What do you look for the most in stereo loud speakers?

[theREALdotnet]

I picked spatial performance, that's very important to me. I seek out speakers, room setups and recordings that maximise this experience for me.

If I could have picked two, I would have also chosen low distortion and resonances. If I could have picked three, I would have added low compression (and even compression across the band).

 

[MattHooper]

I picked spatial performance, that's very important to me. I seek out speakers, room setups and recordings that maximise this experience for me.

The replies have been interesting.

I too highly value spatial performance. Every loudspeaker I’ve owned has had to perform really well that way - I love the wall-melting “ Star Trek Holo-Deck” aspect of being transported to different soundscapes.

On the other hand as I mentioned, at least of terms of my own speaker purchases, even such spatial performance mean essentially nothing if the speaker first doesn’t sound tonally/tmbrally pleasing to me.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I

On the other hand as I mentioned, at least of terms of my own speaker purchases, even such spatial performance mean essentially nothing if the speaker first doesn’t sound tonally/tmbrally pleasing to me.

I don't know if it is possible to achieve a convincing spatial performance (soundstage, imaging, depth localization, holography, etc.) without properly balanced timbre/tonality.

 

[MattHooper]

I

I don't know if it is possible to achieve a convincing spatial performance (soundstage, imaging, depth localization, holography, etc.) without properly balanced timbre/tonality.

I can see what you mean theoretically, but in practice….

Off the top of my head: both Erin and the Soundstage reviewer found the Borresen X3 / X6 speakers had strengths in sound staging and imaging - wide deep sound staging, plenty of spatial detail, and very precise imaging. And yet those speakers measured with obvious frequency deviations and resonance in the bass.

From my own experience, I auditioned some Raidho speakers that had their obviously sculpted house sound (dip in the upper mid range) and yet they imaged and sound staged impressively (though in comparison with Revel or my Thiel 3.7 speakers, certain instruments sounded a bit more muted or recessed).

Also off the top of my head… I was a fan of audio, physic speakers having had both the original Virgo and Libra in my room and really loved the sound. I loved the combination of incredible disappearing act, deep, wide, sound staging, precise imaging, but with beautiful tonality. They tended to measure generally quite neutral.

Years later, I saw a great price on a used pair of Audio Physic Scorpio so I grabbed that pair.

They disappeared in imaged like bastards. It really was fairly breathtaking. And yet I simply didn’t like their tonality.

I wonder if I was perhaps hearing more of their on axis tonal deviations, versus the flatter room response also depicted in the Stereophile Scorpio Measurements

 

[theREALdotnet]

On the other hand as I mentioned, at least of terms of my own speaker purchases, even such spatial performance mean essentially nothing if the speaker first doesn’t sound tonally/tmbrally pleasing to me.

I can't relate to that, as I've never encountered a speaker that imaged well but sounded bad otherwise. That may be because I haven't heard nearly as many different speakers as some of you guys.

 

[Arindal]

I can't relate to that, as I've never encountered a speaker that imaged well but sounded bad otherwise.

Try some exotic large-cone fullrange concepts, like Omega, Voxativ, or maybe Manger. They all offer some indisputable (and for many listeners unacceptable) flaws, but imaging and ambience alone can be pretty amazing.

 

[Mart68]

Can anyone name a speaker that, even when impeccably set up in a good acoustic, fails to present a good stereo image?

I don't think I've ever encountered that. Even my TV system where the speakers are directly either side of the screen, set up in the only place they can go, can replicate soundstage events that happen six feet out from either side of them - if that information is on the sound track.

 

[dfuller]

Can anyone name a speaker that, even when impeccably set up in a good acoustic, fails to present a good stereo image?

I don't think I've ever encountered that. Even my TV system where the speakers are directly either side of the screen, set up in the only place they can go, can replicate soundstage events that happen six feet out from either side of them - if that information is on the sound track.

I have; it's usually a result of an overly reflective space. Things get more diffuse and less precise sounding. Some people hear it as spaciousness.

 

[Mart68]

I have; it's usually a result of an overly reflective space. Things get more diffuse and less precise sounding. Some people hear it as spaciousness.

I did include the qualifier 'In a good acoustic.'

 

[Westsounds]

Whether they suit the room.

 

[Purité Audio]

Whether they suit the room.

In terms of matching the decor?
Keith

 

[Westsounds]

In terms of matching the decor?
Keith

In as many aspects as possible. Aesthetics with the room being a factor. Also sized for the room. Whether they sound good in the room is another thing, but that can be manipulated anyway with dsp. As long as they're of decent spec, they'll do.

 

[AwesomeSauce2015]

One of my major concerns when looking for a loudspeaker system is it's ability to hit the required volume level(s), across the required frequency range, without compression or excessive distortion.

I've explained it before, but I have a decent amount of experience with PA systems and "live" sound work, and learned with those systems before moving to more home audio stuff. (This next statement is part opinion and part fact) Most typical "hi-fi" style speakers have poor dynamic compression performance, and even at lower levels I feel that I can tell the difference between a dynamically-compromised speaker and one that is capable of significant output.

This could be due to directivity or other effects, but I've also listened to speakers with known good directivity and experienced the effect I am describing. It's the "this sounds real" effect. It's the point where I could actually be convinced that there is actually a vocalist, instrument, etc, in the room, and not just a loudspeaker system playing back a recording.
IIRC, a while back I may have caused a fuss under the blade or LS60 threads where I described this after having heard a pair... They sounded amazing, great frequency response, but it didn't sound real. The JBL HDI-3800 towers, and their other PA systems, on the other hand, have that effect where they sound real. Upon analysis, the main cause appears to be drivers that can actually handle consistent high output levels without compression and distortion. (Not just a quick sweep or burst, but sustained high output)

For the record, I don't listen loud. My current setup rarely exceeds 70 dBC, and even in a large space I generally don't exceed 90 dBC except for a short while. But I have designed systems capable of very high levels (in excess of 110 dBC, a phone mic is inaccurate above that level), and they do get used at those levels on occasion. I've also helped design systems that will probably never get turned up past 80 dBC except for when they want to show it off, but having the horsepower to (when needed) blow the windows out means that it will sound good at 80 dBC all day, and that I have headroom to put in EQ boosts if desired.

So in conclusion, my big concern when selecting a loudspeaker system is dynamic capability, followed by directivity and then frequency response. The other criteria listed are usually reasonable when my main 3 are met. I don't particularly care about how easy something is on an amplifier, amp power is cheap. For bass extension, sub 80 Hz, I just deploy subwoofers, or if I have the headroom an EQ boost.

 

[dasherzx]

i voted bass extension because I don't know subwoofer placement and pa and ma would be angry if I placed the cube somewhere thats not to their liking which means anywhere.

 

[Sal1950]

i voted bass extension because I don't know subwoofer placement and pa and ma would be angry if I placed the cube somewhere thats not to their liking which means anywhere.

Time to get your own place.