Klipsch Big Guns

[Petrushka]

I can think of two things that would contribute to speakers sounding realistic under the conditions I described, and both of them can be measured:

From outside the room, through an open doorway and with no line of sight to the speakers, all you are hearing is reflected sound. If the spectral balance of that reflected sound is correct, that would contribute to realism.

Also, assuming the volume level is up pretty high, you would be able to hear dynamic contrast from outside the room. So good dynamic capability would contribute to realism under those conditions.

What kind of speaker system might have these characteristics? Perhaps a large, fairly constant-directivity horn system?

I can verify the subjective experience that some speakers sound really good when the listener is in another room.

By good, I mean they give the impression of live music. In another room.

 

[Petrushka]

I had some garage sale Klipsch bookshelf speakers.

My favorite thing about them was the sterling silver medallion.

 

[mhardy6647]

I can verify the subjective experience that some speakers sound really good when the listener is in another room.

By good, I mean they give the impression of live music. In another room.

Many folks who enjoy loudspeakers like these have opined that the second best placement option for most of the Heritage Klipsch speakers is face down on the floor. The best option of all is in someone else's house.

 

[Mart68]

I can verify the subjective experience that some speakers sound really good when the listener is in another room.

By good, I mean they give the impression of live music. In another room.

We have a meet once a year in the back room of a pub. Quite large room. I was in the corridor connecting the front and back rooms. There was a taxi driver stood there on the phone, saying 'It's all happening here, they've got a band in the back room.'

The speakers were these:

TX-55 Signature Floorstanding Loudspeakers

The New TX range contains 3 high end signature model, these are the TX-25, TX-55, and the Flagship TX-66. The signature range differs from the normal TX range due to the higher tolerance of components used in construction, all signature speakers are 100% driver matched and all crossover...

alchrisaudio.co.uk

I think the 'sounds real outside the room' thing is just down to the ability of the speakers to play at high SPL without compression or distortion. Not that hard especially if the recording is just a single instrument and the speaker's a decent size.

 

[Skeptical_Aus]

Except that's not really what I said.

Can you think of any reason why speakers might sound realistic from outside the room and down the hallway, with no line-of-sight? What might they have been doing that was similar to what a live instrument would do under those conditions?

My comment was a jest.

 

[Duke]

My comment was a jest.

Ooops! SORRY ABOUT THAT!!

 

[Skeptical_Aus]

Ooops! SORRY ABOUT THAT!!

It's me who should be sorry, sarcasm being the lowest form of wit...

 

[mhardy6647]

It's me who should be sorry, sarcasm being the lowest form of wit...

But often greatly appreciated, and very funny.
Klipsch is a low-hanging fruit, though.

 

[Mr. Widget]

Many folks who enjoy loudspeakers like these have opined that the second best placement option for most of the Heritage Klipsch speakers is face down on the floor. The best option of all is in someone else's house.

I won't argue about Klipsch being low hanging fruit, however over the years I have heard quite a few audiophiles say similar things about Altec. In the 80's when I was studying recording engineering we had several A7s in the studio for playback and other tasks. They were universally panned as "the worst sounding speakers of all time". Now days there are lots of audiophile who love their vintage Altecs... times change.

Personally I love Altec and Klipsch... I just don't like listening to most of them.

 

[mhardy6647]

I hear you, @Mr. Widget.
Oh, I am pro-Altec.
Owned a pair of Cornwalls for a decade. Liked some things about them, but all in all the midrange was way too aggressive for me. Some nasty resonances, too, that turned, e.g., Alison Krauss into an icepick in my ear.
I don't feel that way about Altecs, though.