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Except that personally, after listening to music through headphones and crappy earbuds and the like, with music that is/was predominantly 128kbps rips ... my ears are tired of the lack of quality. After awhile it's like there has been a CPU fan whirring right next to my ear for hours.

Frankly, the push of the industry for louder, not wider sound is a bigger issue, but not one for this discussion.

But I liken this same experience to MP3/AAC formats. The psychoacoustic sounds of an AAC really bother me after awhile. Just that fake sound is like a shortcut to a headache.

I'll almost take the warble in a bad MP3 convert than high-pitch sound compression pops and squeeks that are intended to make me feel like there is more to the music than i'm actually hearing.

But you're right -- maybe this is because I've been raised to appreciate real-life music and sound quality, as well as audiophile equipment that makes you feel like that musician is sitting right there.

BTW, you've got to check out the new Martin Logan CLX series .. http://www.us.martinlogan.com/gallery/clx

could use some boosting ... say, Martin Logans.

Could be any number number of manufacturers. Just to name a few. Google for Electrostatic Speaker Manufacturer to see some more high end stuff.

Several companies make electro-static speakers similar to the Stax design. Notable among them would be Martin-Logan or Magaplanar.

And yes, you're right -- once you've listened extensively to electro-static speakers, nothing else seems to measure up.

oops, this looks like an intranet URL.. sorry..

here's the correct link:
Martin Logan Statement E2

I was waiting for someone to bring up electrostatics. As a proud owner of Martin Logan electrostatics, I can tell you there is a definate difference. My speakers, which cost me 10k for the set, plus 3k for the cables toast a bunch of other speakers. In fact, the only speakers that I have heard that come close are 30k and they were driven by Krell's and up.

As to attesting to spending money, I have probably put in close to 45k into my system. Do I like it? Hell ya. Is it the best that there is? Nope. Am I satisfied? Sure. Would I do it again? Dunno. Is it addictive? Yes, it is very addictive.

Someone posted earlier that the best system is the system that you can afford and test out the sound. I completely agree with it. I have done that and am quite satisfied with my choice. I would like to change some things out now, but doubt that I will. I do want to upgrade my Martin Logans though :)

dave

1. The 'consumer' market. This tends to be cheapish to middle-priced and is often (distressingly) designed to look like an SUV. You'll probably be able to find something in this which sounds 'adequate'. The correlation between price and performance is moderately strong, though with a fairly high variance. Typically where you'll find the most 'features' (various playback modes, DSP effects, et cetera).
2. The 'audiophile' market. Expensive stuff with minimal controls (often nothing more than just a power buton!) and stylish design . Really tweaked marketing - both the buyers and the sellers use lots of completely unquantifiable terms. With all the sales-driven pseudoscience the correspondence between price and performace is fairly loose.
3. The studio or 'pro audio' market. Designed for people whose job is to understand what's going on and to know what the numbers mean. If you want a flat frequency response, this is the place to look. No bullshit with gold interconnects - if you want good connections, use balanced cables. You also get the advantage that mixing boards are prefered over recivers (and you can get a good one for less than a comparable preamp). Definitely the tightest correspondence between price and performance. The biggest downside I have experienced using these in a home setting is that nothing's typically engineered around a 5.1 configuration. But it is what they used to master most of the things you're listening to.

Martin Logan has been producing electrostatic speakers that are made with a transparent mylar film for decades. A thin layer of conductive material is deposited on the film. The film is attached to a frame and wires run along the side of the film to carry the signal. A high frequency static field is generated on either side of the panel, which, obviously, creates vibration when voltage is applied.

Also, Quad produced an electrostatic loudspeaker in the late 50's, which, I believe, is still made, in some form, today.

Don't Martin Logans already have something similar working? They have a thin clear film which the current runs through, but it is protected by a grill.
BTW they sound great.

Flat speakers (aka electrostatic speakers), though not exactly mainstream, aren't unusual in the audiophile world. If you're really curious, you might check out Magnepan or MartinLogan or Quad. Also try looking for reviews at Stereophile. There used to be a user-review site at www.audioreview.com, but it's not resolving for me so maybe they're offline at the moment.
--

My aunt has a Citation 6-Axis Reciever. Amazing little thing.

For Speakers, she has a 6 Point Surround Sound System consisting of Martin-Logan Speakers (Mmmmmm... Electrostatic Sound Goodness...)...

The Sub TREE that Martin-Logan sells is AMAZING... a Tree of Six to Twelve 10" Subs. It's amazing sound quality.

There are plenty of /quality/ non-magnetic speakers, for example electrostatic speakers from Martin-Logan. Electrostatic speakers are particularly good at reproducing high frequencies; it's a lot easier to get a plastic film vibrating at 30,000 times per second than it is to get a (coil, former, cone, dustcap, and surround) vibrating coherently at that frequency.

Electrostatic speakers work well because the driving force acts perpendicular to the plane of the plastic film; it's harder to get good sound out of a material (such as piezoelectric PVDF) that changes in a linear dimension. Still, it can be done.

If you guys have a good sound shop in your town you should go take a look at these speakers from Martin Logan they run about $2500 per speaker and about $5000 to $7000 dollars for the special amp that they use. They consist of two wire meshes on either side of a thin plastic type membrane. They charge the two plates to vibrate the membrane. They produce GREAT sound, and wonderfull frequency response. Take a look and read the specs.

meGamAN

I met a few people in Lawrence, Kansas who used to work for Martin-Logan who made some of these. They are speakers that use a near-zero mass driving element controlled by static electricity. The theory is: mass of the element is negligable, an almost perfect, pure, rich sound can be replicated. The disadvantage is that the amplifier has to be at least a half a kilowatt for accurate reproductions.

I have heard from these membrane speakers and it is a real experience. They are costly due to the voltage multipliers, the rack mounted amplifier, and the source of the music.

But its worth it if you have the money and the space to put these works of art in your living room. If you are tired of the sound heavy diaphrams of speakers produce and tweaters seem to resonate harmonics, these are a godsend.