You might be wondering what products I would personally recommend to people. These are the products that impressed me and that I either have or would purchase. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and there are certainly other great products out there that I have not had experience with.
Speakers
LG Xboom 550W ($399)
The LG Xboom 550W is a great party speaker that is perfect for small gatherings or personal audio in the corner. Laying it flat provides more of a stereo experience but this is NOT designed to be a stereo speaker. You can chain multiple speakers together to create a stereo experience but when I tried it the connection was not reliable enough to use. This party speaker can also be used with a subwoofer if desired. This isn’t the loudest speaker out there by any stretch (it peaks at about 106dB at 1m), but it does provide sound quality that from top to bottom is some of the best of the best in the cheap party speaker category. While sonos is another excellent option, it doesn’t quite have the power handling of the LG, nor the lights. The ease of use with this speaker is a big win for me. Bass isn’t particularly deep but the speaker doesn’t claim to be something it’s not. It stays within its limitations and has a smooth roll-off with punchy midbass. The vocal region is perhaps where this speaker shines. The vocal region is clear, and not muddied by the bass. It isn’t recessed either like some other speakers in this price category I’ve tried. The highs are present without being overly fatiguing or sibilant. To me, this is a big win since most party/PA speakers get extremely sibilant at high volumes. Overall, a solid recommendation from me.
Vanatoo Transparent Zero ($400)
This tiny speaker defies logic in terms of the scale it recreates. I truly was not expecting such a big sound from such a small speaker when I first heard it. Make no mistake, these speakers cannot reproduce the lowest two octaves of bass, however the bass it does produce is clean and punchy. Perhaps the most striking characteristic of this speaker is how much the speakers disappeared, creating a very convincing soundstage. While the soundstage wasn’t particularly deep or wide, the level of detail produced was impressive for the MSRP. Add on the fact that these are fully active speakers that are Bluetooth enabled, and you have a perfect budget desktop or bookshelf speaker.
Perfect for a desktop or
Vanatoo Transparent Encore ($600)
The bigger brother of the smaller Transparent Zero, these speakers provide the same level of detail and scale, but with added bass depth. Perfect for larger rooms or a more full range system, this speaker is a great entry-point for any audiophile who struggles to find a complete system around the $500 mark. Trying to go with separate components at this price is a tall order, because after accessory electronics and cabling are added into the mix, the budget gets tight. I would rather save my money until I could buy better equipment, or simply buy these Vanatoos. The designer has full control over the entire system, being an active setup, and at these price points, this is a huge plus. Highly recommended.
Focal Chora 806 ($800)
My pick for best mainstream speaker under $1000. The Choras are currently selling for $600 a pair, and at this price, it is hard to beat. The only chance is through consumer direct or a DIY kit, but going these routes mean the speakers can’t be demoed before purchase, and may not have the name to resell like Focal does. This speaker is great simply because it has no major faults that detract from the presentation. Most budget speakers have one or two standout characteristics but some major drawbacks that limit it’s appeal. Everything from top to bottom on this speaker is very composed. Focal did a great job having their aramid fiber woofer work within it’s limits. The bass is fast and punchy, although it rolls off hard below 60Hz. For full range sound, I would recommend a subwoofer crossed around 90-100Hz. The midrange is slightly recessed, however, it is very clear and is one of the few speakers I’ve heard at the budget level that can accurately reproduce the height of vocalists. The soundstage can get quite large, although nothing truly mind-blowing. The treble is present, but never sibilant. There are three major caveats to this speaker: First, make sure you listen at tweeter level for accurate treble reproduction, since Focal decided to disregard a smooth vertical off-axis response at the crossover point. Second, these speakers cannot play above 86Db without distortion. Because of the bookshelf design, the speaker starts to bottom out. At low to medium volume levels, however, they are hard to beat. Third, this speaker is sensitive to amplifier quality. You don’t need crazy amounts of power (40-50W per channel with high current is sufficient), but do note that these speakers are resolving enough to start to discern differences in amplification. Personally, I would recommend NAD as a good pairing with this speaker.
KEF LS50 Original ($1500)
A hit with reviewers around the world, the original KEF LS50 can be purchased for a bargain on the used market. These speakers are absolutely gorgeous, and the cabinet is made to high-end standards. These speakers are extremely easy to listen to and provide a wide soundstage that most other speakers at this price cannot recreate. The vocal region is really a standout feature of this loudspeaker. Voices are detailed and have an accurate height. The treble is present, but does not really grab the listeners attention. These speakers can definitely be considered “polite”. The bass is very detailed, however I believe these speakers require a subwoofer for all but desktop use cases. The Uni-Q woofer completely bottoms out below 80Hz and produces audible distortion. Without a subwoofer, I would not recommend these. Make sure to high pass the monitors for the best performance.
