Recommendation on speakers for listening to live music


Hello, I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation on speakers for listening to live music. I have a big collection of live Grateful Dead, phish, jazz, etc.. This is music on cd or vinyl that was recorded live. Are there quality speakers that cater to both live and studio recordings. Would be using McIntosh power amps mc252, mc275 etc.. Thank you very much for any advice.

jazzydrummer

That wall of sound lasted less than eight months. Not for the quality and innovation rather the logistical aspect. The wiki is fairly informative. 

Long before Harman JBL was open and helpful to DIY and their developments were substantial. If your new to horns it would be smart to compare a dynamic and a horn speaker in the same room for your own experience.

I just heard a demo of the Meyer Sound Labs Amie powered 2 way.

Regardless of your speaker choice a properly located processing subwoofer system is what will get you the extra 3dB needed to portray Lesh's low B or the tuning of Tony Williams' 18" Gretsch creating that more live effect. 

I've never used Audio Kinesis but I've used four Velodyne DD subs to a similar affect. Far more affordable the Swarm is a popular option that will partner with many different types of speaker systems and manage most any rooms peculiarities you might encounter.

Beware of speakers with built in self powered subs. Speakers are located for sound staging. The room dictates were the subwoofers should be located.  

Para diddle y dee, good luck with your search.

Magnepans. I love planar speakers for their ability to recreate the soundstage, their boxless presentation with images hovering in front of you, and their transient quickness and agility. You need to have some room in front and behind them, add well as a lot of power, say at least 70wpc, if not more to really get them going. 

Im not a maggie fan, but have owned a bunch of open baffle speakers, including my current fav of 3 years, Emerald Physics 3.4s. Want something current check out GR Research

This sounds like an unconventional system for live Dead, but I am so happy with my Esoteric N-01XD streaming into an Accuphase E800 into Harbeth 40.3 XDs with two Rythmik 15” subs.  Much better than my McIntosh C2300 into a pair of MC3500 Mk2s into a pair of Focal Scala EVOs.  I am moving up from the Accuphase E800 to an Accuphase C2900/A80 combo.  Keeping the Harbeths and the Rythmiks.  It shouldn’t work do well, but oh man does it work so well!