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"I'm a believer"

I’ve been around high end audio for a great number of years. I have had the opportunity to hear, at shows, at audiophile friends homes and at audio shops, a great number of high end speakers: old and new, from the low, to the ultra megabuck price ranges. I’ve heard very, very expensive speakers that didn’t sound so good to me, and then, I’ve heard vintage speakers or relatively affordable speakers that just knock my sock off. In all my personal experience in this great hobby of ours, IMHO, there is no other item in high end audio that fall under the "Rule of Diminishing Returns" like loudspeakers.

kennymacc
newbee
4,751 posts
 

FWIW, while speakers are the single most important component in your system, I can't agree that diminishing returns is relevant, but 'relevance' can only be determined until after you have 1) Developed listening skills, and 2) Determined what sound you like and how you can obtain it. We all seem to chase 'better' speakers, yet in our early years really don't know what 'better' is and we know that. So we search. When we find that speaker and then try to improve on it we see the rule of diminishing returns set in as well as a high degree of frustration. :-)

inna
7,132 posts
 

This is, of course, nonsense. Most speakers are much better than they seem, you need appropriate source amplification and cabling to make them sing. In any case, so -called law of diminishing returns is subjective, if your hearing is good enough and your wallet is even better $20k for a cable that makes things sound just a touch better is a good move.

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,852 posts
 

This is, of course, nonsense.

Of course the OP point to a real problem here ... And It is not non sense at all..

Most speakers are much better than they seem, you need appropriate source amplification and cabling to make them sing.

Speakers must be not only driven by the right synergetical amplification ,

They must also be embedded mechanically well : vibration resonance control are mandatory ..

They must be also connected to the house/room/system electrical grid , then the control over the signal/noise ratio is mandatory ...

Least but not last thinking that cables will replace acoustic embeddings controls of the coupling speakers/room ,because you even do not mention it, is pure blissfull ignorance ...

 

In any case, so -called law of diminishing returns is subjective,

Another half truth from you : the diminishing returns TRESHOLD is a ZONE which is subjectively and objectively DETERMINED by acoustics precise concepts and experience and not merely by "taste", it is also determined  by  qualitative design grounded in psycho-acoustic experience not by price tags as the main factor ...

if your hearing is good enough

The hearing must not so well be as "good", it is not enough at all , but trained in ACOUSTICAL experiments in a room ... And musically educated ... We must learn how to hear and what to hear and this has nothing to do with the numbers of audio pieces you will buy and brag about here ...

your wallet is even better $20k for a cable that makes things sound just a touch better is a good move.

This sentence is so preposterous i will only quote it ... 😊

 
 

 

 

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