Cabasse Pearl Akoya ($3800)
The Cabasse Pearl Akoya speakers surpassed my expectations for what a sub-$5000 system can do. While the alien eye look may not be to everyone’s taste, the sound quickly removes any hard feelings. The speakers are plug-and-play, and produce deep, punchy bass far beyond what you would expect from it’s size. Being an active design, the drive units can produce much higher output in the bass frequencies at lower distortion levels. The imaging on this speaker is impressive, and the clarity is not what you would expect for something that many would consider to be a “lifestyle” product. This speaker is impressive top to bottom, and the sound can be adjusted using the Cabasse App to tailor it to your listening space and preferences. While there was a mild amount of harshness to the sound compared to other passive systems I’ve heard, it was never enough to deter me from enjoying the music and all of the amazing features that this speaker brings to the table. Highly recommended.
Spendor A4 ($4300)
The Spendor A4 is an elegant floorstanding loudspeaker that makes you wonder just how far technology has actually come in the last thirty years. The design is a simple two-way. Woofers in a box. Yet it produces a level of ambience and nuance to the sound that is addicting to listen to. It makes no sense, yet this is the result when you take a timeless design and nail the fundamentals. These speakers have a very neutral sonic character across most of the frequency band, however, the treble is on the polite side, making it perfect for fatigue-free listening sessions. These speakers have the quality internals to scale up well with better electronics, and if you don’t need the lowest octave of bass or the last word in dynamics, they are guaranteed to win you over. For more bass output, go for the larger A7s.
Wilson Audio SabrinaX ($18,900)
These speakers are not just the cheapest floorstander in the Wilson line. They give you access to trickle-down technology from their flagship Chronosonic XVX loudspeaker. The attention to detail is outstanding, from the quality of the wiring and binding posts to the inertness of the cabinet. These speakers completely disappeared and certainly mark a departure from regular budget sound-quality. These speakers are small, yet present a very large sound field. The bass is clean and extends flat into the 30-40Hz region. Vocals hover in the air and have ample amounts of space around them. While the accessory electronics I listened to the Sabrina’s with were probably close in price to the cost of the loudspeaker itself, I was still impressed by how close they came to the performance above 100Hz to the XVX, which I had the pleasure of hearing in a dedicated space with over $250,000 dollars in accessory electronics and cabling. Considering the XVX alone costs $350,000 dollars, The SabrinaX is a capable loudspeaker that brings the Wilson sound into the realm of possibility for average sized wallets.
FinkTeam Borg ($36,500)
The FinkTeam Borg is not a loudspeaker you come across very often. Yet it produces a full range performance that is hard to beat. The disappearing act on these speakers was so convincing that I had to ask which speaker the sound was coming from, sitting next to it’s little sister, the FinkTeam Kim. The soundstage was wide and had a clarity that is rare for a two-way speaker. The coherence of the presentation was truly outstanding, and is why I immediately took a liking to them. Nothing about the presentation stands out, and that is exactly why I liked the Borg. I was listening to music. Not the speakers. These speakers have tone controls on the back that can be adjusted to optimize the sound profile to your tastes, if desired. Overall, the only caveat I can think of is that the accessory electronics were probably over $100,000. For mere mortals, this seemed excessive, and I was concerned that with lesser electronics they may not perform the same degree. However, I can still confidently say that these loudspeakers are better than average and certainly worth consideration at this price.
Boerresen 01 ($55,000)
Probably one of if not the best “bookshelf” speaker in the world, The Boerresen 01 is a statement to the possibilities of passive two-way designs. While the concept is simple, the execution is far from it. Boerresen is known for using exotic materials and manufacturing techniques to create their loudspeakers, and the technology shows in the result. The clarity is eerily good, and the imaging is impeccable. One thing to note about these speakers is that they are usually presented with a wide separation distance, which can give the illusion of a wide soundstage. When I listened to them at Axpona 2022, they were probably 25ft apart. The off-axis characteristics of this loudspeaker are no slouch, considering the toe-in was minimal. Although the asking price of this speaker is quite steep, if you want to be proud of buying some of the best in passive loudspeaker technology, look no further. I highly recommend an audition to hear it for yourself.
Wilson Audio Alexia V ($67,500)
While I had minimal time with the Alexia V’s. I knew that they were once again a trickle-down gem from the XVX. To me, this is the price where thigs start to get scary. While this is not attainable for the average person, I can certainly appreciate the sheer level of natural sound that these loudspeakers created. The music that was played for me when I listened to them at Innovative audio in NYC was god-awful, however I could still understand that these speakers were capable of producing sound that isn’t common in the high-end world. The one major drawback of Wilson speakers is that they require powerful high quality amplification to shine due to their low impedance, so the price is somewhat deceiving. Since you have to build a system to listen to music, the price of everything together is a little excessive for the performance level it obtains. If Wilson audio sounded almost as good with cheaper electronics, I think it would be a more attractive offer. Still worth a demo if you are in the market for a speaker of this price.
