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When choosing new Speakers, what matters most to you?

When auditioning new speakers have you ever listened to a pair you thought you really liked only to realize you didn’t like them at all after seeing their measurements/specifications? And I’m not talking about speakers that would be too difficult for your electronics to drive but rather, you just didn’t like their waterfall plot, or their frequency response or some other measurement even though subjectively, you loved the way they sounded? Conversely have you ever listened to a pair of speakers you did not care for only to change your mind after seeing their specs?
 

Assuming speakers can be easily driven by your home electronics, in other words, no compatibility issues related to sensitivity or impedance, what is the single most important thing you look for when finding speakers you’ll enjoy listening to? How do you go about confirming the speakers you buy will be enjoyable to listen to in your home system?

ted_denney
mwatsme's avatar
mwatsme
188 posts
 
  1. Flat frequency response on axis, and (as much as possible) off axis.
  2. Reproduces the full range of audible frequencies.
  3. Cardioid dispersion pattern to minimize rear and side reflections.
  4. Holographic - speakers should 'dissapear' so with closed eyes you can't pinpoint (by ear) from where the sound is coming.
  5. Aesthetics/placement/approval factor

For me, these should be the philosophical pillars of every speaker maker.

1happyman's avatar
1happyman
87 posts
 

Crystal clean high frequency tweeters. I like domes as they are not as placement finicky. Good linear bass response that you can feel when you add volume. I also am a fan of front ports to enable the speakers to be placed close to the wall. I also like the "live sound" that speakers like JBL provide. Just makes the music seem more real. Good for toe tapping. I like speakers that make me move.

richopp
760 posts
 

Accuracy.  Do the speakers reproduce EXACTLY what you feed them?

 

With Magnepan products, the answer is YES.

 

With other products, the answer is NO.

nitrobob
266 posts
 

cindyment

 

"Used to drive a Toyota Camry. It had more American content than any other car manufactured at the time."

You must have missed that part about UNION made. That was a two-part requirement of mine for Automobiles, not one. And every dime of that Camerys profit goes back to Japan. I don’t send that country a dime if don’t have to, especially when it not necessary.

 

noske
783 posts
 

Phew, I’m relieved that this is just about buying speakers. Try buying intimate apparel for one’s significant other without knowing measurements.

Women know this fact intuitively, of course.

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