@bifwynne My first pair of speakers are what I purchased sight unseen and unheard! after intense googling and reviewing and (reading at that time)!. Paradigm studio 40v3s used on the cheap, all 5 of them a decade ago. Over the last decade I did keep going to Magnolia and other dealers local and hear things once in a while after reading reviews.
Finally I took a vacation for myself and went to RMAF 2018 and listened to many speakers. Many of them were kind enough to oblige my request for a song or two many times in the same day!, lol.
But yes it is a difficult process. You need to bucket speakers into different category. Some people say metal tweeters love them , hate them etc. Some swear by soft dome tweeters, there are ribbons and recently I came across plasma tweeters, yeah!. This will help narrow your search.
Speakers can also be bucketed by what the original designers want them to be like neutral or not yet etc. Full range or not.
I realized I prefer a neutral speaker that is easy to drive, can reproduce a good sound stage and has good imaging when the source permits. Should sound good in low volumes etc.
At the least just use a SPL meter on your phone for the music you want to audition with speakers, level match it and ask if they are using room correction or not. Also by now you know the music you like and how you want it to be presented by a good speaker.
Don't read too much into reviews of speakers online. I always tend to like things made by good engineers who try to apply good science or at-least strive to. Sometimes they can be really wrong and sometimes it might work just for you.
|
Listen to one of your favorite songs several times the week before and then right before (but not loud) before you go to audition. That should help some. Try to pick a revealing test track. |
I have a hot girlfriend, so it looks like it's you Mapman. |
I don't smoke, I never did. I don't like Apple. I prefer pure audio products. |
You missed the point Bo, re-read. Tubegroover, shouldn't you expect this from someone sitting in one of those Dutch coffee shops with his iPad or laptop. I'm sure the iPad or laptop has 3D sound. |
Hahahaha....it is not a battle. It's just one F..I. I can handle that, no problem. And also he can have his opinion for an amateur. Fine with me :) |
Wolf, you get your choice of who is in your corner: 1) me or 2) Kate Upton.
I know this is a very "difficult" choice..... |
"The Dutch Mountains Messiah" Bo Versus "Lone" Wolf_garcia.
Wrestlemania XXX!
"No Sounds Barred" match!
Special quest referee: Nipper, the RCA "Wonder Dog".
Vince Mcmahan...make this happen! We will all be listening....
:^) |
You missed the point Bo, re-read. I KNOW you're passonite about audio but the focus will become more on you if you continue the way you have, count the number of "I's" in your posts. Think it doesn't matter? think again. You're right the focus should be on the content and that IS the point, just trying to help you from the disappointment and frustration you will eventually encounter here. We were blessed with two ears and one mouth for a reason, think about it. |
See? I mean really...there is too much here to not have fun with it. He competes and is supposedly a perfectionist in a subjective arena utterly lacking any motivation from selling anything, although he sells things for a living. The Dutch Mountains Messiah making the world a better place...*sniff*... |
Every person can say what he wants, I do the same. We live in a "free" world. The focus should be on the threads and not on persons. |
I am not God in audio, I have said that many times. It is not about me, it is about the openness in audio. I prefer a more open way in information to all the people who are interested in audio. I do this bases on all the visits I did at people at home. How easy it is to spend lot's of money on audio and still have a poor level. People buy many stuff based on reviews or what is advised to them. I would like to see less different brands. More quality and less shit. I never say you have to buy this, I only say; you should listen to this. There is a lot of wrong information in audio. When you do this for a living you get aware of it all the time. And yess I am a lot different in this than many other. But I am not them, I am just me. Nothing more, nothing less. |
Bo please answer me this question as I like you and you seem like a nice guy but when you speak of "truth for me in audio" would you acknowledge that maybe another's truth might be a little different than your's? Do you TELL your customers what is right or do you provide choices so they might decide for themselves? If you reread many of your posts, it really comes across that you may be the "Pope of audio". I'm not trying to be sarcastic but since you are new to this site you might want to consider this fact, you CAN NOT herd cats, do you understand the point?. Just trying to help you a bit and DO re-read some of your posts, it might help going forward otherwise you are going to lead many to post their deep temptations and you may not like it. It's tough fighting off cats once they get started. |