Meridian DSP8000XE ($120,000)
Photo Credit: frankprowsehifi.com
The culmination of years of R&D, the DSP8000XE from Meridian is a flagship active speaker that doesn’t pretend to be a high-end system. It is one. I heard none of the digital harshness that many complain about from active systems, and the amount of output that these speakers are capable of delivering is breathtaking. The tweeter never seemed to be overly sibilant, unlike some other Meridian models I’ve listened to, but yet the detail was there. The accuracy in placement of the instruments and the level of information that was being pulled from the recording was outstanding. Meridian is the leader in the digital active loudspeaker game, and most of the promises of this technology were fulfilled. The only thing that I am adamant about is that you can not DSP out the room, and Meridian is no exception. Despite all of the DSP trickery, it was clear that these loudspeakers would have benefitted from a better sounding room. While Meridian makes it difficult to utilize accessory components from other brands due to the unavoidable A-D processing, they still allow some flexibility if you already own electronics that you like. While I wish that I had the option of bypassing the DSP, I don’t believe that’s what this product was designed for. It’s a full system that presents the music a certain way, and you either like it or not. There is no time for mixing and matching, or fear of outdated technology. You buy the DSP8000XE because it offers exceptional performance that competes favorably with other more expensive ultra-high-end systems while being an all-in-one solution. If you can’t handle being locked in with what you buy, look elsewhere. That being said, I think the simplicity of the system is extremely attractive and the performance is good enough that trying to find a better passive alternative might be too much of a hassle and a waste of money. These speakers are hard to find, but if you can demo them, I recommend you do so.
Headphones
Hifiman Edition XS ($500)
A solid performer across the board, the Hifiman Edition XS is the benchmark for under $500 performance. Bass was plentiful, impactful and reasonably well defined, and the soundstage is relatively open and doesn’t give you too much of the “in your head” feeling that most headphones provide. The treble is well behaved to avoid any harsh brightness that might deter you from longer listening sessions. This is one of the few headphones that very accurately tracks the Harman Curve, so you can rest assured that it will most likely fit your tastes closely. It is hard to find headphones at this price that have no major flaws, but this is an exception. Nothing stands out as being the best, but this is exactly why it is such a great headphone. The performance across the board is high enough that you forget you are listening to headphones, which is a key trait of truly world-class system. The only major drawback of these headphones is the build quality, which Hifiman unfortunately is not known for. The whole headphone feels plastic-y and it doesn’t feel like it would last for years of listening. However, if you get a working pair that holds up, you are in for a treat.
Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro with Dekoni Elite Velour Pads ($550)
One of the best headphones under $3000, these headphones are built to German engineering standards. The whole cup and headband is made of metal, and the pads feel luxurious and comfortable. These headphones are marketed as “studio” headphones and I can certainly see why. They are ruthlessly truthful. The 1990s push massive amounts of information into your ears, and they are capable of discerning differences between electronics relatively easily. The resolution is really what sets these headphones apart for me. The bass is tight, but not the most earth-shattering in the sub-frequencies that I’ve heard. The headphones start to bottom out around 35Hz, but the bass that they do deliver is resolute and incredibly well-separated from the rest of the frequency range. The imaging on vocals is good, but very music dependent. These headphones won’t lie to you. The entire frequency range response is about as accurate as it gets in headphones under $3000, except for one key area: the upper treble. For some reason, Beyerdynamic decided to allow a treble spike of roughly 6dB around 8.5khz, which on classical recordings and jazz seems to blend in without ever being harsh. However, for Modern music such as EDM, pop, and rap, the 1990s can get very bright and sibilant, to the point where it isn’t really enjoyable to listen to music. It’s a sad thing because Beyerdynamic nailed the rest of the response, but overlooked such a key area too much to the point where on some songs it ruins the presentation. This is why I recommend buying these headphones with Dekoni Elite Velour Pads, which recesses the midrange slightly but also helps to increase the distance between your ear and the driver, increasing the sense of spaciousness and reducing the amplitude of the treble spike, making it more tolerable. The bass also gets a slight boost as well. Another thing to note is that while these can be driven with a cheap dongle, they greatly benefit from having a dedicated amplifier and DAC. This can help to reduce the harshness of the treble spike further. Depending on what kind of music you listen to, and if you are comfortable handling some brightness depending on the track, I highly recommend these headphones. They are some of the best you can get.
