
That has got to be the maddest piece of clothing I have ever seen you wear to date. Bravo Steve. Bravo...
Don't tell me it has matching pants/trousers.
Steve Thank you for posting.
Wow, interesting list. Of course this shirt you are wearing is also on the shortlist for the best shirt of 2023😀
Plus, the artwork on the wall!
My son was gifted Vandersteen 2C from the 80’s. Impeccably good speakers.
J heard Vandersteen in 1979. I was thrilled then as a teenager and am still thrilled today by the current line.
I'm planning to get a pair of Eminent Technology speakers early next year, based on your earlier videos.
Great re-cap of some top notch speakers. Have you ever reviewed Wharfedale Elysian 4's? Curious how those would compare with some of these.
The Borresen X3's with Aavik U-150 integrated has good depth of soundstage But that same soundstage is crazy wide. It's the most "live" sound I've ever heard and I've attended many shows and heard many systems that are Much costlier. The only one that comes close to this Experience is MBL. Steve, you are right on the money!
Love love love Vandersteen. Such a musicale speaker.
Cool list but definitely way up there in price for me, not a chance on those except maybe the zus. I believe ill stick with my snell type e3 and harman kardon 930 for the time, those i can afford and seems to do the job really well.
A pair of DWX are on route to myself right now!!!
Andrew has great taste, the aroma of the room is great
One thing’s for sure after watching this, I wouldn’t dare to even attempt to pull off that shirt. Kudos.
Do you have a license for that shirt Steve?
Great watching you all year....more music recommendations welcome too. Merry Christmas to you in NYC.
props on the shirt Steve!!
Let's hear it for Zu! Love my Omen Dirty Weekends and their new DW6 Supremes, just incredible speakers.
Heard a pair of vivid audio kaya 90 …..wow , …almost electrostatic in presentation , but with bass punch and kick , more important even…the amount of resolution and micro detail from that tweeter without whatsoever a bit of sharpness or unwanted brightness was unbelievable , that with an esoteric system ,
With mcintosh c70/mc 2152 ……even a greater Wow ….very good speaker.
Was lucky enough to hear Borresesen X6 on HiFi show. Just to bad that was the first room I stumbled in to, after that i had to spent very little time in other rooms, because had heard the best of them all, couple of Sonus Fabers made some healthy competition, sound and design-wise.
This was a great video😀
This video was almost perfect. It just lacked a decision on what was they BEST speaker of 2023 you reviewed Steve.
I called the Vandersteen company back in the 80's when I was interested in a 2. I was shocked at how cottage the industry was because I got Richard Vandersteen on the phone. I never got Mr. Sony on the phone.
The same thing happened with Bill Low of Audioquest. We probably talked for two hours. Things were different back in the day pre-internet and pre-cell phone.
Wow so Steve used the 17JN6 Beam Tetrode LTA ultra-linear amplifier with only the ribbon tweeter in the GoldenEar T66. That figures because ribbon tweeters made their entry long ago in the late 1960s, when made by DECCA Kelly of the British Empire group of engineers and when tube sound still ruled, so that the Goodmans Dome Radiators (Axtent) designed then by the late Billy Woodman of ATC, also come alive only powered by EL34 tubes and with Solid State ... hurt our ears.
You can still get Richard on the phone, all these years later!
@@keplermissionyour opinion is not needed here anymore, maybe cheapaudioman is more your crowd. Ramblings of a muppet
I called last week and talked to Richard.
yes the cost of a international phone call was really expensive, today even with image is almost free,thing did evolved and old scince fiction tv series or movies inspired future engeniers, don´t know if anyone remenbers a tv show ,english one that was Space 1999 so it´s already in the past and a moon station didn´t travel through space because of a nuclear blast on moon facilities but some of the features on this tv series were already improved and it seemed a impossible thing but it´s better than what they predicted and the moon is still in it´s place and space ships are not parked on the moon still. How about Blake 7 ,anyone remenbers it a english tv series too
Vivid Giya remain the best speakers I've ever heard, after hearing them about 4 years ago. Those Kaya's seem really interesting. I'd be interested in a similar list for budget-audiophile, I believe that ELAC has been crushing it in that area.
