Best speaker brands for transient response


Hello all, first post / longtime lurker on here. I have really appreciated all I've learned from following threads on here -- much appreciated.

I've had three speakers in my house for a few years, and have learned that transient response is the quality I value most. I'm researching upgrade options and would appreciate recommendations on brands.

Currently I have KLH Model 3s, JBL 4305Ps, and JBL Studio 590s. The sealed KLHs are far superior in transient response / speed / attack. The 4305Ps are pretty good (I'm assuming because they're active) and the 590s, while they do a lot of things well, are relative laggards.

I am assuming that on average a sealed design at any given price point will outperform a ported speaker in this area of performance, but I'm sure there are important exceptions.

I'm also curious if more expensive ported horn speakers (Klipsch heritage line, or the JBL 4349 for example) may deliver equal or better in transient response compared to a lower cost sealed speaker because they're using better drivers, crossovers, etc.

Thank you for any feedback / ideas you have.

tommyuchicago

Showing 4 responses by terry9

@asctim  not sub 1/10th millisecond issues that arise from the mass of the diaphragm, or slew times of amplifiers, 

My experience of slew rates is different. I am driving ESL's, and my amps sound good with 30V/us output transistors, better with 40V/us, and better yet with 50 V/us; that is, better transient response.

@audiotroy

It seems that you think that cone speakers play louder. OK, we can agree on that.

But the OP is talking about transient response. @sunmoon explains why ESL’s do that better than others, excepting plasma. I don’t understand how your statement "equal and opposite reactions cancel each other out," relates to ESL’s.

The cheap 'pro audio' systems that I have heard are painfully awful. Here too, it seems like you get what you pay for. Sometimes. YMMV

Magnepan sells a bass-only speaker, DWM, crossed over at 200Hz, but flat to nearly 5KHz. I use two to augment my pairs of 2805’s and 2905’s.’They are a push-pull design and are very fast.