Best bookshelf speakers for mids & highs $300-$400

[Shawnb]

Anyway, while I agree, a speaker won't be good just because it has a ribbon tweeter, or whatnot, the emotiva are highly reviewed, as are most of the speakers that use ribbons or folded ribbons or raal, etc (Yes, I know they are very different). Goldenear, emotiva, Martin Logan, Phil, Salk, ascend, pretty much all highly rated with not a negative review among their ribbon lines (and yes, all on very different levels from one another).

 

[zieglj01]

Does measured performance show how well stage imaging and detail are created? I cant believe that measurements on a graph can capture the complete character differences of the dynamics and dimensionality of sound between to equally good but different speakers. All they can do is show us how close it is to flat, no?

Some speakers that measure near or flat to me -- can still end up not sounding really good overall to me, because they are lacking in good resolution. Driver quality for resolution does play a part in this

 

[zieglj01]

Anyway, while I agree, a speaker won't be good just because it has a ribbon tweeter, or whatnot, the emotiva are highly reviewed, as are most of the speakers that use ribbons or folded ribbons or raal, etc

I have been looking at Emotiva for a while -- there is a good chance that I will give them a shake-down. The all around word on them has been good.

 

[bradymartin]

on sale at $300 the jbl 230s easy
on sale at $400 the klipsch rp160s even better.

i own both

the rp160s are slightly superior in both highs and bass.

both put out very good detailed highs and punchy bass. no distortion and no muddiness.

that said, i still get confused when people describe speakers as warm or bright or neutral.

maybe what they mean is inferior tweeter but a lot of bass = warm
superior tweeter but more bass = bright.
or all things even = neutral

 

[killdozzer]

that said, i still get confused when people describe speakers as warm or bright or neutral.

maybe what they mean is inferior tweeter but a lot of bass = warm
superior tweeter but more bass = bright.
or all things even = neutral

I have a feeling it would be very useful to have these layman's terms described technically. The nature of this forum being one of giving advice, it would finally make clear what people seeking advice mean by this. I also think it would be quite an exploration for our boffins as I suspect a lot of unexpected things will emerge.

 

[lovinthehd]

I have a feeling it would be very useful to have these layman's terms described technically. The nature of this forum being one of giving advice, it would finally make clear what people seeking advice mean by this. I also think it would be quite an exploration for our boffins as I suspect a lot of unexpected things will emerge.

Boffins?

 

[Shawnb]

Boffins. They're the hidgens for the spolomon gep.

 

[killdozzer]

Boffins?

1. a person engaged in scientific or technical research.
   "the boffins at the Telecommunications Research Establishment"
   synonyms: expert, specialist, authority, genius, mastermind; More
   scientist, technician, researcher, inventor;
   informalegghead, brains, Einstein, whizz, wizard, alpha geek;
   informalbrainbox, clever clogs;
   informalmaven, rocket scientist, brainiac
   "they wore the white coats of the back-room boffin"
   • a person with knowledge or a skill considered to be complex or arcane.
     "a computer boffin"

 

[Ponzio]

Almost impossible to find nowadays & out of production but if u can find a pair of used Triangle Titus 202's, jump on them. They should be in that price range u quoted. They work in almost any room. Mine currently reside in a 13x17 kitchen without a sub and sound fantastic. At one time I had them in my BR (20x20) with a small 10" Velodyne sub and they rocked. Here's a link to my search, purchase & impressions back in 2014.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/triangle-titus-202.89088/

 

[zieglj01]

that said, i still get confused when people describe speakers as warm or bright or neutral.

maybe what they mean is inferior tweeter but a lot of bass = warm
superior tweeter but more bass = bright.
or all things even = neutral

Here, scroll down some -- however, golden ears are in the minority.
http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/bbs/stereophile_audio-glossary.html

 

[lovinthehd]

1. a person engaged in scientific or technical research.
   "the boffins at the Telecommunications Research Establishment"
   synonyms: expert, specialist, authority, genius, mastermind; More
   scientist, technician, researcher, inventor;
   informalegghead, brains, Einstein, whizz, wizard, alpha geek;
   informalbrainbox, clever clogs;
   informalmaven, rocket scientist, brainiac
   "they wore the white coats of the back-room boffin"
   • a person with knowledge or a skill considered to be complex or arcane.
     "a computer boffin"

LOL learn something new every day.

