Which speakers are the Classical Music Pros using?

[tuga]

I was reading a piece about BIS Records.

At one point, the equipment is described and photos of the studios are shown. Interestingly all speakers are passives.

Studio 1 - B&W 802 Diamond ... https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-802d-loudspeaker-measurements

Studio 2 - Quad ESL63 ... https://www.stereophile.com/content/quad-esl-63-loudspeaker-measurements

Studio3 - B&W 801 Matrix ... https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-matrix-801-series-2-loudspeaker-measurements

 

[tuga]

These are the Polyhymnia International (the former recording center of Philips Classics) studios in Baarn:

Studio 1 - B&W 801 Nautilus ... https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-nautilus-801-loudspeaker-measurements

Studio 2 - B&W 801 Nautilus

Studio 3 - B&W 801 Nautilus

 

[andymok]

The classical scene basically stays as "stable" as possible.

 

[amadeuswus]

I was reading a piece about BIS Records.

At one point, the equipment is described and photos of the studios are shown. Interestingly all speakers are passives.

Studio 1 - B&W 802 Diamond ... https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-802d-loudspeaker-measurements

B&W wall-to-wall, it seems. (CD booklets from Decca and other classical labels used to say something like "Recorded using B&W loudspeakers.")

Looking at the BIS Studio 1 front wall with the inset TV monitor (?), I wonder if the front wall is covered with thick fiberglass absorbers, as the angled sides of the opening may suggest.

 

[Frank Dernie]

@sergeauckland

 

[sergeauckland]

@sergeauckland

Yes indeed. The main reason I got my 801s (mine are the older ones with sealed bass) was that I'd heard them first at Danmarks Radio, then at Radio France where they were used for predominantly classical music broadcasting. The man I bought mine from told me they were originally from Decca Studios, but I have no proof of that.

Tony Faulkner used a pair of specially reinforced Quad ELS63s for his field recording monitoring.

They don't have to be loud, but they do have to be clean.

All those photos above seem to be post-production (i.e. mixing) rather than recording studios. I was particularly taken with the bank of Studer tape machine in Studio 2 above. Presumably for digitising and/or remastering old recordings I can can't see anyone recording new material on tape.

S.

 

[Midwest Blade]

Loved the Quad's mounted near field!!!

 

[tuga]

Emil Berliner Studios (Deutsche Grammophon):

Surround - B&W 802 Nautilus

Stereo - B&W 801 Matrix

 

[TimVG]

I was just going to say with all the subpar recordings out there, probably not very good ones. Looks like I'm not too far off.

 

[amadeuswus]

For the headphone users here: the Emil Berliner Studios use

• Headphones: Sennheiser HD 600, AKG K 501 [!]
• Lake People headphone amplifier

 

[tuga]

EMI Abbey Road Studios:

Studio 1 - B&W 800 D3

Mastering Suite - B&W 802 Diamond

 

[tuga]

For the headphone users here: the Emil Berliner Studios use

• Headphones: Sennheiser HD 600, AKG K 501 [!]
• Lake People headphone amplifier

That's the subject for another topic.

 

[andymok]

Their success lies on their long-term consistency, and results being translated across facilities, so while the recording techniques are getting more fancy ad all over the place, they won't move a butt, otherwise they couldn't work.

So unlike film/broadcast industry, it's not about performance, it's more about consistency and stable environments. That's how I understand.

 

[tuga]

London Symphony Orchestra (LSO Live):

Control Room - B&W 802 Diamond(?)

 

[tuga]

Chandos:

ME Geithain RL901K

 

[amadeuswus]

Chandos:

ME Geithain RL901K

It's interesting to see Chandos, an independent British label, using a monitor not from B&W.

 

[Willem]

Philips used specially reinforced Quad esl 63s. Sony apparently Harbeth M40. British Library music conservation dept Harbeth M30.

 

[amadeuswus]

Philips used specially reinforced Quad esl 63s. Sony apparently Harbeth M40. British Library music conservation dept Harbeth M30.

I read on another forum that the BBC replaced its Harbeth monitors with ATC monitors a few years ago.

 

[Willem]

I don't know about the BBC but they are managed by bean counters rather than engineers or program makers these days.
The Harbeth M40 is a large speaker able to handle big power and capable of high spl.

 

[Xulonn]

I don't know about the BBC but they are managed by bean counters

LOL! I did not know that calling accountants "bean-counters" was a cross-cultural slang phrase - or did you live in the U.S. for a good long while?