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buying speakers

MaxSeven said:
You know what I think is interesting, not that anyone cares (lol) -- but if one is buying second hand at garage sales, craigslist etc. -- you can get (and try) a whole bunch of speakers. You can then get rid of ones you get tired of, and replace with another 'score'. So perhaps the whole discussion is irrelevant. Unless, of course, we're talking about expensive speakers that can't be found at these places. Which, we are probably talking about, so disregard everything I just wrote.

lol

:D
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Thats the beauty of the thrift store find. Not a lot of pain and suffering if you find you don't like them. :thmbsp:

RC
 
doucanoe said:
So am I to believe that if I unknowingly listen to a pair of "Test Right" speakers and determine them to be "Not so Right" that my opinion is incorrect. ;)
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Well, it's a good question, isn't it?

Perhaps it's primarily the "Bose" logo on them influencing your opinion. ;)

The point is, "Trust your EARS," as is oft posted here, is not so reliable a bottom line as we might suppose, and we've all experienced it.

How is it that our own opinion is subject to change as early as the next time we listen? Surely there is some more relevant constant, or cluster of constants, to consider.... :yes:
 
Zilch said:
Well, it's a good question, isn't it?

Perhaps it's primarily the "Bose" logo on them influencing your opinion. ;)

The point is, "Trust your EARS," as is oft posted here, is not so reliable a bottom line as we might suppose, and we've all experienced it.

How is it that our own opinion is subject to change as early as the next time we listen? Surely there is some more relevant constant, or cluster of constants, to consider.... :yes:
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Consider, yes. :D

RC
 
I bought an SX-828 new off the shelf and a pair of Jensen Model 15's , a great set of speakers and I apparently had the only pair ever made since you see or hear nothing of them anywhere.

I listened to these long enough to determine that this is what speakers are supposed to sound like.
So, when I went in to stereo stores, back when there was such a thing, I gravitated to what I was accustomed to hearing. Still do.

Point is, if you have been listening to a type of sound for long enough chances are you won't like anything very different , regardless of what the graph says.
 
MaxSeven said:
This feels like an advanced philosphy class at university. Zilch, were or are you a professor?
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No, I just try to make sense out of what I read here.

Doucanoe and Dr. Geddes agree. Subjective opinion is so variable as to render it meaningless in these matters, and it's not a HUGE stretch to recognize that our own is no less so than anyone else's.... :p:
 
Here is an example of a buying decision on my part, for a pair of Altec Stonehenge I's (as featured in my other post).

Knowing that Altec's have a reputation of great sound, I didn't even consider how these would sound to me. I already knew that they would be acceptable to my standards or parameters.

The real point of decision was based on the condition and the aesthetics of the cabinet, the proportions, the grille cloth, the overall look and feel of the loudspeakers.

So in this case, sound was secondary -- or was it?
 
Zilch said:
No, I just try to make sense out of what I read here.

Doucanoe and Dr. Geddes agree. Subjective opinion is so variable as to render it worthless in these matters, and it's not a HUGE stretch to recognize that our own is no less so than anyone else's.... :p:
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Well you sound very smart -- and I mean that with sincerity!

:thmbsp:
 
Zilch said:
No, I just try to make sense out of what I read here.

Doucanoe and Dr. Geddes agree. Subjective opinion is so variable as to render it meaningless in these matters, and it's not a HUGE stretch to recognize that our own is no less so than anyone else's.... :p:
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I think that you have a tendency to overthink things in this area. Not that thats a bad thing, it's just your thing. :D

Myself, I will continue to use collected data (thats right, I do use it) for evaluation but, still try to enjoy myself if I like it and the measurements tell me I should not.

If they do and I like it, all the better. I will sleep better at night knowing that besides enjoying myself, I'm correct. :thmbsp:


RC
 
MaxSeven said:
Well you sound very smart -- and I mean that with sincerity!
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It's somewhat academic, of course; we like what we like, and there's certainly little risk in snagging a pair of A-25s from curbside based entirely upon the opinons posted here. :thmbsp:
 
doucanoe said:
Myself, I will continue to use collected data (thats right, I do use it) for evaluation but, still try to enjoy myself if I like it and the measurements tell me I should not.

