What Speaker Company Represents the Cutting Edge in Technology?

[MylesBAstor]

Speakers, probably more than any other component in the audio chain, have arguably benefited the most from new technologies. Materials, parts, drivers, cabinets, incorporating the latest in measurements, etc. After all, just like a cartridge, the speaker's cabinet job is to hold the driver's motionless and allow them to play.

One thing that I came home with after my visit to Magico is that speakers are really like big boxes to most people. After all, you can pop the top to your amplifier and see its guts. But that's not so easy to do with a speaker. In fact, some think building a speaker is like buying a Madisound speaker kit and nothing could be further from the truth.

So what speaker company do you think is first and foremost pushing the boundaries in speaker design today?

[Rob]

My short answer is Magico and I don't own them. but they're not the only player in the balls out, pushing the SOTA in speaker design. I'm sure you'll get a lot of responses from passionate owners of many other brands of speakers.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I don't think the answer to this question can be assigned to one specific manufacturer as there are several advancing the art of speaker design...and it's happening at all price levels.

[mep]

I think if we are talking about the bleeding edge of the art, it would have to be Magico in the here and now. Few companies actually design and manufacture their own drivers, let alone SOTA drivers. There are similarities between YG and Magico as they both make their own all aluminum enclosures and YG actually manufactures their own drivers as well. However, the speakers sound nothing alike. I will say that YG speakers have become better sounding to me in the last two years at shows so something has changed.

[nc42acc]

My vote would be for VividAudio and the Giya line. They also make their own drivers and have a unique philosophy to cabinet design. I can't say I have heard any but the reviews have all been good.

[allenh]

Myles, I think you know my answer to this question. ;-)

YG Acoustics is also a very technically driven company. Had a virtual walk through their manufacturing process at RMAF with the YG Sales Rep. Very impressive.

[Alrainbow]

Three Come to mind
First is genisys tech
Next is meps Nola they have a clean sound natural to my brain
Last is focal or legacy

[banditcat200]

I will have to say Raidho after hearing the ultrasmall shoebox size new X1 in Hamburg, they are pushing the boundaries all the time, as I see it, at a price I know.
In the budget segment it must be the new line from Elac or Q Acoustics, they push the limits for what is possible for little money that almost everyone can afford.

[banditcat200]

If you are into digital, the new Dynaudio Focus XD series are something very special.
First and foremost Dynaudio is honest sound, thats why I have chosen Dynaudio in my own system, they will tell the truth, good or bad, but maybe they are not to everyones liking

[MylesBAstor]

I think what is impresses me me the most is the breakthrough in drivers and material technology, whether it be graphene, diamond coatings, etc, is helping to push driver break-up modes way pass the bandpass and all and allow designers to revamp and simply their xover design. As we all know, simpler is better. Better parts are certainly important component in designing speakers but in many circumstances are a band-aid for other issues. Sometimes need to address the primary, not tertiary issues!

[mep]

Lots of drivers have nasty peaks that fall within the audio band and the designers have to implement a notch filter in order to tame them. As Myles said, if you can design the drivers not to have those modes, you get to eliminate crossover parts.

[longbowbbs]

I will put in a vote for Enigmacoustics. That Sopranino super tweeter is incredible and it opens up the highs like nothing I have ever heard.

[Leif S]

I say this in a very kind and respectful way. I'm very curious to know people thoughts. But how are people supposed to know what company represents cutting edge technology without being an engineer, or better yet, a very experienced speaker engineer and having all of the facts. Just because a company may manufacture their own drivers doesn't mean they are any better than say SEAS, Scanspeak, or Accutons. Most of the time those driver resonance peeks are so far above the crossover point that the very seldomly interfere unless you are using a shallow slope filter. Also, how does somebody know how a speaker truly measures or how well the drivers integrate with one another. Or if a speaker truly has time alignment or is phase coherent or if the speaker is in phase quadrature. I've seen a few speakers get great reviews when I know they measure horrible, but have the ability to be very musical. And the bottom line is if that speaker is what you enjoy, then there is no wrong. How can you tell what manufacturers knowledge in crossover design is cutting edge? If you really want to have fun, take a Chesky Records Imaging CD to a show. I think you will be in for a shock on how many systems don't follow his voice through the test. I did this at a show and got a few dirty looks lol. Won't ever do that again. There are so many other factors involved than just driver materials which I totally agree with Myles have come such a long way over the last few years. So the question is..................how do you truly know who is on the cutting edge? Again I say this in a respectful and curiously fun way.

[longbowbbs]

Fair Question. In the specific case of the Enigmacoustics, they are cutting edge with their super tweeter. Also they do manufacture the drivers in house. From a measurement standpoint they were well received at Stereophile. My incoming speakers are Vandersteen Treo CT's. Also well measuring and time aligned with 1st order crossovers.

From a definition stand point I would qualify the statement "Cutting Edge" as best in class for what I hear, vs examining it exclusively from an engineering stand point. Not being an engineer I could not make any case unless I was referring to someone with qualifications stating their findings.

[Leif S]

Thank you for your answer longbowbbs. Congats on your new speakers