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Best Loudspeakers for Rich Timbre?

I realise that the music industry seems to care less and less about timbre, see
https://youtu.be/oVME_l4IwII

But for me, without timbre music reproduction can be compared to food which lacks flavour or a modern movie with washed out colours. Occasionally interesting, but rarely engaging.

So my question is, what are your loudspeaker candidates if you are looking for a 'Technicolor' sound?

I know many use tube amps solely for this aim, but perhaps they are a subject deserving an entirely separate discussion.
cd318
audiokinesis
2,747 posts
 

What generates rich timbre out in the real world?

Well, what makes your voice sound richer in the shower?

What makes a grand piano’s timbre and texture so rich and lush in a good recital hall?

And what makes the difference between a good seat and a crappy seat in a concert hall?

The reverberant field.

Get the reverberant field right, without screwing up the first-arrival sound, and you will have rich timbre. The best speakers for that may differ from one room to the next. But unless you listen nearfield, most of the sound that reaches your ears is reverberant sound. You don’t get directional cues from the reverberant sound because of the precedence effect, but the reverberant field plays a major if not dominant role in just about everything else.

Exactly what is involved in "getting the reverberant field right" is a big topic and well beyond the scope of this post, but awareness that the reverberant field matters is a crucial first step. It is not the only thing that matters, but it is one of the more important ones, especially if rich and natural-sounding timbre is a high priority.

Duke

dealer/manufacturer

inna
7,296 posts
 
I don't understand the science of it but why do I feel that Duke is right ? I listen within 10 feet, I guess it's almost nearfield.
steve59's avatar
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steve59
1,783 posts
 
I find the speaker brands NOT on the list interesting! Some big names with class A /product of the year awards not on the list. but, on topic just about any british speaker still working from the 70's and 80's would fill the bill, no?
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
@steve59 Yes, tastes have changed, perhaps of the palate, certainly of the ear.  Some companies try to accommodate both.  Look at Spendor: why do they make the Classic 1/2 and the Classic 100 *and* the D7 and the D9?
cd318 OP
2,636 posts
 
@audiokinesis, good point. Guess that's one of the reasons why some rooms are deemed good and others not (along with any obvious bass resonance modes). How much life/ reflected sound you want in a room will always be a matter of personal choice. I'm pretty sure I'd prefer a more lively room than a dead one others may differ.

I still think changing the speaker is the easier option for mist of us, and am inclined to believe that a great speaker should still sound good in any room.
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