As I read through the responses, I kept asking myself, "What is it that makes a forward sounding speaker?" Is it midrange emphasis, treble emphasis, distortion, or something else?
The most forward speakers I've encountered are the Newform Research, line source quasi-ribbons with cone mid-bass. (They were also the worst sounding speakers from outside the room.) Next would be large panels, e.g., Magnepan, Martin Logan.
What do others think of the following hypothesis?
The beaming of line source and panels 'projects' the sound at the listener, and limits the higher frequency content of the room's reverberant field that exaggerates the localization of the source, thus making a forward presentation.
The most forward speakers I've encountered are the Newform Research, line source quasi-ribbons with cone mid-bass. (They were also the worst sounding speakers from outside the room.) Next would be large panels, e.g., Magnepan, Martin Logan.
What do others think of the following hypothesis?
The beaming of line source and panels 'projects' the sound at the listener, and limits the higher frequency content of the room's reverberant field that exaggerates the localization of the source, thus making a forward presentation.