You probably already know that a hi-fi habit can be an expensive one, but have you every wondered just how high you can go? If you have the cash to splash, there are some incredible pieces out there which will make every audiophile within a 50 mile radius green with envy, and the loud speaker section of this particular elite is quite possibly the most outlandish of all. If any of these incredible speakers take your fancy, we have custom made 0% finance options available to help you get exactly what you want.
Curious? Of course you are. Or perhaps you’re fortunate enough to be window shopping for such an item. Well, rest assured, the sky is the limit and we stock some of the most expensive (and bizarre – yet oddly compelling) floorstanding speakers that money can buy. And here are just five of them. Starting from the five figure, and moving onto the six…
1. Waterfall Niagara Glass Speakers – £18,799 (pair)
We’ll start off with the ‘budget’ models in this particular collection. The Waterfall Niagara Glass speakers are powerful, imposing glass towers with cabinets constructed entirely from 15mm thick Diamond Glass, with all parts machined from solid aluminium. These models were initially intended to be a ‘concept’ intended to promote the more affordable models in Waterfall’s Glass range, but they decided to include it in the production line as their flagship following some extremely positive reactions. The benefits of the design include the mechanically decoupled Masterclass Glass horn tweeter – which takes ten solid hours of intense machining and hand finishing to craft. And the custom designed drivers polish off the open, luminous and detailed sound beautifully.
Why do we like them?
They’re absolutely stunning, they sound wonderfully clear and true and they work in most set ups – even the more traditional ones. Lovingly crafted, these speakers are a statement of elegance, of finesse and of true high fidelity, and we love them.
2. Gamut El Superiores S5 Speakers – £20,050 (pair)
Poise, focus and clever use of materials by GamuT has resulted in these, the El Superiores S5. With cabinets formed in Denmark from solid wood over multi layered Finnish Beech plywood, the construction in itself has a more pleasing harmonic structure than solid wood alone or solid MDF. They;re beautiful to behold, and their presence is always a popular one at hi-fi shows. Inside, great care and attention has been paid to influencing the rapid decay of unwanted vibrations, which means the sound is clean, clear and interference free. Their natural and earthy appearance lends itself nicely to its incredibly natural sound, which continues to surprise and delight all that hear them.
Why do we like them?
They radiate good quality, and every single one of their components is exactly that. And we were some of those surprised by just how beautiful they sounded.
3. Acapella Campanile Mk IV Speakers – £43,550 (pair)
Things are starting to ramp up price-wise, which means we have entered into Acapella territory. Acapella are an enigmatic German company who are the inventors and pionners of the ‘spherical horn’, and who believe that loudspeakers are instruments in their own right. They handcraft each pair of speakers, which are individually numbered and carry a production trail, which means that any of each unique speaker’s characteristics can be recalled and reproduced at any time. Pretty cool huh? Acapella’s Campanile MK III speakers are sealed 3,5-way loudspeakers which feature four 25 cm woofers working in separate chambers so they cannot influence each other. Fine adjustments to the ion tweeter and the midrange horn unit can be made in order to adapt the loudspeaker to every acoustical environment.
Why do we like them?
They’re the price of a high-end sports car, and we think they’d offer just as much enjoyment – and probably for much longer! With the right system, you can close your eyes and feel as though you are there, where the music was initially performed. And they aren’t the highest, not by a long shot.
4. Acapella Poseidon Speakers – £150,000 (pair)
The Poseidon Speakers are a pretty shocking presence. In some parts of the country you could buy a semi-detached house for that price, and they’re truly mighty in size, in stance and in sound. We understand if you need a short lie down after seeing that price. But would you believe us when we say, they are worth the spend. Why is that? Well… the Poseidon are capable of authentic spatial representation on a level unrivalled by (nearly) any other speaker. Depth, width and height of sound are portrayed tangibly in a seemingly holographic soundscape, surrounding the listener with audio, yet also presenting the image of real instrumentation, situated in its own space. Not for the faint of heart – or light of wallet. But a worthy investment for those who value sonic perfection over anything else.
Why do we like them?
They’re both utterly bonkers and completely serious – true mastery in every sense of the word. If the speakers that cost £150,000 don’t pique your interest, you’re no longer interested in life, my friend.
5. Acapella Spharon Excalibur Speakers – £238,000 (pair)
No. That is not a typo. No, your eyes are not deceiving you. Yes, those magnificent speakers can be yours for the Kingly sum of £238,000. If you needed a lie down after hearing about the Poseidons, you’ll need a blanket and a cup of hot, sweet tea after learning of these. Okay, they look incredible – if not a little eccentric, but how do Acapella justify such a price tag? It’s all about the sound. And thanks to Acapella’s somewhat genius approaches, there is a good chance this is the finest sound production in the world. The Excalibur raises performance to a new standard of dimension and variability. When the music is soft, it caresses your skin. When it changes into a powerful fortissimo, you will be swept away through sheer joy. It is less of a listening experience and more of a third dimensional full body experience, that has to be felt to be believed.
Why do we like them?
The Spharon Excaliburs are the epitome of how deep the high-fidelity rabbit-hole can go. Only the truest audiophile will ever genuinely consider them, and only is sonic perfection is of utmost importance. At the very most, you will own a pair of the most extraordinary (in every sense) speakers ever created, and they will bring you unparalleled joy for the rest of your life. At the very least, they will make one hell of a talking point at dinner parties.
Phew, it’s over. For now. Remember, if any of the above are a dream of yours, we can help that dream come true. Just give us a call and we can arrange for a private demonstration at your leisure, and of course we can offer 0% finance packages entirely at our discretion. If a pair of the above is what you want… well, we only live once right?
… now where’s that lottery ticket?