Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

Re: Misc observations

24.112.128.78

Brian,

I have heard other loudspeakers that I felt portrayed instrumental timbres in a fundamentally correct way (nothing I've heard is perfect). And several of these used high-order crossovers. The Hales
Transcendence series (before they went under) amazed me. Paul Hales' first design goal was always correct timbre, and it was his view that high order crossovers achieved this more easily than low-order designs. I don't know that to be true, but I was amazed by the Transcendence 5/8s when I heard them. Excepting a *very* slight metallic aftertaste or glaze to the presentation, it was amazing how they managed to weave a sonic rainbow of correct sounding instruments. I confirmed their timbral authenticity at my own home, tested against my instruments and recordings.

That said, I can't help but notice that virtually every phase/time aligned speaker design I've heard seems to make it to my list of "right" sounding speakers (and that, of course, is a very small number of manufacturers in the audio world).

When I listened to the Dunlavy Aletha a while back, I first listened to a track by saxophonist Joshua Redman. Normally as soon as I hear an instrument through a loudspeaker I quickly recognize that speaker's "take" on the sound - e.g. how it colors the sound of a saxophone. Through the Alethas the sax played and, well, I was sort of baffled. All I could think of was: "sh*t that sounds like a real sax!" I was taken aback at how hard it was pin pointing coloration to the sound. The Alethas did much the same for many other instruments.
It's interesting that REG of TAS also lauded the Aletha for outstanding timbral accuracy, and he is self-admittedly "obsessive" about instrumental tone/timbre. Not saying the Dunlavy speakers must therefore be perfect, of course. But they have been impressive in my brief encounters with them. Which makes the Cantata a very tempting product, I must say. (Sounded excellent at the last CES).

But, back to the question. The fact that high-order speakers have also sounded correct to me does perhaps put us back at square one. I'm intellectually attracted to the idea of pulse-coherence, but I refuse to be seduced by theory only. I'm holding out for some form of proof (personal or otherwise) that it is meaningful. I wonder: if we could make well controlled, direct comparisons would the phase/time coherent designs show any advantage? Hmmm....

Rich H.

(I'll try and email you about the "mega speaker").


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Schiit Audio  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups


You can not post to an archived thread.