Sanders Model 10e

$20,000 (includes one Sanders Magtech amplifier)

The 10e is a hybrid with a flat electrostatic panel mounted above a transmission-line-loaded woofer. The speaker, which must be bi-amped, comes with a DSP crossover with a variety of user adjustments. The lack of midrange coloration puts the Sanders in the top echelon. This is one of the lowest-coloration speakers available. And when you consider that even if you buy two Sanders Magtech amplifiers—one comes along as part of the $17,000 package—the total cost, exclusive of source components, is $22,500, and that you can adjust the speaker to suit your room and your tastes, the Model 10e is not only a wonder but also a bargain. 

Legacy Aeris with Wavelet DSP 

$21,477 ($27,792 with Wavelet II upgrade) 

The combination of the frequency-and time-domain-optimized four-and-a-half-way Aeris loudspeaker and its companion Wavelet DSP processor/crossover provides some of the most musically realistic sound reviewer AHC has ever encountered. This duo takes digital processing and room correction a vital step forward and show that a DSP’d speaker can reach levels that are even competitive with the best purist speakers, and some that sell for far higher prices. 

German Physiks HRS-130

$22,000–$25,000 (depending on finish)

The Unlimited II’s bigger brother combines a carbon-fiber Dicks Dipole Driver (DDD) with a floor-firing 10″ woofer. The DDD is a serious attempt to mimic the coherent soundfield produced by a small radially pulsating cylinder. Expect an exceptionally wide sweet spot coupled with palpable image outlines. The HRS-130 is almost perfect for a small-to-medium-sized room, providing that the room is acoustically tuned along the lines of live-end/dead-end to sharpen image focus. Midrange textures are capable of exceptional purity, characterized by low levels of distortion through the upper midrange.

Harbeth M40.3 XD 

$22,500–$24,500

A large three-way that requires stand-mounting, the M40.3 is the virtual embodiment of tonal neutrality, and with a frequency response from 38Hz–20kHz of ±3dB, (but near ruler-flat across most of that range) it possesses an ease, effortlessness, and lack of strain that translate into a listening experience that draws all the attention to the music. Like the M40.2, the M40.3 represents the designer Alan Shaw’s highest development so far of the BBC school of speaker design, possessing a sheer musical authority almost nonexistent in PS’ previous experience. The M40.3 is now PS’ reference when it comes to reproducing music in all its natural power and glory.

Audio Physic Avantera+

$22,995–$24,995 

This slender, stylish, seven-driver three-and-a-half-way represents German speaker manufacturer Audio Physic’s latest attempt to live up to its motto: “No loss of fine detail.” To JV’s ear, the Avantera succeeds impressively. Not only is the Avantera exceptionally finely detailed; it is also explosively dynamic, with a power, weight, and impact that are astonishing in such a demure transducer. Capable of a superb disappearing act, terrific treble, and a paradigmatically seamless blend of its many drivers. 

Raidho TD1.2 

$24,000, piano black; $27,000, walnut

This wonderful mini-monitor plays music with a lot more dynamic impact, control, and sonic heft than it should be able to muster given its size. Its robust sound could easily be mistaken for that of a small-to-medium floorstander. It recreates a large, airy soundscape filled with well-defined images in a coherent contextual whole. High resolution without sounding forced is the TD1.2’s main strength. One has a feeling of peering into the recording event, so well does it portray fine details. It also allows all kinds of music to retain their verve and beauty, and thereby makes listening a real pleasure. It is limited in low-frequency extension and dynamic range, as all mini-monitors are, and it is expensive. The TD1.2 is for the enthusiast of fine mini-monitors, who appreciates the strengths—and accepts the weaknesses—of the genre and is willing to acquire one of the best available.

Revel Salon2

$24,200

The result of five years of intensive research into every aspect of speaker performance, the Salon2 represents a genuine breakthrough in dynamic loudspeakers. Although it’s impressive in all performance parameters, its treble is extremely natural and well-integrated. Extremely natural rendering of timbre and dynamics. Although it’s been on the market for a long time without updates, it’s still a compelling contender that competes with more expensive speakers. Bring a high-powered amplifier. 

