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Speakers that are very accurate sounding but don't produce an emotional connection.

I have listened to a few speakers over the years that impressed me with their accuracy and presentation of the music, but just did not create an emotional response or connection. I have often wondered what that quality is in some speakers that produce an emotional connection with the listener. This quality has been identified by audiophiles, as "magical", "engaging"  "just right"  "euphonic"  "natural"  "true to life". " "satisfying"  "musical"....  I am sure there are at least 50  other  adjectives that could describe this "quality" of  sound . 

Considering the various aspects  of achieving  good and accurate sound by component synergy, is there a way to explain this so-called magical element that often eludes so many of us??.  I don't think such a feeling is temporal, conditioned by personal moods, or the phases of the moon or sun.  

Like to hear from members who have given some thought to the same issue.    Thanks,  Jim   

BTW, I know the thread is a bit out there, but  I don't think the topic is pointlessly pursuing the genie in the bottle. 


sunnyjim
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
Any system, regardless of price, can provide that emotional connection.  Every system I've had started at a point where I had to work it to attain that emotional connection. Adding some new piece of gear pointed me in the right direction but it couldn't do it by itself. Sometimes (after awhile) that new piece of gear had to go. 

It could be the amp, speaker, or even a cable that completed the system.
And, it was never that particular piece alone, to begin with. 

We all have individual tastes and all it takes is what's necessary to make it convincing. It can never be real. But convincing is all it takes to complete the emotional connection.

All the best,
Nonise


chrshanl37
622 posts
 
Interesting thread Sunny, Somthing I have pondererd on more than one occasion. I’ve always been a fan of old ADS speakers for this reason. I had actually started a thread about it a few years ago when I was looking for a modern speaker that possesed the same magic. It took me a long time to find one. I also makes me wonder if there are speakers out there that have measured poorly but somehow just sounds right.
What speakers have you heard that you feel have these qualities?

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Sunnyjim,
No this topic isn't "out there" but is very relevant IMO.
The two most important  criteria for me when judging audio components are natural tonality and emotional communication and engagement. It these qualities are lacking no other  attributes can make  up for this  critical  deficiency. We listen to music  for ènjoyment. Without emotional  involvement how can we expect to  enjoy our music? Okay, back to  ĺistening to Dexter Gordon, he's  definitely  communicating 😃😃
Charles,
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
To put a finer point on what I said before, the speakers I now have are very engaging, emotionally. They weren't at first. It took the right stands and placement (directly on them with no footers) and then the merry-go-round with cables before they hit all my buttons and yet I feel I could get more out them with some costlier cables but as of right now, they are very convincing. It's easy to get lulled into reverie.

All the best,
Nonoise
sunnyjim OP
884 posts
 

To Chrasani 37.  I am sure I got your blog name wrong.  Nevertheless, I have not heard anything recently that knocked me out.  Two years ago, I heard a pair of YG Carmel  (original ). They did many of things that reviews claimed, especially the TAS review.  From my perspective, they sounded commanding in how they present and handled the music. Unfortunately, the shop owner has/had a bad habit of playing what he liked, which at moment, was jazz piano. The Carmel speakers just delivered the sound in full, no gaps of incoherency or variations in sound level.  The sound was real, in the room, and visceral.  Did  it create an emotional connection, only to the extent that I was awed by its fullness of presentation. It was neither soft nor understated or sound like a "performance", it was just there,  independent of the anomalies of showroom acoustics.

The YG Carmel is in a class by itself.  But as far as engaging, I have to give a nod to two speakers of years past:.... the IMF TLS-80, and the a few years prior to their debut, the Rectilinear 3. a speaker that  even if playing in a room of people talking and laughing, the sound just drew you to it. Call it natural, euphonic or whatever,.... the sound came across as "just right" even over the chatter of people in a large room The IMF TLS 80 was that and more with a compelling depth to the sound which was stunning, especially driven by the Crown 300B amp,  ARC, or any McIntosh  amp of at least 100-200RMS.  The McIntosh fattened the sound a bit, but not to any point of distraction or incoherence.      

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