2. speakers
  3. 1372259149

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
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.
wescoman
116 posts
 
See if you can find a pair of (used) Totem Sttaf speakers for sale. Great sound from a small floor-standing speaker. Incredible range and solid construction.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,075 posts
 
Micro walsh talls should perform well in a room that size. I have slightly larger 100s I use in my small 12X12 rooms, and they are a perfect no compromise fit there. That size might come refurbed from OHM in Walsh 2 cabinets perhaps like mine if available at the time close to your price range, less maybe if you can find used.. I also use a pair of Dynaudio Contour 1.3mkII monitors in that size room, and those are exceptional as well, with perhaps just the slightest room to benefit from a sub. Those used would fall in your price range. I could see Goldenear Aon 3's working pretty well in a room that size as well. Aon 3 sound reminded me somewhat like OHM Walsh sound but with more polite top end due to folded horn/Heil type tweeter and smaller sweet spot, and less robust low end.
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,366 posts
 
Personally I wouldn't place any judgement on any speaker when you are powering it with a low price integrated. Pretty much you aren't going to get a great sound with a cheap amp. If you only have a very limited budget you should consider spending most of it on a really good amp and get whatever speaker you can with what is left. That is the way I would do it. I would far and away prefer to have a 300 speaker with a 2500 amp than the other way around. I'd steer clear of NAD they just don't sound all that great in my opinion.
More to discover