What are your top 5 speakers under $100K?

Since I have listened to very few speakers that would be worthy of this list, I will put the companies that I have heard and always liked.

MBL
KEF
MC
and this I am only assuming from their other gear and German made; T+A
 
I'll also list the companies I've heard and prefer. They all make great speakers under 100K.

In no specific order:

MBL
Verity
Kharma
Avantgarde
Sound Labs
 
Stenheim, Goldmund, Fischer und Fisher, Tidal, Lansche, I still love my 2 way Heil speaker for the money and EA are very very nice too. Rowen's top speaker (active) is very competitive at $25K and some vintage Apps are quite lovely. Finally for horns, the hORNS Universum is a treat for eyes and ears.
 
In no particular order:

Tidal Agoria.
MBL 101e.
Raidho D-3.1.

There are others I could mention but I have listened extensively to those above and they stand out. I am purposely not considering any that I've only had a relatively brief listening experience with.
 
Why do people like MBL speakers so much?

About 6 to 10 years ago I heard a full MBL system at a show huge speakers maybe 2meters tall. To me it sounded terrible the looks were also horrible lots of bling. Since then I think of MBL as a gimmick/bling brand.
 
Why do people like MBL speakers so much?

About 6 to 10 years ago I heard a full MBL system at a show huge speakers maybe 2meters tall. To me it sounded terrible the looks were also horrible lots of bling. Since then I think of MBL as a gimmick/bling brand.

Simple. When MBL speakers and system are setup correctly, they sound incredible. I thought the same way till I heard a pair in Singapore at the distributor - WOW.
 
Simple. When MBL speakers and system are setup correctly, they sound incredible. I thought the same way till I heard a pair in Singapore at the distributor - WOW.

That is probably true. The low end sounded disconnected from the mids and highs. I experience the same with Avantgarde speakers. The active bass seems not be in sync with the rest of the speakers.
 
That is probably true. The low end sounded disconnected from the mids and highs. I experience the same with Avantgarde speakers. The active bass seems not be in sync with the rest of the speakers.

Not correct today with XD series. It’s seamless. Prior to XD, I would agree.
 
Simple. When MBL speakers and system are setup correctly, they sound incredible. I thought the same way till I heard a pair in Singapore at the distributor - WOW.
Yes, notoriously hard to setup.

Often seems like they have very fast transients with ghostly lack of "body". Great setup can nullify that and seating position can be quite the determinant. Zeta Zero from Poland is in a similar OMNI vein.
 
Why do people like MBL speakers so much?

About 6 to 10 years ago I heard a full MBL system at a show huge speakers maybe 2meters tall. To me it sounded terrible the looks were also horrible lots of bling. Since then I think of MBL as a gimmick/bling brand.

i would imagine that not many people in this forum are very familiar with 2Chainz, the rapper. i'm a big fan and use my reference rig to play rap and hip hop almost daily. anyways, he has a funny youtube series with GQ where he tries out the "most expensivest sht" - everything from meeting a breeder with a $100k puppy, to canned air, to $10k bongs and $500 ganja cigars.

Anyways, in one episode he visited MBL so now I always associate MBL with 2chainz...not in a bad way either: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lri_dfoOqAE
 
That is probably true. The low end sounded disconnected from the mids and highs. I experience the same with Avantgarde speakers. The active bass seems not be in sync with the rest of the speakers.

Its a great speaker when setup correctly, glorious on choral and string instruments, but agree on the bass unit , the Achilles heel for sure, poor design choice ............


Regards
 
MBL, IMO, has always been set up well at AXPONA and has always been impressive. I find them dynamic, good imaging and wide response with impact.
 
Back
Top