YG Carmel 2

$24,300

Much of YG’s technology from its higher-end offerings found a place in this two-way, floorstander, along with standard YG features like a solid-aluminum sealed enclosure, proprietary anti-resonance devices, and world-class fit and finish. The result is a slender package with a surprisingly big, lively sound and an ability to delve deeper than you’d expect. The highs are more extended (an airy 40kHz) than a typical soft-dome tweeter, with the benefit of no metallic glare. Imaging, tonality, detail, and dynamics are all at a bespoke level. Musically, the speaker is an unending delight. The YG also fits perfectly into today’s smaller, shared-purpose listening spaces. The speaker is stylish enough to complement any décor, is perfectly happy tucked out of the way near the wall behind it, doesn’t require humongous amps, and sounds great even at low volume. 

Kharma Elegance S7 Signature

$24,500

A loudspeaker for connoisseurs who appreciate the finest the high end can offer. The look is sumptuous, the quality of materials stunning, and the mirror-like finish breathtaking. But it’s the sound that truly seduces—ripe with detail and harmonic complexity. Credit is due to the beryllium tweeter, which makes a great match with Kharma’s proprietary composite (KCD) woofers (goodbye to Accuton ceramic drivers). Ideal for smaller to medium-sized rooms, yet so potent in output and midbass thrust it’s easy to forget it’s a mere two-way. Like all Kharma speakers it has a delicacy, low-level resolving power, and micro-dynamic dexterity that touch both the mind and the heart.

Magico A5

$24,800

Magico’s A5 brings the company’s vaunted technologies to a less lofty price point. The A5 is a three-way, five-driver system in a sealed, anodized-aluminum enclosure that features materials and construction techniques previously implemented in Magico’s top Q series. The result is a speaker that offers crisp, tight extension down to 24Hz, staggering dynamics for its size, and a lifelike sense of weight and body. The overall presentation is triumphantly cohesive; image accuracy and presence are meticulous. The A5 offers micro-resolution, yet never sounds analytical. A terrific speaker and a great value. 

MBL 120

$24,900 (stands, $1850) 

The omnidirectional MBL 120 has been specially engineered for medium-sized rooms—and in such environs it sounds fabulous. The soundstage it throws has never been more holographic or enveloping. More extended across the frequency spectrum and far less colored in the bass than the 121, it is a more refined speaker in every category. The best small MBL yet. 

Estelon YB Mk II

$27,000

Estelon’s least-expensive full-range loudspeaker manifests all the virtues of the Estonian manufacturer’s most ambitious products, including a uniquely shaped enclosure fabricated from a proprietary marble composite material. In this non-resonant cabinet, the YB Mk II’s three drivers—a ScanSpeak 1″ beryllium dome, a ScanSpeak 5.8″ sliced-paper cone mid/woofer, and a SEAS 8.6″ aluminum woofer, all basically off-the-shelf parts—function optimally. The Estelons spatiality may be their strongest selling point. The speakers also excel at the reproduction of the human voice. Unquestionably, the YB Mk IIs function best with substantial high-current amplifiers, which provide all the low-end heft and “grip” they’re capable of. The speaker’s appearance is stunning, winning the YB model a prestigious Red Dot international design award in 2017. 

Acora SRC-1

$28,000

The Acora SRC-1 is a new product from a new company. This is a high-end loudspeaker with a stone enclosure that succeeds in all important audiophile metrics. CNC technology allows for the eight pieces of granite that comprise each cabinet to be cut to the exacting tolerances required so that they fit together perfectly and function as they should acoustically. A ported, surprisingly svelte, 246-pound two-way floorstander, the SRC-1 uses a 1″ soft dome tweeter and a 7″ sandwich paper-cone woofer, sourced from ScanSpeak and rebuilt by Acora in Toronto. The presentation of musically meaningful detail is the SRC-1’s major strength, as is its rendering of image size and recording space. Bass is tuneful, with good impact. Orchestral climaxes are majestic, most certainly because nothing is vibrating that shouldn’t be. An instant classic.

Rockport Technologies Atria II

$28,500

The Atria embodies the best in modern speaker design. Its vanishingly low distortion leads to uncanny levels of purity and resolution, while also making the speaker easy to listen to. The Atria is also highly coherent, speaking with one voice—a voice that disappears as a source and can throw a soundstage so deep it’s spooky. Surprisingly in this size and price range, this speaker has plenty of bass heft and dynamic range to spare. All these elements come together effortlessly, creating an experience that will hold you in its spell. A terrific speaker and a great value, too. 

Apertura Enigma mkII

$29,975

The Enigma mkII is the flagship loudspeaker of the French manufacturer Apertura, a nearly 40-year old company. It features two custom-designed, eight-inch cone drivers separated by a ribbon tweeter (22cm) with an aluminum/ polymer sandwich diaphragm for improved damping and linearity. The mid/woofers use woven polypropylene, a new type of composite material. The Enigma mkII has superb bass, with none of the midbass thickness that many speakers exhibit. The result was a beautifully articulated bass with no change in timbre as a pianist moved across the keyboard. The treble has lots of extension and with no brightness, and dynamic speed is outstanding. The bottom end is satisfying, but not the last word in low-frequency extension. 

