Speaker Class Ratings

[callas01]

This is from this months Stereophile Mag. There are Different categories of speakers A- Full Range, A-Restricted Extreme LF, etc.....

Class A speaker are sufficiently idiosyncratic and differ enough from one another that porspective customer should read the original reviews.

Class A and B Full Range -the system must be full range, bass extension to 20 hz, It must be capable of reaching realistic SPL w/o Strain.

Classes A, B, C Restricted Extreme Low Frequency -for speakers that do not reach the last few hz but are state of the art in every other way. Must reach to at least 40 hz

Class D & E -Entry level speakers that can put together in a manner that is musically satisfying and a true high end system.

A-full range

Areial Acoustics Model 20T V2 $32,000/pr
Dynaudio Confidence C4 $19K /pr
Kef Reference 207/2 $20k/pr
Revel Ultima Salon 2 $22k/pr
Revel Ultima Studio 2 $16k/pr
Snell illusion $50k/pr
Sonus Faber Cermona Elipsa $20,800/pr
Vandersteen Model Seven $45,995 /pr
Verity Sarastro II $40k /pr
Wilson Audio Specialties MAZZ Series 3 $68k /pr
YG Acoustics Anat Reference II Professional $107k /pr

A Restricted LF

Acoustic Energy AE1 MKIII SE $4000
Avalon Acoustics Indra $19,995
Acantgarde Uno Nano $16.500
Chario Academy Sovran $16,370
DeVore Didelity Silverback Reference $16,800
Dynaudio Sapphire $16500
Dynaudio Confindence C1 $7000-8400
Esoteric MG-20 $8200
Hansen Audio The Prince V2 $39000
Harbeth M40.1 $13000
Kef Reference 201/2 $6000
Klipsch Palladium P39F $20000
Magico V3 $27000
Merlin Music Systems VSM-MXe $11500
Monitor Audio Platinum PL200 $8000
Pioneer S-1EX $9000
PSB Synchrony One $5000
Quad ESL-989 $8900
Sonus Faber Guarneri memnto $15000
Thiel CS3.7 $12900
Usher Audio Technology Be-718 $2795
Verity Audio Parsifal Ovation $20995
Verity Audio Leonore $15995
Vienna Acoustic Klimt The Kiss $15000
Wilson Audio Specialties Sophia 2 $16700

B-full range

Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE $7600
BC Acoustique Act A3 $7000
Burmester B25 $11995
Dali Helicon 400 MK2 $7000
Definitive Tech Mythos STS Supertowers $2998
DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Nine $6500
Jamo Reference R 907 $9998
Paradigm Reference Studio 60 v.5 $1998
ProAc Response D28 $6000
PSB Imagine T $2000
Revel Concerta F12 $1500
Totem Acoustic Mani-2 Signature $4895-5825
Triangle Antal Ex $2895
Vandersteen Quatro Wood $10700
Vandersteen Quatro $7450
Vandersteen 2ce Signature II $2195
Verity Audio Rienzi $8795
Zu essence $3600

B-Restricted LF

Aerial Acoustic Model 5B $2200
American Acoustic Development Silver Reference -1 $1750
ATC SCM 40 $4250
ATC SCM 11 $1850
Avalon Acoustics NP 2.0 Evolution $1995
Dynaudio Excite X12 $1200
Epos M16i $1999
Harbeth Compact 7ES-3 $3495
Joseph Audio RM7XL SE $2500
Linn Majik 109 $1590
Opera Mezza $1595
PMC DB1i $1929
Sonics by Joachim gerbard Amima $2600
Spendor SA1 $2195
Totem Model 1 Signature $2295

C-full range

Aperion Intimus 6T $1390
PSB Image T6 $1199
Silverline Audio Technology Prelude $1200
Sonist Concerto 3 $3495
Totem Acoustic Forest $3495

C-Restricted LF

Amphion Helium2 $1500
ASW Genius 100 $1695
Aurum Cantus V2M $1890
Chario Premium 1000 $1015
Dali Ikon 2 $1350
Eminent Technology LFT-16 $950
Denon SC-CX303 $1200
Era Designs 4 $700
Focal Chorus 807V $1095
Infinity Primus P162 $318
Monitor Audio GS-10 $1600
Onix Refernece 1 MkII $1200
Paradigm Reference Studio 20 $1198
Pioneer SA4SPT-PM Pure Male Speaker $598
PSB Imagine B $1000
Renaissance Audio MLP403.5 $1090
Silverline Audio Minnet $600
Triangle Esprit Comete Ex $1295
Triangle Titus Ex $995

D
Audioengine 2 $199
Mordaunt Short Carnival 2 $300
Paradigm Atom V.5 $318
Polk RTi A1 $350
PSB Alpha B1 $279


Deletions

B&W 802D
Canton Vento Reference 1 DC
Focal Electra 1037
Monitor Audio RS6
All replaced by new models.

Sequerra Metronome 77 Mk6
Sonics by Joachim gerhard Allegra
Significantly revised, mandating a re-auditioning

JBL Studio L880
Klipsch Hertiage LaScala II
NHT Classic Three
Opera Quinta
Quad ESL-2805
Teresonic Integrun
Antal Ex
Usher Audio Tech S-520
All not auditioned in too long a time to be sure of ratings

Wilson Benesch Arc
Because of doubts about availablity in the US