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Cannot find perfect sound

I've been listening to supposedly some of the finest speakers that currently exist. These include b&w 800 Series, revel high end, vivid audio, Psi audio and kef blades.

None except the kef blades satisfied my high level standards.

When I play my reference tracks on cheap earbuds I hear timing accuracy that is missing on all the above speakers. Only the kef blades came closest to what I hear from cheap earbuds. 

Explanations please?

I really suspect that none of these high end speakers are accurately reproducing the sound on my CDs despite all the marketing claims about accuracy and high quality sound.

What could there possibly be that my cheap earbuds can do that eludes these super high end speakers?  

I'm not so eager anymore to spend any money until I have a good explanation.

kenjit
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
Music soothes the savage beast, breast, whatever.

https://youtu.be/kRZ6C79y-pY
Post removed 
enliten
38 posts
 
Hmmm,

Don't know where you live, if you go to RMAF I'll be there Friday for sure. I'll leave a card at Paul's room (PS audio). I gotta meet ya, let's hang out. I'm really curious what you're trying to get to - bring your buds! We can go listen to live stuff around Denver and at the show. Paul REALLY has a lot of insite too for sure - he's a fantastic guy. Maybe Dave Slagle will be there - shows up once in a while - or not. He's got an interesting insite for sure.

I'm considered a 'Subject Matter Expert' for Navy sonar - been at it for years. Know my way around the physics of sound and minored in psychoacoustics @ .Purdue. Perhaps I can take a whack at this...

Those buds may have come from ancient astronauts....
mirolab
59 posts
 

This thread is maddening!! I been yelling at the screen, reading everybody WAY overthinking and over engineering this guy’s dilemma. It seems that he simply hears an "immediacy" from earbuds that he’s not getting from loudspeakers in a room.

While I do not like earbuds... one can become accustomed to that sound. I fear we have an entire generation of young people that have grown up with earbuds, and they think earbuds sound "normal". Earbuds have become the reference of a generation.

That, said, I also agree that many audiophile speakers lack immediacy and dynamic excitement. (is that what OP means by timing?). For that you need to go with high efficiency speakers.... HORNS... Tannoys, or maybe Zu Audio speakers? Are resonances more the problem?.... then maybe try electrostatics or big ribbons like Martin Logans or Magnepans. Of course the ROOM plays a large role, but clearly, the typical little round cones in a wooden box aren’t doing it for the OP, so time to try different types of designs.

pinthrift
19 posts
 
Hi..ol' fart chipping-in (digital front end.)  :)  So many variables at play to simplify much advice.  I like full body contact in music.  My line is..headphones, ear-buds etc are akin to.."solo sex or making a meal of appetizers..pretty good at the time, but not very satisfying in the end."  I've elected near-field with sealed Salk monitors atop of good subs in a smaller space.  My friend has large corner Tannoys placed away from corners in a large space that also gives "point source" benefits to a large space.  I recently heard the self-powered KEF LS50s that are gratifyingly good given a good source for reasonable money.  For MUSIC...lovely mid-range without the great chase for top/bottom extremes, an appropriate to the room sized pair of Harbeths driven by, say, the post anniversary McIntosh MC275 might be a "sail into the sunset" pairing.  Even order harmonics to all!  Pinthrift (Norm)
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