Best speaker brands for transient response


Hello all, first post / longtime lurker on here. I have really appreciated all I've learned from following threads on here -- much appreciated.

I've had three speakers in my house for a few years, and have learned that transient response is the quality I value most. I'm researching upgrade options and would appreciate recommendations on brands.

Currently I have KLH Model 3s, JBL 4305Ps, and JBL Studio 590s. The sealed KLHs are far superior in transient response / speed / attack. The 4305Ps are pretty good (I'm assuming because they're active) and the 590s, while they do a lot of things well, are relative laggards.

I am assuming that on average a sealed design at any given price point will outperform a ported speaker in this area of performance, but I'm sure there are important exceptions.

I'm also curious if more expensive ported horn speakers (Klipsch heritage line, or the JBL 4349 for example) may deliver equal or better in transient response compared to a lower cost sealed speaker because they're using better drivers, crossovers, etc.

Thank you for any feedback / ideas you have.

tommyuchicago

I’ve heard or owned many of the aforementioned speakers and most of them don’t remotely match the Borresen X series for what you seek, be it treble, midrange, or bass. They are the closest to “perfection” I’ve encountered from any somewhat affordable speaker line. 

And don’t be put off by the “4.5 inch” woofers. Any other manufacturer would refer to them as a 6” woofer. At the very least they are as large as any other manufacturer’s “5.5 inch” woofers.

 

 

What is a transient response? I have not heard of that term before.

It’s really just a synonym for low distortion. The reason people conflate these notions is that many speakers are equipped with low distortion midrange or treble drivers, but nearly all <$10K dealer-sold speakers produce high distortion in the bass freqs. At best this can cause a speaker to sound somewhat “muddy” or “slow.” At worst, it has “slow” sounding bass coupled with a “fast” sounding tweeter, which then results in a perceived lack of coherency.

 

 

Transients are impulse responses in relation to steady state and it can be measured. Impulse response is to a specific input from base level. It is used to check time alinement. It is not related to distortion but most systems with good transient response are also low distortion. It comes down to good power to weight ratio of the drivers with pistonic motion.  
 

A system that can make a square wave at the desired SLP in theory has perfect impulse/transient response. Most amps have no problem with this and most all speakers fail this test. I have seen headphones (single driver, no crossover, low output) pass. 
 

This sounds about right:

 

 In the context of high-end audio, the term transient response refers to the ability of an audio system to accurately reproduce quick, abrupt changes in sound, such as the attack and decay of musical notes or the leading edge of a percussive sound. A transient is a short-lived signal that contains a high amount of energy, and a good transient response is important for accurately reproducing the natural, lifelike quality of music.

A high-end audio system with a good transient response should be able to start and stop quickly, with minimal overshoot or ringing, and should be able to reproduce the subtle details and nuances of musical performances. This is in contrast to a system with a slow or sluggish transient response, which can make music sound dull, lifeless, and lacking in detail.

A variety of factors can affect the transient response of an audio system, including the design of the amplifiers, speakers, and other components, as well as the quality of the cables and interconnects. In general, a high-end audio system that is well-designed and well-implemented should have a good transient response, allowing it to accurately reproduce the dynamic and nuanced characteristics of music.