Banyanbull, good points you have made. I used to sell high end audio and more often than not people's tastes in speakers varies. There was not many 100% conclusions on which was best. There were many times I would be surprised on what a customer would prefer, you just won't know until you listen. Don't worry about what others think too much, a lot of good input to consider but in the end your ears will be the final arbitrator. .
Speakers for aging audiophiles - What's with today bass emphasis ?
I'd love to pick your brains on a issue and possibly a suggestion
My system has 2 sources, a Logitech transporter and Thorens 126 MKIII / SME / Supex. Ampli recently changed to a Musical Fidelity M6si. My listening is 80% streaming and 20% vinyl. It's mostly classic and prog rock but also acoustic jazz and classic chamber music.
I have an issue with my current speakers setup: Dynaudio BM6 passive.
I have been using those for some months now and find that while they are satisfying in terms of scene, detail, resolution they are exceedingly strong in the bass (say 50 to 200 Hz) and not adequately balanced in the middle / treble, say from 1k Hz up. It seems as though the bass player stand in front with a big amplifier and everyone else is back in the stage.
I have changed the amplifier to the Musical Fidelity but while I am happy with that I did not see much change in respect to the issue I am describing.
I relate this issue to 2 causes:
1. Today's recordings emphasizes the bass unrealistically. Let me just give you an example. I recently bought Steve Wilson remix of Marillion "Misplaced Childhood". Great work. The mix is shining but compared to the old vinyl I have got you get this feeling of too much bass. Bass quality is great, well defined, solid, no complain but just too much of a good thing.
2. I am ageing, over 60 now. It is well know that as you age your sensitivity to the high frequencies falls down
Given those factors I'd like to change speakers to get something that:
- Is very open on the highs
- It's very analytical
- Does not over emphasize basses
- Bookshelf
- Ballpark cost 2 - 2.5 K
Can anyone make suggestions ? I was inclined to the Harbeths M30 but read several blogs where they say they do emphasize the bass. Maybe Dynaudio Special or Focus ? How about Totem Sky ?
I don't mind spending a few more bucks to get what I want / need.
Thanks a lot everyone.
Mark.
My system has 2 sources, a Logitech transporter and Thorens 126 MKIII / SME / Supex. Ampli recently changed to a Musical Fidelity M6si. My listening is 80% streaming and 20% vinyl. It's mostly classic and prog rock but also acoustic jazz and classic chamber music.
I have an issue with my current speakers setup: Dynaudio BM6 passive.
I have been using those for some months now and find that while they are satisfying in terms of scene, detail, resolution they are exceedingly strong in the bass (say 50 to 200 Hz) and not adequately balanced in the middle / treble, say from 1k Hz up. It seems as though the bass player stand in front with a big amplifier and everyone else is back in the stage.
I have changed the amplifier to the Musical Fidelity but while I am happy with that I did not see much change in respect to the issue I am describing.
I relate this issue to 2 causes:
1. Today's recordings emphasizes the bass unrealistically. Let me just give you an example. I recently bought Steve Wilson remix of Marillion "Misplaced Childhood". Great work. The mix is shining but compared to the old vinyl I have got you get this feeling of too much bass. Bass quality is great, well defined, solid, no complain but just too much of a good thing.
2. I am ageing, over 60 now. It is well know that as you age your sensitivity to the high frequencies falls down
Given those factors I'd like to change speakers to get something that:
- Is very open on the highs
- It's very analytical
- Does not over emphasize basses
- Bookshelf
- Ballpark cost 2 - 2.5 K
Can anyone make suggestions ? I was inclined to the Harbeths M30 but read several blogs where they say they do emphasize the bass. Maybe Dynaudio Special or Focus ? How about Totem Sky ?
I don't mind spending a few more bucks to get what I want / need.
Thanks a lot everyone.
Mark.
- ...
- 97 posts total
vtvmtodvm LP discs are the product of a 1948 compromise that traded fidelity for ...Every engineered product is the result of compromise. The CD is the product of a compromise that traded high frequencies for the cost benefit. CDs convey a dynamic range > 30 dB better than vinyl ...In theory, that’s possible. In practice, rarely. In fact, newly released LPs often have greater dynamic range than their CD counterparts. ... sealed speakers will provide a smoother and more natural bass falloff than ported reflex speakers, but they won’t extend as deeply.Not necessarily. You might want to give a listen to something like an Infinity IRS Beta system before you insist sealed speakers don’t reproduce LF as well as ported. It’s all about the implementation. |
cleeds—Hey, let's be fair, as well as merely accurate… The cited CD hi-frequency "trade-off" actually involves frequencies > 20kHz. Those "CD counterparts" that you reference are all pop market CDs that have been intentionally “hyper-comped”—meaning they’re mastered with gross dynamic range compression—to assure that they’ll peak the level meters (sound loud) when given airplay. This odious digital distortion will cause this freak CD to sound inferior when compared to its vinyl equivalent. Analog discs can’t be artificially despoiled to this same extent, so it's the CD that gets intentionally compromised. And I didn't say that "…sealed speakers don't reproduce LF as well as ported." I said that "sealed speakers provide a smoother and more natural bass falloff." |
yo +1 - KEF LS50 without a subwoofer - at normal 60yo I am wondering if natural hearing loss at higher frequencies would thereby accentuate sensitivity to lower/bass frequencies (seems that would be the case). The KEF LS50 to me is the little speaker that could. I wanted to eliminate the need to use a sub woofer with them (LS50) and purchased Tekton CI. Fit the bill for me. Not sure why at least one reply here indicated Stereophile didn't like the bass on the Tektons - without re-reading I thought he simply said that sealing the rear port was preferably on a certain amount type and also low percentage of the music he reviewed. The Tektons certainly are not weak on bass response and are far superior to the KEFs in that regard. Midrange frequencies on both is exceptional. And vtmtodvin - at 60 yo we no longer hear >20kHz - lol. And your remark about sealed vs.ported speakers is entirely too simplistic - there are many great designed/sounding speakers with ported enclosures. Your comment might be construed that sealed would always be superior |
OP: - Bookshelf - Analytical - Detailed, natural, extended highs - Balanced and Controlled Bass that is still solid - Neutral, but forward with VG 3d staging - Outstanding lifelike vocals - Good Air - Very Fast and revealing Speaker will show you the magnificence of recordings and your equipment, but also let you know how bad a recording is, or system weeknesses. - 2-2.5k pair - 5 yr transferable warranty, built 2010 thru 2015, so can be purchased used with warranty in effect. * Paradigm Signature S2 V.3, Berrylium tweeters |
- 97 posts total