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Most "Accurate/Realistic" Sounding Speakers?

I am a major audio enthusiast and I was listening to some live, non amplified acoustic jazz and I could not help but wonder what speaker sounds that "live"? To me, the most "accurate/realistic" speakers would accurately reproduce acoustic music as if it were playing right in front of you, and also human voices as if they were talking directly to you. I guess that is my gauge by which speakers and audio systems should be judged. I know there are a ton of "accurate" reproductions, but I have never heard anything even close to the realism, super deep bass by the acoustic bass, and slam of the snare and cymbals. Have you heard any speaker truly close to this? As an over analytical audio nerd, instead of truly enjoying this great music, I could not help but think about the system that would come even close to that realism, deep bass, and gritty fast sound. I guess the closest I have heard has been Wilson Audios, but even those were not truly accurate reproductions. I have also heard that Quad planars and ATC powered speakers do a pretty amazing job.

Please opine!
regafan_1972

Showing 8 responses by dlcockrum

dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
+1 Eric. Real instruments, especially horns, cymbals, piano, and female vocals often "bite the ears" a bit at real SPLs in real life venues.

A danger point is aggressively trying to tune this aspect of real instruments at accurate SPLs in real acoustical environments out of an audio system as other consequences inevitably accompany this path. Better just to reduce the volume...

Dave
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
S.J.,

If Thiels sound bright, and they can, there is a mismatch of/issues with components/cabling upstream that needs to be sorted. What is provided is reproduced.

Dave
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Roger that.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Yes that is very true Erik, not only of speakers but DACs too IME. I am learning so much from extended listening to a Exogal Comet Plus DAC. Somewhat unimpressive on first listen, but very instructive re: true timbre, subtle yet ample and expressive detail, etc. and completely unfatiguing. However, bite from instruments that sound so is present as it should be IMO.

Thanks for the music recommendation. :) The trumpet on Laveau Dirge No.1 has that realistic bite I am droning on about.

Dave
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Erik, the track "Familiar" is an exceptionally powerful sounding performance. I am not usually much of a bop (?) fan but I am impressed at the sheer power of the percussion and horns from 1:35 to 2:20 on that track..

Just "starred" the album on Tidal :)

Dave
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
+1 prof. I find myself quickly fighting the urge to look about the listening room (and notice others often pulling out their social media devices but I refuse to do that), a sign of boredom, when listening to a system that fails to image well.

I think that we both prefer the closer seats at the symphony etc. because we value the impact of imaging on the listening experience. Not coincidentally, we both own Thiels. :)

Dave
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
That post should be a stickey (if Agon had such a thing).

Good job, dogmcd!

Dave
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Erik, if I intimated that I prefer artificial or exaggerated soundstage, then I mispoke.

Just that I experienced a killer system recently that I felt to be lacking in soundstage depth and layering and it has been on my mind.

Peace, my friend. :)

Dave 
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