 

[killdozzer]

Here, scroll down some -- however, golden ears are in the minority.
http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/bbs/stereophile_audio-glossary.html

This is excellent! Many of the subjective terms are just described rather than explained, unfortunately. Meaning the glossary doesn't always explain what happens to make a certain sonic property occur, but in many cases it does explain and this is a treasure.

I still have a feeling that warm/cold is not properly defined. I may be wrong, of course, but I don't think it's solely about the amount of bass and I have a feeling the glossary goes in that direction.

I'll see if I can provide examples.

 

[killdozzer]

I'll see if I can provide examples.

I can imagine you prancing around the meadow catching butterflies with your net after receiving such joyous news.

 

[zieglj01]

I still have a feeling that warm/cold is not properly defined. I may be wrong, of course, but I don't think it's solely about the amount of bass and I have a feeling the glossary goes in that direction.

I'll see if I can provide examples.

Many will have there own description

Some speakers which tend to have somewhat recessed mids and and somewhat rolled off highs are considered warm by some people.

Some of the Wharfedale Diamond series are considered warm by many, and it may be because of a frequency dip in the upper midrange.

Some people who say that a certain speaker is more on the analytical side, may consider that speaker cold.

 

[killdozzer]

Many will have there own description

Some speakers which tend to have somewhat recessed mids and and somewhat rolled off highs are considered warm by some people.

Some of the Wharfedale Diamond series are considered warm by many, and it may be because of a frequency dip in the upper midrange.

Some people who say that a certain speaker is more on the analytical side, may consider that speaker cold.

I never knew people would describe warmth differently. I always though it is a non-professional term describing the same thing.

Comparing these two songs:

Suzanne Vega Caramel

and

Simply Red Picture Book

(OK, I know these are songs and not speakers, but as examples) I always thought no one would mistake which one sounds cold and which one warm.

 

[zieglj01]

I never knew people would describe warmth differently. I always though it is a non-professional term describing the same thing.

Comparing these two songs:

Suzanne Vega Caramel

and

Simply Red Picture Book

(OK, I know these are songs and not speakers, but as examples) I always thought no one would mistake which one sounds cold and which one warm.

All ears are not linear -- just as all eyes are not 20/20

 

[lovinthehd]

Have you ever had a bunch of people try and describe how the same food tastes? I generally disregard all subjective descriptions unless I have a good idea what that person means.

 

[killdozzer]

Have you ever had a bunch of people try and describe how the same food tastes? I generally disregard all subjective descriptions unless I have a good idea what that person means.

I'll tell you this; I've, honestly, never had a person describing a sound warm if I thought it was in fact cold. I guess there's blurred middle ground, but it was never mistaken one for the other.

Judging by first few sounds, what would you say, which one of the linked songs sounds warm and which one cold, or at least which one sounds warmer of the two?

 

[lovinthehd]

I'll tell you this; I've, honestly, never had a person describing a sound warm if I thought it was in fact cold. I guess there's blurred middle ground, but it was never mistaken one for the other.

Judging by first few sounds, what would you say, which one of the linked songs sounds warm and which one cold, or at least which one sounds warmer of the two?

I don't often have discussions with people about warm or cold sound. On the forums some try and attribute this to electronics and my brain just shuts down

The songs are likely to sound like my laptop speakers, which doesn't convey much at all so I usually don't bother listening on my laptop. Just for you, I'd say the Vega song doesn't have the high end content the Simply Red tune has, at least in the beginnings of each track as that's all I had tolerance for with my laptop speakers

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I'll tell you this; I've, honestly, never had a person describing a sound warm if I thought it was in fact cold. I guess there's blurred middle ground, but it was never mistaken one for the other.

Judging by first few sounds, what would you say, which one of the linked songs sounds warm and which one cold, or at least which one sounds warmer of the two?

I used AirPlay from my phone to my system and found the first track might be classified as “warm”. However the second one, I didn’t find cold, but as Hd said had more mid/treble content, and reverb. That’s just because of the instruments used in the recording and how it was produced. Lack of reverb can also make songs “warmer”.