I realize that a 'mellow' speaker might sound more pleasing than a neutral/resolving speaker, but you should realize that this is due to a relative deficiency in the design of the mellow speaker. If a well-designed, neutral/resolving speaker sounds harsh, it is most likely due to a harsh recording. If you listen to a better recording with the mellow speaker, you will not have the benefits of neutrality and high resolution that a better speaker could provide. So, its better to focus on neutral equipment and better recordings, rather than trying to use a mellow speaker as a correction for a poor recording.
Mellow speakers
I'm on the hunt for a mellower sound. I've traced my dissatisfaction to my speakers (I think). I've got PMC TB2i monitors on good stands. Occasionally they provide sonic bliss...letting me peer in to the music, great sound stage, etc. But other times they are just too piercing (for lack of a better adjective). I also find myself concentrating more on the gear rather than the music. I'm blaming my speakers.
So, I'd like to put a mellow pair of floorstanders next to them. I want full, warm, mellow speakers...something I can swim in and just enjoy the music. My local shop has a super clean pair of KEF 104.2. And, they're going to redo the woofers while they have them in the shop. I understand the woofers can be a bit of a bear and that they have an odd proprietary KEF technology that makes them a little difficult to repair (what's with the rod between the woofers?). With that said, I heard them, and I thought they sounded like anti-PMCs. Perfect, no? Why not bring home some old school, rolled off, mellow speakers as a foil to my PMCs. So...my question...are there modern speakers that have a mellower sound, or other older speakers that I should consider? Any consensus on the KEFs?
My gear:
VPI Classic TT
Digital via Mac and Mytek DAC
Ayre pre
Prima Luna tube power amp or Primare solid state
Thanks.
So, I'd like to put a mellow pair of floorstanders next to them. I want full, warm, mellow speakers...something I can swim in and just enjoy the music. My local shop has a super clean pair of KEF 104.2. And, they're going to redo the woofers while they have them in the shop. I understand the woofers can be a bit of a bear and that they have an odd proprietary KEF technology that makes them a little difficult to repair (what's with the rod between the woofers?). With that said, I heard them, and I thought they sounded like anti-PMCs. Perfect, no? Why not bring home some old school, rolled off, mellow speakers as a foil to my PMCs. So...my question...are there modern speakers that have a mellower sound, or other older speakers that I should consider? Any consensus on the KEFs?
My gear:
VPI Classic TT
Digital via Mac and Mytek DAC
Ayre pre
Prima Luna tube power amp or Primare solid state
Thanks.