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I loved your list. I was wondering if you were going to include the Quad ESL 57. The only other speaker I would include would be the MBL Radialstrahler 101 Loudspeaker. Great list !!! My best to the both of you in the New Year... and hopefully, fingers crossed, some blueberry muffins in the oven. 😉
As I asked before, I currently own the JBL 4408 vintage studio monitors but they come a little bit short. Which would you recommend, the Polk R700 or JBL L100 to pair with Technics SG-U700 MKII?
Yeah, Magnepan made dipole high-end sound affordable, and with a distinctive sound that many audiophiles swear by. I bought my first pair in 1987 and haven't heard anything faster and more detailed since. So, while a lot of people may not have heard Magneplanars, and you can't find them next to Polk or Bose at Best Buy, they have earned a devoted following among many of us because of their unique, quality sound and, more importantly, the way they make high-end possible for budget-minded music lovers.
The Magnapans were and continue to be amazing speakers. Sadly, because of their sheer visual size and need for open space, it's best for modest sized house living rooms and not apartments/condos. I auditioned a friend's pair in my apartment and they sounded great, but it would have meant severe compromises in furniture placement and traffic flow.
I had a pair of Magneplaners in the 76 time frame with a powered subwoofer. I loved them except for the fact that only some one in the middle got the really good sound. Not much happening sitting off center. (Also got married and that much floor/vertical space was a no go). I traded them in for a pair of Ohms with Walsh drivers in 1980 and I'm still using them today. I think the Walsh driver might be one if the unsung heroes, given the breadth of the stereo imaging and sweet coherent sound. I also used them in a home theatre and never needed a center channel. There getting old now, but I can't afford to replace them
Another vote for Maggies. The first pair of speakers that made me say "Wow!" out loud. (I'd wager a very small sum of money that it was Magnepan that put planar/dipole speakers on the map for most audiophiles, maybe excepting those who've been around a long time or who have done a deep dive into audio history. They also arguably have fewer sonic limitations than the Quads, making them more widely appealing.)
I got my LRS+ back in September after demoing the LRS, 3.7, and 20.7 in a shop and when my LRS+ showed up I was absolutely floored by how much better they were than all of the ones I demoed. I have never in my life heard a more natural speaker, even at audio shows and whole setups costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. I'm just shocked more people aren't talking about the LRS+.
The base Maggie, the LRS is still very affordable on the used market (heck, they were affordable new). You do need a strong amp for them and a modest sized room to get the best sound. But sound good they do! Sadly, most Maggies have a rather low WAF rating (wife acceptance factor) due to their visual size (they definitely dominate a room's decor).
My vote is for the AR-3a. My dad bought a pair a year when he was in the military back in 1966. He restored them with AR drivers a while back. They sound phenomenal and it's amazing to me that speakers were this good back then. The unusual thing is his are unfinished, so they could be stained any way he wanted. He had them behind a mesh that was sound transparent, so he never bothered staining them and they still look beautiful.
MY father bought HIS pair when he was in the military. They’re older than my sister and she turns 53 in 2023. I’ve inherited them and had the woofers refoamed, a tweeter replaced and every time they’ve been in the repair shop, the guy tells me that 5-10 people want to make offers for them. Those have been game changers in speaker development. I mean, Jeepers crow….they’re in the Smithsonian!!!!
Yes!!!! Glad I didn’t have to scroll very far to see Acoustic Research pop up. Grew up with my dad’s ARs pushing incredible sound throughout the house. Sitting on the floor watching his reel-to-reel spin is a central memory of my childhood. The tape deck is retired but he’s still got those speakers 50 years later, rebuilt and soldiering on.
Yes, AR had made an impact with their drivers and sound quality, but also with their designed bookshelf speakers like AR 11 and improved AR 12 which kept the big sound in a smaller package. I loved those and could recognize their sound blindfolded. Some floor stander models were known for their best midrange drivers too. Also some good brands were KEF speakers and some less known brands like Dynaudio. Dynaudio had some bookshelf models but they were known for their drivers you can build your own box and then shake the floor with them but still keep the integrity of the sound intact (if the box is designed properly). Ahhh, good old days.
Bose 901s can sound amazing, the use of the equaliser is mandatory. They go so loud without dynamic compression or fatigue. If you have a party there's nothing else better
Most people who bash the 901s probably never heard them or only heard them without the equalizer and/or improper placement. I have had the 901 VI series for 25 years now and they still sound good as new.
I had Bose 901s for about 10 years. My amp was a Pioneer SX-1050. I replaced them both with Quad ESL-63 electrostatic speakers and now turn my nose up at the thought of Bose 901. As do 99% of serious audiophiles.
Three important speakers you didn’t name that just happen to be in my house! 1) Magnepan (planar magnetic) (I own a few models) 2) Ohm Walsh (omnidirectional driver) (I have the model 2) 3) Vandersteen (no cabinets, just four dowels, a cap and a sock) (I have two pair of the model 2c)
Another one for the list would have been the Boston Acoustics A40, a budget speaker introduced in the 1980s that sounded way better than it had any business sounding for the price. You saw these speakers everywhere, and they lit up dorm rooms across the country for years. For an entire generation, the A40 was the “first” affordable hifi speaker that was the gateway into the hobby
@@Moonplant432 I still have both. The NAD needs some tlc and the A-150's needs surrounds replaced for the second time. They last around 20 yrs then need it done again. Still have the Nakamichi BX125 also. It wasn't me with the D-9's but have a pair now. Just need to pick them up from storage.
Digging all the NAD ❤. Had a NAD Amp/Pre and pair of 301’s, they moved some air. Swapped out to BA Sub/Sat 6. Never forgot hearing a guy cough in the audience listening Elton John live…🍻
In my almost 64 years, I have never been as moved by a loudspeaker as I was the first time I heard a KHorn. That was in 1981, and I will never forget that experience. I still consider it to be the pinnacle of speakers. The only thing that has come close for me is the Golden Ear Reference, but with the proper room and electronics, nothing beats the KHorn. Excellent list that brings back many memories. I hope you two have a great 2023, and I am eagerly looking forward to each of your reviews
The Acoustic Research AR-1, the first air suspension loudspeaker. And of course Magnepan when I first heard them in 1978 and an owner since 2001. Happy New Year Andrew and Kristi!
Special place in my heart for the 901s. Not always awesome with every source material, but with the right cd/dvd they were often epic! Personal call out to the B&W Nautilus just for being the craziest speakers to covet in the 80s/90s. Great video!! Happy New Year!
Bose had a setup with the original 901's that included 4 of the speakers and one of their power amps. Probably acceptable. I made some homemade ones in the early 80s. Never did get the bass where I wanted. Never really had side by side comparisons to the newer versions although I did have a Bose receiver once that had the eq built in for the later 901's. Been listening to my homemade Klipschorns for the last 40 years.
I've heard the 901's and yes, they are very good and innovative speakers. That said, there were lots of owners who put them in their homes with the 8 speakers facing the listeners, rather than the wall.
I had 901s in the early 80s and my friend had large Polks. I still remember listening to Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" on the Polk floor standing speakers. We were blown away. We used NAD power. I remember my first experience with the Bose Acoustimass system while in college. It was a game changer. I don't care what purists say about Bose. Bose has arguably done more for home theater, aviation (A20 headset), car audio, etc than any other company. Sure, you can absolutely find better sounding systems, but Bose has been one of the leaders in audio concepts over the last 5 decades.
While I agree with you on how many things Bose got right (looking at audio from a different perspective than most competitors), the 901s would cost as much (if not more) than the JBL 100Ti series, and the JBL would blow them out of the water (by a lot). Since I worked exclusively with Bose for more than two decades, I could have bought a brand new pair with a huge discount, but I never did. But I still regret not buying an used pair of JBL L100Ti 6 years ago, because they still sounded as good as I remembered from the late 80’s.
Nice list! I would add LS3/5A, Quad ESL63 (instead of 57), Duntech Sovereign, Infinity IRS, B&W Nautilus, Dynaudio Consequence, KEF Blade and Vivid Kaya S12. All the best for 2023!
I really think that everyone could point to a speaker that made an impact on them in some way shape or form. For me, it was a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beovox S45-2 that my dad owned. Took me many years, but I'm now a full blown B&O addict, and I love their systems, especially from the 1990's. My goal is to own a pair of Beolab 5's some day.
I have a pair of Bose 901 VIs in my living room, powered by a Luxman R117 and... I gotta tell you... it can be magical to listen to. In my home office, I have Bose 601 Series II's powered by a Pioneer SX-780. They're wildly different beasts from each other and I enjoy both for different reasons. The 601s are perfect in a smaller space with their forward-facing presentation, but the angled directions on the tweeters are definitely part of that 901 heritage.
Loved this episode. My first audiophile speakers was a pair of Quad ESL 57s that I bought at the Army Hi-Fi club in 1972 for $418. A friend built a subwoofer box using 2 Dynaco A25 woofers and I used a Pioneer electronic crossover. Quads were powered by a Dynaco Stereo 70 & subwoofer powered by Marantz 16B. I had to sell them due to a cross-country move, but I'll never forget them.
I'd add early New England acoustic suspension speakers: KLH, AR, Advent (this last one was certainly a bridge into HiFi at an affordable price for many)
Altec-Lansing named that soundbar after their commercial theater speaker line, which was called Voice of the Theater. I don't know if I'd call it a game changer since nobody remembers it, but it was the first and definitely a trail blazing product. The Heresy was a good choice as a game changer for being the first center channel. I would tend to include the Klipschorn because it was one of the first and certainly the most influential speaker to ever try and take large full size speakers and downsize them for home use. (I'm talking auditorium and theater scale speakers) Yes, the big Klipschorn was designed to fit the acoustic performance of a much larger speaker into a smaller space, hence the folded bass horn. It's a design that's been in continuous production since it's release in 1946.
I knew a couple of folk the had a pair of A7's as the basis of their audio system. Basic Utility cabinet with handles, bur what 10W (out of 35 max) could do to a large room.
Greetings from the beautiful Emerald Coast of northwest Florida! Excellent historical summation consistent with your exceptional perspective! While not a fan of Bose..."No Highs, No Lows; Must Be Bose!" I heard 901s in the 80's & WOW! Arguably Bose, Beats, Vizio, Sansui, Kenwood, etc. brought "High Quality" items to the affordable mainstream masses that forced the others to reconcile their price points to a degree. Your channel, specifically, provides extraordinary feedback relevant to your integrity vice endorsement ventures that so many Hi-Fi shops had in the past & some continue to do! Greatly appreciate your 2022 content & look forward to 2023! Crank it up! Very respectfully, Billy P. Martin
My first speakers are the bose acoustimas 501. Through the years, I acquired different types of speakers, yamaha, klipsch, Martin logan, b&w, and electrostatic can't remember what the brand is, but there's something missing, I'm looking for that meat in the bone kind in music. The first time I heard the Tannoy speaker is an experience that will never forget. I sold all the speakers that I have and bought a pair of tannoy speakers that I can afford at that time, tannoy 637 And that is 25 years ago and I still have them to this day. Right now, I'm running Tannoy berkeley with willsenton r8 and denafrips aris 2 dac. For me, tannoy is the speakers that influence my music journey.
I was, and still am a huge fan of the M Series from Mirage. Bi and Di Pole Speakers that truly made you feel like you were right there at the performance. Also love Magnapan for the same abilities as the Mirage. The Speakers that made the biggest impact on me, and I regret to this very day for selling them were a pair of Hales Revelation and Transcendence Speakers I bought after months of auditions out of town. If you find a nice pair used, do yourself a favor and pick them up.
