Nuetrality be Damned...


I am looking for a WARM and MUSICAL speaker, that is more emotive than analytical. I want to be drawn into the music. If the speaker is capable of creating warmth, but is still considered a "hi-fi" speaker, I would very much like to know about it...Please Help. Some of the speakers that I have heard that might fit this bill are: Voce Divina, Swans, JM Reynaud, JM Labs...
kheart
Well this is an interesting point. Certainly the "neutral" ear bleeders of yesteryear have been improved upon but some still remain. I have owned warm forgiving speakers and would pick them any day over neutral if that term in the context you use connotates etchy with a focus on a tipped up treble to realize more apparent detail in the music.

I currently am listening to Merlin VSM-M. These speakers are NOT by definition warm and forgiving. But they can be if the music is. They are just truth tellers. Some don't want too much truth and that is a valid choice. But with proper set-up these speakers are non fatiguing, emotive and can make well recorded music come alive in the listening room. I believe Bobby P, the designer also is a big Quad fan as well. So am I.
JM Labs is musical. But If you're looking for something a little more laid back, Vandersteen 3A sigs or Von Schweikert VR-4 Gen IIIs fit the bill. The VR-4 is a little dark sounding, and has excellent low bass, in it's price range.
Spendor 1/2s...neutral but warm sounding as well. Spendor 2/3s...a bit warmer and a touch less neutral. Both need heavy duty stands to sound their best. A good compromise between neutrality and warmth.
Good Luck!
I think the Spendor SP-100s - or the older S-100s - would fit your criteria very well. Nice, warm, laid back type of presentation without being mushy. Oh, by the way, there pretty detailed too. :-) I can't recommend any others in the Spendor line, though. Make sure you get the dedicated stands for the SP-100s, and toe them in just a little to your listening area if you have a "sweet spot" on your couch where you like to sit. Otherwise, set them up straight ahead and they'll provide a fairly wide listening area with decent imaging. Good Luck!