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Speakers for.....every type of music?

I'm new to this site & first time poster. I am one of the guys that receives the emails every night, reads them and tries to be informed about this "hobby". A little background. I got into stereo early but never pursued it due to drumming, so I am only trying my best to keep up with you guys on this level. I have no gear like yours but keep a modest system that I have pieced together with whatever change I had. But I saw something interesting tonight on the popular discussions about a certain speaker not being a good "rock" speaker. So what do you recommend I think about when looking for speakers when I listen to everything? This is not a joke, I listen to almost every genre of music: classic, jazz, metal, thrash, world, easy listening, disco, you get the idea including vocal only. What say you fine gentlemen about my particular dilemma on your level? I am looking at used Advent & KEF speakers but will they fill my needs? I realize sound is a personal taste but in which direction might you think about?
vista1868
chayro
3,010 posts
 
It's not so much what you listen to, as opposed to what qualities you value as a listener.  I can listen to anything on my Tivoli radio with a 3" speaker and enjoy it.  But if you require the impact of a rock band at loud levels, it's not going to work.  Speakers can't be chosen in a vacuum.  What good is it to have speakers that can destroy a building if you live in an apartment where you can't turn them up?. So unless you lay out all the parameters and limitations you have regarding space, listening levels, amplification, etc, it's just an academic exercise.  And of course, there's always budget.  
n80
2,133 posts
 
I have nice, older equipment that sounds great to me with everything from prog rock, to jazz rock to classical. 

I can tell you what I have but I don't have experience with anything else so I can't help with comparisons.

My speakers are Aerial Acoustics 7B tower speakers. They handle all the types of music I listen to. They have rear facing bass ports so room position is important and it is quite possible to adjust speaker position to suit various types of music better....except that they weigh 130 pounds. I have done this but no longer do as I seem to have found a sweet spot.

I do not see many Aerial Acoustics speakers for sale used. Not sure if they are no longer popular or if people just hold onto them.
vista1868 OP
29 posts
 

@ chayro

A year ago I thought that way, having a Kenwood capable of making my concrete floor thump but it lacked "grace", also it was able to be heard over my drums; Since then I picked up an old Sony receiver (made in Japan) capable of 85 watts & begin to enjoy the musical style I grew up with. There are Advent Maestro's down the road for sale but I've read by other consumers that they didn't get the "real" sound until that attached a 150 watt unit, so will my 85 watter be enough to make it sing? My db level currently sits at 55 so I'm not trying to make an impact crater in my room lol, just need speakers to fill the room with real sound. My room has a sweet spot now that I have recliner in, the room is a finished garage ( house built in the 30's ) so there is a lot of space for sound. Also contains my drum set & various living items, no window treatments, two walls facing outward, 4 (2 facing outward ) doors, etc. so it will be a challenge indeed. Thanks @n80 will keep that in mind as I stay on my journey.

brayeagle
362 posts
 
You can find speakers at a somewhat "reasonable"price that can sound very good to excellent in classical and jazz, but not necessarily  on rock, heavy metal or organ.  That's where a good subwoofer comes into play.  

IMO, an excellent speaker in the 35hz to 20 kHz range, coupled with a good subwoofer probably can do better than a speaker that attempts to furnish smooth reproduction from top to bottom..  Very few full range speakers can provide the octave-plus bass that can be obtained by an active large-cone subwoofer. (On a decent recording, the sound of those 32' pipes of a cathedral organ can be felt as well as heard.) 

Disclaimer:  I'm a full range plus subwoofer guy
vista1868 OP
29 posts
 
On my A/V systems I am as well brayeagle, do you have a recommended disc to put my system through the paces?
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