Magnepan LRS Speaker Review

[MattHooper]

You said it correctly, Matt. There are no "facts" to be learned from this exercise.

For sure, there’s nothing of substance that could inform anybody about which loudspeaker to purchase!

It is disappointing that so many people don't realize that this is not a useful indicator of the relative merits of these loudspeakers, and that the providers of the video, the authors of a book on "high end" audio, think it is.

What’s amazing is that there are plenty of these type of audio comparison videos on YouTube, and you can see in the comment sections there are some people who actually do take them as substantially informative, and are coming to judgements about the loudspeakers from a YouTube video!


I think, as long as one is aware of all the caveats, such as the ones you have written out, these videos can still be a bit of fun.
It’s not that hard to hold that substantial judgements about the sound of loudspeakers over YouTube is absurd, while still finding the relative differences in these recordings to be entertaining or interesting.

I’ve been doing recordings for something like 45 years now, including tons of in the field recordings, so I’m acutely aware of microphone colorations, and the way the microphones do not hear like “ two ears and a brain.” But I’ve actually occasionally made recordings of my own sound systems just out of curiosity, and that has been interesting.

Ultimately, with these type of YouTube comparisons, we are simply comparing differences in the recordings not the actual speakers - the way the microphone “heard” things. But I still find it fascinating to check out how the microphone “ heard things” when a variety of loudspeakers are played in front of that microphone.

And it is always possible that some relative differences between the loudspeakers could translate in the recording such as one speaker being obviously brighter versus another speaker being more rolled off. As long as one is not putting too much stock into such comparisons, because of all the uncontrolled variables, for me it’s no harm no foul in taking a bit of pleasure in these videos.

My current motto:

My view is that liking the art and liking one’s loudspeakers are not mutually exclusive.
I can do both at the same time.

In fact, I find this mutual appreciation enhances my experience listening to music on my system. I can be thrilled by the music, and at the same time notice “wow this sound quality is amazing, I love these darned speakers!” and it makes for an enriched experience. That combination has been what has kept me in this hobby for so long.

In audio as in anything, the more information is better, so that you can make your decisions advisedly (and not get ripped off with snake oil). Hence the huge value of a site like this.

But so long as you generally understand whatever trade-offs you are making, then how you practice this hobby is up to you. Whether you enjoy building giant, crazy horn systems powered by DIY SET tube amps, or you’re seeking out the latest lowest distortion equipment from Benchmark or KEF speakers or whatever…. we all have our own ways to bliss and this hobby offers lots of different routes for different people.**

I personally wouldn’t want to see all this variation and options disappear, to the point where everything gets commoditized.
Ideally many speaker manufacturers would continue to improve designs by the lights of the best scientific research, so those options are available for anybody seeking that route.

But alongside this, I would prefer to see niche products, bespoke or idiosyncratic or whatever, to remain options for those pursuing their own niche/goals/criteria.

I’m certainly aware this is a minority view in this particular forum, but…hey…good faith differences of opinion are part of the fun of enthusiast communities

**(this is not to deny, nor is it incompatible with, the blind test research showing convergence in preferences for neutral equipment)

 

[MattHooper]

on the subject of viewing YouTube videos of audio equipment, just wanted to add:

These days I can’t get out to audio shows (and I’ve always loved attending audio shows).

However, I have a wonderful high performance projection based home theatre system with a really nice surround system.
And I’m able to make my room into the equivalent of a black box (pulling black velvet drapes around the entire room, etc.) so the room feels like it mostly disappears from view and there’s only the big projected image right in front of me.

I love to watch high-quality video walk throughs of audio shows from around the world in these conditions, on my projection screen. The video quality from many such videos these days can be fairly astonishing on a high-quality projector. There is a real “ I could walk right into that room” sensation.
This is accompanied by upmixing the YouTube stereo recording to surround.

The result with a good video with good sound quality is an almost uncanny sensation of strolling around an audio show, and entering all the different rooms to sit down and listen to the system. The way the sound changes character distinctly as the video camera and microphone move from room to different room, adds to this sensation of realism and being there.

Of course, in no way, would I make any actual judgements about the sound of the equipment in the video. But as a simply entertaining experience, a sort of fantasy sub substitute for being there, this sense of transportation to a show is wonderful!

 

[Newman]

Disney and Netflix for entertainment, listening to great recordings of great music for entertainment, and all the more entertaining when undistracted by audible playback colourations.

Going to an audio science website to read sighted listening reports, interminable defences of sighted listening reports, and suggestions that we watch sighted listening videos of loudspeakers, ....not so entertaining IMHO.

And since I am the second person to not find it entertaining, it's nice to know I am not alone.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

Unfortunately, I don't find this entertaining.

I agree. It would be entertaining if it were innocent and harmless, but instead it's perpetuating BS that is widely used to deceive and manipulate consumers.

 

[MattHooper]

Disney and Netflix for entertainment, listening to great recordings of great music for entertainment, and all the more entertaining when undistracted by audible playback colourations.

Going to an audio science website to read sighted listening reports, interminable defences of sighted listening reports, and suggestions that we watch sighted listening videos of loudspeakers, ....not so entertaining IMHO.

And since I am the second person to not find it entertaining, it's nice to know I am not alone.

Cool. You don’t have to find it entertaining at all! Nor are you forced to watch the video. All opinions welcome!

I don’t go to football games or Tom Waits concerts because I don’t find those entertaining.

Surely plenty of other ASR members don’t find those vids entertaining either, but some of us do. Just as many ASR members wouldn’t be caught dead watching an audio review channel, but some of us enjoy watching them for entertainment.

That’s the great thing about not having one single view forced upon us. Even on ASR

 

[RickS]

This thread has drifted off topic as can happen to an older thread and either needs to move the discussion to an appropriate existing thread or start a new one.

Thanks for your cooperation!

 

[lowmagnet]

I still want a pair of LRS+ but I've been building a house for a year now and it's taking all my monies.