Speakers that are very accurate sounding but don't produce an emotional connection.

Inna et al.... its not the tools, but the talent.   I just saw Rachel Barton Pine play various levels of instrument....Strads, Guanari's , no names...and wonderful music came from them all.

What a great topic and thread - thank you sunnyjim!

don_c55 writes: How can a speaker be "accurate", but not produce an emotional connection???

And isn't this the topic itself reworded, or rather a good chunk of it? 

It's precisely the topic that is consuming me over the last 3 weeks as I decide what to do with my Wilson Sophia 1s. I was sure I didn't like them until I moved them into a large-ish carpeted room w/ vaulted ceilings up to 21' driven by a VAC Ren 70/70. Not only am I continually engaged, but for the first time I'm actually hearing a decent image. Are they accurate? I suppose it depends on how you define that term, but in my opinion no speaker that "throws" instruments and vocals at you the way Wilsons do can be considered accurate. What I hear seems to be less of an accurate portrayal of instruments and vocals from say, a live recording, and more of an "enhanced" and "larger than life" version of those things. What do I mean by "enhanced" and "larger than life"? Right. Exactly. Without measuring I can't be certain, but seems like there's more energy in the lower midrange than I would hear with other speakers. What else is enhanced? Upper bass? Yes. What else? Not sure.

Yes I hear an image, but where exactly? And does the instrument or vocal location move in or out as its tone shifts? I think so. Can't be accurate then right? Soundstage? Seems pretty good, but how good?

When I've setup Vandersteen Quatros the way I want I hear an outstanding image and an impressive soundstage. Great depth and a sound that, to my ear, much more closely resembles the live & intimately-set jazz concerts I've attended. It can be fun and precise and "realistic" to my ear, but with the Quatros I have never been as emotionally connected to instruments and vocals themselves the way I've been with the Sophias. Same thing with Maggie 1.7s. Just not enough of that something else that I now think I want. Or do I? The performance itself might get me 90% of the enjoyment I'm listening for, but now the Sophias have me wondering "do I want the spicy sauce to go with it?" 

All this has me asking myself "what am I really trying to accomplish?" Do I really want recordings to be as accurately presented to me as possible, whatever that means. Or do I enjoy it all more if there's an unrealistic accent applied to everything?

Is it ok if I never make up my mind about this?

Good post, Hazyj.  OK if you don't make up your mind.  At this stage in my life, I guess I'm for the emotional connection over the possibly more accurate one.

Coli wrote:
"it’s more about speaker/room interaction. The more accurate the speaker, the less forgiving, you need to setup the room perfectly. Hence why most audiophile speakers are notoriously inaccurate, it helps to cover up shortcomings.

(If you have a non symmetrical room, you’ll never get what you are looking for) Try take that emotional speaker outdoors, I can guarantee you that the emotions will be all gone."

I agree that speaker/room interaction is a significant factor. The most engaging and emotional experiences I've had were with my own setup and only 2-3 times within the 70 or so audio rooms visited at audio shows. There's no question listening room and setup are crucial. Regarding symmetry - I'm certain there are many of us who have set up our extremely asymmetrical rooms with positive results. Often those asymmetries result in annoying resonances,  but sometimes asymmetry is the best and simplest way to mitigate resonances as well. A couple examples are vaulted ceilings and carpeted stairwells where the extra surface area is muffled/baffled somehow.

Among those engaging and emotional experiences I've had with my own setup, twice was outdoors. A huge porch covering in one case (one example: 18' high &10' extended outward). Vandersteen Quatros placed 6 ft beyond the covering, and dialed in to compensate for unusual bass resonance from the band-shell like covering. It was "engaging" because of how close it sounded to an outdoor acoustic show with some selections. Another time was with Joseph Audio Pulsars outside radiating over a pool and partially walled on one side and behind. I can't explain how full the bass was for the Pulsars. Not deep, but I was expecting a 50% loss of bass with so few walls and no ceiling. Was it because the 6" between the water and deck acted like a waveguide? Not sure. Tonally the Pulsars were as outstandingly balanced as always. There was no less engagement going from inside to outside.

Both speakers were driven with a VAC Ren 70/70.

Oxymoron. "Very accurate" is going to convey the music as intended and deliver the full emotional impact. Anything else is just a goofy coloured lens that makes everything sound similarly sweet or harsh or boomy or whatever colourful and eventually tiresome inaccuracies that the inadequate design brings.

Leading to the problem for many which is the constant switching of gear from one form of coloration to another - instead of remaining focussed on adding to the music library or new recordings of favourite material.

I get plenty of emotion listening to what the artist & producer intended without trying to second guess, correct or filter that. A great speaker will be like a chameleon - it will sound different according to each track played.