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Posted By: chafter Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 08:22 PM
I found this link from a post in another subject:

http://www.martendesign.com/english/index_eng.html and followed this to http://www.ear-usa.com/marten.htm.
There I discovered that the Coltrane speakers cost $50,000. per pair.
Thats almost enough to turn a conservative like me into a socialist. Can anyone post a link to more expensive stereo two-channel speakers? Who can post the most expensive?

I will take my m-60's.

Chuck


Posted By: BBIBH Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 08:26 PM
I don't have a link, but there was an Infintiy Model RSV Beta that retailed in store for $100K.
If you purchased them, you received a free Hyundai compact car valued at $10k!!!!
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 08:38 PM
Wilson X1

$75,900 USD per pair
Posted By: MarkSJohnson Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 09:18 PM
According to Wilson, THIS is their new flagship product, though I'm too lazy and short on time to try to determine the price at the moment.

I really thought Wilson had a $150K setup.... maybe this is it?
Posted By: md55 Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 09:35 PM
Well I don't think they're as much of a bargain as they look like. I understand that you have to use these $25,000 speaker cables I saw on audiogon to really smooth them out.
Posted By: tomtuttle Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 09:46 PM
I can't imagine how long it would take to break those things in properly.
Posted By: chafter Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 10:10 PM
The nominee for understatement of the year from the Wilson Audio website, describing their $75,900 speakers:

"It's safe to say that the Wilson Audio X-1 Grand SLAMM is not a product for everyone."

Chuck
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 10:17 PM
They sort of remind me of Dr. Who robots, especially the picture with them looming over the chair. [badrobotvoice]"Execute the pathetic humon!" "Executing execute command now!"[/badrobotvoice]
Posted By: pmbuko Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 11:29 PM
It's really a shame. If you look at the naming scheme the Martens use, they apparently only play Jazz very well. Rock or classical would probably sound like crap on them....
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 11:32 PM
Ha ha h--oh wait, that wasn't really very funny.

One thing I'll say for the Martens; at least they're not nearly so hideous as a lot of extremely high end speakers.
Posted By: pmbuko Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 11:34 PM
Here's a blurb and picture from the Wilson page:

"The X-1 is designed for one purpose: to reproduce sound with as much fidelity to the recorded source as current technology will allow. In order to achieve that goal in real-world conditions, a Wilson-trained technician will set up the speaker in your listening room or home theatre."



I think they need to fire the person who set up this room. I highly doubt those speakers sound their best when you sit only tfour feet away from them.
Posted By: rcvecc Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 11:41 PM
i think the wilson wamm system is the most expensive at 225,000
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/17/04 11:57 PM
Wow, and I thought the X1s were ugly. Maaaaan...

But jeez, you actually have the designer come out to your place and calibrate them when you buy them! I'm amazed they only cost $225K!
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/18/04 12:00 AM
Also, can you imagine the look on the owner's face if they got bumped or moved? "Aw, crap, I need to get David Wilson out here again to adjust these things. That's the third time this week!"


Posted By: pmbuko Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/18/04 12:02 AM
Seeing as the shipping weight is over 1 ton, I'd guess each speaker alone is pretty much immobile once situated.
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/18/04 12:12 AM
Hmm. Good point. But they are pretty tall, and those sticks the middle components on are probably moveable.

But let's see... The product weight is 1290 lbs. There's a sub (at least 1?), 2 electrostatic panels, and 2 main speaker arrays). If we assume the sub and the speaker arrays weigh the same, and the 2 electrostats weigh one quarter of the two, that's (click click click ratchet) only 368 lbs per. And at that height, the center of gravity's probably not particularly low, so you could be looking at some trouble.
Posted By: ravi_singh Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/18/04 08:21 AM
JMLab Grande Utopia BE

retail for $120 000 CAD

http://www.everestaudio.com/price-pages/JMlab-Grande-Utopia-BE.htm
Posted By: BBIBH Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/18/04 06:07 PM
Here is a link to the Infinity models I mentioned:

http://www.top-audio.de/infinity_classics/IRS/body_irs.html

Posted By: UCONN Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/18/04 11:59 PM
Did you check out the frequency range of those IRS Vs? Who, errrr I mean, WHAT exactly is the 45 khz response for? My dog tops out at 28. Isn't that getting close to gamma radiation?

-dale
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/19/04 12:15 AM
Well, it's sound waves, not EM waves. I think there's a difference, but I'm not sure. In any case, the first speakers mentioned quote a top frequency of 100000kHz, which would definitly be in the FM range if EM radition and sound radiation corresponded.
Posted By: bridgman Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/19/04 02:03 AM
Hold on, FM is 88-108 MHz, not KHz...

