This selection includes quite expensive speakers, but not prohibitive ones – like High End examples from Full Range Class A costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
8. Joseph Audio Perspective2
Price: $16,999
Pros: spacious and beautiful sound
Cons – could use a little more bass
Verdict – entrance ticket to the world of luxury
The updated Joseph Audio Perspective2 sports a SEAS dome tweeter and 5.5″ SEAS Excel Graphene drivers (magnesium diaphragms coated with a layer of nano-graphene). The acoustics provide the widest dynamic range and outstanding stereo imaging, clearly demonstrating what High End is all about.
7. Alta Audio Adam
Price – 17,000 US dollars
Pros – 3D sound field
Cons – requires powerful amplification
Verdict – very interesting speakers
Three-way speakers with ribbon tweeters, 6″ and 8.75″ midrange and bass drivers with aluminum diaphragms use the Alta Extended Transmission Line (XTL) system for both mid and low frequencies! It is necessary to take into account the significant discrepancy between the passport sensitivity characteristics (stated 91.5 dB) and the actually measured ones (84 dB) – so the speakers will be very voracious before amplification. But if you choose a great partner, they will charm you with their scale of sound.
6. Paradigm Persona 5F
Price: $17,999
Pros: Great sound in every aspect
Cons – none
Verdict – quality standard for its price list
Another market milestone that has collected all possible prizes is the Paradigm Persona 5F floorstanding units. It’s rare to see speakers that justify every cent invested in every sense. The purest, open sound with fundamental bass, complete genre omnivorousness and incredible dynamics – you can sing praises for a long time. Beryllium drivers on the high and midrange work wonders, and three 7” woofers easily cope with the fortissimo of the “1812”. The sensitivity of Paradigm Persona 5F is 88 dB.
5. Wilson Audio SabrinaX
Price – $19,700
Pros – sound images “you can touch”
Cons – nothing significant
Verdict – Wilson Audio opens the door to the world of High End
Compact floorstanding speakers from Wilson Audio Specialties, the SabrinaX model, received a new woofer with a paper cone (the same one used in the Sasha DAW) and the latest version of the proprietary Convergent Synergy Mk.V silk tweeter. Interestingly, even the capacitors in the crossover are also “our own” – they are made at the Reliable Capacitor factory, which Wilson Audio recently acquired. Powerful, focused and tactile, the three-dimensional sound of the Wilson Audio SabrinaX is captivating.
4. Manger s1
Price: $24,995
Pros – innovative design
Cons – limited bass
Verdict – speakers for lovers of everything new
Made using an innovative principle, the Manger s1 speakers combine an 8” traditional woofer in a closed acoustic design and a “bending-wave” Manger HF/MF unit. The acoustics have a full range of adjustments to adjust the performance in the room and, if you tinker with it, will charm you with its rapid-fire sound. There’s no super-thick bass here, but if you value lighter genres, there’s no better candidate.
3. MBL Radialstrahler 120
Price – $26,500
Pros – absolutely live and natural performance
Cons – monstrous demands on the amplifier
Verdict – MBL Radialstrahler 120 is impossible to forget
Another speaker system made according to its own principles – MBL Radialstrahler 120 use proprietary omnidirectional radiation technology, supported by a pair of bass-reflex woofers. The model guarantees exceptionally consistent sound, the stitching of the bands is absolutely invisible, and the sound literally envelops the listener. Bravo – just remember that the sensitivity of the model is 80 dB, and you need a “crowbar” amplifier to pair it with.
2.TAD CE1TX
Price – $32,500
Pros – absolutely omnivorous speakers with luxurious detailing
Cons – Slightly limited bass
Verdict – universal high-end speakers
The new TAD CE1TX bookshelf speakers use a TAD Coherent Source Transducer (CST) coaxial driver assembly, which includes a 5.5” magnesium midrange and a beryllium tweeter mounted in the center. A woofer with an aramid composite diffuser with a slot bass reflex is responsible for the bass . The model has no genre preferences, she is absolutely omnivorous and demonstrates an amazingly beautiful sound.
1. Stenheim Aluminum Three
Price – $33,950
Pros – “mercury” sound
Cons – none
Verdict – a synthesis of the ideas of modern High End
The grandiose Stenheim Alumine Three are designed in all-aluminum housings – this solution makes it possible to reduce resonances to a minimum. The smooth, cohesive and exceptionally effective performance of these speaker systems makes you fall in love with them immediately and without reservation – this is a real High End.
