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Best speaker brands for transient response

Hello all, first post / longtime lurker on here. I have really appreciated all I've learned from following threads on here -- much appreciated.

I've had three speakers in my house for a few years, and have learned that transient response is the quality I value most. I'm researching upgrade options and would appreciate recommendations on brands.

Currently I have KLH Model 3s, JBL 4305Ps, and JBL Studio 590s. The sealed KLHs are far superior in transient response / speed / attack. The 4305Ps are pretty good (I'm assuming because they're active) and the 590s, while they do a lot of things well, are relative laggards.

I am assuming that on average a sealed design at any given price point will outperform a ported speaker in this area of performance, but I'm sure there are important exceptions.

I'm also curious if more expensive ported horn speakers (Klipsch heritage line, or the JBL 4349 for example) may deliver equal or better in transient response compared to a lower cost sealed speaker because they're using better drivers, crossovers, etc.

Thank you for any feedback / ideas you have.

tommyuchicago
tommyuchicago OP
60 posts
 

But I’ve also heard little 3/4" doped silk dome tweeters sound every bit as fast. It always amazes me that a little soft piece of silk with rubbery goo on it can sound like a high pitched metal bell when asked to.

I have two JBL horn-loaded compression drivers and a pair of sealed boxes with aluminum tweeters. I haven’t heard soft dome tweeters (yet) but also amazed they can be so effective at reproducing metallic sounds. I'm leaning hard toward the Spendor D7.2s and they are soft dome. Will be buying with a solid return policy just in case ;) Still need to find a place to audition them.

emergingsoul
1,211 posts
 

Does anyone really know what transient means?

grislybutter
3,373 posts
 

@emergingsoul

I asked the same question and no one responded. I think it's a buzzword. 

 

tommyuchicago OP
60 posts
 

@grislybutter sorry must have missed your post earlier.

It’s not a buzzword in my experience

https://www.hifireport.com/understanding-transient-response-in-audio-a-beginners-guide/?utm_content=cmp-true

 

https://pubs.aip.org/asa/jasa/article/20/4_Supplement/596/661993/The-Transient-Response-of-Loudspeakers

 

emergingsoul
1,211 posts
 

@grislybutter

It’s like gain and volume being used interchangeably.

Transient is that initial sound kind of peaky that somehow can be very awakening and very exciting.

A lot has to do with Recording quality and amplifier. I always view it as Rocky Mountains versus Appalachians when it comes to frequencies being Heard.

 

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