I had the KEF Reference One’s they are excellent speakers. Qln 1 v7 are a new model and are quite forgiving and will sound great, https://qln.se/one-v7/.
high end standmounts that do not punish poor recordings?
recently arrived a the realization that the variety of music I listen to simply does not lend itself well to many 'audiophile' speakers
closest I had to my current goal were Dynaudio Special 40's
Next best was Heritage Specials and then Totem element Fire v2 (screeching tweeter on the Totem)
Harbeth 30.2xd's and Super5plus xds definitely did not work for my recordings
shortlist at the moment is Franco Serblin Accordo, KEF Reference 1 meta, Dynaudio Condifence 20
simple system to be paired with my REL Carbon special and Hegel H600 (really love both these pieces)
appreciate any recommendations
KEF ref 1 are very good with a smooth tweeter, but compared to the last Dynaudio's I heard the Dyn's have more lower mid/upper bass while the KEF has more mid and upper mid detail and energy. I've paired the h590 with KEF Blades and sound was really tight and controlled. Your room will decide which speaker fits your criteria better. |
How forgiving your system is a result of your whole system, not just the speakers: components, acoustic treatment and the room. So the place to start is with your whole system. If your could create a virtual system under your user ID and put some photos and your components that would give us a place to start. I emphasize photos, because in situations like this it is easy for there to be a glaring reason that doesn’t show up in a list of components. I have been pursuing high end audio for over fifty years. At times, with good intentions and by careful listening tests before purchases, my lust for details pulled my system from musical and natural sounding over to unforgiving and overly detailed... if you keep going on this continuum then it becomes harsh. It is really easy to do. As you implied, you figured that out as well. Some component manufactures produce products that create incredibly detailed sound, scraping every last nuance from the recording. Nothing wrong with this. but the presentation can become very detailed and dry and make anything but the very best recording sound bad. It does so by emphasizing the details... especially that of the ambiance, presenting fine details out of proportion. A good way to tell is, if the first thing that occurs to you when listening is the ambience and mastering of the recording then there is something wrong. Instead of being pulled into the music and forgetting about the system. When you are pulled to listen to the system instead of the music, you have a problem. Unless, of course that is what you want. Lots of folks enjoy the technology and listening to the violinist in the third row foot movement as it is a solo instrument. There is also a segment of that works to reproduce music with all its nuance. These then to be tube systems and are forgiving... not of a truly hideous recording of course. From a speaker point of view these are Sonus Faber and Serbin. |
Another option would be to use an EQ unit in the signal path. Use something as simple as a 4 band Schiit Loki Mini and you can tone down strident or spitty vocals or add a bit of warmth, boost or tone down bass, or even add a bit more sparkle. The nice thing about the Schiit units is there is a switch to completely take the EQ out of the signal path when you don't need to use it. This lets you keep the speakers you love for the good recordings but gives you an option to improve things for the bad recordings. |
My goal was first creating a system/room able to reveal the acoustics recording conditions and information hidden in any album. It was not to create a sound pleasing me so much that creating a revelatory acoustic translation ... Bad recorded albums can be enjoyed on a good system/room better than on a bad system/room because we are able to retrieve more lost information from a good system/room ... Audio is not about tastes, marketing is about "tastes" conditioning, audio is about acoustics... Audio is not about gear design pricing but about the conditions making possible for any system at any price to reach his specific optimum peak ...Then audio is about acoustics with an "s" not just mere room acoustic.
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I'm assuming that you are in Canada based on your screen name. You should definitely check out Gershman Studio speakers. They are very detailed but never bright or etched. The easiest speakers I've ever had in terms of listenability. I had Kef Reference Ones and sold those after getting the Gershmans. I also have Harbeth Compact 7 30th anniversary, which are very nice but not as smooth as the Gershmans. The Gershmans also do the disappearing act and create a huge sound stage and produce a surprising amount of bass for their size. |
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Poor recordings do not punish the speaker, they punish the listener. I agree with @mlsstl. An EQ will mitigate issues with poor recording. I use a White instrument model 4100 analog ten band per channel EQ. 😎 Mike |
@mahgister Audio is about anything the individual audiophile wants it to be about. "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Happy listening. |
As others have posted a bad recording is just simply, a bad recording. there is nothing that can be done. Now, if the recording is mediocre but you have a good resolving gear, then differences can be heard. subtle as it may be, but it can be heard if your gear can resolve it. I enjoy listening to my gear, especially when I play Vinyl. I have a small set of really good pressings and a lot of old records that i get from record stores on bargain. it is just me, but I listen to these old records as this reminds me of my grownup years but the recording is a hit and miss. So, if I want to hear how this was recorded and just the facts, then I use my clinical sounding speakers (ATC) and if I want a warm British sounding smooth and melodic sound, i switch to my Ls3/5a. and listen how this recording may sound. but again, if the recording sucks, then there is nothing that can be done |
I’ve been in this position, I think you should attack the problem at the pre-amp. Find something that introduces harmonic distortion. But listening to a poorly recorded track right after a well recorded track will sound like crap. You could also use a compressor as a preamp, that would bring down the overall quality but make good recordings and bad recordings sound more similar |
That is one of the many reasons I purchased a MCintosh integrated with tone controls for one system and a McIntosh tube preamp with tone controls for my main system. I got tired of not playing some of the worse sounding recordings as I liked the music. I am no longer snotty about using tone controls. I use them when needed and never feel bad anymore about it. |
Saying for example that "science" or "politics" or any human activities be it audio experience or "zoology" is "anything the individual wants it about" is not false... It is completely utter non sense presented as an evident fact... In a word you just said nothing meaningful just for the pleasure of contradicting me but with no argument of your own ... "Acoustics rules audio experience" as i claim is a meaningful claim grounded in a deep truth though...Happy listening...
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