Are most recordings so bad it's not worth spending large on speakers?

There are many good points made in this thread. I've been listening to music for too many years to count on systems that range from a KLH model 11 portable to a Yamaha/Klipsch system. Mostly, I've listened to a system that consisted of fairly inexpensive but excellent speakers and electronics (McIntosh, Beogram, Advent) So as you can see, I am not a high-end listener.

That being said there are two distinct observations I can offer. First, room acoustics and speaker placement are probably the most important factors affecting the sound. More so than the speakers themselves. Second is the engineering of the recording. Maybe the order is incorrect. I have been struck with how wonderfully some early recordings can be and how horrible a few later recordings are. There is a mix in between. While it is possible to move speakers, it is impossible to improve on a poor recording.

I know this doesn't offer anything different, but I would note that it is often the simple factor that can make the most difference. My question is whether one is listening to music or to the equipment? I feel there is a bottom line under which poor equipment interferes with the music. moving above that line can be wonderful to a point. Past that point, it becomes diminishing returns and emotionally borders on obsession. In the immortal words of Justin Wilson "the wine, you like is the wine that's right.

It's worth getting every detail possible out of every recording.

How much it costs to do that is another story.

The bottom line is these days, it need not cost much. The right pair of headphones with a common smartphone and good streaming software can do it.

It’s also not expensive with speakers at least in smaller rooms. A pair of Vanatoo speakers get you most of the way there again even off a smartphone wireless connection, if you just use good quality streaming software.

This is not true as i have many great recordings such as Mercury,RCA,Decca(England),EMI(England) and British Columbia all classical all sound wonderful.

I have been struck with how wonderfully some early recordings can be and how horrible a few later recordings are.

It’s "Dynamic Range Compression" in the newer ones, read my last post as sample of the same album, new release vs original release.
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Sade&album=Diamond+Life

Cheers George

cdc2

I believe we talked about Morrison loudspeakers. You asked me questions that I thought I answered to the best of my abilities and understanding of Morrison Models. Most of my experiences with the speakers are detailed here on AG, that's how cdc2 found me

I'm familiar with the Hageman speakers and the design progress throughout the years and finally the Morrisons. My first pair were the Model 11. The price was affordable enough for me to take a chance. If it were not for the stellar performance of this small model 11 I would not have moved up to the 17, 19, 19.1 and the model 37 sub. After living with the Model 11 for a while I took a trip to Toronto and listened to the 17 in his living space - next purchase.  On my second Morrison trip I stayed for 5 days and purchased 19. - fortunately I had accumulated the vacation time for these excursions.

The "grip or stop and go action" of the two drivers working in concert emanating from a point-source arrangement create a very enjoyable illusion. I said this before, these speaker lack a review but you can talk to Morrison about that. I mentioned to cdc2 that I was looking to sell my unused pair of 19.1. After 2 years of living in our new home, my wife are going to move again to a two level walk-up.There definitely won't be any room for much, that's where the Model 11 comes in. But truly, I haven't advertised the Model 19.1 because, they're just that good.

Conclusion: In this hobby I can't tell you how important it is that when you have the opportunity to hear before you purchase, take that opportunity. No one can hear for you, and all of the blog responses are opinions. Be your own Guru. Morrison and the late Richard Shahinian are about the illusion of live music.

Give the speakers a listen because when they get reviewed he'll have to hire 2 people to keep up with the demand and the price will have to go up to pay them.