I'm curious as to the room you heard them in? Also if you've ever heard any high-end studio monitor systems or any tuned/treated rooms
Those threads are sharp .
Hey Steve! When did you start racing horses? I love the jockey shirt. So you!
This was quite a year for speakers when it was supposed to be a down year. I’m excited to demo a caladan next month. The only bummer for me is no klh model 7 release this year 🤷♂️ I thought they demod at a show earlier but haven’t heard a peep in months.
Thank you!!
Would be tough I know but wish someone would compare the Goldenear T66, Borrenson x3 and the Perlisten R7t. No dealers for any of these in my area to audition
Steve-O in love with the Zu!!!
Do you have any reviews of focal area 926 or 936 speakers
Just discovered u last night.....wonderful reviews/descriptions of the speakers........however, it would have been wonderful if u had let us know what was upstream. Were u using Krell mono blocks or maybe a Schist receiver, a nice single ended triode or a nice $2000 integrated. I have a Very limited budget but enjoy the most musical system possible. Thanx Steve!
As Maggie fan....just picked up the LRS and a crossover replacement kit, I may have to try the ET someday. But when I get my open baffle dipole servo subs finally wired up, I may have a better Maggie and dynamic bass that will actually integrate properly. But then again, always wanted to try the Vandersteen. Thanks for what you do Steve.
Thanks for watching
I had the og lrs and then upgraded to 1.7i. My buddy got the new lrs and it’s quite a bit more impressive over the og so I think you made a nice choice. I really want to hear the dipole sub from Maggie if not then I’ll try the gr research paper woofer with rythmik.
Another quality video Steve.
Steve, is it possible to review any gear from Angela Gilbert Yeung?
Thank you, I will definitely check her out! Looks super interesting.
I believe her builds are up there with Jeff Rowland gear, and affordable @@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Epos Es14n. No list is complete without them. Such a shame they have no distribution in the US yet. This speakers has the highest preise and the best measurement among all passiv speakekers.
I'm still bummed that Salk Sound has closed up shop. Really wanted the Song3 Encores.
Have you reviewed Cabasse Riga with the Santorin 30 subwoofer? Your opinion would be appreciated! Thanks
That shirt…wow!
I heard Vandersteen's Kento speakers, on granite bases. The sound was jaw dropping good, as it should be at its price point, which is far more expensive than the speakers reviewed in this video.
A new shirt, this must be an important episode.
Steve, your shirts tho! 🤠🤘
I'm glad the new Golden Ear made the list. I'm curious what other reviewers think of the new line. However, I'm pretty sure they go much lower than 40 Hz. The old Triton 3+ went down to 30 Hz and these are about the same size as the old 2+. I would be surprised if these didn't have usable base to around 25 Hz in a typical room.
I have T1s. There seems to be no limit to it's bottom end depth.
Steve has a little statue of himself on his shelf ☺️
Nice shirt!!
Love this first award show/Oscars for speakers.
“Same as it ever was”, Talking Heads.
Hi Steve. Is Hagel H190 and Triangle Genesse Trio a possible good match ?
Thank you
They are very similar to the Dahlqvist DQ20(i) of witch I have a pair
Yes in the last two years a lot of good speakers were released and re-released, it happens a lot speakers being sold through the years sometimes with some internal changes to improve them or modernise them,like the LaScala model from klipsch that i don´t remenber when they were released but somewhere in the 40´s maybe, some amplifiers can´t get the best sound they can release but if with a good amplifier they would sound close to perfection, as the wharfedale Linton were also a great set of speakers i saw some comparisons here on youtube but youtube sound can´t be related with the real sound any speakers you listen to here ,it´s the same when comparing catrtridges and in the comments people talk like if they were retarted,once i told a friend for him to sell all his very expensive sources and keep only the amplifier and speakers to conect tio a lap top if the sound is so good as some think ,but everything is wrong on a laptop output no matter what you install on it it will always have computer sound specifications that are far from real sources of sound, if it was so good one would record music in high quality to a analog recording device or digital and it would sound perfect but that is far from happening
Fantastic video, Steve!!
