Hmm, yeah, actually graphs do tell you if a speaker is accurate and smooth.
That is not what I asked. I said
Transparency. How can you see that on a graph?
Did you audition all those speakers INSIDE YOUR HOUSE using the SAME system?
I didn't think so.
Not all of course, but several. Same result. I actually still own two others that by most accounts fall into the the "transparent" category and the Diamonds outclass them both. The third set I had has already been sold off. I've also had speakers that had ruler flat response graphs that were nowhere near as transparent (or even accurate sounding) as the Diamonds. Go figure.
Huge difference between listening to a speaker for a few years inside your house vs a few minutes in a STORE.
Of course.
All speakers are room dependent. Regardless, if you know what you are looking for a store audition can easily rule out speakers that do not satisfy your requirements. The Diamonds sound better to me at home than other speakers I currently own or have owned just as they do when I compare them to the same speakers at the retailer. Bottom line is that a thick sounding speaker won't suddenly sound clear when I bring it home, a boxy sounding speaker won't suddenly open up or vice-versa. Conversely, the speakers I do have don't completely change their
overall presentation when I hear them in a retailers set-up.
But yes, I do agree that your subjective opinion is salient in the end.
Yes, you don't like the Diamonds. I love them. Let's leave it at that.
I just hope your disdain for them is not because of the graph and it's actually because you don't like the way they sound. I say that because you seem to dwell on graphs, specs and cost.
It comes down to whether people think the speakers are worth the money ($30K/pr).
Some people think the speakers are worth it. Some people (who have owned B&W 800 & 802) think the speakers are NOT worth anywhere near the asking price.
No it doesn't. I didn't think that this thread was about cost.
In my case I felt the 805D2's were worth every penny and I auditioned stand-mounts that were even more expensive. But again, my initial comments had nothing to do with cost - only that holding graphs and specs as gospel (when it comes to speakers) can be shortsighted. Especially when it comes to what I feel is a world class speaker like the Diamonds.