Hearing is believing. I prefer shows, place to compare. I do only shows when I have the freedom to use what I want. Same as the stuff I sell. In the past I worked in audio speciality stores. I was comparing night and day. Always looking for the best. Then many products you know which are inferior. When you are a perfectionist you hate these products are some time. Because you are aware of the fact that people get less for there money. These times I only do consulting in sound and vision so I can choose what I want. It made me so much easier to sell a higher level to all my clients. And it is the easiest way to compete to all other companies who do this for a living. Money I don't care, I am only interested in giving the best sound for the money. In my country there are in this business people who don't like me. Because I am very direct and they know I can easily get a better sound than they can. I have proven this for many years. I love to compete, this what makes me better all the time. I do shows because I want to be the best. I invited the people of B&W. Come and compare, show me. They didn't come. Audio will Always be about comparing. People want the best sound for the money they spend. This is what I want to give them. Nothing more, nothing less. It is that simple! |
The truth! Finally! Lots of people looking for that. Bring it on..... :^) |
Wolfy is still a F.... I, I guess he won't change. I will show it soon that my words are as I write them. It is Always about the truth for me in audio. I will show it also to the F...I...him self. For the truth I never stop!! |
I refuse to stop picking on BO because it's too much fun, and he doesn't understand my posts anyway. |
Tubrgroover,
We all have different tolerance thresholds. As like you, Bo doesn't bother me, there are others who posts and attitudes I find toxic and belittling. Bo is redundant but he's not mean spirited |
Ah come on Wolf, he's really harmless and can't you at least detect his passion? But I've got to admit the part about the earplugs when sleeping and hearing the dog barking had me LOL, Bo come on now, really? On the other hand there's plenty of BS around here that is much less sincere than Bo's and besides, it's obvious English isn't his first language, benefit of the doubt.....maybe just a little bit? Bo's posts make this site worth coming back to, real entertainment! |
Weimaraner Beau? TMI. Also, how are we mere mortals to listen to anything on the same level as a person with "photographic memory of sound?" Although photos are silent, I get it. Luckily, I was blessed with photographic detection of bullshit. Or is it cursed? |
I sleep also with earplugs. Even with earplugs in my deapest sleep I will get awake in a few seconds when our Weimaraner Beau starts to bark. He is at a long distance from me. I am blessed witha photographic memory in sound. When I hear a system in a few seconds I can write on paper where alkl the instruments and voices are standing. I also remember it with ease. So when a speaker, amp, cable or source will be changed I can compare it with eachother. I knoe exactly what the difference is. This is a big advantage for this work. For Audyssey Pro measurements I gave me the information when you can measure the most dynamics. And at which places you get the best results. That is why I measure at a totally different way compared to Audyssey. We have now contsact with them again. I want to invite them to let them hear that my way of measurement is superior to there way. And no I will never tell them how I do it. Just comparing, most fun part in audio. |
You're right Bo, your ears ARE sensitive. When you can feel it's too much, you've passed the threshold, the SPL's you indicate are well beyond, that is the point of my post. I too have been to concerts on a very regular basis, particularly many years back where the threshold could just be unbearable. Very early on, I got to the point where I would bring cotton balls and plug them in my ears when the volumes got to that point. I remember quite well having my hands on my ears at my first rock concert throughout the concert it was so loud as we were close to the speakers. My hearing has ALWAYS been sensitive, since childhood. Could never stand loud noises and could seemingly hear things others couldn't. Fortunately those instincts and that first rock concert experience carried forward but others, I have discovered, are less fortunate and I really feel for what they go through. I consider hearing to be the most important sense we are blessed with. |
Yea, hearing is a limited resource that should be preserved.
