When choosing new Speakers, what matters most to you?
When auditioning new speakers have you ever listened to a pair you thought you really liked only to realize you didn’t like them at all after seeing their measurements/specifications? And I’m not talking about speakers that would be too difficult for your electronics to drive but rather, you just didn’t like their waterfall plot, or their frequency response or some other measurement even though subjectively, you loved the way they sounded? Conversely have you ever listened to a pair of speakers you did not care for only to change your mind after seeing their specs?
Assuming speakers can be easily driven by your home electronics, in other words, no compatibility issues related to sensitivity or impedance, what is the single most important thing you look for when finding speakers you’ll enjoy listening to? How do you go about confirming the speakers you buy will be enjoyable to listen to in your home system?
As much as I love car talk, staying OT:
I love the immediacy of 'Steens. First introduced with a Model 3A (non-Sig), I found them only intriguing until the dealer put on some Baroque; very coherent sound. However, they were a bit too laid back for me (at the time), so ended up landing a really good deal (clearance) on a pair of KEF 104/2s. Got reintroduced with a Model 5 (pre-"A" and Carbon) at a Hi-Fi show. Didn't think that Vandy sound could've been improved on, but I was wrong. But - couldn't afford, so I ended up with a pair of Dunlavys they were selling on clearance prior to going out of business. And... Quatros (wow...). Been looking to move upwards, and they've been in my crosshairs... but gads - the $$$! |
I understand how to read them, but was agreeing with @vinylvalet ’s statement that we should not decide on speakers solely on measurements alone. I absolutely concur that measurements provide an idea of how they’ll perform in your listening room. More importantly, since the measurements are taken in a controlled environment - you’re able to compare different speakers without having to lug them into your listening room.
I listened to a pair (forgot which model) many moons ago at a dealer, and they weren’t my cup of tea (purely subjective, of course). A bit too smooth (if that’s even a thing), though I can see their appeal if that’s the sound you’re looking for. I listened primarily with classical music; perhaps with something like rock they would have sang.
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How close the speakers are at portraying the live event, whether it be a chamber ensemble, symphony orchestra, intimate jazz performance, or an outdoor rock concert. No speaker that I've run into can replicate that spectrum perfectly - there are always compromises with any design choice. Only two speakers I've encountered that got close to ONE of those aforementioned mile markers: Wilson WATT/Puppy 5s reproducing Horowitz on stage Dunlavy SC-IV/As playing an acoustic performance of "Hotel California". That said - the Wilson wasn't able to "do live" as well as the Dunlavy; and that speaker had a hard time not getting "gritty" with solo instrument performances. |