Sennheiser HD 800S ($1800)
These headphones are legendary in the headphone community for a one major reason: the immense soundstage. These headphones create a huge sound field that extends far beyond your head, and is a trick that few other headphones, if any, can pull off at any price. If you don’t want that “in your head” feeling, these are the headphones for you. The treble is a little all over the map, and can get a bit bright, and the bass is hardly anything to write home about, although the bass that is present is highly detailed and well controlled. The midrange is a big winner in my book. The wide soundstage helps to cast the singer far out in front of the head, providing an experience that is closest to listening through a set of loudspeakers. While not perfect all around, this German-engineered headphone from the most respected headphone company in the world provides some outstanding performance features not seen at any price. Regardless of your tastes, this headphone is a must try.
Hifiman he1000SE ($3000)
The Hifiman he1000SE performs similarly the Hifiman edition XS, however it outclasses it in every respect. he1000SE is a natural next step if you already own the XS or are looking for something more resolute. Bass is deep, fast, and very well-defined, and the midrange is about perfect for my tastes, perhaps being a little bit forward. The treble is a mixed bag, since it can sometimes get bright, but overall it never reaches the level where I would want to stop listening. A good all-around performer that can be picked up for a bargain on the used market, the he1000SE is a great option in this price range.
Focal Utopia ($4500)
Focal set out to create a headphone that lives up to the utopia name, and I believe they have accomplished just that. There are no obvious flaws in the sound signature, and despite it being highly pleasing to listen to, its sonic signature never sounds colored. This is the price range where headphones start to get close to perfect, and it becomes simply a matter of taste as far as which one you purchase. While nothing about the sound stands out, everything is an 8/10, which makes it a perfect headphone for those who want to stop analyzing and just listen to the music. The treble on these headphones leans slightly toward the bright side, but it never reaches the point of sibilance. For $4500, you get exceptional build quality and some of the best looking headphones in the world in my opinion. While I enjoyed my time with the Focal Utopias, I felt that the performance didn’t justify the $4500 price tag. They were great, yes, but there are much less expensive headphones that come pretty darn close for a lot less. The utopias are without question a luxury buy, but if you decide to take the plunge, you can’t really go wrong.
Abyss Diana TC ($4500)
Like the focal utopia, these headphones offer a luxurious build quality in a very light form-factor that many might find more appealing. The sound from the Diana TCs is nothing short of breathtaking, and it impresses you with its complete lack of faults across the whole frequency range. While the soundstage was not as wide as the Sennheiser HD800s, I felt that the Dianas cast a wider presentation than many other headphones, which really helped with separation and layering of instruments. The Dianas provide a slightly less forward presentation than the Utopias, so these may be an excellent alternative if you are in the market for something a little more relaxed at this price point.
Stax SR-009S ($4500)
The first thing that stands out when you listen to the 009S from Stax is the resolution. You can hear the electrostatic driver working its magic. There is zero overhang from one note to the next, and you can easily hear every little detail in a recording. To some extent, this is a blessing and a curse. The resolution might come at cost, since these headphones definitely lean towards the bright side, but it never seems excessive. If you are someone who wants to hear a pin drop in the back of the studio during a song, these are the headphones for you. If you listen to music that isn’t well recorded, such as rap, this might be a bit too much to bear. Listen for yourself and see what electrostatic headphones can do.
Warwick Acoustics Sonoma Model 1 ($5000)
Probably the best tuned headphone I’ve heard for $5000 or less, inferior only to the more expensive Bravura from the same company. These headphones defy expectations for what an electrostatic headphone can do. The bass goes low and has real impact, which is rare for electrostatic headphones. The amount of detail retrieval on these headphones, like the Stax, is pretty incredible. When I heard these for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by how the sound seemed to emanate from in front of my head, more like a speaker, rather than in my head like most conventional headphones. The standout feature of this headphone is the accompanying DAC/amp unit that is included with the headphone package. Warwick Acoustics utilizes DSP inside the energizer unit to be able to produce a frequency response accuracy that is near impossible to achieve passively. I personally feel the tuning on this headphone is pretty much perfect for my tastes and the fact that it is an all-in-one solution really adds to the appeal. When I listened to these originally, they were on sale for $3300 and could be found on the used market for around the same price. Now several years old, if you are thinking of paying full MSRP for these headphones, I would consider spending the extra money to buy their higher tier model, the Bravura. They are slightly more refined since Warwick Acoustics took the time to revise some aspects of the original. Still, if you can get the model 1 on discount (around $3000), they are pretty much the best of the best for the price.
Amplifiers (headphone/speaker)
Topping A90 ($500)
NAD 316 BEE ($500)
Any Dan D’agostino Amplifier ($$$$$)
Any Simaudio Amplifier ($$$$)
