Ultimate speakers

[zing010]

So if "reference" is a piano, drums, sax and singer in your living room....why isn't there one speaker (or pair or several) that is the best. There can't possibly be a quality of one speaker that is better than another. Either it sounds exactly like the "reference" or it doesn't. There should be no "brighter", or "warmer" or "forward" or anything other than "sounds just like it".

I realize rooms make a difference and jazz halls don't sound like concert halls...but all things being equal...if you recorded a band in your living room and then played it back....there has to be a set of speakers that would do that more lifelike than all the others.

Can someone explain to me why this isn't the case?

 

[Tomorrow]

So if "reference" is a piano, drums, sax and singer in your living room....why isn't there one speaker (or pair or several) that is the best. There can't possibly be a quality of one speaker that is better than another. Either it sounds exactly like the "reference" or it doesn't. There should be no "brighter", or "warmer" or "forward" or anything other than "sounds just like it".

I realize rooms make a difference and jazz halls don't sound like concert halls...but all things being equal...if you recorded a band in your living room and then played it back....there has to be a set of speakers that would do that more lifelike than all the others.

Can someone explain to me why this isn't the case?

Don't forget the processing effect of the recording engineer (and what monitors he's listening to!). The source material and front end equipment also can serve to deflect what you hear from what it would sound like live. And further, you can never A-B the speakers with 'real live' unless you have the band and the equipment set up and ready to switch sources.

What you ask for is not easily provided. "Audiophiles" around the world are always in search of this so-called nirvana of uncolored speaker presentation. There are some interesting threads on the net concerning this very issue. And not surprisingly, everyone has a different opinion of the 'best' speakers.

IMHO, get what sounds best to you!

 

[j_garcia]

All speakers color the sound slightly, there is no getting away from that. Less coloration is all you can really strive for. That coloration is what gives a particular speaker its character, and as rjbudz said, choosing a speaker is entirely a personal preference.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

So if "reference" is a piano, drums, sax and singer in your living room....why isn't there one speaker (or pair or several) that is the best. There can't possibly be a quality of one speaker that is better than another. Either it sounds exactly like the "reference" or it doesn't. There should be no "brighter", or "warmer" or "forward" or anything other than "sounds just like it".

I realize rooms make a difference and jazz halls don't sound like concert halls...but all things being equal...if you recorded a band in your living room and then played it back....there has to be a set of speakers that would do that more lifelike than all the others.

Can someone explain to me why this isn't the case?

Hi zing010,

Reproducing the sound exactly from an entire band would be infinitly complex. The sounds emited from each drum each cymbal each piano string the sax and singer are all coming from a different location in the room (and radiateing out in all directions) and then reacting with the room accustics/reflections.

It would end up being cheaper to hire musicans to play for you personaly when you want.

SBF1

 

[QubyB]

Some articles on your question

You might have a look over here.

http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/ConsumerAudioMyths.php

Approximately 4/5 down the page are some links to several articles on ludspeakers that deal with the question you asked.

QubyB