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I'm currently listening to Tannoy Mercury M5s, which are quite nice---warm, if a bit diffuse in the bass. The speaker I listened to most for many years, however, was a small 2-way bookshelf model called the Revox Studio 3. I liked them on first hearing (circa 1983) and continued to like them for years. They were obviously designed with economy in mind--they were relatively simple, with painted MDF cabinets, cheesey terminals, soft-dome tweeters, and paper-cone woofers. They variously served me as main speakers, bedroom speakers, and darkroom speakers over the years, and I tried to replace them no less than four times--but, each time, I'd put the new speakers aside and haul out the old Revoxes again. Does anybody out there know the name of the designer of the Revox Studio 3s? Albert, at Holm Audio here in Chicagoland, thinks it was the same guy who designed the AR Hologram M1 and M2s, but he can't remember the guy's name. If anybody knows his name, please let me know--I'm at michaeljohnston@ameritech.net. My old Revoxes have lost their grills and had their tweeters punched in numerous times by curious small children. They sometimes buzz, and one is now slightly louder than the other. But I still love 'em, darn it.

Dunlavy IV/A's. Nothing in my almost 40 years of being involved with the audiophile industry can touch these speakers.

I built a pair of Rhythm speakers from North Creek Audio. These are a bargain. The system uses Scanspeak drivers throughout. These drivers are noted for low IM. This is by far the best speaker system I have had in 30 years of music listening. I built a pair of subwoofers, biamped the system, and the resultant sound is glorious. Highly recommended!!

I primarily listen to a set of Infinity RS3a towers that have been modified with improved crossover components and wiring over the years. Haven't heard anything sufficiently better in a reasonable price range with an equivalent dynamic range and frequency response. Because of that, the speakers are last on the upgrade path. Have auditioned Maggie 3.5s, Ariel 10t, B&W 801 and 803s. While all are nice, price to performance ration sucks. Especially the B&Ws, $11,000 my ass.

Wilson Benesch Act 1

I listen to Martin Logan Aerius i speakers. I also have a pair of Paradigm Atoms for an upstairs room, but they don't get much listen time.

I have a pair of Alon 2's and Martin Logan Seguels and although both these designs represent "old" technology and many would sneer at them, I find them extremely enjoyable, each for different reasons.The Alon's have good controlled bass(for rock, pop and jazz and the Logans are sweet in the midrange(for female voices). Both speakers image very well. Oh...and I didn't have to take a second mortgage on my house to buy them.

B&W801 Matrix Series 3

I own a set of Eire speakers made by Shamrock Audio. Sorry, but these beauties walk all over Merlin, ProAc, or anything else that's similar. You guys are really missing a great speaker!

Polk Audio SDA 2A...still performing well a decade later.

Tannoy Churchills. These no-compromise babies have it all: exceptional bass, mid, and treble response, imaging to die for, and a presence that is unmatched. Tannoy's combination of 15" driver and concentric tweeter horn along with impeccable build quality gives me and guests to my listening loft enormous pleasure.

Martin Logan ReQuests and Velodyne FRS-18. Would love to afford a 5.1 system but stereo works fine for me.

Von Schweikert VR-4.5's---still the best I've heard at their price.

A fresh pair of B&W DM602 speakers, which are mind-blowingly good with well-recorded material, but they can't dress up a crappy recording! (Which I deem as totally acceptable!) An amazing amount of low frequency information can pass through these things, and you will love them as front speakers in your home theater setup!

NHT SuperZeros with Velodyne Sub

KLIPSH&BOSTON

Acoustat Spectra 1100 & Rodgers LS/2a

B&W 804 B&W CDM2 VELODYNE F1500 PROCEED HPA3 HARMAN/KARDON AVR80 MARK 2 SONY HIFI VHS 975 SONY PORTABLE CD PLAYER AUDIOQUEST HYPERCRYSTLE MADRIGAL CZ-GEL INTER. AND MONSTER CABLES FOR THE REST

I use a pair of Von Schweikert VR-2000 Home Theater speakers, driven by a Van Alstine-modified Dynaco Stereo 70. I loved the sound of Von Schweikert's original VR-4s, but had neither the room space nor the budget for them. The VR-2000s come amazingly close to the VR-4s' sound quality for less than half the price, and they work well when placed close to the wall behind them.

I have been using RA Labs Black Gold Mini References for about 5 years. Love them for there warm inviting sound. Would love to replace with higher end, but why, they sound great now that I have put in custom Vifa tweeters

magnaplanar - amazingly natural sound

The Quad USA monitors are the most natural speakers I have encountered. They play to satisfying levels if set correctly---iie, 5 to 8 feet off the back wall which should be the long wall of your room. Don't let some idiot who places these speakers 2 feet from the back wall and then sits at the other end of a large room tell you that these will not satisfy!

Royd Minstrel SE's

JM Lab Utopia---the best speakers in the world . . .

I listen to Shahinian Obelisks that I have owned since 1978. They were completely upgraded by Shahinian 03/99. They sound wonderful, and Shahinian Acoustics has a great customer service department.

Watt puppies---like 'em!

ProAc Response 2S ARC 60 ARC LS7 LP12, Lingo, Ekos Theta Basic II, GenVa

NHT 2.9s on the 2 channel system and a varied selection from Infinity, Signet, Mission, NHT, B&W in the HT system and scattered around the house.

Infinity IRS Betas

Snell Ds for stereo. Snell Js, Ms and a CC1 for home theater (with a Triad Mini-Thunder subwoofer). Late Voecks-era Snells: dynamic, neutral and deep!