Ever since I joined the Air - Force in 1978 , I've been in Love with my JBL's .... the L-100s paired with my Carver amp (350 watts per ch ) put me right in the zone..... The maxell ad with dude in the recliner..... Me still to this day......... Thank you JBL for your incredible product and your pursuit for sound reproduction that is 2nd to none....... Peace Greg 👍🇺🇸😎
The acoustimass most definitely belongs on this list. Love or hate them, Bose brought a lot of people to the hobby. I may even throw in their original wave radio. It started with CD’s, shifted to iPods, and in my opinion, ushered in the acceptance of Bluetooth speakers to smaller spaces like kitchens, offices, etc. Good bye boom boxes. The first Yamaha YSP-who knows what, sound bar with the 40+ speakers in it was a bit of a game changer as well.
Having worked in the hifi then home theater retail industry for far too long, I think I can say that the Bose lineup was definitely not aimed at the hobby listener (though it may have served as a gateway). Bose went for the consumer who wanted sound in the home while they did other things than just listening. Their print ads almost always showed a couple engaged in something other than concentrating on the system (usually facing and talking to each other). It was a speaker that fit what you did and not the other way around and that was very appealing.
A former Bose 501 and 901 owner whose philosophy of toward listening to and enjoying music changed forever when I first heard the Dahlquist DQ-10. The Dahlquist speakers did not play louder or with any particular emphasis in the musical spectrum. They instead seemed to produce a fuller, richer and more complete reproduction. They did need a bit of power however, to bring them fully to life, and cables did make a difference. The wife didn’t like the width of them however, so we compromised with a pair of DQ-20i’s bi-amped by a pair of Aragon 8002’s. They need power too,
The Polk SDA series was indeed a game changer. Would love to see you cover them. I had a pair of SDA-1C's in the 90's. Few come close to the amazing sonic signature of those speakers!
A bit of a fool’s errand to limit the list to just 10, but since you opened this up for further comments: Ohm Walsh drivers, particularly the original A & F; Oscar Heil’s AMT as first implemented by ESS, and after patent expiry, literally scores of other manufacturers; Henry Kloss’ Large Advent; Jon Dahlquist’s DQ10; Magnepan MG and Tympani Since you mentioned Meridian’s M1, they should also be acknowledged for introducing the concept of internal DSP processing in their active speakers (D600) to the consumer mainstream.
For powered speakers, the Philips MFB speakers are worth a mention. They were consumer oriented, but were also used in professional settings due to the convenience if not needing a power amp.
They gained some popularity with people newly interested in hifi because the name was familiar. They had a good sound for the time but careful choice of alternative speakers and amplifier could produce a sound that was as good and sometimes better for the same cost.
Love your channel because its the anecdote for the goofiness of the community. My audio eureka moment as a kid was working in a DTS/SDDS enabled THX Certified Movie theater in the late 90s. That room would MOVE. Been hooked on home cinema audio ever since.
I've always thought the ESS AMT1A,B etc was an amazing speaker, especially when bi-amped. I think the Heil air motion transformer and its positioning on the speaker was significant. Also the use of bextrene instead of paper cones and the passive subwoofer were mile markers. I haven't been able to figure out who did these things first, ESS was definitely a brand that brought innovation a d outside the box thoughts to the industry I. The 70's and 80's. Love your program.
Came to the comments to say this very thing. We had the ESS AMT1 in our house when I was a kid and it definitely both spoiled me and got me more interested in music and audio reproduction technology. That eventually brought me to the Adam Audio Column Mk3 Active (which had an AMT tweeter and an AMT midrange), which was very nice but didn't quite recapture the feeling of listening to the ESS speakers in my childhood and adolescence. Considering how AMT tweeters have proliferated, I would definitely put the original ESS speakers up there in terms of game-changing / influential speakers.
Heil amt was amazing and ESS had the patent. Much larger and crossed over much lower than the AMTs of today. I believe it was a dipole. The resolution from 800 Hertz up was great!
@@gregmatula9749 Agreed, most AMTs today only take between 2300 and 2800 and up. The Adam Column Mk3 had a midrange AMT that went down to 800 much like the original ESS AMT, but was not dipole.
Since Oscar Heil’s original patent expired well over 30yrs ago now, the basic driver topology has been adopted by numerous prestige manufacturers, including those catering to the DIYer and small bespoke crafters. It was unquestionably a groundbreaking design that even well cared for almost 50yr drivers when well implemented can still deliver stellar performance. I used vintage AMT-1 tweeters on a couple of projects well over two decades ago, and crossed them over in the 2500-3200Hz range, IIRC. The sensitivity on earliest production models was high enough that it was cheaper and simpler to bi-amp them with simple PLLXO, and they had great synergy with SETs such as Decware Zen C, or Bottlehead 2A3 Paramours.
I still have my 901’s in my home office and they were the most expensive thing I had ever bought in my life at that time. I still love the sound but more importantly they remind me of a special time in my life.
What about the Yamaha NS-1000m these where the first speakers to use Beryllium drivers. I have these along with the NS-5000 the newer version from Yamaha. Even with todays modern amps the 1000s are the most detailed speaker I’ve heard and a game changer when first introduced in my opinion. Happy New Year to you both 😊
I think you missed the JBL L-100s and if it wasn't game changing enough, then DCM Time Windows. I got these in about 1979-80 when I was just a kid, but I had great equipment around them. The game-changing part was the shape and the sound you got for the price point. Those were the first speakers, for me, that had a seamless soundstage, not only peripherally, but in depth. With the right recording, I couldn't point to where the speakers were blindfolded. As for the L-100s, well, those were simply amazing. Maybe they still are it has been a long time.
Love this list. Having owned an acoustimas for a short while I can see why it is on the list. Though I would add the Kef Reference 104.2. This speaker was made with the north American audience in mind and was so popular that production ran for over a decade. I don't know how much of an impact it made on the audio world as a whole, but it is one that stands out in my books for it's incredible design and midrange performance and imaging. Truly a special speaker by my standards!
I would have added the Infinity Reference Line Array, Thiel CS3.7, KEF 105.2, Large Advent, Magnepan and the Yamaha NS-1000M. There were definitely some wonderful groundbreaking speaker designs.
Happy New Year Andrew and Kristi! Love the inclusion of the Quad ESL. Personally I'd have substituted "my" ESL-63s in place of the original, because (to my knowledge and belief) although the original brought the loudspeaker out of the box, the time delayed concentric ring design of the 63, 988/989 and even the current Quad ESL models makes them the only series of planar loudspeaker of any description to be a "point source." Thank you, and see you throughout 2023! :-)
My list of the personal speakers that I've owned over the years... First HIFI speakers I ever heard? JBL L-100's (originals). Owned in chronological order: Cerwin Vega HED H-15's (My first speakers) late 1970's, Klipsch Cornwall II (Mid 1980's), Definitive Technology BP-20's (mid 1990's) (owned for 20+ years) I refurbished them with new (handmade) socks, driver repairs and gave them away. (Mary loves them BTW). Also in the 1990's, I bought 4 pairs of Polk Monitor 4's for my flower shop (They were awesome!), 2000's, Polk monitor 70's for my studio now replaced with JBL 308P MKII (active speakers with Class D amps! Fantastic!!). 2019-on... Klipsch RP 8000F's, Had them 2 years... Good but not great. Not nearly enough bass and high end was fatiguing over time. I just couldn't get them to sound right in my room. Sold them in November '22. Waiting on backordered POLK R700's expected in mid Jan. The best overall? The BP-20's for now! Why didn't I buy new deftech's? I was considering the 9060's (on sale) BUT my cats used my BP-20's as scratching posts. ( therefore NO deftech speakers ) I went through 3 pairs of grille socks @$75.00 a pair before I gave the speakers away!
The JBL L100 should be on the list because it defined what a "bookshelf" speaker was in in the 70s. It was just the right width to put on its side and sit high up on the upper shelf in most college dormitories at the time thus giving the moniker as a bookshelf speaker. Coupled with that it wasn't prohibitively expensive and it had huge loudspeaker sound thanks to it being a derivative of the professional JBL 100, it fueled most listening experiences in dormitories, apartments, and houses of its day. Today JBL still makes it as a nostalgic piece which I think credits it as a game changer
Thanks for the vids! Ohm speakers are a recent discovery for me, but are from the early 70’s. Maybe not game changing, but definitely an interesting omnidirectional using Walsh technology. Sound amazing
Agree. The Ohm F, with its Walsh driver was a completely new concept. Perhaps didn't make the game-changing list, because no other manufacturer used a Walsh driver?
I’ll just call you the speaker whisperer! Your picks are iconic! Big klipsch and Bose fan here, actually clapping like a kid while watching this video! I own a pair of heresy II and absolutely love them ! Three Bose lifestyle systems and two acoustimass 5 speaker systems and although not using all of them currently I will never part with them. I am running a pair of acoustimass 5 with a vintage Yamaha RX 777 at my business and I get so tickled every time a UPS/FED-EX delivery guy walks in and comments on how great the sound is ! I wish Bose would re-release the 901s, always wanted a pair, buying them used and having to possibly refoam 18 drivers gives me anxiety LOL. I really enjoyed this ! Awesome video Thanks!
Hi Andrew and Happy new year. Over the years, from what I've read in magazines, forums, and talk about it, and not being my personal opinion, the most important, iconic, and revolutionary speakers in the history of audio were: Yes... the Quads, Tannoys and the 801s, but also the Pioneer HPM 100, their father JBL L100, Yamaha NS-10 and NS-1000, Mission-770, and of course the LS3/5A. At home as in the studio, these were the ones that shaped the world of High Fidelity audio, todays High Res. I can't wait to know what your 10 game changing amplifiers will be, best regards from Portugal.
Was lucky to have met Anwar Bose at the Las Vegas CES show back in the late 70s ~ A really interesting man ~ He had a few ideas that I have never seen come to market ~ I still have his computer speaks a friend of mine had a pair of 901s that he had hanging from the ceiling ~ I also met Peter & Ross Walker the man who invented the Quad 57's ~ I still listen to my Quads all the time even though I want to get a pair of Maggies LRS + ~ The price is so right ~ Also I was lucky to have met Saul Marantz ~ Sadly ~ All these great men I've mentioned here have all passed on to the Universe ~ The good thing is their handiworks remain or all to enjoy ~ Great list that bought up some great memories for me ~ Happy New Year ~ 2 U 2 ~
Two speakers blew me away as a kid. The Carver Amazing loudspeader and the Bose 901. Robert Cray's guitar emanating from a pair of 901s is indelibly etched in my memory.
Surprised the JBL L100 Century's didn't make the list. I bought mine in the mid 70's and have never looked back. They are an old friend and to my (aging) ears sound as good today as they did when new back in 1974.
The original Cambridge SoundWorks "Ensemble" was a mighty good set of 4 speakers. Also, Dynaco A-25 speakers were outstanding for their performance and are definitely notable.
I’m glad the Bose 901s made the list. I’ve had many speakers in my young audio enthusiast career. Including, as a proud Canadian, the Mirage OMD-28s. The 901s are the speakers that led the way for bipolar/omnipolar speakers that many enjoy today. But Bose did it, in my opinion, better than anyone. I still have a pair in my home and for pure music enjoyment, and a sense of experiencing a concert at home, I’ve come across nothing better.
