Expensive loudspeakers that sound bad

[mhardy6647]

Hahaha that's relatable. I use a pair of Klipsch Heresy I in my main setup. It is not a great loudspeaker, but I can't help but love it still.

They're lively.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Anything by ZU.
Keith

Never heard them, and, after seeing their FR curves and reading about the founder's attitude toward crossovers, and bass ports, I know better than to waste my time.

 

[steve59]

Interesting how some speakers are tuned for a specific type of music and we don't notice their deficiencies until trying different genres.

 

[adm]

Interesting how some speakers are tuned for a specific type of music and we don't notice their deficiencies until trying different genres.

The old Acoustic Research (AR) company, whose goal was a flat energy response, believed that a loudspeaker should sound good with all genres of music. My experience is that speakers with a flat response sound good with all genres. On the other hand, colored speakers tailor their response to a particular kind of music.

 

[steve59]

I disagree. My salon 2's contoured my music tastes nearly as much as my kef R105/3's. those kef's were probably to this day the flattest measuring speakers made and they cut my listenable selection by 80%. Hi rez speakers are high risk high reward if someone like me doesn't have access to a wide batch of components to make them sing. I don't play or sing, have no degrees, but have lost a fair size pile of money on "perfect" speakers that didn't agree with the rest of my room and system. I don't think 2 channel speakers should be designed with the same criteria as home theater speakers either.

 

[MarcelH]

Wilsons. They don't produce music, just sound. Maybe good for recording studio but for listening, no.

 

[Deleted member 58670]

Not sure if I agree. I've heard several Watt/Puppy and the newer version called Sasha. They both measure and sound quite good I think.

 

[Frank Dernie]

Wilsons. They don't produce music, just sound. Maybe good for recording studio but for listening, no.

I don't agree at all.
I loved the original WATT and as a result also sought out and listened to the original WAMM which was underwhelming, particularly next to the Goldmund Analog and Apologue that were in the same room.

I have also enjoyed other Wilsons.

They are rather expensive for what they are though IMO.
A friend has Sabrinas in a cleverly treated room (he was the first non-studio guy I know who thoroughly measured his room and custom designed Helmholz absorbers to control modes) sounded great to me but it is a few years now.

 

[MarcelH]

Well, I've heard them in audio fairs, maybe it was the choice of music or the room, maybe with different choice of music or room or electronics... but what i've heard wasn't very pleasant or listenable

 

[DSJR]

I don't agree at all.
I loved the original WATT and as a result also sought out and listened to the original WAMM which was underwhelming, particularly next to the Goldmund Analog and Apologue that were in the same room.

I have also enjoyed other Wilsons.

They are rather expensive for what they are though IMO.
A friend has Sabrinas in a cleverly treated room (he was the first non-studio guy I know who thoroughly measured his room and custom designed Helmholz absorbers to control modes) sounded great to me but it is a few years now.

I have to admit I spent much working time with original WITTs and they sounded fine, if totally dependent on the amp (power) driving them. Back then in the UK, ATC 100A's did it rather better for less money though, once the amp was factored in Oh, and the 'British Leyland Orange Peel' paint finish on the side panels wasn't nice either bearing in mind the price

 

[MarcelH]

Also, didn't like B&Ws in many occasions i've heard them. Sonus Fabers are mixed bag. Hit and miss.

Magicos are good on the other hand, Dynaudio (very dynamical sound, refined and neutral), ATC's are stunning but it seems they have to be played loud to give their best, and AN setups were usally kings of the show

 

[Frank Dernie]

Well, I've heard them in audio fairs, maybe it was the choice of music or the room, maybe with different choice of music or room or electronics... but what i've heard wasn't very pleasant or listenable

I have heard them in shows and dealers and homes several times over the last 30 or 40 years and they have almost always sounded great.

Not always and certainly too pricy though the SLAMM was on my short list to audition in the 1990s along with B&W Nautilus and Goldmund Epilog 1&2.

I ended up with the Goldmunds and still enjoy them daily so the quality is enjoyed long after the price is forgotten!

I have tried more modern speakers but haven't preferred any of them enough to change so far.

 

[MarcelH]

Well in audio shows they tend to set up systems to emphasize detailed reproduction so maybe that's the problem... as for Goldmunds, never heard them.

 

[Frank Dernie]

Also, didn't like B&Ws in many occasions i've heard them. Sonus Fabers are mixed bag. Hit and miss.

Magicos are good on the other hand, Dynaudio (very dynamical sound, refined and neutral), ATC's are stunning but it seems they have to be played loud to give their best, and AN setups were usally kings of the show

I had Sonus Faber Extremas before the Goldmunds and enjoyed them.
My favourites recently have been Magico but not enough to change what I have.
I bought a Genelec 8341 to hear what all the fuss was about. It is very nice and now centre speaker if I watch a film.

 

[MarcelH]

Sonus Faber of Franco Serblin's era allegedly have very little in common with modern ones. However, dfferent conemporary SF lines sound very different.

 

[jsrtheta]

Single-driver speakers, the speaker equivalent of a Reliant Robin... You don't need to hear/drive one to know it will fail.

That may have been the funniest Top Gear I ever saw.

 

[mhardy6647]

In fairness (and, mind you, I even kind of like the things*), a single-driver (so-called fullrange driver) loudspeaker is more akin to a one wheeled Reliant.

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* "full-range" drivers, that is... although the Reliants and their ilk were/are also all kind of cute.