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After the thrill is gone

I think we all understand there is no “perfect” speaker. Strengths, weaknesses, compromises all driven by the designer’s objectives and decisions. 
 

Whenever we make a new (to us) speaker purchase there is a honeymoon period with the perfect-to-us speaker. But as time wears on, we either become accustomed to the faults and don’t really hear or hear past them, or become amplified and perhaps more annoying or create minor buyers remorse or wanderlust.

I am guessing the latter would be more prevalent when transitioning to a very different design topology, eg cones vs horns vs planars etc.

While I’ve experimented with horns, single drivers, subwoofer augmentation …  I’ve always returned to full range dynamic multi-driver designs. About to do so with planars but on a scale I’ve not done before, and heading toward end game system in retirement.
So I just wonder what your experiences have been once the initial thrill is gone? (Especially if you moved from boxes to planars)

inscrutable
ghdprentice
7,199 posts
 

@timintexas 

 

Congradulations for finding a solution. It would be really disheartening to make a major expenditure and be so disappointed. 
 

Glad you found something that works for you.

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 

All the posts connecting rooms and speakers hit on a key to end game satisfaction. Room design and room treatment are a bigger deal than many are willing to admit. If budget isn't a consideration, designing a room is a big challenge with large potential rewards.

If not, a thoughtful approach and some experimentation with room treatment will go quite a long way. Many praise DSP vs room treatment, which might be effective for some, but I prefer not adding more boxes, cables and potential signal degradation to the path. Panels, etc. might be more of a PITA and less attractive to many...so listen with your eyes closed ;-) or take your time finding or making something that appeals to you. 

For every speaker type, I've heard plenty of systems of modest cost outperform others at multiples higher cost, mostly due to serious room treatment and optimized speaker/seating placement. Cheers,

Spencer

 

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

Unfortunately, you can't take your speakers away on a second honeymoon.

 

 

 

Or can you...?

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,852 posts
 

I’ve had DQ10’s and still have some Acoustat Model X, panel speakers.  Last year I bought my first pair of “Box” speakers in years. I like them a lot, but there’s something about open baffle and panel speakers I’m really missing. 
Haven’t heard the current Maggie’s in a while…

boomerbillone
358 posts
 

If one has to choose between details and dynamics, I'll take details.

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