Sound Lab Majestic 745

$33,675

Like a MartinLogan CLX with a real low end, this huge and hugely wonderful electrostat has the biggest soundfield, far and away the deepest bass (true 20Hz extension), and most lifelike dynamic range of any ‘stat—in addition to the traditional virtues of ‘stats (gorgeous tone color, lightning transient response, single-driver coherence, and phenomenal inner detail). It can sound a bit warm and dark in balance and overblown in the bottom octaves if placement and amplification aren’t carefully minded. 

Stenheim Alumine Three 

$33,950

The new 3½-way “compact reference” loudspeaker from the relatively young Swiss company Stenheim is an explosive musical launchpad that brings a set of strengths to the market that is frankly unique in one small (but 150-pound-heavy) package. An unusually high 93dB sensitivity with a nominal 8-ohm impedance (6 ohms minimum) opens the window of usable amplification. Imagine the presence and energy of your favorite horn loudspeaker (but without the unpleasant colorations) squeezed into a small, attractive aluminum enclosure that can fit in your small to medium-sized listening room. 

Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 

$35,000 

The fourth generation of this iconic loudspeaker continues the development of a product that was advanced for its time when introduced 43 years ago. In addition to the “reverse wrap” enclosure design first seen with the D3 iteration, the current 801 has a reconsidered internal Matrix construction to further control unwanted resonances. Also new is B&W’s Biomimetic Suspension System that improves the mechanical behavior of the midrange driver’s spider, and the woofers now sport anti-resonance plugs to reduce flexing. These changes, and other refinements, result in a loudspeaker that’s fearless when it comes to dynamics and low-frequency reproduction, but also delivers all the spatial and tonal subtleties of the best recordings. 

Monitor Audio Platinum PL500 II

$35,000

The esteemed UK-based company Monitor Audio has been in business for more than four decades and has been enjoying a kind of R&D renaissance resulting in a plethora of proprietary new technologies. These innovations have paid off, as the PL500 IIs have proven infinitely enjoyable in their layers of depth and detail, delightful musicality, and overall coherence. They can also rock out and supply slam with the best of them, offering superb build-quality, advanced technologies, and value far exceeding their price. 

Paradigm Persona 9H

$35,000

Along with the Legacy speakers, the Persona 9H is a product from one of only two manufacturers AHC has found that can really do room correction well. The Persona line features the excellent Anthem Room Correction (ARC) to remove room-induced peaks and dips. The 9H is truly flat (±2dB 19Hz–45kHz), has very deep, quick, and detailed bass, and a superb new beryllium midrange driver and beryllium tweeter with a great deal of life and detail but no hardness. Each woofer is driven by a DSP-controlled 700W amplifier. With excellent driver integration and something much closer to a point-source sound than most complex speaker systems, the 9H provides some of the best imaging and soundstage performance at any price, and its size and weight are far more practical than that of many contenders for the state of the art. 

Audiovector R6 Arreté 

$37,000

The Audiovector R6 Arreté uses the advanced technology created for the R8 and Flagship R11 Arreté in a “more affordable” package designed for smaller rooms. A six-driver floorstander, the R6 includes an AMT tweeter, rear firing 3″ midrange, two 6.5″ front-firing carbon-fiber midrange drivers, and an isobaric-loaded woofer, implementing a 6.5″ and 8″ woofer. The sonic character of the R6 Arreté can be generally described as unconstrained and accurate, with an emphasis on resolution and natural detail. It’s not that there is more there; it’s just that the definition of what’s there is cleaner, crisper, and more resolved. Add to that an almost magically neutral midrange of miraculous speed and you begin to get the idea. Low frequencies are fast paced and articulate to match the speed and accuracy up top. If you favor detail, dimensionality, clarity, and scale, then these speakers need to be on your list. 

Joseph Audio Pearl 20/20 Graphene

$37,995

The Pearl 20/20 Graphene floorstander comprises two modular sections. The lower half contains twin 8″ woofers, and the upper module contains a 7″ graphene-coated midrange and 1″ Sonatex tweeter. When combined, the two sections form the complete speaker. The Pearl 20/20 Graphene further improves upon the sound of Joseph Audio’s excellent smaller Perspective2 Graphene, especially in the bass with additional power and extension. New FEA advancements in the graphene midrange and subsequent crossover adjustments have yielded a transducer with solid imaging, great soundstaging, excellent clarity, and a stress-free yet detailed presentation. 

