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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
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
Room acoustics are the usual solution, but you have a tautology here.

You define your "high level standards" by cheap earbuds.

Our standards are not actually set in stone. Whatever you spend years listening to is what your ear brain mechanism will determine to be correct. 

My guess is, if I’m right, you are listening to the wrong brands. Try out Dali and the latest Paradigm with the Be mids.

Also get out more and listen to live music Participate and give to a music school or public radio station.
csmgolf
479 posts
 
Get a nice headphone amp and a set of electrostatic headphones and call it a day. Go to one of the audio shows, the ones I have been to have extensive headphone exhibits. Buy what you like.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
2,766 posts
 
You will never find perfect sound.  What sounds great to some will not sound great for others.  I heard a system that went for 500K and thought it totally sucked.  Many others who heard it felt the same. 
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jdub071
48 posts
 
Can't compare speakers to headphones--headphones are a pain in the ass to use all the time but for critical listening I put on my Sennheiser HD600's. Best I can afford but they are not influenced by room as most all speakers are.  What I like about speakers is good soundstage and dynamics and to hell with accuracy. Back in the day when I went to live concerts I was disappointed in the live performances because they lacked the subleties of studio recordings--not always but sometimes not to mention the wall of sound at about the threshold of pain. My ears were never the same after a Santana concert and I can't even imagine wanting to see AC-DC live.
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