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Which is better, a fussy speaker or a versatile one?

When rating speakers into the high and ultra-high-end (or ultra expensive?) what do you think makes a speaker better?

Take two speaker models, for about $400,000 a pair, and 800 lbs.  One requires an excellent room, super quiet amps while the other sounds great in a number of different acoustic environments and can be powered by modest amplification, and speaker cables don't seem to matter.

Which is truly the better speaker, and which would you rather live with?

erik_squires
yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
613 posts
 

I expect any loudspeaker to be set up according to the manufacturer's setup protocol. In respect of expensive speakers, I'd expect the dealer to do that. Beyond that, I'd choose the speaker that best works with the equipment and room it's going to be paired with.

 

erik_squires OP
15,772 posts
 

@tk21 Personally I don’t think it is a trick question, but audiophiles often treat their gear like their children, and look to be their life-long care givers, so maybe there is a downside to owning a system that performs great no matter where it is or what gear it is paired with, and that is that the owner doesn't feel wanted.

kingsleuy's avatar
kingsleuy
174 posts
 

Which one is better, a Fussy Wife or a Versatile one?

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,217 posts
 

Will never know, $400k for speakers is not in my budget. But lets say it was, I would definitely pick the ones that do it all without having to spend an extra million on special amps and cables.

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 

I don’t know.   Give me two specific examples to compare and then we can see. 

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