most sources say that continuous exposure to volumes higher than even just mid 80s Db damages ears ability to hear....so always listen loudly with caution.... |
My ears are very sensitive, I can feel when it is too much. That is why I Always have my earplugs with me during concerts. I need my ears for my work. Thanks for your concern! |
I hear you Bo, but although it might be "relaxed" and not sound harsh at high SPL's I guarantee you that your ears can't take those levels for sustained periods without serious risk of damage. There are, I'm sure, more than a few on this site suffering from tinnitus. I don't know your age but I would seriously recommend you not continue this practice if you value your hearing which I'm sure you do if you love music. You ever hear ringing when there is nothing but the sound of silence? |
Only cause of Audyssey Pro I can play this loud. Because without it you would get too much acoustic problems. This gives me the change to let people hear Bluray at very loud volumes without any stress. |
I play seldom loud for a long time. The Olive 06HD is giving a lot of weight in the low freq. When you use Purist Audio powercabels this part is getting even more powerful and controlled. The same thing about the Audioquest Wild Blue Yonder. I play most of the time at low volume levels. Because you do not need to play loud to get a stunning level in low freq. I Always played with big systems without a subwoofer. To be honest for stereo I did find it too slow and not fast enough. Now I own the PLW 15 with Audyssey pro I love it for stereo use. I prefer it it over a big speaker without a subwoofer. A few years ago I never thought this could be possible. Time and technique goes on. New techniques give me to change to create a much higher level in sound quality for lower prices than in the past. |
The spl of the speaker is maybe 117.9 db. It is just a number, but I can play still very loud. It is detached house, no problems with neigbours. Monitor Audio uses very big magnets and the speaker units are made of ceramic coated aluminium/magnesium. They are light but very stiff. I can even play louder with the Monitor Audio Platinum speakers than with my old B&W 800 Signature. At concerts I often use earplugs, my hearing is very important. I am Always very careful with it. I know when I need to stop. When you have more control and authority you Always can play louder. Even when I play loud there is no harshness at all in the mid and hig freq. I will buy the Pass Labs X600.5 within a year. You need also control in the mid and high freq. to play loud. Many people are stunned how relaxed listening it is even at very high volumes. The PLW-15 subwoofer can be played also at extreme volumes cause of Audyssey Pro, Purist Audio powercable and Audioquest subcable. They use a massive magnet and the material of the 15 inch unit is very light and stiff. I use it from 16hz till 140 hz. I can use it this high cause of the stunning response and control of the bass unit. |
Bo,
Be cautious, you're putting your ears at risk with the ultra loud volumes you describe . What would you say are your average listening levels at home?
Charles, |
10-15-13: Bo1972 writes: My speakers let me play at extreme volums. ( 118 db spl) Wow - that is very loud. Keep those listening sessions short. I guess your neighbours are some distance away. Regards, |
Hi Bo, Do you care to show us your system, in your room, that you can play at 118db? Which albums do you play that loud?
