WHAT
I'm wanting to address a popular historic design that is perhaps well surpassed by newer technology or more technically modelled speakers - the M&K S150.
To decide if a replacement is a good choice... I need to better appreciate the ASR test regime; its pros and cons.
WHY
The review on ASR leaves me somewhat uncertain about the audible behaviour of this model vs others deemed more "scientifically pure" through the test regime used here.
What does the testing tell us, how does it matter and what does it NOT tell us that matters in a home cinema speaker?
I own M&K S150 Mk2 speakers and use them in an LCR arrangement. I have found them to be nice, dynamic and seemingly spatially accurate... but I feel a lack of dimension I had with previous Dynaudio speakers, and which I have experienced with some past speakers I have auditioned in my homes.
I can't rule out room layout as that has changed a bit with the addition of some treatments. Location has been the same though.
There is a LOT of marketing on all of these brands that makes it worse than buying a mattress as far as comparison goes.
The manner of sales today means in home demo is often impossible - and even in store is not possible for many of us (I live in Australia).
Desired Outcome
I want a "better" speaker array for my front stage and surrounds.
"Better" means:
A. Superb clarity,
B. Enormous sound stage in all dimensions;
C. Precise positioning in that field.
D. Superb dynamic capability - able to present complex detail even at lower listening levels.
E. When something needs to have "punch" to it the speaker needs to deliver that viscerally.
Speakers must be stand or shelf mount to go under a TV and bass will be provided by dedicated subs. Listening distance is 3m (is that still Nearfield?).
Some will say the S150Mk2 already offers this - a design that is engineered to steer sound vertically and horizontally with precision. Plenty of headroom with the 3 tweeters and 2 MR drivers.
The scientific plots from the ASR review suggest different compromises are possible and that some of the design ideals are ... not ideal.
So... what passive speakers deliver on what I'm after in an assuredly superior way to the S150?
What active speakers do?
If I went with genelec for example, how do you take care of surrounds?
I use an Anthem AVM90 with ARC ... so buying into Genelec or Neumann with active correction software is better or just doubling up?
I'm wanting to address a popular historic design that is perhaps well surpassed by newer technology or more technically modelled speakers - the M&K S150.
To decide if a replacement is a good choice... I need to better appreciate the ASR test regime; its pros and cons.
WHY
The review on ASR leaves me somewhat uncertain about the audible behaviour of this model vs others deemed more "scientifically pure" through the test regime used here.
What does the testing tell us, how does it matter and what does it NOT tell us that matters in a home cinema speaker?
I own M&K S150 Mk2 speakers and use them in an LCR arrangement. I have found them to be nice, dynamic and seemingly spatially accurate... but I feel a lack of dimension I had with previous Dynaudio speakers, and which I have experienced with some past speakers I have auditioned in my homes.
I can't rule out room layout as that has changed a bit with the addition of some treatments. Location has been the same though.
There is a LOT of marketing on all of these brands that makes it worse than buying a mattress as far as comparison goes.
The manner of sales today means in home demo is often impossible - and even in store is not possible for many of us (I live in Australia).
Desired Outcome
I want a "better" speaker array for my front stage and surrounds.
"Better" means:
A. Superb clarity,
B. Enormous sound stage in all dimensions;
C. Precise positioning in that field.
D. Superb dynamic capability - able to present complex detail even at lower listening levels.
E. When something needs to have "punch" to it the speaker needs to deliver that viscerally.
Speakers must be stand or shelf mount to go under a TV and bass will be provided by dedicated subs. Listening distance is 3m (is that still Nearfield?).
Some will say the S150Mk2 already offers this - a design that is engineered to steer sound vertically and horizontally with precision. Plenty of headroom with the 3 tweeters and 2 MR drivers.
The scientific plots from the ASR review suggest different compromises are possible and that some of the design ideals are ... not ideal.
So... what passive speakers deliver on what I'm after in an assuredly superior way to the S150?
What active speakers do?
If I went with genelec for example, how do you take care of surrounds?
I use an Anthem AVM90 with ARC ... so buying into Genelec or Neumann with active correction software is better or just doubling up?