2. speakers
  3. 138883-89202

Accuracy vs. musicality

I imagine if you have an unlimited budget you can have both ultimate accuracy and musicality.
For those of us whose budget is somewhat limited, we usually have to make a choice.
I very recently obtained  speakers (which I prefer not to name so as to avoid debate.  Some of you do know them.) These speakers were criticized by an Agoner for not being accurate.
Now, I heard the speakers he liked better and they we’re fine, and maybe more “etched,” but they did not convey the musical message as well to me.  Indeed I compared many such speakers recommended by members (there was little love for mine) and I found them not to have the sound I hear in a concert hall. They did not communicate to me as well.
So, what’s more important: precise accuracy or musicality?
rvpiano

Showing 1 response by audiokinesis

audiokinesis
2,765 posts
 

This past weekend I showed a speaker at RMAF that incorporates an unusual amount of adjustability.

Its frequency response curve can be "accurate" (approximately flat), or it can be "something else".

A significantly "something else" curve was preferred by a huge margin by those of us involved in setting up the room. We adjusted by ear (and I trusted younger ears more than my own). After the show I modeled what the response curve was after our adjustments, and it sloped gently downward by about 3 dB per decade north of 200 Hz. This isn’t news - this sort of curve has worked well for others.

Point being, the ears don’t necessarily perceive what the eye expects from looking at a curve.

Duke

dealer/manufacturer

More to discover