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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?

128x128ted_denney
bigkidz
3,330 posts
 

I never purchased any piece of equipment by looking at the measurements.  It either sounds good or it doesn't.  BUT you have to know what makes sound, sound good.  For example, I would not use a digital amp on efficient horns. I would use an 845 or 45 tube amp though.

 

 

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

I'm a longtime fan of Quad ESLs. No need to listen to or look at measurements. Just buy them!

nitrobob
238 posts
 

# 1 thing for me is I make a serious attempt to buy Built in America with as many USA components as possible. That limits my choices considerably, but that’s how I roll. My dad made it back from the Philippines, but his only brother’s body was never returned from Metz France for two years after the war. Dad raised me with a American first philosophy. And it kind of stuck. In 65 years, I have never bought a non-American owned, non-Union made car. Not a whole lot of people can say that, but it's one thing I can take to the grave and be proud of. At least I tried.

BTW I ended up with all Legacys but considered a few others. My previous system was all Ascend Acoustics, and the one before they closed up shop and sold out, was Miller Kreisel’s..

punkrock67's avatar
punkrock67
32 posts
 

That’s a very long question but for me, it is a simplified answer. I start my search comparing the specs, but that is not how I prefer to choose my speakers, those are just numbers on a fact sheet. I have listened to the speakers with the better specs only to walk away because the audio did not make me smile, it was rather a oh that’s not what I like. On the other side I chose speakers with the lesser speaks simply because their sound was brilliant or really fun to listen too, more lively than the flatness of the better specs, so now I only refer to specs to ensure compatibility with my receivers amplifier. Sound always first 

ja_kub_sz's avatar
ja_kub_sz
254 posts
 

1. Price

2. If I've heard them and liked the sound, otherwise if I have a trusted friend who has.

3. Looks (size/dimensions)

4. Reviews

5. Specs

6. My other components and how they mesh

I presently have the JBL L-100 Classic 75th Anniversary Edition. I heard the L-100's, liked them, then with the new look and special edition that was it, then built my system around them.

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