One thing people do that's just irritating is make blanket judgements of a speaker company based on one set they hear. I don't like Klipsch speakers for music, but my only reference is the synergy line. I'd love to hear some higher end models because I have to think that a company that has been around that long has to make a decent speaker. Based on my only hearing the lower end I can't say that the whole company can't make a decent speaker, that's just dumb.
That is true. Also, companies change over the years. I would hardly say that because Infinity once made the IRS speakers that it means that their current stuff is good. Owners and designers come and go.
Oh, I don't think that anyone said the Ultras "sucked". I myself posted what I thought their weaknesses are, especially at the high end. I do think, however, that SVS knows just a teeny..teeny....teeny bit about bass reproduction. So, I would be very hesitant, if I was a forum member, to call the bass inaccurate or colored, without having heard the actual speaker.
As far as "live" music being the reference, I agree to some degree. Obviously, the speaker is supposed to reproduce the source accurately. But, most albums are mixed and mastered etc, so who knows if the CD is exactly what the live band sounded like. Even concerts can sound different in different venues. Symphonies sound different at Disney hall compared to the Hollywood Bowl, at least per my parents who are avid concert goers. I have heard a local band here in a small basement room and outside at a county fair, sounded quite different even though it was the same guys, same songs, and same gear(well, I'm not a roadie, so I can't verify it was the same gear, but for the sake of my argument, I am going to assume it was).
