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Oh, the frustrations of the speaker search

Yesterday I had a nice opportunity to audition a couple of speakers I felt fit my potential budget and listening preferences. To clear that up:

Budget = $1,200 MAX
Music preferences = 70% prog metal/rock (Tool, Opeth, Dream Theater, Rush, etc.), the rest is a mix of female/male vocalists, movie soundtracks, jazz.

The speakers I went in to audition were Golden Ear Aon 3's and PSB Imagine B's. The shop had an Ayre CD player connected to an NAD C 356BEE integrated amp. Tracks used for demo: Alison Balsom (Trumpet Concerto in E Flat); Tool (Forty Six & Two); Porcupine Tree (The Sound of Muzak); Zac Brown Band (Free); Hans Zimmer (Man of Steel - Terraforming).

My impressions: the Aon 3 ribbon tweeters were doing some really cool things in the treble region, but I didn't like the timbre up there. The midrange was very distant, lacked PRAT, but smooth. Bass was very present (most bass I've ever heard for a bookshelf), but had a rather "bloated" sound to it. I just got the sense that the midbass was bleeding too much into the midrange, causing the lack of presence in vocals and guitars. Soundstage was very nice, but not a whole lot of instrument separation going on. Decent in the detail department. Imaging was solid.

When he switched to the PSBs, I immediately noticed a more defined, taut bass section. Not as much quantity as the Aon 3's, but much tighter and cleaner, IMO. I preferred the midrange handily with the Imagine B's, but definitely noticed the glariness of the metal dome tweeter (as compared to the ribbon in the Aon 3). Overall, I felt the Imagine B was better balanced and the midrange had much more life (positive sense) to it. Soundstage was maybe a bit less in width, same in depth. One thing that I felt was lacking, though, was instrument separation. Imaging was solid.

It was at this point that I felt truly torn. These speakers did things so differently that I really had no idea which one I'd go with (if I had to choose). What made this even more complicated, is the salesman placed a pair of Aerial Acoustics Model 5B on the stands...

Crap. I was glad and mad at the same time after listening to these speakers. Immediately apparent: INSTRUMENT SEPARATION!!! Details, clarity, resolution, timbre. All those words started flooding in my head. Truly balanced sound with a beautifully rendered midrange. Absolutely no glare or harshness to the treble (despite being aluminum dome tweeters...implementation!). Bass quantity was nice, but actually sounded muddy (was very surprised by this).

In the end, it made me realize that even a $2000+/pair speaker can have its flaws (granted still being run by a mid-grade integrated in the NAD). So now I have a reference point, however I don't know if I'd ever be able to achieve that kind of midrange/treble bliss at my price point for the genres I enjoy.

I realized, in the end, that I can live with some bass misfortune (as it can be corrected by cables, electronics, placement, room treatment, etc.)...but I really MUST have that type of midrange/treble that can be so well rendered and discernable, while also being able to ROCK.

This search just got a lot more complicated...
heywaj10
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,304 posts
 
For prog/metal/rock in particular if you liked the little GEs and PSBs, stretch your budget a bit perhaps, maybe consider speakers with larger drivers and or cabinets and maybe even a tad more efficient where possible. Little speakers will struggle to deliver the power and impact that ones typically wants with that kind of music at reasonably high volume levels.

I've heard both the PSBs and the GEs and I think you summarize them quite nicely! I think the Aeon 3's in particular to be a very good value for a speaker that size and price. The polite top end of the Aeons could help make for longer listening sessions without fatigue with that kind of music. For their size and price, hard to beat. But bigger may well be better in this case, if you work to find something bigger that can fit in your budget range. More efficient may be nice also, again, depending on what amp will be used and room size/acoustics.

What amp would you be using?
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,304 posts
 
For that kind of music mainly, a pair of classic OHM Ls could be hard to beat. These are front ported and use an 8" woofer, and two tweeters, one low, one high range, and a simple crossover design. They are awesome with prog/metal music! I still have my original pair bought in 1978 that I rebuilt myself recently. Opeth, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree.....this kind of music excels on these still! Not too shabby for the rest either, though large soundstage and imaging is harder to coax out of these than many more modern designs. A used pair on Ebay in decent condition could cost less than $200. OHM still reffurbs and supports these and sometimes can provide refurbs with modern drivers and components in refurbed cabinets for just a TAD more than their orginal $500/pair price tag back in the 70's. They are OHMs best selling model ever. Worth consideration maybe. FOr power and glory with that kind of music, neither the GEs or PSBs with their smaller drivers and cabinets will hold a candle.
bojack
652 posts
 
Two words: "Used Frieds" available often on the Bay. They are not sexy, but they will do everything you want and more. If you can grad a pair of A3s, Q4s, or Q5s, you will love them guaranteed.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
fwiw

my NAD 325 was a bit bloated and warm in the bass and rolled off on top. It was still very musical but colored to these ears and it would not surprise me if the 356 had a similar tonal balance.
heywaj10 OP
17 posts
 
Mapman: I've thought of the OHM Walsh Micro-Talls and the Tekton Lores. I don't think I'd have room for something the size of the OHM Ls. My fiancee and I are in the beginning stages of house hunting. Chances are, I'll probably have (at best) a 12x14 room to work with, I imagine.

This was my initial reason for thinking of just going bookshelfs. That being said, my concern with the Tekton and Ohms would be instrument separation, detail retrieval, and bass impact. I imagine both excel with bass impact by design, but will detail be strong and will there be a high level of instrument separation, so not to get more of the "wall of sound" that usually accompanies speakers ~$1000?

Amp-wise, that will be a decision made depending on the sound of speaker I choose. Because of this, I fear the prospect of being able to audition Ohms and/or Tektons in-home, only to potentially have to return (if disliked) and pay the restocking fees + shipping costs. That's not a small investment for a "trial" in the case it doesn't work to my liking.
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