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This may be a rhetorical ? but

Have you ever had this experience? I own Meadowlark Shearwater Hotrods and the less expensive Kestrel Hotrods. After using the Shearwaters for a few moonths I switched back to the Kestrels. Reason not relevant. Anyway, I think I prefer the sound of the Kestrels. I remember my first impression of the Sheawaters; great detail, accurate bass. As for the Kestrels. they don't go as deep as the Shearwaters but there is an ease, or rightness that the larger speakers can't duplicate. This is not the first time this has happened to me. I had a similar experience with Vandersteen 1Cs versus the 2CE Signtures.
I'm wondering if my taste is just no sophisticated enough for the more refined speakers. Both the Kestrels and the 1Cs are noted as easy to listen to. Wondering if anyone else has experienced this.
timrhu
james50
40 posts
 
All the above members are on the right track. According to Stereophile's John Atkinson, in his measurements of the Shearwater, he stated that it would sound somewhat aggressive in all the the largest rooms. Your 12 x 11 room is probably too small for them, which is why the Kestrels sound better. Tell your wife that you have to move the stereo out into the livingroom. :)
tobias
1,534 posts
 
I noticed the room's effect more each time I upgraded, and the Shearwaters' arrival was no exception. My room is our living room, roughly 13 by 22, and I realize I will have to start treating its acoustics seriously in order to get the best of what my gear can do. (Fortunately there is no bass mode reinforcement problem. The room is bright, but there is ample scope for treatment.) James 50, I think you mean Mr. Atkinson said these speakers would sound aggressive in all BUT the largest rooms, didn't you? To that I would add untreated rooms.
bgrazman
226 posts
 
Of course, size matters!

(I had to get rid of my Dunlavey SC-IIIs when I moved to a smaller listening room, the sound from the drivers just didn't integrate properly)
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Yep; what they said. Just had a very similar experience in bringing my floorstanders upstairs to compare to my monitors. Both are superb speakers. Downstairs, in a different space and configuration, I preferred the monitors for their fuller sound. Upstairs, in a different room and configuration of space, they overload the room with bass and the monitors are far more pleasing to listen to. Room is as important a component as any other in the chain.

Marco
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Greetings, and blessings, Tim,
my friend, do room tuning! You'll be shocked at how much it'll improve/focus the sound. Make your own sound panels from Owens Corning 700 series panels. Cover them with acoustically transparent material of your choice - it can make them look quite appealing. You can do this fairly inexpensively. Should be under $100.
Then do the shootout with the speakers again, you may find your preferences shifting. At the least, you should like more what you're hearing from your favorite speaker.
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