I grew up with the 901s and a Sansui. I can't tell if it's the 901s or the Sansui but the combination in a European home (different construction) made them sound amazing with vinyl and later with CDs. I think the 901s resolved a lot of room correction issues and may have made placement slightly less demanding. If going from 1 subwoofer to 4 makes a difference, I'm pretty sure that going from 2 to 18 drivers also has to make some difference. Eventually, the sound quality of the reflections must come closer to the sound of the speaker than 2 drivers unless you're seated in the listening position which is a bit hard to do if you're dancing or playing on the ground as a kid. I think what the 901 did was create infinite listening positions and resolve the room dynamics as surely a bad reflection was covered by one that was on the opposite spectrum. I'm talking out of my posterior but I suspect someone could prove the science behind it. As for the Sansui, that's a story on its own and arguably surpasses the 901 in terms of changing the game.
I bought the Sony HT A9 when you reviewed them and i absolutely love it! Enjoy movies, gaming and listening to music (Dead Can Dance) a smiling curve indeed for the wifey and me :) I really like how you & Kristi articulate sound without playing sound, just explaining it so well and creating unique reviews for unique products you showcase. Looking forward for 2023!
Definitely the Polk SDA, I used to sell these amazing speakers in the 80's. The first and only speaker I've heard that gave me a surround experience from 2 channels. The Mirage M1 also at the same time. The B&W Active One was also the best and first active speaker I'd heard.
Great video! For me my first great speaker the Dalquist DQ 10s. Aligning the drivers so all speakers reached your ears at the same time, added a 3 dimensional soundstage.
Realistic Mach Ones! Hear me out: for at least two generations, those party speakers blaring out of Radio Shack mall stores served as an introduction into what hi fi could do to our emotions. It was ground zero for a lifetime of sonic adventures.
My first DIY Speakers I built in my Senior year in High School were 12" Realistic Woofers with the same "Bi-Radial Horn" Tweeter used in their top line Mach Speakers in the mid 80's. Stereo Review taught me all about Speaker placement. Youknow, back in the days when Audio (and Stereo Review) would educate the reader.
Great way to start the New Year Andrew! Here are a few more for consideration: Larger Advent Loudspeaker - Not the first Acoustic Suspension Loudspeaker as I'm pretty sure that distinction belongs to Acoustic Research (AR), or maybe KLH (?), but in the early 70's the larger Advent was a top seller and offered great, near full range sound for not a lot of money and everybody I knew back then owned a pair. KLH Model 9 - one of the early electrostatics, along with the Quad 57's, that showed just how good electrostatic speakers could be. A system using two Model 9's per channel was state of the art in its day. Magnepan MG-1 - Magnepan pioneered the planar magnetic speaker, and the LRS + today is proof the concept is more sound than ever (no pun intended). Dahlquist DQ-10 - One of the first phase arrayed time aligned dynamic loudspeakers that set the stage for subsequent designs using principals pioneered by Jon Dahlquist. Rogers LS3/5A - Ground breaking research performed by the BBC in the 1960's led to this mini monitor that is still going strong today and coveted by audiophiles the world over.
Agreed on your choice of the KLH 9 and Rogers LS3/5A. As to the Rogers, it's amazing how the designers got all that sound out of a small box. I heard the KLH 9s in a private home and was blown away. The guy played a recording of a Toscanini rehearsal and it felt as if I was on stage with the musicians.
@@millermark445 KLH9'a are back and only $20k. David JansZen did an amazing job on these Speakers when I heard them played via AGD's GaN FET Amplifiers (wish they were Orchard Audio....but oh well) at CAF 2022.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 Didn't know that, thanks. The guy who played them for me owned some classic pieces of audio, like the Marantz 10-B tuner and Accoustic Research amps.
On innovation that brought change I've got two additions, although not sure what exact speakers to use as examples of them being implemented. 1. Audio streaming directly to speakers, be it from a private server or one of the many providers like Spotify or for that matter what is know as "internet radio"". 2. Class D amplification. It has brought efficiency, the ability to put a lot of power in small boxes or for that matter massive amounts of power in speakers like the Beolab 90.
BOTH great innovations and I can think of a few examples of speakers that do/use this tech. It probably would've given Altec Lansing or Bose ANOTHER entry for streaming/bluetooth speaker. As for Class D, that would likely give B&O another mention too.
Glad to see that you included two of my all time favorites Tannoy and Quad ESL57. I have both, the Quad are arranged as stacked pairs and quite a few people that hear them can't believe that I don't have a center speaker because the imaging is so well defined. One brand you didn't mention was KEF, I also have a pair of 104/2s, had them for 35 years still love them.
Great list Andrew! Others that could've made the list are EPI 100, Large Advent, Klipschorn, Design Acoustics D8, Ohm Walsh, JBL L100 and L166 Horizon, Yamaha NS 1000, KEF 104/2, BIC Formula 6, Pioneer HPM 100, and Cerwin Vega D9 if you want to destroy your windows.
Oh yes, the EPI 100. Their magic was that Mr. Burhoe only used one capacitor, in series with the tweeter, as a crossover. Kept the EPI’s until I could afford Martin-Logan electrostatics.
Love your list. You can make make an argument that advent speakers could be on the list " The Advent Loudspeaker". I also like Christy's suggestion on the Altec Lansing.
I second the nomination of Advent. My first speakers were the "Large" Advents in real walnut bought in 1973. They were the embodiment of "bang for the buck"
I agree with most of these choices, and even though I hate Bose, I have to admit the 901 was a game changer. It was almost ubiquitous for PA use in the 80's. My only additions would be a) The Original Magnepan b) The Magnepan Tympany IV, or The Magnepan 1.7, which has for the last decade hit a real sweet spot of high performance vs. reasonable price. Yes, I do own a pair, and therefore am probably biased. I also have to give honourable mention to the original Altec A5 Voice of the Theater. Yes, it's a PA speaker, but was used for home Hi Fi even back in the day, just like the 901. There are so many ways to hot rod A5s today, it's silly, and when properly set up, they are truly spectacular. And yes, I have owned a pair, and yes, I'm old. Thanks for the vid, subscribed! Cheers
Interesting how you included the very best, and possibly very worst speakers I’ve heard. For me, the Quad was a total revelation, and the reason I got into the consumer audio business in the first place (I retired after nearly forty years recently). I heard a demo of the Quad in a Hifi shop (remember those?) from two rooms away (!), and was astonished. I had to know what that speaker was, and set out to buy a pair, which I did several years later. The 901, on the other hand……..
Agreed. The 901 ones were ridiculously inaccurate but to some peoplle they sounded impressive with the right material. They attempted to give a big soundstage, but the same treatment was applied to all music meaning that accuracy went out of the window, - sometimes literally given that there were 8 rear-firing drivers. Lab tests certainly show a very bumpy frequency response (even after the compulsary bose EQ) accompanied by poor distortion figures and bad resonance effects.
I love my Bose 901. Throw clean power at them and they sing. My music preferences are Reggae and Soca with clean vocals and a deep bass line. Pushed by my McIntosh power amp and REL Sub… I get deep rich warm clean sound.
Happy New Year’s Andrew, Kristi and Katie. Great way to start the year off and get our audiophile juices flowing. The Bose 901’s were definitely a huge game changer. My brother and I got a pair for our Dad’s listening pleasure. They presented music is a very different way. I think multi-room speakers are going to way we listen to music in the same way sound-bars have change the way we listen to our TV’s and sometimes to music thanks to technology. DSP is here to stay to much some audiophile’s dismay. Let’s see 2023 bring us in speaker innovations.
The 901s were legendary, I almost bought a set back in 1980 but opted for the 601s MK1s instead after comparing, had them for 42 years and only just sold them to a friend who often said they were the best he ever heard, glad they went to a good home
Polk SDA SRS. Blew my mind as a teenager in the 1980’s. Heard them cranking some Zappa hooked to a 250wpc monster Yamaha amp… talk about a window rattling experience! 🔊 🔊
Magnepan and the LS3/5a both blew me away in the early ‘70s. Irving Fried also had a 2.1 system at that time that may have been the first idea of the mini-monitor with a separate sub-woofer.
Indeed, Bud’s dual B200 transmission line sub was a conversation maker for sure, and at approx 150lbs, should have come with a coupon for 2 visits to a chiro or physiotherapist nearby. As I recall, there were several other brands such as Boston, Cambridge Audio and numerous long since forgotten boutique makers of “desktop / sub-sat systems” from about the mid ‘80s forward, but certainly Bose would be the name most recognized.
@@fonkenful I was going to say “mini-monitor with a coffin sub” in my original comment! The Frieds inspired me to order KEF B110, T27 and B200 drivers from England along with Falcon crossovers and build my own. My 40 year-old daughter still uses the LS3/5a knock-offs.
@@carvern1 Of course, by today’s standards subs, tower speakers tipping the scales at only 150lbs or so would be considered featherweights, so my 71yrs are definitely showing. 👴
Andrew thanks for the great review of your top ten speakers. I was so glad you mentioned the Quad 57 electrostatic speaker. I have had my pair of Quads for about 30 years now and could not possibly imagine a day without the joy of listening to music through them. The music that pours out of them is so beautiful and so true to the source it is unbelievable. I still have to pinch myself sometimes when listening to special favourite pieces like Miles Davis's Kind of Blue that I am not sat in the studio with the musicians in New York in 1959. It is so lifelike you can almost smell the smoke. They are a time machine and window to the past when the music was put donw in the studio. Do try to get hold of a decent pair of them, match them up with a good OTL valve amplifier and put them on your show. I think you will be completely shocked and in awe about how wonderful they are and this is 1956 technology! Thanks again for the great You Tube channel regards David (York UK) and if you do get a pair let me know so I can give you some advice on speaker placement and stands.
I bought a set of the light oak Bose 901s when I was a Marine stationed in Japan (1983 -86) and then bought the first Bose Acoustimass set when they came out. I still have both sets in a closet waiting to be repurposed.
I’m so with you on HT-A9. The WAF (wife acceptance factor) is crazy! No big amplifier, few cables, hiding the bass and also blending in quite well. And the wow sound on top of that 😍 this definitely brought me in to the game!
As intriguing a concept as they are, there remain certain use cases where room layout, traffic patterns, etc obviate the ability to install AC powered speakers in the four locations required, and running high quality old school wire to a soffit / ceiling mounted pair for surround /effect channels is the only choice. Not all of us have the option to renovate our rooms to relocate staircases and passage doors for even simple two channel setups, much less 5.n.n configurations.
@@arunashamal I wrote that based on only 60yrs in this hobby. Simply put, there are rooms in which running AC outlets to locations required to power “wireless” speakers for surround channels or subs can be more complicated than low voltage wires for passive speakers driven by amplifier stages that may be located either in the same location as the TV and source components, or remotely. I’ve never been able to design a room specifically for the needs of an audio/video system, and even then, I think the speed at which technologies have and will doubtless continue to change renders the concept of “future proofing” a fools errand. But that’s just me, so LALL, y’all.
Back in 1992, the loudspeaker that really defined my Hi-Fi journey, was an dual 6,5inch towered speaker from Dali(yes those Danish guys you never seem to get anything delivered from in working order) The Dali 104(for me) defined what you could get for a relatively slim budget. For aprox $850 you got(at least for at 16 y old) a big towered speaker, a decent NAD(3020) amp and a cd player, and a sound that bested most systems at even higher price points.
Would have to agree with others that are surprised that no were Magnepans listed. The first time I heard them in the late 70’s my perspective on what a speaker could do profoundly changed. Perhaps they could make your “Honorable Mentions” list?
