What are the flattest measuring studio monitors?

[terryforsythe]

You cannot address modes which lead to cancellation using EQ. Doesn't matter if it's Dirac or GLM or MA1 or Audessey etc.

Here is the frequency response at my listening position (3m) in my family room (modified Elac UBR 62 speakers and Velodyne HGS-18 sub) back when I use to EQ all the way. (Currently I only EQ at the listening position up to 400Hz or so). This is with Dirac Live and some manual EQ using a miniDSP Flex HTx. The graph probably has 1/12 smoothing applied.

Below is the frequency response at my listening position (2m) in my office (KEF LS60 speakers) back when I use to EQ all the way. This is with all manual EQ using CamillaDSP. I don't remember if this is the left channel or right channel, but both channels were about the same. The graph probably has 1/24 smoothing applied. (Some, if not much, of the THD rise below 35Hz is due to the walls, and things in the room, vibrating - it is better when close mic'd).

Both rooms have significant modes.

 

[terryforsythe]

Although multiple subwoofers are the best way of dealing with room modes, especially over a wide area, having multiple subs is not a practical solution for all people and all rooms.

As seen in my frequency response graphs posted above, when tuning for a particular listening position, DSP can be quite effective at addressing room modes, including dips due to room modes. Indeed, in one system I only have one subwoofer, and in the other system I don't have any! The caveat is that you want to make sure you have components that have output capability required to fill in the dips at your listening SPL.

In my office, my KEF LS60 speakers just make it within the CEA-2010 distortion limits around 23Hz, as measured at my listening position, at the upper end of my listening volume. That is a subwoofer specification, though, not a speaker specification. I have a PEQ at 26.7Hz I could dial back if for some reason I decide to play the speakers louder, which is not likely.

 

[stevenswall]

The Genelec 8260 still seems to be one of the most accurate if you are just looking for the flattest on axis response:

29 Hz - 20 kHz(± 1 dB)

Most other speakers aren't going to stay flat that low into the bass, and are +/-1.5 to 3dB.

The coaxial Genelec models also maintain that flatness better with off axis listening, and keep in mind that desk bounce is going to be weird with any non-coaxial two way driver.

Neumann is the only other company I see come close. Curious to see how well the Kali SM5 and SM8 series does though.

 

[MaxBuck]

Mesanovic RTM10s are also pretty doggone flat.

 

[Heinrich]

... an up to date answer.

Dunno if anyone picked that up already, but: 'mine'. Because they can be equalised to need. In case you won't do that in your case for any reason, well.

@terryforsythe mentions his achievements (post #21 ff), but they are meant to show the diffuse field (which is *not* any of the 'predicted responses' according to spinorama), which is meant to do not nothing but less than expected, according to lluminaries in the field. Question is, though, if in the near field the desk's reflection, or may be the floor's or arm chair's reflection have to be taken into account, as they are so close?

Thank you for any help.

I perfectly understand the desire to get a most proper device for starters. Lots of money involved for most of us. But there are limitations as stated above. I don't mean to frustrate you. Granted, to the contrary. You may widen the perspective.

 

[kimmosto]

The Genelec 8260 still seems to be one of the most accurate if you are just looking for the flattest on axis response:

But it was one of the worst available in time domain. Sound was thin, weak and soundstage scattered at HF.

 

[Purité Audio]

Not how I remember my pair of 8260’s.
Keith

 

[Behrelec 37]

I also have 8260 a speakers and I can say that the sound is very audibly clean. You can play anything and the sound is beautiful (try aes/ebu/coax and bluray player after that with movie tracks you will surely be amazed !!!). The difference with the latest 8361a model is the bass strength and the overbrightening of the sound image or in terms of imagery the amount of light is as if even whiter, otherwise both models give pretty much the same sound and accuracy.The 8260 model is no longer manufactured, but it still beats many expensive speakers with its superior sound quality. The 8260a model also goes lower in frequencies than the newer 8361a

 

[kimmosto]

Much dramatic view to time domain of the original 8260A is to show RMS of step response from the start of impulse, and compare it to minimum-phase version from the same magnitude response.

Comparison in dB scale

RMS pressure of ideal transient drops more than 10 dB while the first two milliseconds. This is not probably the only reason why the speakers are so lame with low micro-dynamics at any SPL, sound is thin and soundstage screws up in widish listening geometry. Relatively constant directivity from the mid-range to top octave is not the most natural with speakers having quite low directivity index. Speakers with low directivity should "emulate" DI response of natural instruments and vocalists to avoid losing energy at mid-range in the listening rooms.
Fortunately those speakers are history, and new models have improved in some features.

 

[Steakhouse]

Impulse response measurements are pretty meaningless when it comes to sound quality. This aside the impulse and phase response looks like any other 3 way speaker without phase correction.

 

[kimmosto]

Impulse response measurements are pretty meaningless when it comes to sound quality. This aside the impulse and phase response looks like any other 3 way speaker without phase correction.

Impulse response measurement is usually "the root" measurement to get frequency response with FFT analysis so it's one of the most important measurements.
If you mean significance of time domain in general, you cannot generalize it due to radical differences between speakers and possible setups with subwoofer. Time domain should be measured and published in every review. For example tonal difference between my previous example (8260A) with subwoofer crossed at 80 Hz LR24 and it's minimum phase version is quite close to night and day also with headphones which is limited method due to missing sensors. Poor GD is audible also without subwoofer XO. Unfortunately it's still quite common claim that time domain is insignificant or not even audible, but those claims are simply lies as generalizations.