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Looking for more detail in a speaker

Kind of a long first post but needed the space to set up my situation. 
I decided to do something about my speaker situation after demoing a pair of B&W 805d’s. One of the tracks played was Sympathy for the Devil. At the beginning of the song, a percussion instrument, either a guiro or cabasa, just popped out at me on the left speaker. I’ve heard that song a million times but never noticed that percussion instrument coming at me like that. I came home and played the track through my system, through my streamer and turntable. My speakers are Golden Ear Triton One’s. That same presentation just isn’t there like with those 805’s.
The GET1’s are certainly decent speakers; are they not designed for this type of detailed presentation? Is it my room? My listening room is a odd shaped man attic with a 3.5’ wall on one side with an 8’ wall on the other side peaking a 9’ in the middle. My listening position is about 17’ from the speakers.  I’m sure the room is acoustically challenged. Also, I have a long speaker wire run, like 40’. Does that contribute to the lack of detail? I figured out a way to trim about 15’ of speaker wire length from each run and plan to do that ASAP. I’m using AudioQuest construction rated wire. I believe they’re 14 gauge.
So, why not buy the 805’s? I’ve thought seriously about them but concerned they’ll be kind of small for my room. Seems like I need floor standers. I’d like to keep any replacement speakers at $4k. I have an opportunity to pick up a pair of Dynaudio S5.4s for $4k but haven’t made a move in them yet. 
Any suggestions on a speaker selection or adjustments to my room or speaker wire are appreciated. To sum it up, I’m looking for more instrument detail with good sound staging either by making tweaks to my current set up or getting another flavor of speakers. Thx. 
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cd318
2,636 posts
 
@mijostyn,

’I do not think any of the good dynamic loudspeakers corner the marker on detail. They are all about the same in that regard. It is all a matter of frequency response and where the peaks and dips are.’


@audiokinesis ,

’Take a look at the on-axis frequency response curve of the 805 D3:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bowers-wilkins-805-d3-loudspeaker-measurements

In particular notice the 6 dB peak at 10 kHz. Imo that might make a percussion instrument pop out of the mix.’



Yes, it’s all about frequency response. Designers are notorious for deliberately peaking and dipping FR to either draw attention to - or draw attention away from certain aspects of performance.

So when a reviewer mentions how they can hear the pianist’s fingernails clicking and clacking against the keys, or a guitarist’s fingers sliding up and down the frets, it might be worth taking a closer look at the FR.

Some studio monitors are said to be tailored to give an exaggerated /unnatural view into the mix. You wouldn’t want that in a domestic monitor.

Genuine improvements in resolution are few and far between. Even my portable Sony radio offers great resolution in the midband (even if that’s all it does).

Ribbon tweeters and exotic tweeter dome materials are often said to offer better HF resolution but not everyone agrees, or even wants it.

Ditto for improved low noise cabinets which will let you better hear what the drive units are doing. A bit like getting the car exhaust fixed and then being able to hear all kinds of previously unnoticed cabin noises.
soix
9,539 posts
 
Yeah speaker tuning is likely a major difference maker, and my experience with McIntosh gear is that it’s not very aggressive in the upper presence region either so the combo of the two makes your impressions very understandable.  

Given your budget, I’ll just throw out there that LSA is selling their speakers at a discount here, and their flagship LSA-20 Statement speakers are right at your $4k budget.  The reason I mention them is I think their sound profile and imaging strengths may well appeal to your tastes (you can read reviews), and they offer a 30-day, in-home trial if you’re up for it.  They also come with a nice pair of 8ft speaker cables that I suppose you could sell to reduce the net cost of the speakers if you can’t use’em.  Just a wacky thought FWIW. 
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millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The speaker with the most details is the Amati Homage. Beautiful woodworking. The speaker with the least detail is Tekton. Spray painted MDF. Personally I find speaker detail over rated.
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bfoura OP
88 posts
 
I have what I’ll call a legacy audio dealer/audiophile coming by my house tomorrow to do me a favor and set up a Well Tempered Classic table for me. I told him about my speaker situation and room dynamics. He thinks the odd room layout may actually help the acoustics. He also said speaker placement and set up is critical. It’ll be interesting to get his take once he sees and hears everything. I like what @CD318 says about FR. need to study up on that more. I also think there’s something to low noise cabinet design for my listening room. I think I might benefit from having the sound project more toward me rather being more dispersed, which I think the GE’s are designed to do with their side drivers. @soix I’ll look into LSA’s. I don’t want to make a speaker change without hearing them in my room or at least in person somewhere. A 30 day trial is something to consider. 
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,277 posts
 
I agree that it was just the way the 805D was “voiced”.  Probably a certain range of frequencies were elevated. There are many variables for sure though.  Everything was different...  It also could have to do with the B&W’s being more open which in turn allows to hear more clearly the underlying tones and get a better understanding of an instrument.

A few pairs of speakers you might want to check out are:
-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signatures.  Theres a pair for $3500 in zebrawood.  You’ll have to talk the srller into shipping though.  Each speaker uses 5 seas excel drivers. Seas excel are awesome drivers and are used in many great sounding, expensive speakers.  

-Paradigm Tributes.  Theres a pair here on Audiogon for $2750.  These are also awesome sounding speakers and use a very nice sounding Beryllium Tweeter.  
-Those Dyn’s you are considering look to be nice as well but the driver configuration is a bit strange... not sure how they’d sound while walking around the room with the tweeters so low.  Dynaudio makes a great product though.  Really well designed and built!

I think any of these 3 speakers I mentioned would be a step up in refinement from the GE’s.
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