top audio Brands in the world B&O B&W KEF JBL Harman Kardon?

Question

Hi just wanting to know what would be the top 10 best audio brands in the world

hear are a couple of brands that I think should make the list

B&O
B&W
KEF
JBL
Harman Kardon

is there any sites out there that have a online poll or info about this topic, any comments would be appreciated.

thanks a lot guys.

Hi guys I really appreciate the feedback ive only had experience with the brands ive listed and yes its the kind of info that I was looking for.

also a question to Paul S. or who ever knows I saw a pair of Sansui speakers at a second hand shop from the 70s do you think they are worth buying?

once again thanks guys

PS Id love to get into this kind of stuff if I had lots of money
http://www.unitedhomeproducts.com/id140.htm

Answer 1

It is hard to come up with the top audio brands without some criteria of what the best is. Are you talking hardware? Software? Speakers? Amps? My tastes aren't the same as yours or most peoples; it is completely subjective. If you want the most profitable, Harman International is easily at the top of the list. They own JBL, Infinity, Crown, Mark Levinson, Revel, and many more (look up the rest at http://www.harman.com). Dolby Labs has the biggest market share when it comes to audio algorithms for noise reduction and compression. Almost everything you hear has dolby involved to some extent whether it is 2 channel or 7.1 (in fact, I have toured their San Francisco headquarters before, and they have some amazing stuff there that goes well beyond what is out on the market currently). Sony has a decent market share and has come out with some really good (and really bad) audio products.

However, I think you are talking about just the hardware end and sound quality. I can only talk about gear I have heard personally; so, some stuff like the German Physiks Gaudi Mk ll won't be on here since they cost about $1 million per pair. Here is a list of my personal favorites:

1. Martin Logan (I love the way electrostatic speakers sound)
2. McIntosh (built like a tank and sound good)
3. Pass Labs (my favorite amplifier company, Nelson Pass is an amazingly smart guy)
4. Rega (my favorite brand of CD players)
5. Marantz (always liked their products from the '60s to now)
6. Krell (sounded amazing at the last industry show I went to)
7. Adam (originally a pro audio company but I heard their Tensor line which was amazing, but the lower speaker lines are too bright on the treble)
8. Threshold (a direct order company now, but they make terrific sounding amps)
9. California Audio Technology (similar to Pass Labs, great amplifier design, very clean)
10. I always leave this slot open as there are always amazing new companies out on the horizon.

Some of the companies I really liked have come and gone under new ownership or just completely stopped. I loved Adire Audio, but they stopped production. Sansui was great in the '60s and '70s but now are a horrible, cheap brand. Entec had some amazing servo controlled subs back in the day but are gone now. Companies in the audio field come and go at a fast rate, especially since the audiophile brands are now either really small independent companies or small subsidiaries of huge conglomerates with a sprinkling of companies that have weathered it out for the past few decades. Some of the best horn and transducer designs (look up Thomas Danley) just never make it to mass production because of a low consumer demand and/or incorrect business model.

Answer 2

Hi.Bart. There are many top brands when it comes to audio but i will list what i would buy.Vinyl has come back in a big way (although it never really went away) CD was supposed to make vinyl redundant( ha.ha,) With the right equipment and clean undamaged records,the sound is far superior to CD.You have to hear it ,it is unbelievable.A classic case of "Digital is not always the best."


AMPLIFIERS

Arcam
Mission
Quad.
Cambridge
Musical Fidelity
Nair
Rotel
Audio Lab.
Jolida (tube amp)
Shenda (tube amp/preamp)

LOUDSPEAKERS

Rogers
B & W
Kef
Miridian
Martin Audio
Mission
Moniter Audio
Mordaunt Short
Proac
Spendor
Theil
Tannoy
Wharfdale
Apogee Full Range Ribbon.
Magna Planar

TURNTABLES
Linn Sondek LP 12
Thorens
Pro-Ject
Roksan
Rega



TONEARMS

Hadcock Unipivot
Keith Monks Unipivot
Roksan Nima Unipivot
J H Formula 4 Unipivot

CARTRIDGES

Ortofon.

CD PLAYERS.

Shenda Audio Vacuum Tube Reference CD Player.

CABLES

Van Den Hul.


EDIT.....Sorry i listed more than "10."

EDIT.....Most of the brands iv'e listed are too expensive for the average listener,but you do state you want the top brands.
I guess it depends on your budget.My gear is not overly expensive but i have been upgrading over the last 40 years.(which is expensive.)

Answer 3

Top Audio Brands

Answer 4

Best Audio Brands

Answer 5

and for speakers..

Rogers
KEF
M&K
ADS
Atlantic technology
Paradym
Mission
Rauna
Definitive Tech
Tannoy
Rectilimear

Definitely not Bose or JBL

Answer 6

I would not include JBL, B&O or Harman Kardon on this list.

My list would be:
McIntosh (considered the best amps), B&W, KEF, Klipsch, Carver, Crown, Bryston, Revox, Energy, Rega, Martin Logan, Tannoy, Nakamishi and NAD (for quality and great economy) ...and I could easily add another twenty-five to that, but you can't go wrong with these.

One last thing, stay away from Pioneer!

I can't believe 'Robert P' didn't add McItosh to his list ...it is very complete other than that obvious omission.

Answer 7

Your going to get varied answers on this. People just have different tastes...here's my favorites in no particular order:

B&W
Paradigm
Rotel
Krell
Audio Research
Focal
Revel
Wilson Audio
Rega
Mark Levinson
Adcom
PS Audio
JM Labs

I could go on... Some really high end, but some affordable too.

Answer 8

Now I would also like one other brand, Sonos who has really become the reference in wireless (multiroom) audio! It's the only solution that works, is easy to set up and can be upgraded all the time.

Answer 9

The German reason: Norwegian: Dunhill, Yellow house, Water, Cats. Dane: Blends, Blue house, Tea, Horses Brit: Pall Mall, Red house, Milk, Birds after that, since the swede owns the dog, the German must own the fish.

Answer 10

1.band and olufsen, 2.bowers and wilkins, 3.harman/kardon, 4.martin logan, 4. sonos, 5.denon, 6.bose, 7.cambridge audio and so on......my favs are b&o and hk.......totally personal thoughts......u know wats best....."don't let'em say u ain't beautiful......they can all get ****** just stay true to u".......ha ha ha....LOL...