Perhaps the recording wasn't mic'd to sound live! I think it's more accurate to have stated that you want a speaker that most faithfully captures what was put on the record or cd. |
I use the VMPS RM40 Signature speakers and they work quite well for me... great on vocals and midrange instruments and throw a very spacious soundstage that has a nice height component as well as great width and depth.
I think part of my success is due to my use of the Lyngdorf DPA-1 digital preamp with RoomPerfect room correction. In my experience, it transforms a very good speaker into a great speaker. It may be worth trying before moving to other very expensive speakers that won't be "perfect," either... |
Tannoy Kingdom Royals
....assuming that their price is not a hurdle; you also have the proper supporting kit to properly do them justice; and the appropriate room treatments have been implemented to frame it all together |
Mikesystem -
I understand what you are trying to get across. I like the very same elements as well. Any system's resolution is only as good as the recordings being played. Some recordings are miked to sound live, while, others are not. |
"08-15-13: Hifi59
Perhaps the recording wasn't mic'd to sound live! I think it's more accurate to have stated that you want a speaker that most faithfully captures what was put on the record or cd."
I understand your comment but I think the OP qualified his definition of accuracy pretty well.
"Most reviewers of Hifi speaker will rate system on whether it is musical, can the music move you, the layering of notes, etc. To me, I don't care for any of that, I care more for the pure hifi part, that is, soundstaging, depth, accuracy of instruments and vocal and the details."
To me it doesn't look like he is comparing the sound from his system to how close it sounds to the absolute and/or original event, but to the qualities that are important to him. For example, I believe he wants a recording of a violin to sound as much like a violin as it possibly can, but not necessarily sound like the one that was actually recorded. Its a more realistic approach given the limits of our recordings and audio systems. Or I could be wrong and just didn't get the post. |
Thanks for your responses. Basically, I'm the type who prefer to have the concert hall in my living room. Or me sitting in front of the artists performing in a lounge, concert hall, etc. As mentioned, it's like having all 5 members of Eagles sitting in front of me doing Hotel California when playing the Hell Freezes Over XRCD. Miles Davis dual disc of Kind of Blue is a good example. After playing the DVD and the cd later, I should be able to clearly hear the position of each player as seen on the DVD.
My previous Sasha sound good but nowhere close to the YG.
I did consider the Kingdom Royal before deciding on the YG which is more expensive than the Tannoy. Just that there isn't a set available at that time for audition. I still like the Tannoy sound as I used to own the GRF Memory.
Just curious, how come I can only see this thread when I log in and not under the general Forum Speaker thread? |
At this level of absolute naturalism, isn't one's room acoustic more a limiting factor than the speakers?
At the YG level, hmm, I might recommend TAD and the active ATC SCM100s/SCM150s |
Loftarasa wrote 'At this level of absolute naturalism, isn't one's room acoustic more a limiting factor than the speakers?'
Not really - regardless of room acoustics you can hear the increase in dynamics reducing resonances brings.
It's not generally preferred however. I have sat with people in front of two sets of speakers where pretty much the only difference is one pair is lined with steel to combat resonances. The steel lined pair sounded much more dynamic and alive, revealing greater detail. But guess what - some prefer the other pair describing it as too in your face. Every measurement will show the steel lined pair is better - but that does not necessarily equate to sounding better to a given listener.
Check out the following review:
http://www.stereomojo.com/LENEHAN%20ML1%20REFERENCE%20SPEAKER%20REVIEW/LenehandML1ReferenceSpeaker.htm
To one person - ho hum - to another - WOW. They measure superbly - on any objective measure an exceptional speaker - but one person didn't like them.
Its got to do with what tricks your brain into saying this is real- that varies from person to person.
Thanks
Bill |
When looking for accuracy, I really am looking for a speaker that does not repeatedly make the same sort of "telltale" speaker (as opposed to musical) sounds with different albums and instruments. I'm looking for a lack of character, seeking to hear no cues as to what brand, model, or type of loudspeaker I'm listening to. And most importantly, I'm looking for the one that makes me get that involuntary jab of shock you get when you hear instrumental sounds that bring you back, deja-vu-like, to a concert you have been to.
Some of those that do this to me the most:
Vandersteen Model 7 is one. Certainly less of its own "character" than the YG, lower distortion. Before being suspected of of bias, I don't own them.
ATC 150s. There is a reason studios use ATCs but not any of of the similarly priced high end audio models. It's not price. Audiophiles tend to think that studios must not know what they are doing because they don't have the "audiophile approved" brands and models. No, it's instead a matter of studios and musicians hearing the real thing and then hearing it on monitors immediately later. The vast majority of audiophile speakers are too colored and too lacking in dynamics to pass that test.
Everest DD67000: they are why I don't own either of the above. They are very colorless. Extremely pure. Powerful. Detailed. Gentle. They take on many different faces depending on the source material.
Big Tannoys: I love them. They so often remind me of real music. However, even though they jolt my senses with memories and feelings of real music, they have more colorations than the 3 mentioned above, so this is a "qualified" suggestion.
The biggest TADS (my list is of only currently available speakers) would make my list but they have an upper mid-range bite in virtually every system I heard. The editors of the 2 big magazines tap-danced around this, very lightly pointing it out. It is there.
As far as room, sure it is very important. But that is no reason not to get the most real sounding speaker and then work the room to minimize problems. |
I agree. 50% of the sound you hear from your system, regardless of the speakers, is the room. |
I like the big Tannoys, such as 215 DMT II used in many recording studios for final playback of the engineered master. The point is that a recording is engineered on a mixing board. The final result is intended to sound good. |
While the scale you're seeking may be more a product of the speaker system and the room, accuracy is more an issue of the recording IMO.
I'm a sixty-four old musician and my hi fidelity experience hearing is far from golden but I can easily hear many instrument differences on my car radio.
I have master tapes and files of recordings I've made before post production. I have little doubt these recordings played on your system would provide stunning reproduction.
I strongly suggest finding a decent live recording of a recent acoustical event you've attended and reevaluate your setup. I've had much better results using more reflective room tuning verses absorptive. |