Man I just got blown away at the end of this vide, when some lady pipesup, and Immediately had a component to reference to... What a woman, very knowledgeable about Hi end stuff. What a sweetheart, Most chicks, lady's, girls, women don't know any thg about audio. This woman just stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. Way to go girl.. Iam older now and in my life I have only met two girls who have asked where's the tone controls, and one girl who liked here music louder than hen me.. Mystery woman my hat is off too you.... In the meantime I just found your channel and I love it. being a couniseir of audios..... I have K horn's and 901s..Tara preamp, amp s are Quick Silver. Mono 90s..
Hi guys. Love the list and I understand the list. I think that different countries had different game changers. I would like to add the wharfedale diamond. The original, but also the entire range. The reason is this. No one in the UK at that point had managed to get such great overall sound in such a tiny box at such a low price. It was a game changer, because it opened up quality hi fi to the masses. They were the best selling speaker at that price point for some years. My best friend bought the first in the series and I can tell you that it was outrageously good for such little money, although it may not have been that cheap in the USA. Happy new year.
I agree! I own a pair of Wharfedale diamond 225. I added them to my collection for the quirky feature of the down firing port. And omg they sound so big ! I am so glad having acquired them !
Like some other people, I was expecting to see a Magneplanar speaker. I didn't realize they were that similar to electrostatic speakers. Part of why I liked them was their look. My taste runs kind of mid-century, and the white panel/oak side pieces looked good with my blond furniture. There's never been a speaker I preferred the look of.
I remember the first time I listen to the Dalqest DQ-10. I was blown away. In my younger days I hung around a lot of folks who are audio files. I myself was blessed to have a father who was the regional sales manager for Altec Lansing professional sound systems. He is able to get in Altec Lansing LF -2 powered subwoofer in the early 80s. Before anybody knew what a subwoofer was for. I still have it and it works like a charm
I used to install Bose 901 over 30 years ago , they required a massive amount of current to drive them properly and a huge amount of space , but using the correct room with high current amplifier they were absolutely unbelievable, and I guarantee nobody in this comment section has the knowledge to dispute my words
Happy New Years Andrew and Kristi! Pretty amazing how much has changed and how much has stayed the same over the years! I remember in the second half of the 1980's when my college roommate hooked up his stereo to the TV and for the first time I heard TV programs and VCR movies in stereo instead of mono. I knew right then that I picked the right college roommate.
@@KristiWright It was a great turn-around despite the loss. KU football has come a long way. If they can do the same level or better in 2023...oh what a great year this will be for Jayhawk fans.
The “game changing” moment that started my stereo journey is when I heard a pair of 15 inch Cerwin Vegas in early 80s. The visceral impact of the bass and how loud they played just surprised me.
@@jayjay9932 cerwin vega still makes 15 inch 3 ways and even one with twin 15 inch woofers. However i heard rumors that quality isn't quite the same although I could be wrong.
How about the ribbon tweeter, maybe first used in the Carver Amazing speakers? Lots of speakers now seem to be using a smaller version of the technology. I myself just bought the Emotiva B1+ and am really enjoying them.
Learned a lot from this one. I don't have a list, just an experience. When Bose came out with the 901 it blew everyone away. Sadly it was out.of my price or available space range. The Bose 301 was not, paired nicely with my Pioneer SX-780, and fit in my Scandinavian Design wall system even though the fake walnut(?) clashed with the teak. Good memories. 👍
and bose is still scam cheap material and costs twice as much as its sonically comparable competition, test speaker from a company named Teufel(Devil) and you see the light
Being involved with the industry at the time I know that the 301 was actually a more accurate speaker than the 901, partly due to the 901 idea of throwing most of the sound around the room before it reached the listener's ear. The 901 could obviously handle more power but the 301 was better in value for money terms and was less room dependant.
Happy New Years and yes, I'm surprised that the K-horns didn't make the list. Not because the folded horn design, although Bose used it in the acoustimass speakers, but because how he proved the importance of speaker efficiency. I worked for Klipsch at the BX at Hickam AFB and used to crush the 901s with the then budget Klipsch Tangent series. Needless to say the Bose rep wasn't very happy with me.
The K-horns, while influential didn't really invent anything, but there's no denying they're cool AF! But the Heresy was game changing for its day. Thanks so much for watching and for weighing in!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews sure, but "In a tiny tin shed in Hope, Arkansas in 1946, Klipsch designed, hand-built and patented the now-legendary Klipschorn, the only speaker in the world that has been in continuous production for over 70 years - and yes, they're still made in Arkansas, largely unchanged from the original design... just not in a shed." Surely that would put the speaker in the list 👍
Sorry But DR Amar Bose PHD has made WAY more income and sold far more innovative products than Paul and his "Klipsch" K-Horn, folded or un folded. Blal Blah blah....HEH, heh heh Compression horns belong on Train Locomotives & Peterbuilt tractors The K Horn is WAY overpriced. One can build DYI for the price of a pair of ebay original series 901s.
@@catherinetoczek So, you never go to the movie theatre, or live music venues? Dr. Bose was a genius at marketing, not speaker design. I've been a musician all my life and I can tell you very few Bose products have ever impressed me. The 901s where terrible sounding. I would chose the 401s over them hands down and any Klipsch speaker over those. Tell any horn player that their instrument should be on a train, not in an orchestra and they would laugh at your naivete.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews We had a family Christmas yesterday and went to a skating rink in a small town in Kansas and they had 4 Heresy's up in the corners. Never did really hear them though as some didn't like the music that was playing when we got there. I personally listen to my homemade Khorns for 40 years now.
OK, finally, speakers from my era! I'll give you an 85.7% rating on these examples, Good job! Of course there were many many more small speaker companies during this time as there probably are today but I have to admit the most inventive at the time were the Bose Series 2 901 which I hung from my "A Frame" ceiling in my living room and filled the neighborhood with "direct re'flecting" sound.
I own the 2nd generation Polk RT 2000P loud speaker that I bought new in 1998. In almost mint condition and still sounding great today. Cool that they made the list 😎
Great list Andrew and Kirsty. You covered my childhood memories of true hifi.... The 801s (matrix 3) being the pinnacle which I ended up owning. Other great models included Apogee Scintilla, linn isobaric, kef 104/2 and 107, all lustworthy beasts in well worn magazines of the day.... The heyday of hifi. Thanks for the memories. Happy NY from New Zealand.
Some of this list is visually iconic, rather than acoustically great. My choice for most significant loudspeaker system of the last 80 years would be the Dynaco A25. Someone could correct me here but I'm fairly sure this "aperiodic" enclosure two-way bookshelf was designed and manufactured entirely by SEAS of Denmark and distributed by Dynaco in the US. Not only was did this system have superbly smooth frequency response across it's range when new--it was made with premium materials that stood the test of time. My company's test lab measured an over 35 year old A25 in 2005 and its response was ruler flat from below 100 hz to 15 khz. Of course, its sound was superb. It was also a phenomenal success. It sold in the hundreds of thousands of units in the USA. Only the Bose entries on this list sold as well. The primary reason it's a sleeper entry onto this list was that it was sold almost entirely mail-order in the USA. This meant it wasn't "seen" by people on the shelves of hifi stores when these retail outlets helped define what was popular in the US.
Great choices highlighting technological development, but one speaker I recall fondly was the relatively simple (but voiced extremely well) Large Advent. That speaker set the bar for beautiful sound for many people in the 1970s and early 1980s. And it was reasonably affordable. I remember the POLK SDA and seeing those in shops thinking they looked like Count Dracula's coffin.
I bought large Advents in 1973 and used them until 1988, when I bought a pair of floor demo Polk SDA-1a's for half price when the 1b's were being released. Both are great speakers. Still have the Polks. You're right, the cabinets are large, but Count Dracula would have had to have been pretty short to fit in them, and would have had to use a stool to get up to people's necks.
Home Run Andrew. As someone who owned the original Heresy in the late 80's , Cornwall in the mid 90's, sold Bose 901 and acoustimass 5.1 (part-time gig), and auditioned Quads, Polk monitors 10B and RT line, as well as dozens of other mid to high end speakers for over 40 years, your list is almost perfect. Klipschhorns & Altec Lansing big horn commercial speakers are the foundation of American speaker design. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. PS. your British audience will remind you of the BBC LS3 impact.
Happy New Year friends from Shrewsbury MA! My childhood friend had the 5.1 Bose in their basement and it blew my mind! Ironically enough our Boston BNB earlier this week had a Bose system installed but it wasn't hooked up. 😭 Enjoyed the video and I was slightly surprised that the A9 made the list, very high praise! Kristi keeps the surprises coming with the sound bar. 🤣 Love the additional voice and the following dialogue. Keep up the great work!
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I loved your list. I was wondering if you were going to include the Quad ESL 57. The only other speaker I would include would be the MBL Radialstrahler 101 Loudspeaker. Great list !!! My best to the both of you in the New Year... and hopefully, fingers crossed, some blueberry muffins in the oven. 😉
Hiel technician 1975 ,home stead audio ..,stereo warehouse..
AMT Heil Transformers.
As I asked before, I currently own the JBL 4408 vintage studio monitors but they come a little bit short. Which would you recommend, the Polk R700 or JBL L100 to pair with Technics SG-U700 MKII?
@@jorgetorres3279 I hope you get the answer you need. 🙏🏼
Yeah, Magnepan made dipole high-end sound affordable, and with a distinctive sound that many audiophiles swear by. I bought my first pair in 1987 and haven't heard anything faster and more detailed since. So, while a lot of people may not have heard Magneplanars, and you can't find them next to Polk or Bose at Best Buy, they have earned a devoted following among many of us because of their unique, quality sound and, more importantly, the way they make high-end possible for budget-minded music lovers.
The Magnapans were and continue to be amazing speakers. Sadly, because of their sheer visual size and need for open space, it's best for modest sized house living rooms and not apartments/condos. I auditioned a friend's pair in my apartment and they sounded great, but it would have meant severe compromises in furniture placement and traffic flow.
I had a pair of Magneplaners in the 76 time frame with a powered subwoofer. I loved them except for the fact that only some one in the middle got the really good sound. Not much happening sitting off center. (Also got married and that much floor/vertical space was a no go). I traded them in for a pair of Ohms with Walsh drivers in 1980 and I'm still using them today. I think the Walsh driver might be one if the unsung heroes, given the breadth of the stereo imaging and sweet coherent sound. I also used them in a home theatre and never needed a center channel. There getting old now, but I can't afford to replace them
Another vote for Maggies. The first pair of speakers that made me say "Wow!" out loud. (I'd wager a very small sum of money that it was Magnepan that put planar/dipole speakers on the map for most audiophiles, maybe excepting those who've been around a long time or who have done a deep dive into audio history. They also arguably have fewer sonic limitations than the Quads, making them more widely appealing.)
I got my LRS+ back in September after demoing the LRS, 3.7, and 20.7 in a shop and when my LRS+ showed up I was absolutely floored by how much better they were than all of the ones I demoed. I have never in my life heard a more natural speaker, even at audio shows and whole setups costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. I'm just shocked more people aren't talking about the LRS+.
Yea, I would have expected Maggie's to at least be considered
I hope Andrew and Kristi will review the LRS+ this year. I think it would an easy pick for their Annual Speaker below $1000.00 Award for 2023!
The base Maggie, the LRS is still very affordable on the used market (heck, they were affordable new). You do need a strong amp for them and a modest sized room to get the best sound. But sound good they do! Sadly, most Maggies have a rather low WAF rating (wife acceptance factor) due to their visual size (they definitely dominate a room's decor).
