Oops! Not fatigued by B&W speakers

[RexrothPigeon]

Negative. You’d have to pull my tube amps from my cold, dead hands.

sometimes change happens one funeral at a time

 

[Audio Science Pal]

My pre-amp has an equalizer. I could make them play well in my listening space.

 

[Chrispy]

Can't imagine much more imaginary bullshit when it comes to these speakers

 

[Redacted]

My 2c..
I'm less keen on classical music than I used to be. I used to go to concerts in halls where the majority of the time the sound was poor, in many different ways. It did not matter if some concerts had "amplify assist" with a few well placed mics - these were also hit and miss. Not a lot to be done other than change the venue. The main thing for me was "did they play well"? I was quite aware that classical concerts are essentially tribute bands performing a version of some music.

A small group with acoustic instruments can sound good in a pub - not just folk, I've heard classical stuff too, sounding great.

I've been seeing live bands regularly for 55 years, and for most of that time, most band's "sound" was poor, but often the the experience and the playing was good. The first band I saw live that "sounded like their records" was probably Yes in the 70s, but it's not solely about the sound, as I said.

In the last 20 years, I'm pretty sure the sound quality of live music has improved a lot, especially in the smaller venues I prefer. I recall that at most gigs you couldn't hear vocals at all, but now you almost always can! And I say that as an old geezer who likes to be grouchy about most things! Maybe it's the kit you can buy now, and increased skill levels?

Bottom line is that I'm enjoying hearing music at home that corelates so well with what I hear when I go out to see a band. Home kit is better now, and so is live gear. I have very modest home gear, and no complaints.

 

[LTig]

[..] In the last 20 years, I'm pretty sure the sound quality of live music has improved a lot, especially in the smaller venues I prefer. I recall that at most gigs you couldn't hear vocals at all, but now you almost always can! And I say that as an old geezer who likes to be grouchy about most things! Maybe it's the kit you can buy now, and increased skill levels?

Line arrays certainly play a big role here. And of course the knowledge how to place and drive them.

 

[LTig]

The first band I saw live that "sounded like their records" was probably Yes in the 70s, but it's not solely about the sound, as I said.

For me it was Kari Bremnes playing her Album Svarta Bjørn in a small location in the late 1990s. Never heard such a clear sound and ultra deep clean bass before.

 

[Redacted]

My pre-amp has an equalizer. I could make them play well in my listening space.
View attachment 534438

You only play in mono?

 

[DSJR]

Yes, I remember listening to the Matrix 805s in 1993 or 1994. I thought they were quite good. Of course, that's over 30 years ago. The B&W speakers from that era were engineered to have a flatter response than the more recent ones.

On another note, I wonder how many monitors - B&W or any other brand - are equalized to the satisfaction of the engineer. That little tidbit of information is difficult to find out, but it would be fascinating to know ... at least for me.

I liked the M805 *as long as* the listening axis was on the bass-mid driver with tweeter if anything, slightly above. Stand up (in a domestic setting) and the high frequencies subjectively detach from the plane of the box and float alarmingly above... Period ATC 20s and Jamo Concert 8s didn't seem to do this in a similar situation.

 

[Mart68]

I liked the M805 *as long as* the listening axis was on the bass-mid driver with tweeter if anything, slightly above. Stand up (in a domestic setting) and the high frequencies subjectively detach from the plane of the box and float alarmingly above... Period ATC 20s and Jamo Concert 8s didn't seem to do this in a similar situation.

A lot of speakers have poor vertical dispersion, it's not considered that important since who buys expensive high fidelity speakers and only listens to them while standing up?

 

[DSJR]

Another example of voiced speakers are Harbeth, but the designer does not claim monitor like qualities, he says it himself he tunes the speaker to a housecurve that his customer like, and then i have no issue with that and you also shouldn't. And the sound is for me at least very pleasing to the ear.

WHAT????

The days of 'The Warm Natural Sound of Harbeth' went away starting ten to fifteen years ago when the SHL5+ and M30.2 came along, a much perceived-leaner toned and 'flatter at crossover' model range was introduced, finally consolidating I believe, with the C7-XD of several years ago. The whole range has been breathed on at least twice since then and I can assure you, the XD models don't appear to have a deliberate voicing, other than all of them appearing to measure flatter it seems. The current XD2 generation recently launched, claims further improvements and dispersion seems to feature more in the blurb. I've not heard these latest versions though, sadly, but the company is committed to evolution rather than wholesale changes. Apparently though, the new active models are seriously pointing the way forward for the established models to follow, the company seemingly trying their best to update their audiophile market and apparently, distributors, into the 21st century.

 

[DSJR]

A lot of speakers have poor vertical dispersion, it's not considered that important since who buys expensive high fidelity speakers and only listens to them while standing up?

I used to in my single days - I liked to 'move/groove' with the music even after my stints with the semi-omni Linn Isobariks, this long before the days of 'Dad Dancing...' Most dems were conducted with me standing as well, so not uncommon back then. In my ATC 100A days, I'd usually be sat in a particular spot where the room modes weren't upsetting the bass (my samples measured very well thank you and I had copies of the plots done at the factory!) with a glass of alcoholic refreshment in my hand, so not 'moving/grooving' so much with the music by that time - cough...



...Bloody audiophiles, sitting there stock-still, intensely concentrating on tiny sonic aspects real or imagined, using the music as a tool to feed their hobby ...

 

[Mart68]

I used to in my single days - I liked to 'move/groove' with the music even after my stints with the semi-omni Linn Isobariks, this long before the days of 'Dad Dancing...' Most dems were conducted with me standing as well, so not uncommon back then. In my ATC 100A days, I'd usually be sat in a particular spot where the room modes weren't upsetting the bass (my samples measured very well thank you and I had copies of the plots done at the factory!) with a glass of alcoholic refreshment in my hand, so not 'moving/grooving' so much with the music by that time - cough...



...Bloody audiophiles, sitting there stock-still, intensely concentrating on tiny sonic aspects real or imagined, using the music as a tool to feed their hobby ...

I'd like to see you try to dance to ELP

 

[DSJR]

I'd like to see you try to dance to ELP

Touché

Ha - I didn't say 'Dance' as such....... 'Slaaaaaaave To The Rhythm' however

Actually, if you find the lyrics to 10CC 'The Sacro Iliac' - that's more like it these days...

('...If your mind is trippin' but your disc is slippin,' Here's what you gotta do - NOTHIN'! - In any tempo and any rhythm... Come on back, Do the Sacro Iliac...') - groan

 

[Redacted]

You can always maniacally wave arms or tap rhythms out on your knees. It can be done to say, "Tank". You may get your feet to wobble too. L

Try to get the off beats on reggae, or people will think you are disjointed. No pun intended.

 

[DSJR]

It's been mentioned before, but it seems that many larger B&Ws and PMCs are end-used facing straight ahead. The hf response off direct axis does seem a touch tamer when listed to that way, although to me these days, it's a real bodge. Many 'audiophiles' do this even with speakers designed to face the listener it seems.

 

[Oink-Oinko]

Their diamond tweeters have to count for something?

 

[Purité Audio]

It is the measurements of the whole speaker which are important.
Keith

 

[RexrothPigeon]

Their diamond tweeters have to count for something?

They do! They are great for mystifying unwitting consumers.

 

[Redacted]

They do! They are great for mystifying unwitting consumers.

What? Do you mean to say it's just marketing, and they are not carved from a large single diamond? I will write letters....

 

[Imakeller]

They do! They are great for mystifying unwitting consumers.

So, are you saying all tweeters are the same? Just saying that I think there’s more to them than just marketing.