I have been bombarded with questions about how I would compare one speaker to another lately (probably because of my recent measurements thread of the Dynaudio Focus 110 and Focus 140, and all my comments about the SVS MBS-01). So, I am inventing a new rating system, a scale system 1.0 to 10.0, which 10.0 being the best I've ever heard, whereby I can compare my opinions about speakers. The catch, however, is that I need to be able to change the level of the scale to fit what I have heard, and if a better speaker comes out that shifts the scale, then every speaker's rating needs to shift. As such, here we go. Currently, the best speakers I have ever heard are my own DIY fully active speakers, Altec's fully active and customize Altec Lansing Voice of the Theater A7s, and my best friend's all Klipschorn/La Scala surround system (though I haven't heard it since he upgraded to a fully active setup). I am completely ignoring things like size or cost. This is about my general opinions about how much Iike the speaker as it relates to other speakers on the list. This is just a preliminary list which I will add to over time and I remember other speakers I've heard and as I hear new speakers. Also, I may move things around as I think about it - opinions can change over time.
Irritateguy's Speaker Rating List
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10.0 IG's DIY system / Altec's custom VOTT A7 system
9.9
9.8
9.7 Duntech Audio Sovereign
9.6
9.5
9.4 Klipschorns in the right room (and with proper crossovers)
9.3
9.2
9.1 Westlake Audio Tower SM-1 / KEF 207/2
9.0 Focal Nova Utopia Be / Infinity RS-1 / Dynaudio Confidence C4
8.9 Meridian DSP7200 / Usher BE-20
8.8 Tannoy System-215
8.7 Lipinski L-707 (need sub)
8.6 McIntosh XRT22 / Dunlavy Audio Labs SC-IV
8.5 KEF 104/2 / Genesis 1.1
8.4
8.3
8.2 IG's old DIY custom speakers
8.1 Dynaudio Confidence C1
8.0
7.9
7.8
7.7 Tannoy Churchill (in good room)
7.6 Dynaudio Contour 5.4
7.5 B&W 801 / Quad ESL-63 (in proper setting)
7.4
7.3 B&W 800 / Martin Logan Monolith (in proper setting)
7.2 Seas Odin / Thor / Linn Kaber
7.1 Usher Be-718
7.0 Klipsch La Scala (in good room with proper crossovers) / Infinity IRS Beta
6.9 PSB Platinum T8 / Thiel CS2.3 / Genelec 1038A
6.8 Martin Logan Odyssey / Revel Ultima Studio 2
6.7 Genelec 8030A
6.6 B&W 800D / Wilson Audio Watt+Puppy
6.5
6.4 Thiel CS 3.7 / ATC 100asl
6.3 Meadowlark Kestrel 2
6.2 SVS MBS-01 v.1
6.1
6.0 Dynaudio Focus 140
5.9 SVS MBS-01 v.2
5.8 Mackie HR824
5.7 Klipsch Forte / Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand
5.6 Mackie HR624 / Usher S-520
5.5 Paradigm Studio 20 v2 / JBL 4312B
5.4 Klipsch KG-4 / ESS AMT-1D
5.3 Klipsch RF-83 / Monitor Audio Gold Ref 20 / M&K S100B
5.2 JBL L-100 / B&W 803 / Dali Helicon 800 / NHT Classic 4
5.1 Paradigm Studio 100 v2 / PSB Synchrony One / NHT Super One
5.0 KEF iQ9 / Polk Audio LSi15 / Yamaha NSM-10 / Paradigm Studio 20 v.4
4.9 Paradigm Mini-Monitor v4 / Boston Acoustic VR-M90
4.8 Ascend Sierra-1 / Sonus Faber Grand Piano / JBL Hartsfield
4.7 Paradigm Studio 40 / KEF iQ1
4.6 Klipsch KG-1 / B&W 703 / Carver Amazing Loudspeaker
4.5 ACI Force + Emerald XL combo / Paradigm Monitor 90
4.4 B&W CM7 / Bose 901 with EQ
4.3 Wharfedale Diamond 8
