Are HT speakers best for primary audio listening or not?

I have Aerial speakers for surround and music. Excellent for both formats.

@linnlingo
OK…. thanks much. Really.

@whart
Sorry man, I’m pretty sure you missed my point. My aim is to acquire speakers strickly for music listening.

I’m cluless as to how this got mixed up. I’m quite sorry about that.

For sake of argument, just figure the amp and room are more than adequate for the speakers, regardless the selections.


@erik_squires > Just in general, kind of depends on how neutral a speaker you like for music, which I need to define for this conversation:
Neutral: Plays many types of music equally well.

Blindjim > I sure hope they will play anything as my musical preffs are fairly wide ranging, apart from my usual defaults of Blues, R&B, Big band jazz, jazz, folk, country, and bluegrass. .

As well, the speakers I am interested in presently as specifically music listening units being reviewed were not being done by an HT reviewer, per se, and not in an HT magazine, save for one of them.

A couple of the one’s I’ve had on my short list get accolades from reviewers that they would be will suited to a high end home theater arrangement.

Again, such is not the goal.   It’s the sheer mention of the reviewer that these two could easily be used in HT, and I feel it was meant in addition to stereo listening duties. Again, not my plan, but it is that statement which has my radar up.

I tend to see HT speakers as well extended, more stark and edgy sounding bordering more on absolute neutrality or sheer transparency across its badwidth and leaning heavily on accuracy more than naturalness, so non musical sonics within film can be more vividly announced. . shell casings hitting the floor or roads. Explosions. Weird oscillator generated stuff spaceships, lasers, etc.

Gigantic critters fighting over who will take the trash out or possess the remote control.

Driving rains, earthquakes. Volcanoes.

Mainly I see HT units as having a far greater need to deliver the leading edge info so speed is an absolute prerequisite even if tonal aplomb is not as well mannered.

In other words, a critical, analytical presentation serves HT far better than it does music IMHO>

And it is this note that concerns me when I hear it applied to what would normally be seem as go to musical or primary 2 ch listening speakers in a review.

I believe both the VA Listz and Musics, KEF Blades were mentioned as well suited for HT and I think Magico was too but not sure on that last note.

The only written account on devore Gibbon tens made me come away with an idea even these speakers would be better suited to film than music.

I know one review on the Paradigm 3fs was done by an actual dedicated HT mag. But the Magico, and 3F, loudspeakers are near the bottom of my list as outside or remote choices.

Accounts from a friend on his perception of the Gibbon X, and a late review on the Para 5F also bade me shudder to closely consider them for music use only, which is the path I am on.

I get it, setup is everything. But it sure takes a lot to get wet and engaging out of dry and analytical.

Does that help any?

@blindjim - does "HT" mean 'home theatre'? I took it from there....

@blindjim - does "HT" mean 'home theatre'? I took it from there....

@whart > yes. HT does mean home Theater. Of course.
Its OK. somehow my intent was ignored or confused. Your input was or is, appreciated. Sincerely. Thanks.

= == =
To illuminate further….

I’ve noticed reading articles on stereo, music specific speakers, some on my own little list, being described as great HT tuypes.

This worries me as I’ve stated and restated now.

Given also what people have told me personally on a couple speakers I like or thought I’d like are more prone to accuracy than musical fidelity, I’m rethinking my choices.

As well, I’m certainly rethinking what the writer’s audio preffs are too despite what is being written in their reviews.

Sure, setup is a very big deal. Some setups included really expensive gear and others did not. Little was mentioned of how long the speakers were run in in some auditions which were said as lack luster events.

I hesitate to say what where and whom as it was all provided me in confidence. However I feel we have similar preffs on sonics and presentations.

So, the concern or question remains, shouldn’t a stereo music only speaker be just that, and not have a role in another play at the same time, ie. HT?

Guys I am a trained Home Theater designer, so here is the answer for you question based on the criteria that we use for selecting Theater speakers.

The reality is that a music speaker may make a good Home Theater speaker if it meets the requirements, while Home Theater speakers usually do not tickle the audiophile sensibilities the same way.

To build a real home Theater system your speakers need the following:

1: High power handling with low distortion
2: The ability to play to 110-120db continuous spl.
3: A wide well defined dispersion of all frequencies with limited vertical dispersion
4: Timberally accurate
5: Has matching center and rear speakers

vs: 

A high end loudspeaker

1: Power handling isn't necessarily an issue
2: Maximum SPL isn't usually an issue
3: Dispersion may be not limited in anyway ie Diapoles or Omnis
4: Speaker may or not be timberally accurate
5: May not have matching centers and rears

Dave owner
Audio Doctor NJ