Some random thoughts

Autor

Beitrag

square_wave
Inventar

#1 erstellt: 09. Mrz 2005, 09:45

I have been hearing (even from seasoned audiophiles) that some speakers are good only for jazz and classical, some for rock and techno etc..
Why these classifications? Are these applicable only to mid-range speakers? If so, it is understandable because the manufacturer will be able to consciously voice the speaker to certain characteristics which will certainly result in trade offs with some other kind of music. Is the high end immune to these classifications? A high end speaker is supposed to be a transparent monitor so should work with all kinds of music. What say? At what price point does the crap stop and decently high end musical speakers start coming? What are your experiences?
I recently had a chat with a sound engineer who said there are quite of lot high end manufacturers (amps and speakers) who consciously voice their products in a certain syrupy way (meaning-distorted) so that it appeals to certain audiophiles. Any thoughts ?

Manek
Inventar

#2 erstellt: 09. Mrz 2005, 10:17

yeah,,,plenty of thoughts.......

Different people like to hear their music differently. Human ear does not percieve frequencies across the audible spectrum with the same intensity. Hearing sensitivities differ from ear to ear. Thats why to some people a supposedly flat response speaker may be too forward or recessed in its midrange or treble. Its not imperative that the highest end speaker should be the most neutral. Yes a lot of high end manufacturers tweak their speakers to accentuate/recess a band of frequencies to give it a specific distinctive voice. Nothing wrong in that and that cannot be classified as distortion either. Some do it to be different, and some to counter the tonality in speakers and partnering equipment in that price bracket and may just be a marketing ploy.

For that matter, I personally like a slightly warm sound cause thats how I like my music at home even if it were played and recorded very flat. To me its about tonality/emotion/warmth and timbre trueness in that order. I try and compensate the sound by not buying coloured speakers but by electronics. Some others may just like a warm sounding or thick midranged speaker, period. Cant do much about that can you ?

About speakers not being for a particular kind of music.....much has been said about it and most of it to my mind is rubbish, others differ and I know someone will say something about this statement :-). Given that a speaker is voiced in a certain way, say a bit laid back, jazz and classical may sound great,pop and rock may not sound as you wanted due to the nature of the music and the rock/pop music played may not have that certian bite/rawness/edge. That may warrant someone to say that the speaker is not for rock and pop. Similarly there will be someone who would love his pop and rock music also to have a slightly laid back attribute as well so it becomes an allrounder. So it all depends on the preferences/ear of the customer.

Manek.

viren
Stammgast

#3 erstellt: 12. Mrz 2005, 09:24

Manek has said it quite well!

The speaker really can't tell what music is playing on it! If the system is balanced well, all types of music should sound good. Correct tonality is critical in my opinion; that should not be compromised. The basic compromise is in the bass; good bass reproduction requires big drivers and big cabinets. The laws of physics dictate that.

Get the midrange right, and music will follow.

Beyond that, there are subjective preferences. Designers are human too - their own preferences will influence the overall design. The better designer is the music lover; atleast his or her preferences are in the right direction!