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Bass, Frequency response, Etc...Noob Question

Sorry if this has been covered before, but I looked through a bunch of pages and didn't really find exactly what I'm looking for. I'm confused by many of the spec numbers provided by manufacturers with regard to bass and frequency response and how these numbers relate to real world listening. I'm mainly talking about the bass end of the spectrum here...For example, a speaker manufacturer lists a frequency response of their speaker to be 35Hz-20kHz +/-3db, which while, not quite full range, appears to provide a nice amount of bass (I know there's a LOT more to this such as room size, placement, etc, just bear with me). My confusion comes in when writers or reviewers state that a speaker with the above specs to be better suited for vocals or jazz, and not meant to "rock", while a speaker with similar specs (sometimes even not as low on the bass freq) might be recommended for rock. What makes one speaker more suited for a specific type of music than another? Is it the "oomph" and controlled power of the bass frequencies? I'm just curious as I've seen speakers that I'd consider checking out, only to read or hear that they are not suited to "rock" music (my primary listening). I know this is very vague, and I'm unable to properly articulate what I'm trying to get at (sorry it's late). I guess a quick example would be why a speaker like the Reference 3a De Capo is not as suited to rock music as say a Klipsch Heresy might be...Any help would be appreciated!
mbleming
gregadd
574 posts
 
kids say you see with your eyes not with your hands. you choose speakers with your ears not with your eyes.unfortunately specs have become an advertising ploy. an honest manufacturer may have worst real world specs.

some would suggest that rock does not require a high quality speaker. I disagree. to handle all that volume without breaking up is a tall order. if you ever heard a bass guitar on a truly coherent speaker system you'll night what I mean. drums also are very difficult o produce.
my own recommendation is solid state amps with dynamic speakers.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
an honest manufacturer may have worst real world specs.

That was a gem and it is certainly true of some of the few honest high quality manufacturers... speaker specs are a constant source of exaggeration often in room specs ( yeah give me a break - which room???)are given when the user expects anechoic response...
undertow
1,033 posts
 
I agree for 90% of whats needed 40hz with power is enough.. But if you can get it 32hz will work a little better.
seasoned's avatar
seasoned
181 posts
 
I would think speakers that do rock more justice in the area of bass would be those with superior dynamics as well as extension. Dynamics are aspects of the sound that are difficult to measure correctly and interpret, thus the confusion. Don't expect to read a spec sheet on a loudspeaker and, by numbers alone, be able to tell what it is going to sound like in your room with your amp (and with the type of music and volume level that you prefer.) Unfortunately, specs don't tell the entire tale and that is where we turn to the aforementioned reviewers to better guide us (hopefully). Please don't get caught up in the numbers game when selecting your next speaker system. Instead, we must depend on listening to make the right choice. BTW, 25 years ago, I owned Klipsch Cornwalls and loved them - they really rocked the house - great dynamics. Keep in mind that horn speakers are a class themselves with unique characteristics that you may or may not like over time.
mbleming OP
33 posts
 
Thanks for all the information everyone, I appreciate it. I know that in the end specs for speakers mean very little, but other than B&W (which I own), Bose, Paradigm, and Klipsch (non Heritage), there's very few speakers I can easily audition. I'd love to hear the Cornwall's and I think they might be what I'm looking for, but brand new they are out of my price range, and if used, many folks aren't willing to ship them (HEAVY!)
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