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I'm never going to hear a megaspeaker in a good room am I?

Was thinking about something. There’s a thread about good $40K speakers which made me think that honestly despite hearing a lot of them at shows, I’ve never heard one in a decent environment. Now, perhaps we can argue:

If it doesn’t sound good anywhere, including a hotel room, is it really that good a speaker?


But let’s not go that route. But I am thinking to myself, in well treated rooms the best speakers I’ve heard were merely mid-range Wilsons and Magicos. I say "merely" because they were under $40k, not because of performance. The two best speakers I’ve heard, in medicore rooms were the SF Stradivari and Snell A/III, and top of the line Vandersteen.

All the $40K + speakers I’ve heard have been at shows, and either very badly treated rooms, or in halls so big the first reflection point was like a mountain echo. Am I ever going to get to listen to $40K+ speakers in great rooms anywhere again??

As a result, I’ve developed a severe bias against the performance of mega speakers, because I only ever hear them in terrible rooms and have not heard one I’d spend money for, and honestly that's unfair to them.

erik_squires
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
As a result, I’ve developed a severe bias against the performance of mega speakers, because I only ever hear them in terrible rooms and have not heard one I’d spend money for, and honestly that’s unfair to them.

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A Show is no place to hear the "Goods" that’s for sure. The last day of some shows if the vendors are paying attention, to the room and the SQ is settling a bit..

LOL it is unfair. But it is what it is... I’ve heard some humdingers, through the years. Construction sites.. Some were just for music rooms..

Aspen, Oakland Hills, Malibu, Lake Tahoe and a few undisclosed locations..

I like it when they still had a 500 sf listening room (top opening, like a missile silo).. and they were adding a 750 sq ft additional HT room or something...With the full blow Wizard of OZ look, HEAVY curtains and plush, seating for 30 or so...Even a Maestro’s pit seating in one set up.. Money, Ay?

SOME had a brand names I recognized. Krell, Mac, Mark L. PS. BUT most of the stuff was handmade, especially the speakers...SOME JBL because they will customise their stuff...Top to Bottom..

Regards
bache's avatar
bache
520 posts
 
Exhibitors paid too much expenses, just to let audiophile folks listen and make posts  
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Exhibitors paid too much expenses, just to let audiophile folks listen and make posts  

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What? Lost me on that one... Is the piano drinkin' again. :-)

Regards
erik_squires OP
16,056 posts
 
So if 99.9 % of us will never hear these speakers or see them in a good listening room, maybe Stereophile should stop reviewing them and let a magazine like Oligarchs Monthly.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,198 posts
 
Good idea!
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