My vote is for the AR-3a. My dad bought a pair a year when he was in the military back in 1966. He restored them with AR drivers a while back. They sound phenomenal and it's amazing to me that speakers were this good back then.
The unusual thing is his are unfinished, so they could be stained any way he wanted. He had them behind a mesh that was sound transparent, so he never bothered staining them and they still look beautiful.
MY father bought HIS pair when he was in the military. They’re older than my sister and she turns 53 in 2023. I’ve inherited them and had the woofers refoamed, a tweeter replaced and every time they’ve been in the repair shop, the guy tells me that 5-10 people want to make offers for them.
Those have been game changers in speaker development. I mean, Jeepers crow….they’re in the Smithsonian!!!!
Yes!!!! Glad I didn’t have to scroll very far to see Acoustic Research pop up. Grew up with my dad’s ARs pushing incredible sound throughout the house. Sitting on the floor watching his reel-to-reel spin is a central memory of my childhood. The tape deck is retired but he’s still got those speakers 50 years later, rebuilt and soldiering on.
Yes, AR had made an impact with their drivers and sound quality, but also with their designed bookshelf speakers like AR 11 and improved AR 12 which kept the big sound in a smaller package. I loved those and could recognize their sound blindfolded. Some floor stander models were known for their best midrange drivers too. Also some good brands were KEF speakers and some less known brands like Dynaudio. Dynaudio had some bookshelf models but they were known for their drivers you can build your own box and then shake the floor with them but still keep the integrity of the sound intact (if the box is designed properly). Ahhh, good old days.
Bose 901s can sound amazing, the use of the equaliser is mandatory. They go so loud without dynamic compression or fatigue. If you have a party there's nothing else better
Amen Brother !
Most people who bash the 901s probably never heard them or only heard them without the equalizer and/or improper placement.
I have had the 901 VI series for 25 years now and they still sound good as new.
Minidsp makes replacement EQ's for the 901's
I had Bose 901s for about 10 years. My amp was a Pioneer SX-1050. I replaced them both with Quad ESL-63 electrostatic speakers and now turn my nose up at the thought of Bose 901. As do 99% of serious audiophiles.
No one uses 901s without EQ. Everything else you stated just isn't true.
Three important speakers you didn’t name that just happen to be in my house!
1) Magnepan (planar magnetic) (I own a few models)
2) Ohm Walsh (omnidirectional driver) (I have the model 2)
3) Vandersteen (no cabinets, just four dowels, a cap and a sock) (I have two pair of the model 2c)
I completely agree on all 3!! Very surprised that these weren’t part of the list.
Just commented I made a Magnepan to Ohm switch and never looked back!
MAGNEPAN is the top selling audiophile speaker.
Another one for the list would have been the Boston Acoustics A40, a budget speaker introduced in the 1980s that sounded way better than it had any business sounding for the price. You saw these speakers everywhere, and they lit up dorm rooms across the country for years. For an entire generation, the A40 was the “first” affordable hifi speaker that was the gateway into the hobby
Gotta give some love for those gateways
NAD 7140 and A-150's best and loudest system in the dorm. Until the guy with the Vega D-9's moved in.
Just sold my pair last year. Used to drive them with the Nad 3020…. Great fun……
@@Moonplant432 I still have both. The NAD needs some tlc and the A-150's needs surrounds replaced for the second time. They last around 20 yrs then need it done again. Still have the Nakamichi BX125 also. It wasn't me with the D-9's but have a pair now. Just need to pick them up from storage.
Digging all the NAD ❤. Had a NAD Amp/Pre and pair of 301’s, they moved some air. Swapped out to BA Sub/Sat 6. Never forgot hearing a guy cough in the audience listening Elton John live…🍻
In my almost 64 years, I have never been as moved by a loudspeaker as I was the first time I heard a KHorn. That was in 1981, and I will never forget that experience. I still consider it to be the pinnacle of speakers. The only thing that has come close for me is the Golden Ear Reference, but with the proper room and electronics, nothing beats the KHorn.
Excellent list that brings back many memories. I hope you two have a great 2023, and I am eagerly looking forward to each of your reviews
The Acoustic Research AR-1, the first air suspension loudspeaker. And of course Magnepan when I first heard them in 1978 and an owner since 2001. Happy New Year Andrew and Kristi!
Yep 100% Acoustic Research
@@3184Patrick I'm still rocking a pair of vintage AR-9...LOL...
Special place in my heart for the 901s. Not always awesome with every source material, but with the right cd/dvd they were often epic! Personal call out to the B&W Nautilus just for being the craziest speakers to covet in the 80s/90s. Great video!! Happy New Year!
Bose had a setup with the original 901's that included 4 of the speakers and one of their power amps. Probably acceptable. I made some homemade ones in the early 80s. Never did get the bass where I wanted. Never really had side by side comparisons to the newer versions although I did have a Bose receiver once that had the eq built in for the later 901's. Been listening to my homemade Klipschorns for the last 40 years.
I've heard the 901's and yes, they are very good and innovative speakers. That said, there were lots of owners who put them in their homes with the 8 speakers facing the listeners, rather than the wall.
I had 901s in the early 80s and my friend had large Polks. I still remember listening to Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" on the Polk floor standing speakers. We were blown away. We used NAD power. I remember my first experience with the Bose Acoustimass system while in college. It was a game changer. I don't care what purists say about Bose. Bose has arguably done more for home theater, aviation (A20 headset), car audio, etc than any other company. Sure, you can absolutely find better sounding systems, but Bose has been one of the leaders in audio concepts over the last 5 decades.
Excellent comments about Dr. Bose & Bose Corp. in General. Too bad they cannot innovate anymore. The Professional systems though are pretty nice.
Listening to The Nightfly on anything sounds good. 👍
While I agree with you on how many things Bose got right (looking at audio from a different perspective than most competitors), the 901s would cost as much (if not more) than the JBL 100Ti series, and the JBL would blow them out of the water (by a lot).
Since I worked exclusively with Bose for more than two decades, I could have bought a brand new pair with a huge discount, but I never did.
But I still regret not buying an used pair of JBL L100Ti 6 years ago, because they still sounded as good as I remembered from the late 80’s.
Nice list! I would add LS3/5A, Quad ESL63 (instead of 57), Duntech Sovereign, Infinity IRS, B&W Nautilus, Dynaudio Consequence, KEF Blade and Vivid Kaya S12. All the best for 2023!
I really think that everyone could point to a speaker that made an impact on them in some way shape or form. For me, it was a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beovox S45-2 that my dad owned. Took me many years, but I'm now a full blown B&O addict, and I love their systems, especially from the 1990's. My goal is to own a pair of Beolab 5's some day.
I have a pair of Bose 901 VIs in my living room, powered by a Luxman R117 and... I gotta tell you... it can be magical to listen to. In my home office, I have Bose 601 Series II's powered by a Pioneer SX-780. They're wildly different beasts from each other and I enjoy both for different reasons. The 601s are perfect in a smaller space with their forward-facing presentation, but the angled directions on the tweeters are definitely part of that 901 heritage.
Another Bose Freak ! Love it, man.
I had the Bose 901's for over 20 years. I loved the sound and no need for a sub.
Loved this episode. My first audiophile speakers was a pair of Quad ESL 57s that I bought at the Army Hi-Fi club in 1972 for $418. A friend built a subwoofer box using 2 Dynaco A25 woofers and I used a Pioneer electronic crossover. Quads were powered by a Dynaco Stereo 70 & subwoofer powered by Marantz 16B. I had to sell them due to a cross-country move, but I'll never forget them.
My list:
1) Bose 901
2) Quad 57
3) Pioneer HPM-100
4) Technics SB-10 (honeycomb)
5) Klipcsh Scala
6) LS3/5A - BBC speaker
7) Kef LS50
8) B&W 801 Matrix
9) Magnepan 1.7
10) Sonus Faber Lumina ii - best value ever!!!
Bose 901 at #1. I love it !
+1 for the 801 Matrix! People might cringe at me, but it's the only B&W I care to listen to (even The Nautilus).
Ditto with the 801 Matrix. Also a good pick with the LS3 and LS5. Small studio monitors - this is your ancestor.
Boss 901 was a complete joke
@@jm_1214 So you've never heard a pair properly setup is what you're saying.
I'd add early New England acoustic suspension speakers: KLH, AR, Advent (this last one was certainly a bridge into HiFi at an affordable price for many)
Altec-Lansing named that soundbar after their commercial theater speaker line, which was called Voice of the Theater.
I don't know if I'd call it a game changer since nobody remembers it, but it was the first and definitely a trail blazing product.
The Heresy was a good choice as a game changer for being the first center channel. I would tend to include the Klipschorn because it was one of the first and certainly the most influential speaker to ever try and take large full size speakers and downsize them for home use. (I'm talking auditorium and theater scale speakers) Yes, the big Klipschorn was designed to fit the acoustic performance of a much larger speaker into a smaller space, hence the folded bass horn. It's a design that's been in continuous production since it's release in 1946.
I knew a couple of folk the had a pair of A7's as the basis of their audio system. Basic Utility cabinet with handles, bur what 10W (out of 35 max) could do to a large room.
The Klipsch Cornwall was preferred for a center ch for the K horns. More wood - better bass!
Greetings from the beautiful Emerald Coast of northwest Florida!
Excellent historical summation consistent with your exceptional perspective!
While not a fan of Bose..."No Highs, No Lows; Must Be Bose!" I heard 901s in the 80's & WOW! Arguably Bose, Beats, Vizio, Sansui, Kenwood, etc. brought "High Quality" items to the affordable mainstream masses that forced the others to reconcile their price points to a degree.
Your channel, specifically, provides extraordinary feedback relevant to your integrity vice endorsement ventures that so many Hi-Fi shops had in the past & some continue to do!
Greatly appreciate your 2022 content & look forward to 2023!
Crank it up!
Very respectfully,
Billy P. Martin
My first speakers are the bose acoustimas 501. Through the years, I acquired different types of speakers, yamaha, klipsch, Martin logan, b&w, and electrostatic can't remember what the brand is, but there's something missing, I'm looking for that meat in the bone kind in music. The first time I heard the Tannoy speaker is an experience that will never forget. I sold all the speakers that I have and bought a pair of tannoy speakers that I can afford at that time, tannoy 637
And that is 25 years ago and I still have them to this day. Right now, I'm running Tannoy berkeley with willsenton r8 and denafrips aris 2 dac. For me, tannoy is the speakers that influence my music journey.
I was, and still am a huge fan of the M Series from Mirage. Bi and Di Pole Speakers that truly made you feel like you were right there at the performance. Also love Magnapan for the same abilities as the Mirage. The Speakers that made the biggest impact on me, and I regret to this very day for selling them were a pair of Hales Revelation and Transcendence Speakers I bought after months of auditions out of town. If you find a nice pair used, do yourself a favor and pick them up.
I still use my Mirage M1090i bought in 1996. Mirage bi pole speakers have a nice open and warm sound.
Ever since I joined the Air - Force in 1978 , I've been in Love with my JBL's .... the L-100s paired with my Carver amp (350 watts per ch ) put me right in the zone.....
The maxell ad with dude in the recliner.....
Me still to this day.........
Thank you JBL for your incredible product and your pursuit for sound reproduction that is 2nd to none.......
Peace
Greg
👍🇺🇸😎
The acoustimass most definitely belongs on this list. Love or hate them, Bose brought a lot of people to the hobby. I may even throw in their original wave radio. It started with CD’s, shifted to iPods, and in my opinion, ushered in the acceptance of Bluetooth speakers to smaller spaces like kitchens, offices, etc. Good bye boom boxes.
