Big speakers, are they really the best way to get great sound?
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to some very large speakers that are considered to be at, or close to, the pinnacle in speaker design and ability. Needless to say, the speakers retail in the mid to high $300k range. These speakers, and I will not be naming them, were sourced by about $800k of upstream gear. Room size was about thirty by twenty, maybe a little larger.
To say the the overall sound was BIG would be accurate, but also I noticed something else, that I typically hear with big speaker systems. Generally, the speakers were right on edge of overloading the room, depending on music, the dreaded bass boom could be heard. But, the whole presentation was greater in impact than most any smaller speaker system, yet it was almost unlistenable for the long term.
The question I asked myself, is do we really want this type of presentation in our home audio systems? The speakers threw a pretty large soundstage, but also made things sound somewhat larger than life. I also thought that this type of speaker is akin to the large box dynamic speakers of yesteryear. For example, a set of large horns from Altec Lansing or similar was reminiscent of this sound. Makes me believe that if one has a big room, a similar sound can be obtained from most any large speaker system and at a fraction of the price.
I listen in a very small room, and by necessity in the near field, yet I think the overall intimacy of this type of listening experience is better for me, your thoughts?
Do you think "A" sounds better than "B" in YT, but "B" is better than "A" in real? I don’t think so. I exhibit my audio system in an audio show every year and I heard almost every rooms in the show every year. I know what I heard. Alex/WT |
@phusis Wrote:
I agree! Mike |
@phusis Wrote:
I agree spot on! 😎 Mike |
No, no, no, no., NO! Someone stated - "there’s no bending the rules of physics here." This is driving me nuts! We are not "bending" physics, we are generating what is to us, "new" physics. And changing some of what we "thought" about the classic modeling structure itself. Because we were just wrong. And "That was hard to say". Because everyone here seems to be stuck. Stuck on ONLY using physics of the "Classical Modeling" type. I have figured a few things out. Things which never made any sense. Until I realized that good-ole classic, basic physics. Was missing a few things. And so are the people who are designing most of the "top end" system components today. "Missing a few things". But I simply cannot be the only one who has made this "shift" in thinking. Because it "IS" going to happen. Yet try as I might, I haven't found anyone else that see's what I am seeing. And hearing! This is why I am writing this. It is possible to build speakers that "can" reproduce (near perfect) sound. But it simply cannot be done with "Point Source", (Cone type speakers)! And in that area? "No" You cannot bend any physics that I know of. And the same can be said for "Mass". There just is no "small speaker" substitution, for what a large speaker system can achieve very easily. Currently, if you have been paying attention to the world of technology. You may have noticed that we are smack-dab in the middle of a revolution in ALL of out tech because of breakthroughs in modern physics. Both in "classical", AND in that new-fangled type, - "Quantum Physics". Especially in the area of "Field Theory". A revolution that will make looking back at the industrial revolution as if it were merely a "speedbump" in history. And "All" of our contemporary thinking and attitude's about "sound reproduction" is about to get an "Overhaul" of "Biblical" proportions! I know this post is a bit "Off-Topic". But I write this because I am frustrated with the thinking that I find here and everywhere else currently. I have built, "And I am still tweaking" a two-channel, speaker system which does things it should not. And it doesn't seem to care much about room size. Though it definitely loves it's "room treatments". It is a "84" tall "dipole" configuration. With a width of 30" and is true line source, using a hybrid electrostatic transducer array. Throwing a cylindrical wave of sound 360 degrees. And it is producing that wave at complete (75") out of the (86") available which is the ceiling height. (The high percentage of wave production area "vertically" is key here)! "Meaning", It isn't a (Line Source) if you just stack, say 40 x 1"-point source transducers vertically and as tight as you can get them. And call it a day. You may "think" that. (Many do), But no. Just no. In my case, at least for my systems full range of (150Hz. - 40,000Hz) I am using just (2) transducers to cover that entire vertical line of wave formation. (80% is covered by just one transducer). The (60 - 150Hz.) range is driven in a cabinet of similar height and weight, (430Lbs.). (8 x 12") transducers. But I am stuck using point source transducers for this, and also a nine-subwoofer array (3 x 3 x 10") for all 60Hz. and below. All point source components utilize "very-stiff", coated, Aluminum-Magnesium alloy, metal cone. And more.... but I digress. And the entire system can be built for about $12,000. "Minus all labor". I still do not understand why my system does everything that it does. "Like the incredible imaging and coherence even, (Behind) me". "Yes" I did say, "Behind" me. But I am getting there. "I hope". I do apologize if you believe this post isn't relevant. But the arguments here are getting a bit redundant when it comes to things such as this. Especially when the matter has been "solved". And it's time to, "Move On"! Anyway, "Good Luck" to all in their quest for better sound! Because I am here to tell you, "YES" It does exist! And maybe, if you could, forgive my rant... |
@uberk, yes indeed. The salesman says: "Sir with these top of the line speakers you will never need a subwoofer, they go down to 20Hz." This type of comment is a result of BS baffles brain or just plain ignorance. Get those same speakers into a room, any room, without due cognisance of room acoustics and you will have poor performance. Now place those same speakers in a properly treated room and paradoxically you will still have poor sound albeit better than no treatment. I explained this in an earlier post. The speakers will obviously be positioned where they provide a decent sound stage with good imaging but the bass source will be compromised causing peaks and nulls. Subs can be used as tuning devices where judicious placement will smooth out the low frequencies. |
