Re: Two GREAT Loudspeakers: One sounds "Wrong," One sounds "Right..."

This is a second submission on this thread. I've spent some time thinking about this and do not have a definitive answer, but I do have some pertinent second thoughts.

I am of the opinion that the majority of differences perceived in hi-fi equipment is due to differences in frequency response, and/or dispersion characteristics. So here's a thought experiment:

Suppose the two speakers had a frequency response of +/- 1 dB from 30 Hz to 16 kHz. Further suppose that by some miracle that both had that response in the room where you listened. Unrealistic? Yes, but stay with me. Now suppose that speaker A had a response that was -1 dB at 30 Hz, rose to +1 dB at 36 Hz, and them sloped smoothly and continuously to -1 dB at 16 kHz. Next suppose that speaker B started at -1 dB at 30 Hz, rose to +1 dB at 36 Hz, fell smoothly to -1 dB at 100 Hz, rose smoothly and continuously to +1 dB at 13 kHz and then dropped to -1dB at 16 kHz. Would you hear a difference? Damn straight, you would. A would sound warm and rich, B would sound bright and a bit thin. And that's with the ridiculously tight band of +/- 1 dB. If you doubt me on this, get hold of a graphic equalizer and duplicate those curves and see what that small amount of change does to the coloration of your system. According to a paper by Fred Toole (Infinity website, under technical papers) even very small deviations over wide bandwidths are very audible. I think my system is well set up and like the sound a lot. Adding those slopes to mine made very significant changes in coloration.

If that's all it takes, no wonder the Dunlavy's sounded different than the megaspeaker, despite the impressive specs. It also means that the skill of the designer in "voicing" the speaker is more important than the specs.

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Topic - Two GREAT Loudspeakers: One sounds "Wrong," One sounds "Right..." - Rich H 08:57:40 09/18/01 (26)

Re: Two GREAT Loudspeakers: One sounds "Wrong," One sounds "Right..." - Bald Iggle 18:25:56 09/22/01 (0)

Re: Two GREAT Loudspeakers: One sounds "Wrong," One sounds "Right..." - ishmael 19:53:39 09/20/01 (1)

Same here - Arnel 02:42:25 09/21/01 (0)

I had the same feeling when listening to Revel Ultima's - Troy Richards 15:05:35 09/20/01 (2)

Re: I had the same feeling when listening to Revel Ultima's - Rich H 16:03:52 09/20/01 (1)

Count me in! Revel Salon gets my vote for best "laboratory" speakers. (nt) - Arnel 00:41:23 09/21/01 (0)

Misc observations - Brian A 12:03:07 09/19/01 (5)

Re: Misc observations - Rich H 15:49:46 09/19/01 (4)

Re: Misc observations - Brian A 16:26:49 09/19/01 (3)

Re: Misc observations - Rich H 19:54:17 09/19/01 (2)

Re: Misc observations - Brian A 08:38:58 09/20/01 (0)

Re: Misc observations - David Aiken 01:55:21 09/20/01 (0)

Possible explanation - citroeniste 09:53:44 09/19/01 (0)

I can relate to that same experience- every time someone slams my system without hearing it!!! - Dman 05:11:46 09/19/01 (0)

Real timbre or not so real timbre - Michael Y 00:15:18 09/19/01 (0)

Re: Two GREAT Loudspeakers: One sounds "Wrong," One sounds "Right..." - jtube 20:52:28 09/18/01 (0)

Oops! Welcome to the party. <n/t> - Romy 18:53:21 09/18/01 (5)

Re: Oops! Welcome to the party. <n/t> - Chris Heppner 07:16:58 09/19/01 (4)

Re: Crossovers in ET LFT VIII - Bruce Righter 14:10:10 09/21/01 (0)

O, screw it! I spend yesterday ... - Romy 07:32:18 09/19/01 (2)

Re: O, screw it! I spend yesterday ...sorry Romy - AND TO OTHERS IN THIS THREAD... - Rich H 08:55:09 09/19/01 (1)

AND .... - Romy 09:54:44 09/19/01 (0)

Re: Two GREAT Loudspeakers: One sounds "Wrong," One sounds "Right..." - ka7niq 12:45:59 09/18/01 (0)

Re: Two GREAT Loudspeakers: One sounds "Wrong," One sounds "Right..." - davera 09:42:31 09/18/01 (0)

Missing the forest for the trees - Troop 09:36:29 09/18/01 (1)

Re: Missing the forest for the trees - Bald Iggle 19:24:17 09/20/01 (0)

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Re: Two GREAT Loudspeakers: One sounds "Wrong," One sounds "Right..." - Bald Iggle 18:25:56 09/22/01 (0)

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