The first Yamaha YSP-who knows what, sound bar with the 40+ speakers in it was a bit of a game changer as well.
Having worked in the hifi then home theater retail industry for far too long, I think I can say that the Bose lineup was definitely not aimed at the hobby listener (though it may have served as a gateway). Bose went for the consumer who wanted sound in the home while they did other things than just listening. Their print ads almost always showed a couple engaged in something other than concentrating on the system (usually facing and talking to each other). It was a speaker that fit what you did and not the other way around and that was very appealing.
A former Bose 501 and 901 owner whose philosophy of toward listening to and enjoying music changed forever when I first heard the Dahlquist DQ-10. The Dahlquist speakers did not play louder or with any particular emphasis in the musical spectrum. They instead seemed to produce a fuller, richer and more complete reproduction. They did need a bit of power however, to bring them fully to life, and cables did make a difference. The wife didn’t like the width of them however, so we compromised with a pair of DQ-20i’s bi-amped by a pair of Aragon 8002’s. They need power too,
The Polk SDA series was indeed a game changer. Would love to see you cover them. I had a pair of SDA-1C's in the 90's. Few come close to the amazing sonic signature of those speakers!
SDA-SRS thoooo
A bit of a fool’s errand to limit the list to just 10, but since you opened this up for further comments:
Ohm Walsh drivers, particularly the original A & F;
Oscar Heil’s AMT as first implemented by ESS, and after patent expiry, literally scores of other manufacturers;
Henry Kloss’ Large Advent;
Jon Dahlquist’s DQ10;
Magnepan MG and Tympani
Since you mentioned Meridian’s M1, they should also be acknowledged for introducing the concept of internal DSP processing in their active speakers (D600) to the consumer mainstream.
For powered speakers, the Philips MFB speakers are worth a mention. They were consumer oriented, but were also used in professional settings due to the convenience if not needing a power amp.
And they were available in the 70's. Self powered speakers that used feedback to improve the low end. See wikipedia. The system still is produced.
Indeed the MFB active speakers were one of the first using that system.
They gained some popularity with people newly interested in hifi because the name was familiar. They had a good sound for the time but careful choice of alternative speakers and amplifier could produce a sound that was as good and sometimes better for the same cost.
Love your channel because its the anecdote for the goofiness of the community.
My audio eureka moment as a kid was working in a DTS/SDDS enabled THX Certified Movie theater in the late 90s. That room would MOVE. Been hooked on home cinema audio ever since.
Really appreciate the kind words. If you don't mind me asking, which theater chain did you work for?
I've always thought the ESS AMT1A,B etc was an amazing speaker, especially when bi-amped. I think the Heil air motion transformer and its positioning on the speaker was significant. Also the use of bextrene instead of paper cones and the passive subwoofer were mile markers. I haven't been able to figure out who did these things first, ESS was definitely a brand that brought innovation a d outside the box thoughts to the industry I. The 70's and 80's. Love your program.
College buddy had the ESS and a Philips 212 turntable. I'd take both today. I'm currently rocking all original Pioneer CS99 15 inch 5 ways.
Came to the comments to say this very thing. We had the ESS AMT1 in our house when I was a kid and it definitely both spoiled me and got me more interested in music and audio reproduction technology. That eventually brought me to the Adam Audio Column Mk3 Active (which had an AMT tweeter and an AMT midrange), which was very nice but didn't quite recapture the feeling of listening to the ESS speakers in my childhood and adolescence.
Considering how AMT tweeters have proliferated, I would definitely put the original ESS speakers up there in terms of game-changing / influential speakers.
Heil amt was amazing and ESS had the patent. Much larger and crossed over much lower than the AMTs of today. I believe it was a dipole. The resolution from 800 Hertz up was great!
@@gregmatula9749 Agreed, most AMTs today only take between 2300 and 2800 and up. The Adam Column Mk3 had a midrange AMT that went down to 800 much like the original ESS AMT, but was not dipole.
Since Oscar Heil’s original patent expired well over 30yrs ago now, the basic driver topology has been adopted by numerous prestige manufacturers, including those catering to the DIYer and small bespoke crafters. It was unquestionably a groundbreaking design that even well cared for almost 50yr drivers when well implemented can still deliver stellar performance. I used vintage AMT-1 tweeters on a couple of projects well over two decades ago, and crossed them over in the 2500-3200Hz range, IIRC. The sensitivity on earliest production models was high enough that it was cheaper and simpler to bi-amp them with simple PLLXO, and they had great synergy with SETs such as Decware Zen C, or Bottlehead 2A3 Paramours.
I still have my 901’s in my home office and they were the most expensive thing I had ever bought in my life at that time. I still love the sound but more importantly they remind me of a special time in my life.
What about the Yamaha NS-1000m these where the first speakers to use Beryllium drivers. I have these along with the NS-5000 the newer version from Yamaha. Even with todays modern amps the 1000s are the most detailed speaker I’ve heard and a game changer when first introduced in my opinion. Happy New Year to you both 😊
I think you missed the JBL L-100s and if it wasn't game changing enough, then DCM Time Windows. I got these in about 1979-80 when I was just a kid, but I had great equipment around them. The game-changing part was the shape and the sound you got for the price point. Those were the first speakers, for me, that had a seamless soundstage, not only peripherally, but in depth. With the right recording, I couldn't point to where the speakers were blindfolded. As for the L-100s, well, those were simply amazing. Maybe they still are it has been a long time.
Love this list. Having owned an acoustimas for a short while I can see why it is on the list. Though I would add the Kef Reference 104.2. This speaker was made with the north American audience in mind and was so popular that production ran for over a decade. I don't know how much of an impact it made on the audio world as a whole, but it is one that stands out in my books for it's incredible design and midrange performance and imaging. Truly a special speaker by my standards!
I would have added the Infinity Reference Line Array, Thiel CS3.7, KEF 105.2, Large Advent, Magnepan and the Yamaha NS-1000M. There were definitely some wonderful groundbreaking speaker designs.
Happy New Year Andrew and Kristi! Love the inclusion of the Quad ESL. Personally I'd have substituted "my" ESL-63s in place of the original, because (to my knowledge and belief) although the original brought the loudspeaker out of the box, the time delayed concentric ring design of the 63, 988/989 and even the current Quad ESL models makes them the only series of planar loudspeaker of any description to be a "point source."
Thank you, and see you throughout 2023! :-)
My list of the personal speakers that I've owned over the years... First HIFI speakers I ever heard? JBL L-100's (originals). Owned in chronological order: Cerwin Vega HED H-15's (My first speakers) late 1970's, Klipsch Cornwall II (Mid 1980's), Definitive Technology BP-20's (mid 1990's) (owned for 20+ years) I refurbished them with new (handmade) socks, driver repairs and gave them away. (Mary loves them BTW). Also in the 1990's, I bought 4 pairs of Polk Monitor 4's for my flower shop (They were awesome!), 2000's, Polk monitor 70's for my studio now replaced with JBL 308P MKII (active speakers with Class D amps! Fantastic!!). 2019-on... Klipsch RP 8000F's, Had them 2 years... Good but not great. Not nearly enough bass and high end was fatiguing over time. I just couldn't get them to sound right in my room. Sold them in November '22. Waiting on backordered POLK R700's expected in mid Jan. The best overall? The BP-20's for now! Why didn't I buy new deftech's? I was considering the 9060's (on sale) BUT my cats used my BP-20's as scratching posts. ( therefore NO deftech speakers ) I went through 3 pairs of grille socks @$75.00 a pair before I gave the speakers away!
Your selections are pretty much spot on with the Bose being the ones that had me drooling the most. Happy New year!
The JBL L100 should be on the list because it defined what a "bookshelf" speaker was in in the 70s. It was just the right width to put on its side and sit high up on the upper shelf in most college dormitories at the time thus giving the moniker as a bookshelf speaker. Coupled with that it wasn't prohibitively expensive and it had huge loudspeaker sound thanks to it being a derivative of the professional JBL 100, it fueled most listening experiences in dormitories, apartments, and houses of its day. Today JBL still makes it as a nostalgic piece which I think credits it as a game changer
Thanks for the vids! Ohm speakers are a recent discovery for me, but are from the early 70’s. Maybe not game changing, but definitely an interesting omnidirectional using Walsh technology. Sound amazing
Agree. The Ohm F, with its Walsh driver was a completely new concept. Perhaps didn't make the game-changing list, because no other manufacturer used a Walsh driver?
Seems the Ohm designs influenced the B&O designs? 🤷🏽♂️
Definitely!!!
@@gregshonle2072 Infinity did have at least one model that used a Walsh tweeter.
Absolutely! The Walsh driver was an amazing innovation. I'm surprised more manufacturers don't use it.
I’ll just call you the speaker whisperer! Your picks are iconic!
Big klipsch and Bose fan here, actually clapping like a kid while watching this video!
I own a pair of heresy II and absolutely love them ! Three Bose lifestyle systems and two acoustimass 5 speaker systems
and although not using all of them currently I will never part with them.
I am running a pair of acoustimass 5 with a vintage Yamaha RX 777 at my business and I get so tickled every time a UPS/FED-EX delivery guy walks in and comments on how great the sound is !
I wish Bose would re-release the 901s, always wanted a pair, buying them used and having to possibly refoam 18 drivers gives me anxiety LOL.
I really enjoyed this !
Awesome video Thanks!
Hi Andrew and Happy new year. Over the years, from what I've read in magazines, forums, and talk about it, and not being my personal opinion, the most important, iconic, and revolutionary speakers in the history of audio were: Yes... the Quads, Tannoys and the 801s, but also the Pioneer HPM 100, their father JBL L100, Yamaha NS-10 and NS-1000, Mission-770, and of course the LS3/5A. At home as in the studio, these were the ones that shaped the world of High Fidelity audio, todays High Res. I can't wait to know what your 10 game changing amplifiers will be, best regards from Portugal.
Was lucky to have met Anwar Bose at the Las Vegas CES show back in the late 70s ~ A really interesting man ~ He had a few ideas that I have never seen come to market ~ I still have his computer speaks a friend of mine had a pair of 901s that he had hanging from the ceiling ~ I also met Peter & Ross Walker the man who invented the Quad 57's ~ I still listen to my Quads all the time even though I want to get a pair of Maggies LRS + ~ The price is so right ~ Also I was lucky to have met Saul Marantz ~ Sadly ~ All these great men I've mentioned here have all passed on to the Universe ~ The good thing is their handiworks remain or all to enjoy ~ Great list that bought up some great memories for me ~ Happy New Year ~ 2 U 2 ~
Two speakers blew me away as a kid. The Carver Amazing loudspeader and the Bose 901. Robert Cray's guitar emanating from a pair of 901s is indelibly etched in my memory.
I remember the Carver speakers, nice addition to the list! Thanks for watching!
Something about needing 500 watts a channel to drive makes you go hmm...
Surprised the JBL L100 Century's didn't make the list. I bought mine in the mid 70's and have never looked back. They are an old friend and to my (aging) ears sound as good today as they did when new back in 1974.
The original Cambridge SoundWorks "Ensemble" was a mighty good set of 4 speakers. Also, Dynaco A-25 speakers were outstanding for their performance and are definitely notable.
I’m glad the Bose 901s made the list. I’ve had many speakers in my young audio enthusiast career. Including, as a proud Canadian, the Mirage OMD-28s. The 901s are the speakers that led the way for bipolar/omnipolar speakers that many enjoy today. But Bose did it, in my opinion, better than anyone. I still have a pair in my home and for pure music enjoyment, and a sense of experiencing a concert at home, I’ve come across nothing better.