If they do and I like it, all the better. I will sleep better at night knowing that besides enjoying myself, I'm correct. :thmbsp:
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Nobody with 4507s can be wrong in my view, if that matters one whit.

EconoWave 'em.... :yes:
 
Zilch said:
Nobody with 4507s can be wrong in my view, if that matters one whit.

EconoWave 'em.... :yes:
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I can certainly atest to that! I have 4647, ( you pointed them out to me on my area craigslist ), Which is 4507 loaded with 2225H drivers..... combined with econowave is a KILLER combination.:yes:

russellc
 
similost said:
I can see how no, don't buy a speaker unheard on someone elses opinion. I could never do that.. But if you have heard a certain brand and/or model, then I don't think a person is doing wrong to buy the same, or even similar without hearing them, unless modifications have been made to a speaker.

What I guess I was trying to say is, when you have a good general idea what something sounds like, if you buy within that realm blind, you're more than likely going to get what, or near what you expected..
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Well, I have never heard a JBL 4344, but if one came available in my backyard and I could afford it, I'd be on it like Oprah on a baked ham!:thmbsp:

russellc
 
Russellc said:
Well, I have never heard a JBL 4344, but if one came available in my backyard and I could afford it, I'd be on it like Oprah on a baked ham!:thmbsp:

russellc
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That's one of those speakers that has a reputation that proceeds itself.. and I would buy them unheard too.. THere are a few that I believe you don't have to hear, that you know you can buy without listening to, and not be disappointed.

I bought a pair of JBL C36's without hearing them, and not knowing what was inside. Didn't even know the model, but I knew I saw silver through the grills, and that was enough for me to drop $75 on them without a listen.. I wasn't disappointed at all.. rather REALLY surprised..

Old Fraziers, Altec, JBL, Klipsch, EV, Tannoy, RCA Theater, Crown.. any of those I wouldn't hesitate to buy without hearing if the price is reasonable. THeir reputation speaks volumes..
 
Zilch said:
Let's see your HPM-100 measurements, Ray.... :p:
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Now THERE is a fine system!

I bought mine in '77 or '78, not sure. I bought those particular speakers having never heard them before only because I read a test report in Consumer Reports and another publication I cannot remember. Yeah I took a risk but since I purchased from one of those mail-order houses I got a screamin' deal. Besides, none of my local dealers had a set to audition before hand.
Both publications gave the system nothing short of a rave review....so how could I go wrong? (My teenage mind told me!)

Now days, I'd never buy a speaker without hearing it first unless it were a "cannot-fail" as Similost suggest.

Russ
 
RussinOhio said:
I bought mine in '77 or '78, not sure. I bought those particular speakers having never heard them before only because I read a test report in Consumer Reports and another publication I cannot remember. Both publications gave the system nothing short of a rave review....so how could I go wrong? (My teenage mind told me!)
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Not available on their website, apparently, it's going to take some research to discover what CR said about HPM-100s thirty years ago.

[Should be interesting, tho.... ;) ]
 
RussinOhio said:
Both publications gave the system nothing short of a rave review....so how could I go wrong? (My teenage mind told me!)
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I believe this makes the point of the OP pretty well. I picked up this pair because I had heard rave reviews and wanted to see what the hype was all about. I don't like them. They just don't do it for me. Heck, I'll make you a deal on them. Z still wants me to do a bunch of measurements on them and I guess I need to just set aside some time, do the measurements and pass them on.

Anyway, the point is that lots of folks regard these as "can't miss" speakers. I regard them as "can't stand".

Don't worry, I have my asbestos underwear on as I found I needed them the last time I said I didn't like the HPMs. :thmbsp:

Ray
 
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