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Speakers which always sound good

This is brought up because I'm home shopping, but I'm not actually looking for speakers right now, so please don't take this as a request for advice so much as opinions.

As I shop for homes I've realized how few are really equipped for the audiophile.  Too many fireplaces and windows and damn kitchens and bathrooms placed completely inappropriately for us! :-)

And as you may know, I'm a big fan of appropriate room treatments.

So, wanted to step away from this world for a bit and ask, what are speaker brands that you feel always work?  Or at least, work really well without having to think about the room acoustics or placements?  Reminder that this is 99% of the buying public.  We who have laser line levelers, a closet full of measurement microphones and a chair which bolts our head into a fixed location may not believe it is true, but this is the majority of the buying public. 

What do we, the audiophile community recommend to them to actually be helpful in getting them as many positive music listening experiences as possible?

Best,

Erik
erik_squires
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
For the money, I would look seriously at the Revel Performa3 line (not the BEs, I don't quite understand those) as a great speaker for general public.  I had a pair for years and it was only when I tried to go beyond them that I discovered how limited a lot of more premium speakers are but this is not a thread about that.  

They work in most rooms.  Have great dispersion and off axis performance.  Lots of detail but not fatiguing.  Compared to their peers they deliver a big and immersive soundstage.  They can be driven relatively easily (at lest the bookshelf speaker) and sound good driven a Denon or Marantz receiver.  

Subwoofer integration is easy with the bookshelf speakers and the floor standers have good bass response.  They are smallish and have a relatively high WAF.  True broad appeal...feels like a good option.  


erik_squires OP
16,398 posts
 
You know I was actually thinking of Revel and Magico for the same reason.  One thing they share is really great off-axis listening.  They maintain a stable stereo image almost anywhere in front of them.


Best,

Erik
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano
2,704 posts
 
For a speaker that maintains a stable stereo image, there’s The GoldenEar Triton 1’s.
luxmancl38
580 posts
 
Aerial Speakers.
rcprince
3,076 posts
 
If you want a stable stereo image wherever you are listening, mbl or Ohm would be the ticket.  Don't think the former would be something for the general public, though, at their prices.  I had considered mentioning line arrays, like Sceana or the Pipedreams, as they can be listened to and sound amazing in the nearfield, but I didn't mention them because I don't think most of the public wants speakers of that size in their living rooms.
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