I grew up with the 901s and a Sansui. I can't tell if it's the 901s or the Sansui but the combination in a European home (different construction) made them sound amazing with vinyl and later with CDs.
I think the 901s resolved a lot of room correction issues and may have made placement slightly less demanding. If going from 1 subwoofer to 4 makes a difference, I'm pretty sure that going from 2 to 18 drivers also has to make some difference. Eventually, the sound quality of the reflections must come closer to the sound of the speaker than 2 drivers unless you're seated in the listening position which is a bit hard to do if you're dancing or playing on the ground as a kid. I think what the 901 did was create infinite listening positions and resolve the room dynamics as surely a bad reflection was covered by one that was on the opposite spectrum. I'm talking out of my posterior but I suspect someone could prove the science behind it.
As for the Sansui, that's a story on its own and arguably surpasses the 901 in terms of changing the game.
Happy new year! 🎉 Definitely looking forward to some more B&O coverage this year! Maybe even BL90s….. 😜
Max I desperately hope we can do a Beolab 90 review this year!
I bought the Sony HT A9 when you reviewed them and i absolutely love it! Enjoy movies, gaming and listening to music (Dead Can Dance) a smiling curve indeed for the wifey and me :)
I really like how you & Kristi articulate sound without playing sound, just explaining it so well and creating unique reviews for unique products you showcase. Looking forward for 2023!
Definitely the Polk SDA, I used to sell these amazing speakers in the 80's. The first and only speaker I've heard that gave me a surround experience from 2 channels. The Mirage M1 also at the same time. The B&W Active One was also the best and first active speaker I'd heard.
This was Polk's answer to Carver's Sonic Hologram Generator.
Great video! For me my first great speaker the Dalquist DQ 10s. Aligning the drivers so all speakers reached your ears at the same time, added a 3 dimensional soundstage.
Realistic Mach Ones! Hear me out: for at least two generations, those party speakers blaring out of Radio Shack mall stores served as an introduction into what hi fi could do to our emotions. It was ground zero for a lifetime of sonic adventures.
100% on point with those speakers and drawing people in! They weren't the most nuanced or well-built, but they got your attention, for sure!
My first DIY Speakers I built in my Senior year in High School were 12" Realistic Woofers with the same "Bi-Radial Horn" Tweeter used in their top line Mach Speakers in the mid 80's. Stereo Review taught me all about Speaker placement. Youknow, back in the days when Audio (and Stereo Review) would educate the reader.
The 1st generation Mach One was better than the 2nd.
Great way to start the New Year Andrew!
Here are a few more for consideration:
Larger Advent Loudspeaker - Not the first Acoustic Suspension Loudspeaker as I'm pretty sure that distinction belongs to Acoustic Research (AR), or maybe KLH (?), but in the early 70's the larger Advent was a top seller and offered great, near full range sound for not a lot of money and everybody I knew back then owned a pair.
KLH Model 9 - one of the early electrostatics, along with the Quad 57's, that showed just how good electrostatic speakers could be. A system using two Model 9's per channel was state of the art in its day.
Magnepan MG-1 - Magnepan pioneered the planar magnetic speaker, and the LRS + today is proof the concept is more sound than ever (no pun intended).
Dahlquist DQ-10 - One of the first phase arrayed time aligned dynamic loudspeakers that set the stage for subsequent designs using principals pioneered by Jon Dahlquist.
Rogers LS3/5A - Ground breaking research performed by the BBC in the 1960's led to this mini monitor that is still going strong today and coveted by audiophiles the world over.
Agreed on your choice of the KLH 9 and Rogers LS3/5A. As to the Rogers, it's amazing how the designers got all that sound out of a small box. I heard the KLH 9s in a private home and was blown away. The guy played a recording of a Toscanini rehearsal and it felt as if I was on stage with the musicians.
@@millermark445 KLH9'a are back and only $20k. David JansZen did an amazing job on these Speakers when I heard them played via AGD's GaN FET Amplifiers (wish they were Orchard Audio....but oh well) at CAF 2022.
I agree!
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 Didn't know that, thanks. The guy who played them for me owned some classic pieces of audio, like the Marantz 10-B tuner and Accoustic Research amps.
On innovation that brought change I've got two additions, although not sure what exact speakers to use as examples of them being implemented.
1. Audio streaming directly to speakers, be it from a private server or one of the many providers like Spotify or for that matter what is know as "internet radio"".
2. Class D amplification. It has brought efficiency, the ability to put a lot of power in small boxes or for that matter massive amounts of power in speakers like the Beolab 90.
BOTH great innovations and I can think of a few examples of speakers that do/use this tech. It probably would've given Altec Lansing or Bose ANOTHER entry for streaming/bluetooth speaker. As for Class D, that would likely give B&O another mention too.
Glad to see that you included two of my all time favorites Tannoy and Quad ESL57. I have both, the Quad are arranged as stacked pairs and quite a few people that hear them can't believe that I don't have a center speaker because the imaging is so well defined. One brand you didn't mention was KEF, I also have a pair of 104/2s, had them for 35 years still love them.
And I must give partial credit to this channel for being the proud owner of the Sony HT-A9 system that I listen to everyday. 😁
It's great!
Great list Andrew! Others that could've made the list are EPI 100, Large Advent, Klipschorn, Design Acoustics D8, Ohm Walsh, JBL L100 and L166 Horizon, Yamaha NS 1000, KEF 104/2, BIC Formula 6, Pioneer HPM 100, and Cerwin Vega D9 if you want to destroy your windows.
Oh yes, the EPI 100. Their magic was that Mr. Burhoe only used one capacitor, in series with the tweeter, as a crossover. Kept the EPI’s until I could afford Martin-Logan electrostatics.
Perfect list.
Love your list. You can make make an argument that advent speakers could be on the list " The Advent Loudspeaker". I also like Christy's suggestion on the Altec Lansing.
I second the nomination of Advent. My first speakers were the "Large" Advents in real walnut bought in 1973. They were the embodiment of "bang for the buck"
I agree with most of these choices, and even though I hate Bose, I have to admit the 901 was a game changer. It was almost ubiquitous for PA use in the 80's. My only additions would be a) The Original Magnepan b) The Magnepan Tympany IV, or The Magnepan 1.7, which has for the last decade hit a real sweet spot of high performance vs. reasonable price. Yes, I do own a pair, and therefore am probably biased. I also have to give honourable mention to the original Altec A5 Voice of the Theater. Yes, it's a PA speaker, but was used for home Hi Fi even back in the day, just like the 901. There are so many ways to hot rod A5s today, it's silly, and when properly set up, they are truly spectacular. And yes, I have owned a pair, and yes, I'm old. Thanks for the vid, subscribed! Cheers
Interesting how you included the very best, and possibly very worst speakers I’ve heard. For me, the Quad was a total revelation, and the reason I got into the consumer audio business in the first place (I retired after nearly forty years recently). I heard a demo of the Quad in a Hifi shop (remember those?) from two rooms away (!), and was astonished. I had to know what that speaker was, and set out to buy a pair, which I did several years later. The 901, on the other hand……..
Agreed. The 901 ones were ridiculously inaccurate but to some peoplle they sounded impressive with the right material. They attempted to give a big soundstage, but the same treatment was applied to all music meaning that accuracy went out of the window, - sometimes literally given that there were 8 rear-firing drivers. Lab tests certainly show a very bumpy frequency response (even after the compulsary bose EQ) accompanied by poor distortion figures and bad resonance effects.
I love my Bose 901. Throw clean power at them and they sing. My music preferences are Reggae and Soca with clean vocals and a deep bass line. Pushed by my McIntosh power amp and REL Sub… I get deep rich warm clean sound.
Happy New Year’s Andrew, Kristi and Katie. Great way to start the year off and get our audiophile juices flowing. The Bose 901’s were definitely a huge game changer. My brother and I got a pair for our Dad’s listening pleasure. They presented music is a very different way. I think multi-room speakers are going to way we listen to music in the same way sound-bars have change the way we listen to our TV’s and sometimes to music thanks to technology. DSP is here to stay to much some audiophile’s dismay. Let’s see 2023 bring us in speaker innovations.
Boston Acoustics A200's from 1980-81 I still have these, and they sound great.
The 901s were legendary, I almost bought a set back in 1980 but opted for the 601s MK1s instead after comparing, had them for 42 years and only just sold them to a friend who often said they were the best he ever heard, glad they went to a good home
Polk SDA SRS. Blew my mind as a teenager in the 1980’s. Heard them cranking some Zappa hooked to a 250wpc monster Yamaha amp… talk about a window rattling experience! 🔊 🔊
They are very efficient speakers, most people would not need quite that much power.
My game changers were my Cerwin Vega! VS-120's. These monsters still sit in my living room till this day!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! to you both!!
Magnepan and the LS3/5a both blew me away in the early ‘70s. Irving Fried also had a 2.1 system at that time that may have been the first idea of the mini-monitor with a separate sub-woofer.
Indeed, Bud’s dual B200 transmission line sub was a conversation maker for sure, and at approx 150lbs, should have come with a coupon for 2 visits to a chiro or physiotherapist nearby. As I recall, there were several other brands such as Boston, Cambridge Audio and numerous long since forgotten boutique makers of “desktop / sub-sat systems” from about the mid ‘80s forward, but certainly Bose would be the name most recognized.
@@fonkenful I was going to say “mini-monitor with a coffin sub” in my original comment! The Frieds inspired me to order KEF B110, T27 and B200 drivers from England along with Falcon crossovers and build my own. My 40 year-old daughter still uses the LS3/5a knock-offs.
@@carvern1 Of course, by today’s standards subs, tower speakers tipping the scales at only 150lbs or so would be considered featherweights, so my 71yrs are definitely showing. 👴
Andrew thanks for the great review of your top ten speakers. I was so glad you mentioned the Quad 57 electrostatic speaker. I have had my pair of Quads for about 30 years now and could not possibly imagine a day without the joy of listening to music through them. The music that pours out of them is so beautiful and so true to the source it is unbelievable. I still have to pinch myself sometimes when listening to special favourite pieces like Miles Davis's Kind of Blue that I am not sat in the studio with the musicians in New York in 1959. It is so lifelike you can almost smell the smoke. They are a time machine and window to the past when the music was put donw in the studio. Do try to get hold of a decent pair of them, match them up with a good OTL valve amplifier and put them on your show. I think you will be completely shocked and in awe about how wonderful they are and this is 1956 technology! Thanks again for the great You Tube channel regards David (York UK) and if you do get a pair let me know so I can give you some advice on speaker placement and stands.
Good list The BBC LS3/5A would be my addition.
Beolab 5. I have a pair and absolutely love them. Stunning to look at. Earth shattering to listen to. The most neutral speakers I have ever heard.
Happy New Year guys! Super excited to see what 2023 brings to the channel. Thanks for all that you guys do.
Thank you and Happy New Year to you too!
I bought a set of the light oak Bose 901s when I was a Marine stationed in Japan (1983 -86) and then bought the first Bose Acoustimass set when they came out. I still have both sets in a closet waiting to be repurposed.
I’m so with you on HT-A9. The WAF (wife acceptance factor) is crazy! No big amplifier, few cables, hiding the bass and also blending in quite well. And the wow sound on top of that 😍 this definitely brought me in to the game!
Right on!
As intriguing a concept as they are, there remain certain use cases where room layout, traffic patterns, etc obviate the ability to install AC powered speakers in the four locations required, and running high quality old school wire to a soffit / ceiling mounted pair for surround /effect channels is the only choice.
