Most beautiful speakers in the world ?

[Keith_W]

I had a very pleasurable afternoon listening to a pair of these:

YG Acoustics Ascent. This is a 3 way sealed speaker with a waveguide for the tweeter. There is nothing about the design that would make me think it would not do well on a CEA2034, but there are NO published measurements of this speaker anywhere on the internet.

I did not take any measurements today, but I have been to his house previously where I did take some measurements. These are in-room speaker measurements, taken with the intention of looking at the bass and studying the acoustics of the room. They were NOT taken to document the speaker's performance - if I wanted to do that, I would have positioned the mic on-axis at a closer distance. The speakers were facing straight ahead and the mic was at the MLP, so these are probably about 20deg off-axis which accounts for the treble drop. Nevertheless, imperfect as these measurements are, they still tell you something about the speaker:

The intention of visiting him previously was to help him sort out some of his room acoustic problems. My suggestion was to re-orient his system along the short wall and have a more symmetric listening position. He not only took up my suggestion, but he went the whole hog - installed thick acoustic curtains, engaged an acoustic consultant (Corsini Melbourne), repainted his room, etc. My little visit cost him almost $30k AUD, not counting the generous antipasto plates he prepared. When I visited today the system was transformed. Sadly, the room treatment has not been installed yet, so there were still some remaining problems.

These speakers are gorgeous, the photos don't do them justice. The front baffle is a huge billet of machined aluminium. The rest of the enclosure is obviously veneer, but they did a good job of making it look like solid wood.

I was super impressed by the sound. I don't know how they do it, but the attack on the transients is really something else. Super sharp and clean. This reminds me that as much as I think I know about measurements, there are still a lot of things I do not know. Like, why my speakers don't have the same attack that his does.

I have no idea why YG does not publish spinoramas, or send their speakers to reputable reviewers like Erin. These speakers cost about the same as KEF Blade 2's, and if KEF can send their speakers to Erin, so can YG. Based on what I heard today, I don't think that they have anything to be scared of.

 

[thewas]

have no idea why YG does not publish spinoramas, or send their speakers to reputable reviewers like Erin. These speakers cost about the same as KEF Blade 2's, and if KEF can send their speakers to Erin, so can YG. Based on what I heard today, I don't think that they have anything to be scared of.

YG has sent quite some of their models in the past to Stereophile where they showed nice on-axis linearity and smooth directivity (thanks to their waveguide), exemplary:

YG Acoustics Carmel 2 loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the YG Acoustics Carmel 2's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield and spatially averaged room responses.

www.stereophile.com

YG Acoustics Sonja 1.3 loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements Because of the YGA Sonja 1.3's bulk and mass, I performed the farfield measurements, using DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone, only on the Sonja 1.1 module. For the nearfield and spatially averaged room responses of all three modules, I used an...

www.stereophile.com

YG Acoustics Anat Reference II Professional loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements I measured the YG Acoustics Anat Reference II Professional's behavior mainly using DRA Labs' MLSSA system with a calibrated DPA microphone and an Earthworks Zero Distortion preamplifier. Because of the bulk and mass of the two woofer sections, I could perform a complete...

www.stereophile.com

I would guess they expect rather Stereophile readers to buy loudspeakers in that price range than EAC or ASR ones, at least I would do in their position (or even better to both of course).

 

[MattHooper]

YG Acoustics Ascent. This is a 3 way sealed speaker with a waveguide for the tweeter. There is nothing about the design that would make me think it would not do well on a CEA2034, but there are NO published measurements of this speaker anywhere on the internet.

Actually my buddy reviewed the YG Peaks Ascent speakers for soundstage and they were measured at the NRC, here:

SoundStageNetwork.com | SoundStage.com - NRC Measurements: YG Acoustics Peaks Ascent Loudspeaker

soundstagenetwork.com

I listened to them a number of times at his place. There was actually a problem with those speakers in his room - they sounded really lean. It required the speakers being pushed more towards the corners of the room to get a more even balance.

I found it a bit surprising that the YG speakers would end up being among the more finicky speakers to set up (at least at his place).

Anyway, once they were in a good spot, I would agree with your descriptions. To use some audiophile words: very “fast” and clear sounding, like you I noticed how sharp and clear and lively transients were. Very “live” (or perhaps more vivid than live).

They had it overall tonality that was quite nice too. In the end I prefer a bit more lush sound.

 

[Soniclife]

I found it a bit surprising that the YG speakers would end up being among the more finicky speakers to set up (at least at his place

The measurements show the bottom end to be a few dB too lean, it's like they have been designed to go against a wall, which I find surprising.

 

[MattHooper]

The measurements show the bottom end to be a few dB too lean, it's like they have been designed to go against a wall, which I find surprising.

