First half sentence: not generally (of course there might be some very flawed odd exceptions - there is a big existing thread where this is discussed).
I would interpret the R5 as slightly better but one should not obsess over every small squiggle ? It’s the general trend that counts
While I agree there are a lot of amps that would sound the same, I've heard more than enough that just sound different. So far, I've still ended up preferring the "normal" amplifiers.
I hear sibilants occasionally with the R3 Meta, especially from from female vocals. It may be in the recording. I find the problem worth it for the detail the R3 provides in some instruments. I'm very pleased with these speakers.
Is this placement dependent ? Ive heard that one should not point coax drivers directly at you but listen sligthly off axis not so much toe-in you’re used to with conventional speakers .
Sibilance is in the 5-10KHz range. I suppose it is possible that bump from 8-10KHz is what you are noticing. You could pull it down with EQ, and it is tamed significantly 10 degrees off axis.
I don't know if sibilants is placement depedent. I hear it sitting in the ideal position with the speakers square to the room (10-15 degrees off access?). But I don't hear it often, and I only hear it when the mic is obviously near clipping. It's just like hearing sibilants in a live performance due to audio engineering choices. So the issue is perhaps the revealing nature of the tweeter and not a speaker design compromise.
I compared the original R3 against the LX in my room and preferred the LX by a fairly wide margin,however the R3 Meta fixed a few of my complaints I had with the original,which was mainly the treble response. I prefer a little wider dispersion than the R3,so that was part of my decision as well.
I went from the R3 to the R3 Metas. I like the improvements in the Meta version, but it is hard to argue for it’s value proposition vs the original R3’s. Now that I also run PEQ filters, I would probably have been happy with the old R3’s too.
Do you EQ your Metas also above 500 Hz and if yes, how?
Currently away for work, so I don’t have any specific data in front of me. But yes, generally some (broad) filters for the higher frequencies above 2kHz.. my target curve already matches quite well with the natural response here, so the correction is on the gentle side. I do have some uneveness in the 500-2kHz mids region, where I find the filters do a good job.
So what do you do with the center channel then!
Slightly below your ear’s would also do ( or above) I assume ? I think it’s alright compared to all those flawed centers who are mtm .
don’t move !
Get some foam studio monitor stands and aim it just overhead by 10°.