Not all of us have the option to renovate our rooms to relocate staircases and passage doors for even simple two channel setups, much less 5.n.n configurations.
@@fonkenful why would you write something like this? would you rather run cables from an amplifier to 4 different speakers?
@@arunashamal I wrote that based on only 60yrs in this hobby. Simply put, there are rooms in which running AC outlets to locations required to power “wireless” speakers for surround channels or subs can be more complicated than low voltage wires for passive speakers driven by amplifier stages that may be located either in the same location as the TV and source components, or remotely. I’ve never been able to design a room specifically for the needs of an audio/video system, and even then, I think the speed at which technologies have and will doubtless continue to change renders the concept of “future proofing” a fools errand.
But that’s just me, so LALL, y’all.
@@fonkenful seriously? buying a powerboard and a couple extension cables for $10 is complicated for you?
Back in 1992, the loudspeaker that really defined my Hi-Fi journey, was an dual 6,5inch towered speaker from Dali(yes those Danish guys you never seem to get anything delivered from in working order) The Dali 104(for me) defined what you could get for a relatively slim budget. For aprox $850 you got(at least for at 16 y old) a big towered speaker, a decent NAD(3020) amp and a cd player, and a sound that bested most systems at even higher price points.
Would have to agree with others that are surprised that no were Magnepans listed. The first time I heard them in the late 70’s my perspective on what a speaker could do profoundly changed. Perhaps they could make your “Honorable Mentions” list?
Man I just got blown away at the end of this vide, when some lady pipesup, and Immediately had a component to reference to... What a woman, very knowledgeable about Hi end stuff. What a sweetheart, Most chicks, lady's, girls, women don't know any thg about audio. This woman just stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. Way to go girl.. Iam older now and in my life I have only met two girls who have asked where's the tone controls, and one girl who liked here music louder than hen me.. Mystery woman my hat is off too you.... In the meantime I just found your channel and I love it. being a couniseir of audios..... I have K horn's and 901s..Tara preamp, amp s are Quick Silver. Mono 90s..
Happy new year Kristi and Andrew. Thanks for a great series in 2022, looking forward to 2023👍👍
Thanks kj! Hope your holidays have been going well so far!
Happy New Year, KJ!
Bose Acoustimass was just Pioneering back in the day. Loved them.
Hi guys. Love the list and I understand the list. I think that different countries had different game changers. I would like to add the wharfedale diamond. The original, but also the entire range. The reason is this. No one in the UK at that point had managed to get such great overall sound in such a tiny box at such a low price. It was a game changer, because it opened up quality hi fi to the masses. They were the best selling speaker at that price point for some years. My best friend bought the first in the series and I can tell you that it was outrageously good for such little money, although it may not have been that cheap in the USA. Happy new year.
All fair points. Thanks for sharing!
I agree! I own a pair of Wharfedale diamond 225. I added them to my collection for the quirky feature of the down firing port.
And omg they sound so big ! I am so glad having acquired them !
In the early 80s, I was trying to choose between the Bose 901 and the JBL 4311B. I chose the JBLs and still enjoy them.
Like some other people, I was expecting to see a Magneplanar speaker. I didn't realize they were that similar to electrostatic speakers. Part of why I liked them was their look. My taste runs kind of mid-century, and the white panel/oak side pieces looked good with my blond furniture. There's never been a speaker I preferred the look of.
I remember the first time I listen to the Dalqest DQ-10. I was blown away. In my younger days I hung around a lot of folks who are audio files. I myself was blessed to have a father who was the regional sales manager for Altec Lansing professional sound systems. He is able to get in Altec Lansing LF -2 powered subwoofer in the early 80s. Before anybody knew what a subwoofer was for. I still have it and it works like a charm
A fun video. Great way to start the year.
I would add the acoustic suspension design (I favor AR, but KLH and Advent are OK too) and Magnepan.
Aren't AR and KLH related through Henry Kloss? Didn't he start another speaker company after those?
I used to install Bose 901 over 30 years ago , they required a massive amount of current to drive them properly and a huge amount of space , but using the correct room with high current amplifier they were absolutely unbelievable, and I guarantee nobody in this comment section has the knowledge to dispute my words
@@zachariahadams I mean nobody
Happy New Years Andrew and Kristi! Pretty amazing how much has changed and how much has stayed the same over the years! I remember in the second half of the 1980's when my college roommate hooked up his stereo to the TV and for the first time I heard TV programs and VCR movies in stereo instead of mono. I knew right then that I picked the right college roommate.
HNY! I'm still thinking about that Kansas game! So so close!
@@KristiWright It was a great turn-around despite the loss. KU football has come a long way. If they can do the same level or better in 2023...oh what a great year this will be for Jayhawk fans.
@@BryanRuby They really have turned the page! I'm really hoping Texas does the same in the year to come. The drought has lasted far too long!
The Bose 901 VI is absolutely amazing. Thank you for making it as part of your list. It’s a fun and magical.
The “game changing” moment that started my stereo journey is when I heard a pair of 15 inch Cerwin Vegas in early 80s. The visceral impact of the bass and how loud they played just surprised me.
Lol, the D9's. I sold a few pairs of those.
And Orange surrounds are just cool….🍻
@@jimmyBside I'm pretty sure red surrounds are Cerwin Vegas signature color.
Love them, where have they gone these years?
@@jayjay9932 cerwin vega still makes 15 inch 3 ways and even one with twin 15 inch woofers. However i heard rumors that quality isn't quite the same although I could be wrong.
How about the ribbon tweeter, maybe first used in the Carver Amazing speakers? Lots of speakers now seem to be using a smaller version of the technology. I myself just bought the Emotiva B1+ and am really enjoying them.
Learned a lot from this one. I don't have a list, just an experience. When Bose came out with the 901 it blew everyone away. Sadly it was out.of my price or available space range. The Bose 301 was not, paired nicely with my Pioneer SX-780, and fit in my Scandinavian Design wall system even though the fake walnut(?) clashed with the teak. Good memories. 👍
and bose is still scam cheap material and costs twice as much as its sonically comparable competition, test speaker from a company named Teufel(Devil) and you see the light
Being involved with the industry at the time I know that the 301 was actually a more accurate speaker than the 901, partly due to the 901 idea of throwing most of the sound around the room before it reached the listener's ear. The 901 could obviously handle more power but the 301 was better in value for money terms and was less room dependant.
Love this kind of content! Happy new year!
Happy New Years and yes, I'm surprised that the K-horns didn't make the list. Not because the folded horn design, although Bose used it in the acoustimass speakers, but because how he proved the importance of speaker efficiency. I worked for Klipsch at the BX at Hickam AFB and used to crush the 901s with the then budget Klipsch Tangent series. Needless to say the Bose rep wasn't very happy with me.
The K-horns, while influential didn't really invent anything, but there's no denying they're cool AF! But the Heresy was game changing for its day. Thanks so much for watching and for weighing in!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews sure, but "In a tiny tin shed in Hope, Arkansas in 1946, Klipsch designed, hand-built and patented the now-legendary Klipschorn, the only speaker in the world that has been in continuous production for over 70 years - and yes, they're still made in Arkansas, largely unchanged from the original design... just not in a shed." Surely that would put the speaker in the list 👍
Sorry But DR Amar Bose PHD has made WAY more income and sold far more innovative products than Paul and his "Klipsch" K-Horn, folded or un folded. Blal Blah blah....HEH, heh heh Compression horns belong on Train Locomotives & Peterbuilt tractors The K Horn is WAY overpriced. One can build DYI for the price of a pair of ebay original series 901s.
@@catherinetoczek So, you never go to the movie theatre, or live music venues? Dr. Bose was a genius at marketing, not speaker design. I've been a musician all my life and I can tell you very few Bose products have ever impressed me. The 901s where terrible sounding. I would chose the 401s over them hands down and any Klipsch speaker over those. Tell any horn player that their instrument should be on a train, not in an orchestra and they would laugh at your naivete.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews We had a family Christmas yesterday and went to a skating rink in a small town in Kansas and they had 4 Heresy's up in the corners. Never did really hear them though as some didn't like the music that was playing when we got there. I personally listen to my homemade Khorns for 40 years now.
OK, finally, speakers from my era!
I'll give you an 85.7% rating on these examples, Good job!
Of course there were many many more small speaker companies during this time as there probably are today but I have to admit the most inventive at the time were the Bose Series 2 901 which I hung from my "A Frame" ceiling in my living room and filled
the neighborhood with "direct re'flecting" sound.
I would have to add the Klipsch Korner Horn to the list along with the Infinity Reference Standard.
I own the 2nd generation Polk RT 2000P loud speaker that I bought new in 1998. In almost mint condition and still sounding great today. Cool that they made the list 😎
Great list Andrew and Kirsty. You covered my childhood memories of true hifi.... The 801s (matrix 3) being the pinnacle which I ended up owning. Other great models included Apogee Scintilla, linn isobaric, kef 104/2 and 107, all lustworthy beasts in well worn magazines of the day.... The heyday of hifi. Thanks for the memories. Happy NY from New Zealand.
Some of this list is visually iconic, rather than acoustically great. My choice for most significant loudspeaker system of the last 80 years would be the Dynaco A25. Someone could correct me here but I'm fairly sure this "aperiodic" enclosure two-way bookshelf was designed and manufactured entirely by SEAS of Denmark and distributed by Dynaco in the US. Not only was did this system have superbly smooth frequency response across it's range when new--it was made with premium materials that stood the test of time. My company's test lab measured an over 35 year old A25 in 2005 and its response was ruler flat from below 100 hz to 15 khz. Of course, its sound was superb. It was also a phenomenal success. It sold in the hundreds of thousands of units in the USA. Only the Bose entries on this list sold as well. The primary reason it's a sleeper entry onto this list was that it was sold almost entirely mail-order in the USA. This meant it wasn't "seen" by people on the shelves of hifi stores when these retail outlets helped define what was popular in the US.
Great choices highlighting technological development, but one speaker I recall fondly was the relatively simple (but voiced extremely well) Large Advent. That speaker set the bar for beautiful sound for many people in the 1970s and early 1980s. And it was reasonably affordable. I remember the POLK SDA and seeing those in shops thinking they looked like Count Dracula's coffin.
I bought large Advents in 1973 and used them until 1988, when I bought a pair of floor demo Polk SDA-1a's for half price when the 1b's were being released. Both are great speakers. Still have the Polks. You're right, the cabinets are large, but Count Dracula would have had to have been pretty short to fit in them, and would have had to use a stool to get up to people's necks.
JBL 4311/L100, Acoustic Research AR18, LS3/5a, Sony NS10, all surely more relevant than those 'things' on your list.
Home Run Andrew. As someone who owned the original Heresy in the late 80's , Cornwall in the mid 90's, sold Bose 901 and acoustimass 5.1 (part-time gig), and auditioned Quads, Polk monitors 10B and RT line, as well as dozens of other mid to high end speakers for over 40 years, your list is almost perfect. Klipschhorns & Altec Lansing big horn commercial speakers are the foundation of American speaker design. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. PS. your British audience will remind you of the BBC LS3 impact.
Happy New Year friends from Shrewsbury MA! My childhood friend had the 5.1 Bose in their basement and it blew my mind! Ironically enough our Boston BNB earlier this week had a Bose system installed but it wasn't hooked up. 😭
Enjoyed the video and I was slightly surprised that the A9 made the list, very high praise!
Kristi keeps the surprises coming with the sound bar. 🤣 Love the additional voice and the following dialogue. Keep up the great work!