Yeah I was surprised.

My friend had been struggling with them and called me over to have a listen. He didn’t tell me what he thought. He just had me sit down and listen and give my impression.

I sat down and close my eyes and listened for a while and then I said “ boy, these sound lean and bright! I close my eyes and I think I could be listening to a small stand mounted mini monitor, and then I open my eyes and I see these big speakers in front of me. It’s sort of bizarre. So little bass.”

He said those were precisely his impressions too, so we tried moving them around the room a bit but didn’t get anything great.
They were measured and the measurement guys said “ oh yeah, these are going to have to get closer to a room boundary or they’re going to sound lean.”

Pushing them towards the room corners was the fix in that particular room.

I’d always wanted to hear YG speakers because of the type of claims they made for their speakers and the fact they did seem to measure well. So it was a bit strange to be so disappointed at first.

 

[Soniclife]

Yeah I was surprised.

My friend had been struggling with them and called me over to have a listen. He didn’t tell me what he thought. He just had me sit down and listen and give my impression.

I sat down and close my eyes and listened for a while and then I said “ boy, these sound lean and bright! I close my eyes and I think I could be listening to a small stand mounted mini monitor, and then I open my eyes and I see these big speakers in front of me. It’s sort of bizarre. So little bass.”

He said those were precisely his impressions too, so we tried moving them around the room a bit but didn’t get anything great.
They were measured and the measurement guys said “ oh yeah, these are going to have to get closer to a room boundary or they’re going to sound lean.”

Pushing them towards the room corners was the fix in that particular room.

I’d always wanted to hear YG speakers because of the type of claims they made for their speakers and the fact they did seem to measure well. So it was a bit strange to be so disappointed at first.

I'm guessing the manufacturer doesn't recommend placing close to a wall? How did they sound with some wall assistance?

I seem to prefer speakers against the wall with some low end attenuation to compensate, to the alternative, done right for me there are no drawbacks.

 

[MattHooper]

I'm guessing the manufacturer doesn't recommend placing close to a wall?

I don’t think they do actually. I’m not 100% certain though.

How did they sound with some wall assistance?

They sounded generally quite evenly balanced, with pretty tight punchy bass, and still a little bit leaning forward sounding in the mid and highs.

The thing is, I think I have a bit of a prejudice about speakers going near walls to take advantage of wall boundary effects.

It reminds me of when I auditioned Audio Note speakers, which were set up in the traditional audio note way, the speakers placed in the corners. This resulted in quite a big rich and generally balanced sound.
But I always felt aware that I was hearing boundary reinforced bass. There is something just a little bit “fake” about it to me. I don’t know. I’ve played a lot with boundary reinforcement myself over the years with different speakers and maybe I think I’m a bit attuned to that sound (not that I could be sure about identifying it in blind listening).

So I had a little bit of a similar reaction to the YGs once they replaced closer to corners.
Yes, they sounded pretty balanced, but to me there was also a little bit of “ fake bass” vibe.
All that could be entirely due to the fact I’d already heard them without boundary reinforcement and had therefore formed a sort of prejudice. But that still how things struck me. I generally prefer speakers that don’t need to be near a wall in order to have deep tight bass.

I seem to prefer speakers against the wall with some low end attenuation to compensate, to the alternative, done right for me there are no drawbacks.

That makes sense. I mean, that’s what is often happening in systems with subwoofers and DSP.

 

[Short38]

There are many beautiful DIY speakers. Here is one with instructions: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...r-speaker-builds.352063/page-105#post-7246658

View attachment 436097


In my town is a retired woodworker who makes spheres from scrap wood

This would terrify most. But the workmanship is gorgeous!

 

[JiiPee]

I don’t think they do actually. I’m not 100% certain though.




They sounded generally quite evenly balanced, with pretty tight punchy bass, and still a little bit leaning forward sounding in the mid and highs.

The thing is, I think I have a bit of a prejudice about speakers going near walls to take advantage of wall boundary effects.

It reminds me of when I auditioned Audio Note speakers, which were set up in the traditional audio note way, the speakers placed in the corners. This resulted in quite a big rich and generally balanced sound.
But I always felt aware that I was hearing boundary reinforced bass. There is something just a little bit “fake” about it to me. I don’t know. I’ve played a lot with boundary reinforcement myself over the years with different speakers and maybe I think I’m a bit attuned to that sound (not that I could be sure about identifying it in blind listening).

So I had a little bit of a similar reaction to the YGs once they replaced closer to corners.
Yes, they sounded pretty balanced, but to me there was also a little bit of “ fake bass” vibe.
All that could be entirely due to the fact I’d already heard them without boundary reinforcement and had therefore formed a sort of prejudice. But that still how things struck me. I generally prefer speakers that don’t need to be near a wall in order to have deep tight bass.



