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The WORST Components for Rock and Pop Music

Like many of you, I enjoy a wide variety of music.

Although there have been a few threads on topics like: "what speakers can really ROCK" etc, I have not found them to be very useful, as many of the recommendations would not suit my other preferences in music.

So here is an interesting and hopefully thought provoking way to look at this dilemma from a different perspective:

What components or systems, have you owned and loved, UNTIL you tried to play your favorite rock and roll or pop music?

What audiophile components would you recommend for everything BUT rock and pop?

For me, this brings back a memory of the CES show, circa 2004 when I was really excited to hear a gigantic pair of Sound Lab speakers.

They probably would have sent shivers down my spine with Patricia Barber, but with Jim Morrison and the Doors playing Peace Frog, I stood up and left the room.

Thanks for any thoughts or ideas.
cwlondon
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Quad ESL's?
hifidreams
109 posts
 
Opera speakers would be it for me. With classical and female vocals they are great. But put on some classic rock or heavy metal, and they sound awful.
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
With out a sub...no dipoles I've ever listened to sound as good as big old monopole boxes kicking out bass heavy rock music.

While dipole bass sounds more correct, ie... (has better tone) to my ear...I still prefer big cone bass for rock.

The reason for this (my cone bass preference for rock) is in the way the two load the room.

This is why I run two very large subwoofers with my Apogees even though the Apogees are nearly fullrange (27hz) and will play at high spl's...(two of the things needed for a good rock speaker)...they all (dipoles) fail the Maxell "blown-away guy" test. The exceptions being some of the hybrid designs (the Gilmore speakers come to mind).

All that said: "The WORST Components for Rock and Pop Music"

Bookshelf speakers, the B&W's I used to own come to mind.
Amps, the SAE amps I used to own
Preamp, again...SAE
cd players...almost all of them!

Dave
sean
6,231 posts
 
Any component that sounds "lean" won't work too well for rock music. Sucks the "drive" and "energy" out of the rhythm section and kills the "growl" and "chunky" sound of the guitar.

Having said that, the first brand of gear that came to my mind was Musical Fidelity. Sounds very neat and clean without coming across as being "solid state" or "sterile". Somehow made rock music sound anemic. I wanted to like it, but at the same time, i couldn't tap my toes. Sean
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