Speakers that reveal bad recordings? Not for me.


Why is it ever desirable to have speakers that simply reflect whatever they are fed, for better or worse?
I can control the upstream equipment, but I cannot control the quality of the recording, which severely limits my freedom of music choice, defeating the purpose of an audio system. This just seems like common sense to me, and I get annoyed when a dealer or whomever mentions this as sign of quality. (Thanks for reading my rant.)
rgs92
Agree with Newbee´s first comment.
I personally prefer to tune the sound in other end of the system. Speakers are most troublesome to change and if they are veiled and colored you won`t better it much with upstream components. Every month are available new XRCD-s and other very well recorded recorded material but you will never be able to enjoy their breathtaking purity and natural feeling with speakers that doesn`t even let you know which is good recording and which is bad. I use DAC that allows different filter settings on several stages in signal path. This way I can take maximum pleasure of every recording. But if recording is incurably bad there is now way to make it sound good.
Dweller, Chadnliz, Jtimothya,and Jaybo, I did not say it will sound great just listenable = good. A proper designed loudspeaker for home use will revel flaws in reproduction but will not hi light them if it does its not well designed or your system does not have synergy. If you want loudspeakers that are designed just for relieving problems in recordings one buys monitors if you want music or HT in your home you buy loudspeakers designed for such use. You guys should know this its common knowledge. 1 of my good friends Tom a expert crossover designer many of the popular loudspeakers on the market have crossovers designed by Tom or Tom helped with design. Once we messed about building the best measuring 2 way ever. We where able to get near perfect flat response from 30hz-18khz. This loudspeaker while it measured near perfect sounded like crap on music. So if one wants near perfect measured response is possible but you don't want it in a music system no mater how much you whine about it being needed to enjoy music. Since no perfect system exists no perfect loudspeaker room recording or audiophile we all have highly compromised frequency response in our rooms. Even if you correct electrically the problems are not fully removed. And do you really want to listen to a near perfect measuring monitor in a anechoic chamber? Not I.
A good system will bring out the best in all recordings.

This may be politically incorrect but all recordings are not created equal so don't expect this.

Most recordings will be very listenable on a good system if you like the music.

I have a remastered CD version of "The Third Man Theme" which I believe was recorded in 1950 or so. It sounds fantastic! Other than the musical style, you would not know the recording is almost 60 years old.


Its nice to have great equipment, but isn't it about the music? I have some less than stellar recordings but I take them for what they are. Music that I enjoy. Not because its the best recording with all the nuances, but the recording that has something to which captivated me. Listen for the music YOU enjoy and you will not be bothered with recording quality as much. I'm sure you have some good/great recordings you can enjoy as well.
Wouldn't a hifi system be doing it's job if it made a bad recording sound bad?

Many Stones albums are horrid sounding by audiophile standards but I dare anyone to find more gut wrenching blues rock. Bear in mind I'm no fan of modern Stones recordings or touring.

It's either about the gear or the music.
Think for yourself. Question authority.