Is there a speaker more useful for me than the D&D 8C?

[MKR]

Your comment is interesting and I ponder if the chemistry is subjective or objective.

Subjective of course, and that is OK, let’s not throw baby out with bath water. There is room for some level of subjectivity in this hobby, there has to be. We are humans not robots.

 

[dfuller]

There has to be some kind of hidden element about the Genelecs that is not immediately obvious in the usual ASR measurements - given the comments it's probably some kind of IM and a wonky port.

 

[MKR]

There has to be some kind of hidden element about the Genelecs that is not immediately obvious in the usual ASR measurements - given the comments it's probably some kind of IM and a wonky port.

Interesting thought, you may be correct

 

[RobL]

There has to be some kind of hidden element about the Genelecs that is not immediately obvious in the usual ASR measurements - given the comments it's probably some kind of IM and a wonky port.

Which comments do you refer to?

 

[sigbergaudio]

I really wanted to like them given so many folks here on ASR love them.

Do so many folks here on ASR love them, or do they recommend them based on measurements they've seen?

 

[MKR]

Do so many folks here on ASR love them, or do they recommend them based on measurements they've seen?

I think it’s a combination of both, including actual owners (quite a few ASR members own Genelecs)

 

[Purité Audio]

I owned the older 8260’s their previous top of the line and I have had here the 8351Bs and recently listened to the 8361/w371 combination I haven’t heard anything untoward.
I think you have to be careful with listening distances, out of the box their target curve is more ‘horizontal’ so they could sound a little thin or more resolving depending upon your predilection .
Keith

 

[dfuller]

Can you tell us which model you auditioned?

Sorry, just now seeing this. They were I believe the Quasar Mk II.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Which one did you end up buying ?

 

[dfuller]

Which one did you end up buying ?

I have KH420s on the way at the moment. Right now leaning towards them.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I have KH420s on the way at the moment. Right now leaning towards them.

Congrats, I would have made the same choice .

 

[feitaishi]

I have KH420s on the way at the moment. Right now leaning towards them.

could you share the difference between the dutch and 420?

 

[dfuller]

could you share the difference between the dutch and 420?

Well, when I actually get the chance to hear the 420s in person, I'll let you know. But my guess is they're going to be more similar than different...

The big difference I expect is the 420s to be substantially cleaner. The 8Cs I could get the mid driver to complain without pushing it that hard - it's not a driver that seems particularly well optimized for the open-baffle-like loading where the cardioid slots work the hardest. To be clear, the vast majority wouldn't notice the distortion; I'm just familiar with what that sounds like.

 

[MKR]

Well, when I actually get the chance to hear the 420s in person, I'll let you know. But my guess is they're going to be more similar than different...

The big difference I expect is the 420s to be substantially cleaner. The 8Cs I could get the mid driver to complain without pushing it that hard - it's not a driver that seems particularly well optimized for the open-baffle-like loading where the cardioid slots work the hardest. To be clear, the vast majority wouldn't notice the distortion; I'm just familiar with what that sounds like.

How loud were you playing the 8Cs?

 

[Pearljam5000]

Pretty good review

 

[Purité Audio]

Well, when I actually get the chance to hear the 420s in person, I'll let you know. But my guess is they're going to be more similar than different...

The big difference I expect is the 420s to be substantially cleaner. The 8Cs I could get the mid driver to complain without pushing it that hard - it's not a driver that seems particularly well optimized for the open-baffle-like loading where the cardioid slots work the hardest. To be clear, the vast majority wouldn't notice the distortion; I'm just familiar with what that sounds like.

Well if the 8Cs are distorting then so are the Kiis, Grimm LS1s, Kiis, Sigberg Audio Mantas, Mesanovic RTM 10s and Genrlec 8351A’s those are some of the speakers I have spent hours comparing here.
Haven’t tried Neumann I must at some point.
Keith

 

[goat76]

Well if the 8Cs are distorting then so are the Kiis, Grimm LS1s, Kiis, Sigberg Audio Mantas, Mesanovic RTM 10s and Genrlec 8351A’s those are some of the speakers I have spent hours comparing here.
Haven’t tried Neumann I must at some point.
Keith

 

[goat76]

I have KH420s on the way at the moment. Right now leaning towards them.

It will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the Neumann's.

 

[Purité Audio]

The question is always one of audibility, the ragged off-axis off the ATCs is immediately obvious when compared to a really transparent design, my process here for the last fifteen years or so has been to try and hear and compare everything here in my rooms and then try to draw some correlation between the sound of the loudspeakers and their measurements ( if they are available).
) I have found the more identical the on and off axis the more transparent the loudspeaker sounds, a speaker with a cardioid response not only measures more tidily but is clearer.
I could never really see the point of representing ‘second-best’ and that has led to a relatively small selection of designs which I use as my reference.
There is an interesting thread where this topic ( controlled directivity in low/mid bass) is being discussed at this very moment.

Do we know if adding directivity to the bass frequencies adds to the sound quality?

Allow me to elaborate/clarify … I am referring to the listener/customer that does not have a dedicated listening room, rather it is a normal listening space, and does not have the need to get that last small percentage of improvement that treatment would provide with a properly designed speaker...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Keith

 

[dfuller]

Well if the 8Cs are distorting then so are the Kiis, Grimm LS1s, Kiis, Sigberg Audio Mantas, Mesanovic RTM 10s and Genrlec 8351A’s those are some of the speakers I have spent hours comparing here.
Haven’t tried Neumann I must at some point.
Keith

Like I said: the vast majority of people will not notice. I just know what it sounds like because the KH310s do the same exact thing when pushed beyond where they want to be, but before they really start breaking up. They get a little boxy, and on certain songs I can pick it out. And no, the majority of the speakers I've tested thus far didn't.

How loud were you playing the 8Cs?

Not particularly loud, but this song I find to be pretty punishing for speakers once you push it a bit.