Bob |
In the last 3 years I bought a lot music on Bluray. Many of these are recorded in 24/96 khz. The sound is often stunning. My speakers let me play at extreme volums. ( 118 db spl) My subwoofer goes down till 16 hz. I like to play sometimes at very high volumes. And yess this can become very addictive as well. All my speakers use ribbon tweeters. You get a stunning level of acoustics of the room where it was recorded. This is an extra and important part for a more realistic performance just at home. What I mentioned earlier is that I love Diana Krall her music. The sound ( a Steinway does have his own sound) of her Steinway needs to be as it is in real. The Olive 06HD cannot only give you a very realistic sound, but also the palpable image it has. And the low freq. of the pedals as in real. There is one thing I have to say again. Instruments and voices are very small in dimension in real. This part is very important for an intimate sound of voices and instruments. I use this part to compare it with the same music played at bigger proportions of instruments and voices. People say that is is a lot less involving. So also this part is important for the emotion it gives to people. For example; I have a 24/192 kHz recording of Seal Acoustic. The number Colour is using a piano. I never heard the piano this clear and open as with the 06HD. Sound realism for pianos does a lot with your emotion That is why I hope to give demo's in the US as well to let people hear it. Because hearing is believing. It is that simple! |
What part of the "live event" is the reference? Certainly not what the musicians hear unless it's a string quartet sitting around in a circle. If you can't detect an oboe you might want to put the Kraftwerk away for a while. Most musicians would think most hifis that have been attended to and fussed over sound fine and seem accurate enough. I know a LOT of professional musicians, and most don't have "reference points" per se, and often they couldn't adjust a mix...some can, most don't care. Although it's rarely admitted to by audio freaks, you ARE just sitting around at home with your own toys, and that's fine. It's utterly obvious that actual live music makes you want your rig to sound good and if it does to you, you're there, but my main point is simply that there is no univeral standard that applies to taste. Except pianos...maybe...I love pianos...if acoustic pianos sound good on a hifi I'm happy. |
Dover, you and Frogman are right on. I especially agree with the last part of Frogman's post: "The differences in sound between an oboe and an English Horn are obvious even over the crappy speaker in the elevator. Yet, that "component XYZ made those differences inaudible" as I have heard stated several times only means that the listener simply doesn't know what either instrument really sounds like. There really is no shortcut: if you want to really understand "accuracy" you have to attend live performances. Of course, not everyone has that as a goal."
People may not like to hear this on this board, but this right here is a large part of the reason why many musicians don't give an audiophile's opinions the time of day. It is a sad thing that not everyone has that as a goal - for a musician, no other reference point makes any sense. If this is not your goal, you are just sitting at home playing with your own toys, and while you might like the sound you have created, it probably doesn't even come close to what a musician would call "accurate." |
Frogman, you make some very fair points about listening to live performances to train the ears to understand accuracy. A little while ago, my wife and I attended a performance of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center. I forget how I managed to get affordable front/center Orchestra seats, maybe 15 or 20 rows back, but I did. I also forget the musical selections.
But it doesn't really matter. The point is that I still recall the incredible experience of being that close to the performance. Not just hearing the music, but feeling it. Be it the tympani, the bass section, violins. Whatever.
Does my rig recreate that experience?? Sadly, ... no. Nevertheless ..., I still enjoy the musical presentation. Is the deficiency the rig or the source material? Both. But every once in a while, I spin a great recording (CD or LP) and I'm having a ball.
I am the OP of this thread. I admit there's plenty of room for improvement in my system, the room, power delivery, etc. What's frustrating is that speakers are so essential, yet so difficult to select. That's why I started the thread. Almarg makes a great point that some speaker manufacturers allow home trial. I'll keep that in mind if I decide to switch out my current fronts.
Thanks for the great posts and terrific insights.
Bruce |
Dover, I agree completely with your comments. Personally, I think it's an unfortunate state of affairs. A few thoughts re some other recent comments:
- I don't understand the notion that because absolute fidelity is not attainable (it isn't) we should not bother striving for it. Makes no sense to me. I am not willing to "dumb down" the excellence in a minority of my recordings in order to make the majority sound a little "better". I suppose I am in the minority, but I like to hear how a performance was recorded; warts and all.
- We shouldn't confuse the emotional content of a performance with the emotional reaction that "impressive audio" can elicit. Dimensionality ("3D sound") in audio has nothing to do with emotion in music. When an artist performs he is not thinking about how "dimensional" his sound is going to be.
- As usual, when we discuss emotion in music we omit the aspect of music which communicates emotion: dynamics. Not how loud something is or can be, but HOW it gets from soft to loud and every micro-step in between. Is the increase (or decrease) in dynamics from soft (p) to medium soft (mp) every bit as exciting in its seamless (perfectly continuous) quality as the very loud? That is where emotion in music lives because that is what communicates a performer's phrasing and feeling. Then you have subtle tonal color variation which is a performer's second most important way of communicating emotion. If we don't strive for fidelity those things suffer; if only because the end result is not what the performer intended.