Magnepan MG30.7

$37,995

This giant, four-panel (two panels per side), four-way, ribbon/quasi-ribbon line source loudspeaker from Magnepan is the best Maggie JV has heard. With its highly coherent wavelaunch, free-standing imaging, vast soundstage, phenomenal resolution of inner detail, lightning transient response, incomparable naturalness of timbre, and total lack of box coloration and diffraction, the 30.7 is markedly less “there” as a sound source (and markedly more lifelike on voice and acoustic instruments) than almost every dynamic-speaker-in-a-box, no matter its price. The best buy in an ultra-high-end loudspeaker (and one of the best high-end buys of all time), the 30.7 earned JV’s most ecstatic recommendation and TAS’ 2017 Overall Product of the Year award. 

German Physiks Borderland Mk IV

$39,000

Finding an omni-directional speaker that works in real-world rooms can be a challenge. Finding one that is simple to set up, somewhat affordable, relatively easy to drive and sounds like music is near impossible. Yet German Physiks’ Borderland Mk IV, with its Dicks Dipole Driver (DDD) omnidirectional transducer mated to a 12″ down-firing woofer in a sealed enclosure accomplishes just that. The Borderland offers a sense of live music that few other speakers convey. With a single driver reproducing the frequencies from 190Hz to 24kHz, the speaker represents a near acoustic point source, creating a holographic stage that is both palpable and believable. And that 12″ sealed driver truly brings the goods while never losing its grip or unraveling. The buyer needs to decide if the unorthodox appearance is suited to their taste.

Vandersteen Audio Kento Carbon

$39,475

After a very long and hugely successful run, Vandersteen’s Model 5 has been retired and replaced with the significantly improved Kento Carbon. This four-way, five-driver system features two side-firing 9″ woofers powered by an integral amplifier, a 6.5″ tri-woven mid/woofer, Vandersteen’s 4.5″ Perfect Piston midrange, and the company’s unique 1″ carbon tweeter. An 11-band analog-equalization system allows you to flatten the in-room response below 200Hz. The first-order crossovers and slanted baffle assure that the Kento is phase-coherent at the listening position. Sonically, the Kento is remarkably coherent from top-to-bottom, speaking with one voice. Bass is excellent, with outstanding depth and clarity, aided by the ability to fine-tune the bottom end to your room. More than a worthy successor to the venerable Model 5.

Estelon XB Mk II 

$45,000

The curvaceous cabinet is only the beginning of the XB’s delights. The Estelon delivers incredible detail and spatial resolution, giving music an uncanny tangibility. Further, dynamics and timing are so precise—allowing stylistic nuances to come through so clearly—that the listener feels directly connected to each musician. The trade-offs for these manifest benefits are low sensitivity and a tweeter that skirts the edge of aggressiveness. The XB should be paired with brawny amps, installed on their included spikes, and positioned with minimal toe-in to minimize these effects. (New Mk II version not yet reviewed.) 

YG Acoustics Hailey 2.2

$46,800

At roughly the mid-point in the YG lineup, the Hailey 2.2 is a three-way with drivers and sealed aluminum enclosures made entirely in-house. The 10.25″ woofer and 7.25″ midrange feature cones machined from solid blocks of aluminum for maximum stiffness. Sonically, the Hailey 2.2 can be summed up in two words: precision and performance. In these regards, the Hailey 2.2 is at least the rival of the best electrostatics and ribbons, says AHC, producing excellent detail and microdynamics at every frequency. Being a sealed design, the Hailey 2.2 is less sensitive to room interaction in the bass than most ported speakers. 

Voxativ 9.87

$49,990

The horn-loaded Voxativ 9.87 has advantages that neither planar nor dynamic speakers offer. First, it is very high in sensitivity, which allows you to drive it to thunderous levels with an SET or lower-powered amp. Second, it is a single-driver speaker, using one Voxativ 8″, wooden-cone, AC-4D widebander to cover almost the entire audible range. Third, it is augmented in the bass by an amplified dipolar subwoofer, the Pi-Bass. As a result, the 9.87 doesn’t thin down and roll off in the low end and lower midrange as other single-driver loudspeakers do. It has the body, power, and extension that are almost always missing in such designs, making it the most complete and realistic-sounding single-driver transducer JV has heard.