Best speakers in the world?

[krabapple]

I'm too lazy to answer everything
Not a rebel at all
But this is my way, you can choose yours.
And even if someone tells me this speaker is perfect technically, and I don't like they way it sounds I won't buy it.
What other factors
Like I said, hearing is also critical, I like brighter sound like Genelec and Sennheiser HD800 others feel they're like nails pushed in their ear drums
I had the KH120, while excellent I did feel it was dark sounding, generally didn't like the sound of that tweeter, on the other hand the first second I hear Genelec I loved the sound (even the tiny 8010)
All the measurements in the world won't make me feel differently.
Also the materiel of the cabinet makes difference to the way it sounds would assume and a billion other factors other than just dry numbers, I like the sound of aluminum cabinets vs wood cabinets for example.
Do they all sound the same just because of the materiel? No, do they have some things in common? Yes.

Do sighted comparisons give you accurate data? Often not.

Is 'I do me, you do you' a part of a true 'audio science review'? Nope.

Are hand waving assertions about the deficiencies of measurement part of audio science? Nah.

For example.: If your preference for 'brighter' presentation is in fact due to the actual sound (rather than, say, price or appearance bias) and also due to your particular hearing, is there any measurement you can think of that might connect and explain the two ? Or is it inevitably a mystery?

 

[EchoChamber]

I spent a fair amount of time listening to these at the 2020 Florida Audio Expo:

They blew me away but at $295,000 a pair they should. The system driving them was well north of $1,000,000.

Martin

Impressive, but these would never fit in my living room... And in 2020 I’d expect fully integrated amps with low distortion and noise levels optimized for the drivers plus room correction. Especially at this price point.

What I see are big boxes with expensive drivers and “premium” parts built with exotic materials. That’s an old concept now... This system is not taking advantage of the latest tech in audio. They could still be premium and use the latest tech to optimize transparency and reduce unwanted room interactions.

 

[Count Arthur]

These?

 

[paddycrow]

I'm too lazy to answer everything
Not a rebel at all
But this is my way, you can choose yours.
And even if someone tells me this speaker is perfect technically, and I don't like they way it sounds I won't buy it.
What other factors
Like I said, hearing is also critical, I like brighter sound like Genelec and Sennheiser HD800 others feel they're like nails pushed in their ear drums
I had the KH120, while excellent I did feel it was dark sounding, generally didn't like the sound of that tweeter, on the other hand the first second I hear Genelec I loved the sound (even the tiny 8010)
All the measurements in the world won't make me feel differently.
Also the materiel of the cabinet makes difference to the way it sounds would assume and a billion other factors other than just dry numbers, I like the sound of aluminum cabinets vs wood cabinets for example.
Do they all sound the same just because of the materiel? No, do they have some things in common? Yes.

A billion is a lot of factors. Good luck setting up that factorial test!

I'm not sure what dark sounding even means. Forward is another term that escapes me.

I'm willing to bet in a blind test, nobody could reliably identify the material used in the cabinet.

 

[Shazb0t]

I'm too lazy to answer everything
Not a rebel at all
But this is my way, you can choose yours.
And even if someone tells me this speaker is perfect technically, and I don't like they way it sounds I won't buy it.
What other factors
Like I said, hearing is also critical, I like brighter sound like Genelec and Sennheiser HD800 others feel they're like nails pushed in their ear drums
I had the KH120, while excellent I did feel it was dark sounding, generally didn't like the sound of that tweeter, on the other hand the first second I hear Genelec I loved the sound (even the tiny 8010)
All the measurements in the world won't make me feel differently.
Also the materiel of the cabinet makes difference to the way it sounds would assume and a billion other factors other than just dry numbers, I like the sound of aluminum cabinets vs wood cabinets for example.
Do they all sound the same just because of the materiel? No, do they have some things in common? Yes.

Is there an open invitational on Head-Fi or AudioCircle that's sending all these subjectivists over here to stir up arguments? The posts on this forum have become inundated with broken record anti-science audio magic lately. It is quite frustrating to see the same flat earther stuff in every post on speaker measurements and audio science. I think it's fair to push back on these types and not let them get away with the "this is what I believe and I'm going to flood your forum with my opinions" stuff.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Is there an open invitational on Head-Fi or AudioCircle that's sending all these subjectivists over here to stir up arguments? The posts on this forum have become inundated with broken record anti-science audio magic lately. It is quite frustrating to see the same flat earther stuff in every post on speaker measurements and audio science. I think it's fair to push back on these types and not let them get away with the "this is what I believe and I'm going to flood your forum with my opinions." stuff.

I'm pretty darn objective, but what you're saying is really starting to sound xenophobic as if you wish this place to be an echo chamber for a particular dogma. I don't enjoy being in a place like that.

 

[Dialectic]

Probably because they are the only speakers Stereophile have auditioned and tested which have effective DSP controlled directivity.

They haven't tested any others AFIK.