- Yes, there is a reliable reference: live, acoustic sound. Anyone who has not made a commitment to listen to a substantial amount of it on a regular basis simply has no basis for claiming otherwise. The idea that because we all have "different heads", different hearing apparatus, or simply hear differently the concept of a reference is invalid is mistaken. Think about it: sure, we each probably do hear differently. So what? If a given listener hears live sound with (for example) a dip at 10K cycles and an emphasis at 2K cycles, that listener will hear a recording of that sound with the exact same dip and emphasis; so, using live sound as a reference is certainly valid. Of course, some will be quick to point out that if we weren't at the original event we don't know what the recording is supposed to sound like. This is where familiarity with live acoustic sound comes in. The more we are exposed to it, the more "common threads" we learn to recognize no matter the venue, recording equipment, or recording engineer. The differences in sound between an oboe and an English Horn are obvious even over the crappy speaker in the elevator. Yet, that "component XYZ made those differences inaudible" as I have heard stated several times only means that the listener simply doesn't know what either instrument really sounds like. There really is no shortcut: if you want to really understand "accuracy" you have to attend live performances. Of course, not everyone has that as a goal. |
I haven't taken the time to read most of the posts in this thread, but fwiw here's my take on the two questions that seem to be under discussion:
1)Re the original question, I'm not sure if it has been mentioned yet that some speaker manufacturers who sell directly provide in-home audition privileges, usually less two-way shipping and a restocking fee. Daedalus, for example, provides 30 day return privileges, less two-way shipping and $300. I believe that Salk and Audiokinesis, among others, also offer return privileges on at least some of their models.
2)Re the discussion of accuracy vs. emotional appeal, etc: It seems to me to be self-evident that if the goal is to allow the (sonically) best recordings to sound their best, the system should be as accurate as possible. While if the goal is to allow the majority of recordings to sound as good as possible, the accuracy of the system will have to be compromised to some degree, in a manner that is consistent with the preferences of the listener, and that is best suited to the kinds of recordings he or she listens to the most.
Regards,
-- Al |
I agree with your comments Dover, this has been my experience listening to other's systems as well some of which might benefit from "polite, inoffensive sound" IMHO.
I also agree this is the reason there are so many diverging opinions on this site about what constitutes "good sound" when it is obviously driven by preference more so than necessarily attempting to accurately represent what's on the recording.
Me too Charles, accurate tone and harmonics I mean :) |
Good question Charles; tone, timbre is very important is music. One of the reasons why I like Pass Labs a lot is also about the tone, tembre and the harmonics as well. When I bought the XA100.5 from Pass labs I heard many things what I also heard at my friends house during a classical home concert. A recording with different acoustic guitars let me hear the difference in sound of these guitars. For the first time I could hear why some recordings used 2 or 3 voices togheter. The change it gave in hammonics was never this clear. When you listen to many systems and audio stuff you understand and keep in mind that what you love. All the things I loved I wanted to use in 1 system. So it is all the parts togheter. That is why I say: I try to sell emotion instead of audio. Emotion in music is getting bigger when the harmonics, tone and tembre gets better. It influence our brains. The same about the freq. in the lowest octaves. When a system can go lower ther will be more emotion. When you get a 3 dimensional image instruments and voices become fully touchable. When voices and instruments are smaller and have the right and small dimension as in real you get closer to the music. This is what I call intimate sound. I know that it influence people emotionally. When you are a perfectionist like me you want every single part what is important for the absolute sound in your system. But also in other people there system. I use the same perfectionism for my clients as I use it for myself. because I want every single person to enjoy there music as best as possible. These parts can be understand by every person. It is easy to understand. My clients Always say; Bobby's words are the same as the sound he creates. I like things to be clear and simple as possible. Before I let people hear a speaker, amp, source, conditioner, cables etc I explain very simple