4.2 Paradigm Atom
4.1 Behringer Truth
4.0 Klipsch RB-61 / Rocket RS850
3.9 DefTech BP7000 SC
3.8 Rocket RS250
3.7 JBL Pro-Performer
3.6 DefTech Mythos SuperTower
3.5 DefTech Mythos Tower
3.4 B&W DM 602
3.3 JBL S38
3.2
3.1
3.0 DefTech Studio Monitor 450
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5 Martin Logan Script i
2.4 SVS SBS-01 + Sub
2.3
2.2
2.1
2.0 AV123 Stratus-Mini
1.9
1.8
1.7 Radio Shack Classic Minimus 7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2 Mordaunt Short MS-902 / Insignia 6.5" coaxial bookshelf
1.1 AV123 X-MTM
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1 Bose Acoustimass Cube system(s)
Irritateguy's Speaker Rating List
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.0 IG's DIY system / Altec's custom VOTT A7 system
9.9
9.8
9.7 Duntech Audio Sovereign
9.6
9.5
9.4 Klipschorns in the right room (and with proper crossovers)
9.3
9.2
9.1 Westlake Audio Tower SM-1 / KEF 207/2
9.0 Focal Nova Utopia Be / Infinity RS-1 / Dynaudio Confidence C4
8.9 Meridian DSP7200 / Usher BE-20
8.8 Tannoy System-215
8.7 Lipinski L-707 (need sub)
8.6 McIntosh XRT22 / Dunlavy Audio Labs SC-IV
8.5 KEF 104/2 / Genesis 1.1
8.4
8.3
8.2 IG's old DIY custom speakers
8.1 Dynaudio Confidence C1
8.0
7.9
7.8
7.7 Tannoy Churchill (in good room)
7.6 Dynaudio Contour 5.4
7.5 B&W 801 / Quad ESL-63 (in proper setting)
7.4
7.3 B&W 800 / Martin Logan Monolith (in proper setting)
7.2 Seas Odin / Thor / Linn Kaber
7.1 Usher Be-718
7.0 Klipsch La Scala (in good room with proper crossovers) / Infinity IRS Beta
6.9 PSB Platinum T8 / Thiel CS2.3 / Genelec 1038A
6.8 Martin Logan Odyssey / Revel Ultima Studio 2
6.7 Genelec 8030A
6.6 B&W 800D / Wilson Audio Watt+Puppy
6.5
6.4 Thiel CS 3.7 / ATC 100asl
6.3 Meadowlark Kestrel 2
6.2 SVS MBS-01 v.1
6.1
6.0 Dynaudio Focus 140
5.9 SVS MBS-01 v.2
5.8 Mackie HR824
5.7 Klipsch Forte / Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand
5.6 Mackie HR624 / Usher S-520
5.5 Paradigm Studio 20 v2 / JBL 4312B
5.4 Klipsch KG-4 / ESS AMT-1D
5.3 Klipsch RF-83 / Monitor Audio Gold Ref 20 / M&K S100B
5.2 JBL L-100 / B&W 803 / Dali Helicon 800 / NHT Classic 4
5.1 Paradigm Studio 100 v2 / PSB Synchrony One / NHT Super One
5.0 KEF iQ9 / Polk Audio LSi15 / Yamaha NSM-10 / Paradigm Studio 20 v.4
4.9 Paradigm Mini-Monitor v4 / Boston Acoustic VR-M90
4.8 Ascend Sierra-1 / Sonus Faber Grand Piano / JBL Hartsfield
4.7 Paradigm Studio 40 / KEF iQ1
4.6 Klipsch KG-1 / B&W 703 / Carver Amazing Loudspeaker
4.5 ACI Force + Emerald XL combo / Paradigm Monitor 90
4.4 B&W CM7 / Bose 901 with EQ
4.3 Wharfedale Diamond 8
4.2 Paradigm Atom
4.1 Behringer Truth
4.0 Klipsch RB-61 / Rocket RS850
3.9 DefTech BP7000 SC
3.8 Rocket RS250
3.7 JBL Pro-Performer
3.6 DefTech Mythos SuperTower
3.5 DefTech Mythos Tower
3.4 B&W DM 602
3.3 JBL S38
3.2
3.1
3.0 DefTech Studio Monitor 450
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5 Martin Logan Script i
2.4 SVS SBS-01 + Sub
2.3
2.2
2.1
2.0 AV123 Stratus-Mini
1.9
1.8
1.7 Radio Shack Classic Minimus 7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2 Mordaunt Short MS-902 / Insignia 6.5" coaxial bookshelf
1.1 AV123 X-MTM
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1 Bose Acoustimass Cube system(s)