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How to meaningfully audition speakers??

I think this topic has appeared elsewhere, even if worded differently. But I thought I'd ask anyway.

Just upgraded my amp and was thinking about auditioning different speakers. Problem is that there are only a handful of high-end B&M stores nearby. Another complication is that no one store has the 2 or 3 speaker brands that I want to check out.

Further, I am dubious that one can meaningfully audition gear by running from store to store because the test conditions are not identical. In addition, unless a piece is really terrible or incredibly terrific, I don't trust my aural memory. Perhaps other have a different view.

Seems to me that the best way to accomplish what I want is to have the speakers of interest brought to my house and hooked up to my rig. But -- I am NOT aware of any dealer willing to part with expensive gear like that, especially if it has to be specially ordered from a distributor because the model is not on display.

So the Q is what do most folks do? Just buy speakers on hope and a prayer?? Rely on reviews or Forum comments??
bifwynne
kiddman
341 posts
 
Czaivy and Mapman are very much on track. Listen to a real instrument in the room you will listen to music in. Compare that sound to the speakers with similar music. If possible, record. Also record your wife's voice, kids' voices, play it back.

The most realistic, closest sound is likely the best.

Folks sometimes say "what if I don't want the most accurate"?

Well, deviations from accurate means distortion. You will be further from the musical experience.

And folks have come to bastardize the term "accurate". Accurate and uncolored, which means low distortion, is not harsh, hard, or bright. Salesman trickery ruined the word "accurate" in audio, as this would be their retort for folks complaining about bright, harsh speakers. "Oh, no, that's accurate, that's why it sounds that way, can't you hear the clarity?" The supposed "clarity" was really exaggerated brightness range and tweeter response, as well as ringing, which can make things seem "super detailed" on first listen.

The most accurate speakers I know of are also easy to listen to.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
"The most accurate speakers I know of are also easy to listen to"
Kiddman, so very true. You are right that the term accurate has been bastardized and seems to be used when clinical and analytical are the more appropriate words. We both probably prefer the term natural with its connotations.
Charles,
wolf_garcia
6,795 posts
 
I think personal taste rules the day in this discussion. An analogy I think might be useful (or not) regards guitar amp speakers...the tonal coloration that exists with various brands becomes extremely important to a guitar player with any reasonable amount of experience, and I've found that taste changes and evolves usually. If a home hifi speaker seems to be delivering the goods in your system and YOU think it's great, other people's opinions should become moot. And I rarely use the word "moot."
frogman
7,561 posts
 
Well, at least you are not saying "mute" as my dear wife insists on saying :-). But, while I agree that "personal taste rules the day", the concept as an analogy is flawed. True, guitar players choose an amp/speaker based on its tonal colorations as a way to create his "sound". But, isn't the goal of a speaker in a playback system to then recreate the sound of that player's chosen amp/speaker's intrinsic sound? The goal in this case is fidelity, not choice; or, at least, that is the traditional definition of "hi-fi".
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
When you will use the amp you own now bring it to the shop. This is a very important start. Listening to speakers with a different amp does not make any sense. For cables same story. I Always advise my clients to bring in there amp. spource and cables and own music. It is that simple, so keep it simple!
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