what it is and what it does. After this I let the music do the work. The music played by a system is like a copy of the words I used. So it is more easy to understand for everyone. My new Olive 06HD with the Purist Audio powercable and brand new Audioquest Wild Blue Yonder give me even new qualilies. It made the stage of my system wider and deeper. So instruments and voices become more loose from eachother. The sound realims is getting to a higher level. Like classical music. The sound of a violin or cello is even more like in real. Harmonics in voices become more clear to hear. For example; Timshel from Mumford&Sons. When I heard it the first time with the O6HD I became very emotional cause of the harmonics. I love Diana Krall and I have all here albums. The Olive with the stunning cables give a lot more air around the voices and instruments. She is singing there as she is in your room. I can hear her breathing and I hear here opening her mouth because I hear her lips. Recordings like Kraftwerk and Yellow are extreme holographic. I also hear many parts of recordings I thought I knew well moving from behind to more forwards. So my set is a combination of all the parts which I loved when I auditioned many sets. And the classical concerts at my friends house play a very important part in how big I want instruments and voices to be comming from a system. |
Bo,
It's clear that sound stage dimensions and presentation are of highest priority for you (we all have our preferences for what defines a successful component). You refer often to sound stage width and depth. What degree of importance do you place on tone, timbre and harmonics preservation of instruments and voice? Do you find these qualities essential for realism in an audio system?
Charles, |
I try to keep audio as simple and understandable for every single person. The same about how I use Audyssey. I demonstrate it on and off so people understand and hear the difference what it does. Same about Audyssey EQ and Volume. Just put it on and off. Audio Always will be a personal thing. Listening you have to do yourself. Making the best decision is using your own preference. But there are rules which makes it more easy for every person. When you only looking for speakers you take all your stuff with you what you own. I Always took my amp, preamp, cables, conditioner and source with me to distributers when I was looking for a new speaker. When I took a dscision I took that speaker with me at home. In my country this is the most common way to buy audio. |
The way how I use audio is very effective. I can easy let people hear a higher level in quality than other shops give to the same people. This is not subjective. This is what people can hear and understand. So your words are useless ( again, like they often are) Depth and wide is not subjective, it is what everyone can hear ( when you have a normal hearing) The same about how big an instrument or voice is projected during listening. There is one thing we agree that is about sound. This needs to be invloving or you never will be happy with it. The misstake you make is focussing on persons. I read some of your answers on treads, you do it more. I never will be personal, maybe this time a little. Because you never stop. Wolfy focus on the threads and the discussion about audio. When I read your answers I see an amature. |
Bo's response is, again, even if read closely, useless, if only because of his annoying disregard of the fact that people hear things differently. That is the Monkey Wrench of personal opinion that trumps all else in audio appreciation. Opinions of "different properties" is always subjective and that's what my guitar speaker analogy is about. All speakers have a "sound" of their own and nothing exists as a reference, since the nature of even acoustic sound isn't absolute since we all hear things in individual heads. Room correction is using somebody else's head by the way...and I'm fine with my own. Listen to one of my acoustic guitars with your face 10 inches from the soundbox...you think that's a reference? Hmmm...stick your head in my piano...same thing...I prefer the image my hifi gives me (if I'm not actually playing the instrument), because it feels right for me, and all the gizmo swapping bullshit would do is waste my listening time, although I can swap anyway if I feel it needs it, or I simply feel like it due to boredom and/or compulsion. I recently attended a Ricky Lee Jones show that was packed with emotion (and the sound at my local venue was actually good...better than usual), and this weekend mixed the live sound for a pile of world class veteran jazz dudes (with 2 astonishing female singers) doing a tribute to Billy Holiday. Even in a concert hall with dreadful acoustics, everybody got the emotion and I don't think anyone cared about the "sound"...except me since I was getting paid for that. |
