Are HT speakers best for primary audio listening or not?

@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

@Audiotroy Dave
Thanks much.

I’m gonna go with either works fine IF the upstream setup & room is correct for the intended application.

In this case the driving notion is to avoid critical HT speakers for purely 2 ch musical sessions as the tweaks beyond merely the amp could be varied, numerous involved and sacrifices too great.

There’s no sense in trying to get blood out of a turnip. Beets? Maybe. Turnips, nope.

Helicopters and Explosions are easy! Music is not.



Matt M

My Golden Ear Triton 1 perfectly good for double duty. In stereo they are very fine, musical speakers, in HT they dynamic and powerful, with powered subwoofers (with separate sub inputs) build in,
I just do not have space and resources for a separate music room, and also do not want 2 pairs of main speakers in my room - thing will look like a store and definitely will not pass WAF.
I also listen quite a bit to surround music (new Steven Wilson remixes and some older stuff are addicted), which farther blurs HT-stereo divide.
Perhaps I do not listen movies at 110 db to appreciate the difference, I doubt I am crossing 95-100db threshold.