interesting read. Bass is the most expensive part of the spectrum to properly reproduce. It just is for many reasons. I read someone above talk about adding extra cone area to produce more sound pressure, but that does add so many more problems. I'm sensitive to coherency problems in speakers and once folks add the larger cones, they rarely are able to keep the coherency and if they do, it's going to be very very expensive to do so.
We all know that folks make trade offs when designing speakers. I've learned as have most that you can't go into things with preconceived notions. I'm personally living with an incredible pair of Vandy Treo's that I NEVER was going to let in my house. I hadn't heard them in over 20 years when I was upgrading the system and I was forced to give them an audition. Legacy was another brand that I was asked to listen to at another store and I hated the model they auditioned, but then they put on the newer model and I really liked them a lot. It was their newest tweeter vs their older one. Harsh is the word that came to mind. I hurt my ears on the older one, lol. The one I liked, I couldn't afford so it was a non starter.
I was always a monitor guys, but every time I listened I felt I was missing the foundation of the music. I love rock as well as everything else. That's why I like what Vandersteen does with his speakers...he gives you trade offs that the majority of folks can easily live with and most enjoy. You can go plenty deep and get the air in the room to move, lol.
Shows are the worst environment to listen, but you can get an idea of sound signature and if you are able to be one of the few in a room, you can get a much better idea. Some vendors are always getting chosen as best of show. Go and look at the old show reports from STereophile or TAS or the multitude of other sites that you know and trust a bit and you'll see what reviewers like and often even end up owning for their personal systems (many aren't even allowed to talk about what they personally own believe it or not). I know a few guys who talk about their personal 'ref' systems they use, but actually are using someone else's speakers for their OWN every day listening when they can. Always politics, lol.
Well, I'm in the hospital recovering from surgery and am posting way too much, lol....sorry......I've heard a lot about the W5's, but not sure where they are even sold in the Northeast.