Then again, I can't hear much past 5 KHz anyways ;(
Posted By: UCONN Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/19/04 04:07 AM
Just joking about the gamma radiation. The cat here laughed.

-dale
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/19/04 04:07 AM
And 100000 kHz is 100 Mhz.
Posted By: bridgman Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/19/04 05:07 AM
Oh yeah... 100000 KHz not Hz. I missed that.

Those tweeters must be real good. What are they, rabbit ears ?
Posted By: BBIBH Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/20/04 01:36 PM
Yes, I have read the specs, and actually listened to the speakers in all their glory....not that I can hear to that upper range!
Posted By: Saturn Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/25/04 05:33 PM
To match the 225k X1 this is the amplifier of choice for those speakers.

http://www.aaudio.com/store/ProductDetail.asp?catID=39&subCatID=272&productID=353


Posted By: spiffnme Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/25/04 06:04 PM
Just in case you want to see what a $350,000 pair of amps looks like...




Are those salt and pepper shakers I see in there?


Posted By: Ned Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/25/04 07:55 PM
Yep...those are pretty gold amps...probably hard to keep clean.
Here is a link I found about a year ago that I like to visit once in a while to just sort of take me "away" for awhile. My favorite is the Istanbul button.
I envy these guys...........

HTTP://WWW.arduman.com/aa/Sayfalarl/friends.htm


Posted By: spiffnme Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/25/04 08:19 PM
hmmm...link doesn't work.


Posted By: lomb7 Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/25/04 08:32 PM
Is that $350K in Dollars or Yen?
Posted By: lomb7 Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/25/04 08:34 PM
$120,000 a pair.

http://www.vonschweikert.com/vr11_speaker.html

and since you are picking up the gold amp and $200K speakers you may as well throw this one in as well.

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200...16225410440.htm

Imagine that HT!!
Posted By: freesey Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/26/04 12:28 AM
The most expensive speakers I have ever seen are the German Physiks Tiebreak - Aka Gaudi.
Priced at $250,000 USD, Im sure they would suffice for a small country to listen to music.
http://www.german-physiks.com/NewFiles1/BodyGaudi.html
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/26/04 03:00 AM
Those are nutty! I can't believe those middle things move. Do they move when the things are playing?!
Posted By: 2x6spds Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/26/04 05:32 AM
Exactly what I expected from the Axiom website - pikers! Here's a picture of my WAVAC SH-833s.



They cost $350,000, but that's for a pair, so it's not so bad. I'm using Axiom speakers until I can save up for something, you know, more expensive.

Have to be careful of them, though, cause, if your pet wanders too close, well, they'll turn it into a smoking raisin. I've lost a couple like that, it's ... well, bad.
Posted By: freesey Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/26/04 05:03 PM
Yeah, they do, its pretty ridiculous. For that price they also include a technician who is flown out from germany to install the speakers and calibrate them.
The most expensive speakers I myself have heard would be the B&W nautilus, jm Grande utopia or the Von Shweikert, cant remember the model of the VS tho, there is a very high end audio shop in my city with a 'secret' 2nd floor which is open to high bidders only
Posted By: Ken.C Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/27/04 02:05 AM
Congrats, 2x6, I think you've won the competition for largest image put up on the boards. What the heck is that, 3200x3200 or something?!
Posted By: 2x6spds Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/27/04 02:19 AM
It was just a little picture from their website, I blocked and copied it, and it turned into a monster. Dunno what to do about it.
Posted By: bigjohn Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/27/04 03:52 AM
KILL THE BEAST!!!!!! KILL THE BEAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


bigjohn

Posted By: 2x6spds Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/27/04 04:30 AM
OK

Klatu, B'rada .... oh, nooooooooo.
Posted By: Ned Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/27/04 05:07 PM
Spiff...sorry...bout that ..my boo boo.. worth anybodys time if they want to see some killer stereo equipment in peoples homes. I read everything... friendly people sharing the same hobby.

I don't know how to make it a "click on" link.

http://www.arduman.com/aa/Sayfalar/friends.htm
Posted By: bigjohn Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/27/04 05:24 PM
here is ned's link, in a "click on" fashion.

bigjohn
Posted By: Ned Re: Most expensive speakers? - 12/27/04 05:57 PM
Thanks Bigjon,

I hope someone has the time to look at the pics because I sure enjoy looking at them once in a while....makes me feel like I'm on vacation in a far away place visiting people. Of course I'm easily amused...so I have been told...
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