Thanks Steve ' I been having alot of fun with Dynes Emitt 50s for price point dam their good and so easy to drive Dynaudio bass drivers don't dip to low in impedence my Audiolab 6/7000a never sounded so big and forgiving😉 thanks again ' you my dude Merry Christmas and happy new year - hopefully one day we could have a live video together 'that would be cool 2 Gen x live ohhh boy !
Dynaudio units like and need lots of power to sound good
@stijnvanderlooy5311 not the Emitt 50s I have used a dozen Amps on them ' in big and small rooms both treated My 6000a @ 50/75 watts drive the 50s to about 93db before bass bleed out " And the 7000a even more loud ' I will say I was shocked ' but my 70 pound Tube Intg amp the Galion SE geez what a pairing crazy bass Attack
@@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120 great to know
@stijnvanderlooy5311 I fail in love with them shocks me at sale price Of $1688 with $4500 amp dynes scale up so good
What are the best cable risers of 2023?
Unused sneakers 👟
Steve ever thought of converting that poster into an acoustic foam panel ?
I cannot afford such high priced stuff nor i aspire ! I am planning to buy polk reserve r200 😊
I must say Steve is like a rockstar. He can rock any shirt and they all look good on him. Happy holidays everyone!
I thought the buchardt 400 mark 2 would have made the list..u raved about them!
Right, but that review did not occur in this year, which is a requirement to be one of the speakers of the year.
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac oh wow times sure does fly..that was in 2022..btw few reviewers show as much passion in their dialog as u do Steve..👍
Need to look at linheim audio. Little american group making some absolute must haves.
I wish you would do a really good comparison of dipole speakers.
That's a sharp pullover!
nice needlework! 🥰😘😎
Steve, hello . . . do you stream music, and if so, have you heard of USB Audio Pro? If not, give it a trial, use TIDAL to download. You would also need a MQA capable DAC. Using this combo is outstanding as a digital source. Speakers seem to disappear. 🔈
I need to buy that shirt! Could you share the brand name? Awesome video as always Steve!
His wife makes a lot of his shirts!
Now this is a true audiophile shirt.
Very surprised the TADs didn’t make the list.
To all viewers, what speakers are better than ADS L710 or L810 for less than 1K ?
steve looking fresh to death
Yes, beautiful drip.
2023 is not over, pls squeeze in the Wharfedale Dovedale’s
I can only hope that GoldenEar starts upgrading more of its speakers because some of the speakers haven't changed in a decade.
How about some bookshelf and near field speakers?
Most interesting part was the picture behind you. Is that a painting of you when you were young with long hair...?
The box with a sock!
Borresen wow !!! I'm curious if the xa 25 was enough
I would like to suggest that you review the Paradigm XR 13 subwoofer in their midnight cherry finish cabinet. The speaker motor is like no other- powerful, but very musical.Aesthetically I think is most beautiful subwoofer on the market and spousal acceptance factor vey high. It is very small in cabinet size. Paradigm also makes a XR 11 model. Review models to things interesting.
Does your shirt have 8 in. base drivers, or 6 in. ?
What do you guys think of the ET LFT-8C vs the Vandy 2Ce Signature III or even 3A Signature. Which is better?
I would be more interested in your favorite shirts! just sayin.
The Vandersteen loudspeakers reminds me of the Mirage M series.
The Vandersteen 2 was a separate boxed woofer, mid and tweeter based on some 1970s ideas developed by Radio Shack in Fort Worth TX, for hobbyists. The woofer had a box without parallel sides, thereby a departure from Thiele-Small parameters and the RS woofer box had an open back and two cutaway sides with a top and no base panel. That woofer had a closed box SPL of 78dB but was mounted in a strange plywood box, increasing the SPL. So the Vandersteen 2 was something more available to the mass market.
@@keplermissionno one cares word salad
best shirt of 2023!
What you done to your thumb Steve it don’t look good with the cover on ..??
Good shirt
Reviews 10 outa 10. Shirt 11 outa 10.
Surprised the Kef R7 Metas didn’t make the list?
How about making a video for people with small rooms or near-field listening ??
What type of stands do you use for the DWX
just subbed to the channel! does anyone know where the black and white wall panels are from?
Thank you for subscribing, the panels are made by GIK acoustics.