Since 2007 I focus on what I call 3-dimensional sound. Because the difference between 2 and 3-dimensional is very big. The emotion you feel with 3 dimensional sound is a lot bigger. So I let people listen to both to understand the difference. Sound is the most important part in audio. Because this is the most important part to listen to your favorite music for many hours in a row. Music is emotion, that is why my focus is on the emotional sound of music. I try to get the maximum level of emotion out of music. Music is the essential part in audio. In this world there are too many people who focus too much on audio instead of music. First you need to understand music before you can understand audio. After this you need to understand all the different properties brands have. This you need to know of all the different amps. sources, speakers, cables, conditioners etc. Audio is the art of using and making the right combination of the different properties amps, sources, speakers, cables, conditioners have. These days my focus is only on 3-dimensional sound. Because this is the only and best way to the absolute sound. I see it at the smiles on people there faces and see people tapping with there feet. Audio is all about music and emotion. It is that simple! |
When you will use the amp you own now bring it to the shop. This is a very important start. Listening to speakers with a different amp does not make any sense. For cables same story. I Always advise my clients to bring in there amp. spource and cables and own music. It is that simple, so keep it simple! |
Frogman, you have arrived at the nub of the issue.
In my experience, I had a very high end audio shop in the late 80's, and subsequent experiences with "audiophiles", very few people want high fidelity.
Most want what they think or would like music to sound like and this mostly reflects their personality. Some want razor sharp images and warp speed on everything, others want a polite inoffensive sound. Some want gut wrenching bass.
Very few would be happy with an accurate sound ( of a studio recording ) or live music in their living room.
This fundamental driver of what a person wants from an audio system, which is NOT high fidelity, I believe is almost certainly the root cause of many of the debates in this forum. |
Frogman, I agree as a general principle that an "audiophile" grade rig should be able to create the real thing as closely as possible. True "fidelity" I suppose?? But I am dubious that even the very best rig (and all that the term entails) can do more than approach the aspirational standard. Further, it is my experience that each incremental improvement is coming at a cost that increases at a rate that is disproportionate to the incremental improvement.
At this stage of the game, I have become more circumspect about what any component change can really achieve. Instead, my goal is to assemble a system whose individual components are compatible and whose musical presentation is engaging and enjoyable. Further, as a number of folks have mentioned above, even if one is able to assemble a perfect rig, the quality of source material is spotty.
Last point -- an obvious truism I think. This OP was about how to meaningfully audition speakers. I was hoping for some new insight that I may have overlooked. It seems that the bottom line is that it's a very difficult thing to do given the state of our hobby. And that goes to other components as well. My experience has been buy pre-owned top grade components, try them, keep what works and sell what doesn't.
Best and thanks for all the comments.
BIF |
Well, at least you are not saying "mute" as my dear wife insists on saying :-). But, while I agree that "personal taste rules the day", the concept as an analogy is flawed. True, guitar players choose an amp/speaker based on its tonal colorations as a way to create his "sound". But, isn't the goal of a speaker in a playback system to then recreate the sound of that player's chosen amp/speaker's intrinsic sound? The goal in this case is fidelity, not choice; or, at least, that is the traditional definition of "hi-fi". |
I think personal taste rules the day in this discussion. An analogy I think might be useful (or not) regards guitar amp speakers...the tonal coloration that exists with various brands becomes extremely important to a guitar player with any reasonable amount of experience, and I've found that taste changes and evolves usually. If a home hifi speaker seems to be delivering the goods in your system and YOU think it's great, other people's opinions should become moot. And I rarely use the word "moot." |
"The most accurate speakers I know of are also easy to listen to"
Kiddman, so very true. You are right that the term accurate has been bastardized and seems to be used when clinical and analytical are the more appropriate words. We both probably prefer the term natural with its connotations.
Charles, |
