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Neutral or Detailed. You can't have both

At least not how I understand the audiophile terms. The problem comes in the mid-treble.

A truly, measurably, objectively neutral speakers doesn’t come alive until the volume is turned up, but will lack the perception of detail, because those details come from exaggerated and often rough treble responses.

B&W however has some of this reputation. They are not objectively neutral speakers.

The Magico S1 Mk II has an uptilt in the treble, but is glass smooth. It is probably what I consider the best example of this combined desire for a neutral but detailed speaker.

Monitor Audio’s top end speakers - Objectively neutral, superbly engineered. Often too laid back for most people, Audiophiles would not consider them "detailed."

As always, you should buy what you like. Maybe you don’t like neutral speakers. Goodness knows some reviewers don’t.
erik_squires
2channel8
758 posts
 
I think in the real world, many of us who have more time and money to spend on our systems are getting up there in age. I am one of those. I know I have a rolled of high end starting at 12 kHz and a dip at about 5 kHz and I doubt if I can hear anything below 40 Hz at all. So maybe I do seek a little high end emphasis by nature. It's just a simple corrective adaptation. I spent a little while last night comparing the sonics of an Oppo BDP-95 and an EVS modded 105. Going from 105 to 95 back to 105 it was like 'Very nice'; to 'hey, the 95 seems to have more weight, which is nice', to 'no no. the 105 has the same weight AND I hear more detail'.

However, none of the younger people who have heard my system think it's too bright, so what does that mean?  ;^)
tyhoang's avatar
tyhoang
4 posts
 
I have a pair of Yamaha NS1000x, very natural & detailed. Beryllium mid & high drivers. It's hard to find a speakers that can replace this
wolf_garcia
6,708 posts
 
My Klipsch Heresy IIIs sound very natural or neutral (or something) with the tube stuff I use to drive them. A couple of subs are in the mix...also I don't think my taste has allowed a tonally "colored" speaker anywhere near my earballs in a very long time, except for guitar amp speakers during my decades long Celestion phase. I got over that when switching to Neo Jensens (mostly), although Mesa gets Celestions made to their specs and those are more neutral. Please disregard the guitar amp portion of this post if you think it's irrelevant. Thank you.
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