Edit, in smaller rooms and listened to in the mid or near field the Kii and D&D are probably all one would need, unless often playing to a large room with lots of people in it.

I've heard all of these DSP-controlled speakers, and this is correct. In even normal-sized domestic rooms, the Kiis and D&Ds suffice.

I'm using the D&Ds in a smaller room (approx 12x17) but am thinking of adding subwoofers for extension down to 15Hz.

 

[Dialectic]

Impressive, but these would never fit in my living room... And in 2020 I’d expect fully integrated amps with low distortion and noise levels optimized for the drivers plus room correction. Especially at this price point.

What I see are big boxes with expensive drivers and “premium” parts built with exotic materials. That’s an old concept now... This system is not taking advantage of the latest tech in audio. They could still be premium and use the latest tech to optimize transparency and reduce unwarranted room interactions.

I have a feeling that while those Von Schweikerts look nice and impressive, the measurements probably are a mess.

 

[gene_stl]

I do think that when there is a post and a day later there is 10 pages and 600 replies things are getting too big.

If the subjectivists don't like this forum they can go away.

 

[Killingbeans]

No, because they could be worth their price tag and then they'll probably be the best speakers in the world.
No ones saying they're as good as $10K speakers

Yeah, but what would they possibly be able to do 26 x better than the $10K pair? They might be able to do something a few % better, but does that justify the price? That "something" might not even be audible.

That leaves just use cases, preference and bling. Any designer who can't meet just about any non-specialised use case and/or preference with a budget aiming at a $10K price point should probably be put in stocks. Ergo, the probability of a $1/4 million speaker set being 99.9% bling is pretty high

There's also the possibility of them being meant as a statement, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are better at anything in a real world situation.

 

[carnagymelton]

Is there an open invitational on Head-Fi or AudioCircle that's sending all these subjectivists over here to stir up arguments? The posts on this forum have become inundated with broken record anti-science audio magic lately. It is quite frustrating to see the same flat earther stuff in every post on speaker measurements and audio science. I think it's fair to push back on these types and not let them get away with the "this is what I believe and I'm going to flood your forum with my opinions" stuff.

You seem to be quite bothered by the opinions of others. Why not just let people express themselves. Perhaps you can move on to another thread or use the ignore button? And if you absolutely need to push back, try doing so without insulting people. As far as I knew, this forum embraced civil opinions, not just civil opinions in line with a certain dogma.

 

[TankTop]

I listened to a pair of Paradigm Persona’s paired to a PrimaLuna integrated amp. After a bit of time went by the salesman asked me what I thought. Scared the crap out of me as I woke up...

 

[andreasmaaan]

Yeah, but what would they possibly be able to do 26 x better than the $10K pair? They might be able to do something a few % better, but does that justify the price? That "something" might not even be audible.

Moreover, it's a given based on their design that they do at least some things worse.

 

[paddycrow]

I do think that when there is a post and a day later there is 10 pages and 600 replies things are getting too big.

If the subjectivists don't like this forum they can go away.

The funny thing is nobody has answered the question posed in the original post, "What would you say are the best speakers on the planet?"

 

[carnagymelton]

I do think that when there is a post and a day later there is 10 pages and 600 replies things are getting too big.

If the subjectivists don't like this forum they can go away.

Odd you would say that because It's not the subjectivists who are complaining, it is the objectivists. Just look at the data. And why if you are so put off by it don't you find a more suitable thread?

 

[gene_stl]

I did (answer the original post)

Subjectivists just raise the noise floor around here.

Which they do regularly until we get out the tar and feathers.

Here I am afraid we ARE a bit dogmatic about measurements and the scientific method. And ignoring subjective descriptors of speakers.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

I have a feeling that while those Von Schweikerts look nice and impressive, the measurements probably are a mess.

In my experience, very large speakers demand a very large room in order for the disparate drivers to integrate and not sound like separate sound sources. This is violated all the time though, which I think is a reason I find some demos of large speakers not so impressive.

 

[Shazb0t]

Odd you would say that because It's not the subjectivists who are complaining, it is the objectivists. Just look at the data. And why if you are so put off by it don't you find a more suitable thread?

From my reading of this thread the responses are mostly made in jest due to the "comical" nature of the question. "Coincidentally" it was made by an OP espousing his belief in the "Bright" Genelec sound as well as all the cabiniet material sounds, which are of course so easily discernable. Great! Call me a xenophobic cynic, but the whole thing smells funny. Speaking of ruining threads, didn't you single handedly shut down the A500 thread in the same manner? I'm clearly the problem.

 

[gene_stl]

There used to be an old saw in audio. "Big Boxes = Big Bass, small boxes = small bass." Probably applies to rooms too.

Hey Shazb0t, we do have an ignore button available on this forum.

 

[TankTop]

There used to be an old saw in audio. "Big Boxes = Big Bass, small boxes = small bass." Probably applies to rooms too.

My Focal 706’s in my small bedroom have great bass