Best Loudspeakers for Rich Timbre?


I realise that the music industry seems to care less and less about timbre, see
https://youtu.be/oVME_l4IwII

But for me, without timbre music reproduction can be compared to food which lacks flavour or a modern movie with washed out colours. Occasionally interesting, but rarely engaging.

So my question is, what are your loudspeaker candidates if you are looking for a 'Technicolor' sound?

I know many use tube amps solely for this aim, but perhaps they are a subject deserving an entirely separate discussion.
cd318

Showing 8 responses by twoleftears

I heard the AN-E's and O/93's the same day, albeit in different environments.  In terms of sheer purity of timbre, I'd definitely give it to the Audio Notes.
@spindrifterr Hang on to them, whatever you do!!  Rare, and the timbral presentation on more modern Proacs has changed.
@steve59 Yes, tastes have changed, perhaps of the palate, certainly of the ear.  Some companies try to accommodate both.  Look at Spendor: why do they make the Classic 1/2 and the Classic 100 *and* the D7 and the D9?
@fsonicsmith Have you heard the Audio Note AN-E's, which just happen to be Devore's principal inspiration?  To my ears the originals are still the best in that category that matters to you, truth of timbre.
@prof Yes, I'm aware that I'm in a minority, though from alone.  Devore's tend a little more to the "modern sound" that is shared by most recently designed speakers in the 5K and up range.  I don't want to use the adjective bright, but they are doing something in the treble range that speakers with an "older sound"--e.g. Audio Note, the original Spendor S100's--don't do.  To each his own, obviously, but people should be aware.
In terms of naturalness of timbre, the AN's hit it out of the park for me.  But then, they do need to be close to a front wall, and ideally close to a corner, for maximum bass reinforcement.  Judging by the number of photos I see of conventional speakers jammed up against walls, this should be an advantage for a large constituency.  On the other hand, I really like the sense of depth, air, perspective, from speakers positioned reasonably well away from boundaries, and despite AN's and the dealer's protestations to the contrary, I didn't feel the AN's had as much air as quality conventional speakers optimally positioned.

Imagine a violin and a viola playing an identically pitched note at an identical volume.  The more a speaker enables you immediately to notice the difference in how they sound, the more true-to-timbre it is.

I'm not sure there's a word for the phenomenon you describe.

I've heard various Wilsons in stores, and their overall character always seemed to me to be summed up in the adjective: relentless.  And not in a good way.  I haven't heard the Sabrinas, and from everything I've read, it really seems as if these are voiced rather differently.

BTW, I recently auditioned the 40.2's and was blown away by them (in a good way).  They immediately vaulted to the top of my shortlist.