The best speakers on the planet (according to C|Net's Steve Guttenberg)

Also interesting is that sometimes a manufacurer's top-of-the-line speakers are on the list (Focal, Vandersteen) while other times it is the entry level (Magico, Wilson). An idiosyncratic list to say the least.
 
I agree Rob. I wonder if Steve has heard as many speakers as he thinks he has. No Raidho, no Wilson, no Tannoy, no YG, no AG, no Living Voice, no Estelon, hmmm...

Since no apparent concern for budget was listed, my list would be a little different. I like the MBL 101E's, but the 101 Xtremes are in another league from the 101E's. The KEF Blade 2 is a damn good speaker. He's right there. But AG Trio's, Raidho D5's, Magico M Pro's, XLF with Thors Hammer, etc. would be on my list. I haven't heard the Living Voice Olympian's, but from those I know who have, it's definitely a top speaker too.
 
My B&W 805 D3s are there at #4. I don't know about that, but I do love them and they replaced a pair of Harbeth Super HL5 plus.
 
Despite Mike's post, there are Wilsons there. Since they are the Sabrinas I guess it might not have registered? :D

To be fair, though, remember his audience is the (presumably) better educated general public and perhaps budding audiophiles. His list is really just something to whet their appetite, I suspect; most of the speakers on it can be had for less than the price of a well-optioned Honda Accord.
 
You're correct. I missed those. But Sabrina's over XLF w/Thors Hammer? If he had said best speakers under $X....then it would make more sense.
 
The list does seem incomplete but like Rob noted you have to look at his audience and those that read CNET and we really don't know the authors criteria for his selection, was it a certain dollar value for towers and bookshelfs who knows. And like anything and everything about opinions we all have one.
 
Kind of a weird list. A number of good speakers there, but I guess if I were going to put together a list of the "best" speakers, I would be more concerned with finding the speakers that provide the highest performance, the most musically natural rendition and the ones that reveal the most music, period.

But then, Mr. Guttenberg doesn't really own a major system and tends to write reviews that are fairly short and sweet, indicating that he doesn't spend all that much time with anything. He lives in a fairly small space, so there's no way he can review some of the bigger speakers that are available. I know I can't either. With a 15 x 26 foot room I can't really audition Grande Utopia EM's, the big Wilsons, or a few other speakers that might be contenders for the best.

As someone mentioned here, I guess, I'd put that "best" in a lot more context, but hey, that's me.
 
This is a joke! LoL

No Tidal L'Assolutas, No Stenheim Ref Statement, no Goldmund Apologues, no FM Acoustics triangle, Magicos, Genesis...and so many more missing...
 
wisnon said:
This is a joke! LoL

No Tidal L'Assolutas, No Stenheim Ref Statement, no Goldmund Apologues, no FM Acoustics triangle, Magicos, Genesis...and so many more missing...
Click to expand...

Most importantly, no restored Apogees
 
I agree the list needs to be by price grouping. Magico and Wilson should have a high-end speaker and the Raidho D-1.1 and D-5.1 need to be included, among other omissions. I was glad to see my Vandy 7 MKII on the list though. :)

Ken
 
Alpinist said:
I agree the list needs to be by price grouping. Magico and Wilson should have a high-end speaker and the Raidho D-1.1 and D-5.1 need to be included, among other omissions. I was glad to see my Vandy 7 MKII on the list though. :)

Ken
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The Goldmunds MUST be in the list. The Mk2 versions are stunning!
 
Alpinist said:
I agree the list needs to be by price grouping. Magico and Wilson should have a high-end speaker and the Raidho D-1.1 and D-5.1 need to be included, among other omissions. I was glad to see my Vandy 7 MKII on the list though. :)

Ken
Click to expand...

Not sure why there should be a price grouping. Some speakers easily transcend price points, while some, if not most, are grossly overpriced
 
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