That makes sense. I mean, that’s what is often happening in systems with subwoofers and DSP.

Imho, having speakers with slightly attenuated low end response just like the YG measurements show, is often a good choice for smallish listening rooms, if one does not have DSP. In this case, one man's finicky regarding placement, becomes other man's adjustability for low end balance. In my experience, in a small room without DSP, it is much easier to get the needed bass boost with careful placement, than taming the bass response of a speaker that sounded "lush" at the dealer's listening room, but became "boomy" at home.

 

[MattHooper]

In this case, one man's finicky regarding placement, becomes other man's adjustability for low end balance.

Good way to put it.

Through the decades, I’ve tended to frequent dealers who were chill about setting up a speaker the way I wanted, when I would demo them in stores. Basically I would do my best to re-create how I normally listen, so I would pull them out from the front wall to about the same distance I would do that at home, I would listen at the same same distance, spread them out about the same distance. That, and playing around a bit more with placement and listener position, would end up giving me a good idea of what I would hear at home. So I was virtually never surprised once I got a speaker into my room, in terms of the general characteristics and overall balance.

 

[MattHooper]

Gotta post another image of the Joseph Audio Pearls. Very Wattpuppy-like shape, but for me, the choice of materials and craftsmanship makes all the difference;

And I still never tire of the look of my own Joseph Perspective 2s:

 

[Lekha]

I sat down and close my eyes and listened for a while and then I said “ boy, these sound lean and bright! I close my eyes and I think I could be listening to a small stand mounted mini monitor, and then I open my eyes and I see these big speakers in front of me. It’s sort of bizarre. So little bass.”

What type of music did you listen to? Was there any hard rock?

 

[Arindal]

boy, these sound lean and bright!

I am not familiar with the model in question, but I have heard others by the same manufacturer and found particularly the 4-7K band elevated in the room which might match your impression. Lower bass was definitely present, but rather lean, tight and dry, if that makes sense.

measurement guys said “ oh yeah, these are going to have to get closer to a room boundary or they’re going to sound lean.”

The difficulty with this advice is that some walls might not be solid walls but a drywall construction, which oftentimes attenuates bass even further instead of reflecting it.

From time to time I listen to loudspeakers with either overly massive or overly thin bass, thinking their lower region has been specifically tuned for either solid walls (´British construction´) or drywall/wooden walls (´North American style´).

 

[Lekha]

This is a 3 way sealed speaker with a waveguide for the tweeter. There is nothing about the design that would make me think it would not do well on a CEA2034, but there are NO published measurements of this speaker anywhere on the internet.

The reason must be its failure to produce a satisfactory sound output, disregarding the marketing hype. Perhaps, if designed solely as a monitor without the enclosed lower section, it might function adequately as a closed system. However, with the lower section attempting to serve as the subwoofer, it will not perform effectively within a closed system.

 

[Bleib]

Aurum cantus country rhyme 5

 

[Waxx]

These are (modern build) custom deliberated oldskool looking and sounding speakers. They used to be custom hand build by a (now retired) UKbuilder Axis Valv-A-Tron (he also made tube amps and so). It's a 3 way with a coax top and a bass cabinet. He does still run a retro reggae soundsystem with similar build (but bigger) cabinets and tube amps. This was his hifi/small bar version. They are now out of production off course, but they are extreme welll and beautifull (if you like this style) build.

 

[MattHooper]

What type of music did you listen to? Was there any hard rock?

I can’t totally remember there was a range of stuff, including some prog (king crimson) acoustic, electronica etc

I was actually asking my buddy yesterday whether he enjoyed on bombastic stuff like hard rock on the YGs and he said “ oh yeah, they were great with that.”

 

[Lekha]

Hand made from Russia. A notable placement of the tweeter and its angle.

 

[Bleib]

QLN

 

[Soniclife]

It reminds me of when I auditioned Audio Note speakers, which were set up in the traditional audio note way, the speakers placed in the corners. This resulted in quite a big rich and generally balanced sound.
But I always felt aware that I was hearing boundary reinforced bass. There is something just a little bit “fake” about it to me. I don’t know. I’ve played a lot with boundary reinforcement myself over the years with different speakers and maybe I think I’m a bit attuned to that sound (not that I could be sure about identifying it in blind listening).

Close to wall usually comes with some very large resonances, that absolutely need to be dealt with, is that what you hear as fake? I'm assuming you didn't use EQ with close to the wall experiments?

Those resonances are not that tricky to fix, a few PEQs will sort them. There is other less obvious gain that needs pulling down a DB or 2 to get back to a clean sound, low Q shelf filters can work. It's a different challenge from just moving speakers around the room, but for me a much more successful one.