• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

The perfect speaker: Stop searching for that unicorn!

Static? Perfect just IS. It can't be bettered, or it wouldn't be perfect. If you change anything, it is no longer perfect. As for perfection being relative? If you have good equipment running at maximum efficiency, and there's really nothing you can do at the time to make it any better, you have achieved relative perfection. Not necessarily ALL it could possibly be, but as good as it can be at the time.
 
I'm not so concerned with absolute perfection. What bothers me is the sheer number of speakers on the market to choose from and the fact I can't hear them all. Having a lot to choose from would seem to be a good thing, but when it's so hard to actually hear them, it is frustrating.
 
I'm betting I'm like many others here.............mine: are "perfect" for my situation and who really gives a sh#% what the other guy thinks:)
 
Well, I have had a pair of nice unicorns for ten years and could not be more pleased.

This-is-why-Unicorns-disappeared-1.jpg
 
justjed2 said:
Static? Perfect just IS. It can't be bettered, or it wouldn't be perfect. If you change anything, it is no longer perfect. As for perfection being relative? If you have good equipment running at maximum efficiency, and there's really nothing you can do at the time to make it any better, you have achieved relative perfection. Not necessarily ALL it could possibly be, but as good as it can be at the time.
Click to expand...

OK, I understand.
 
Something I find interesting and frustrating. We're talking about speakers but it carries over into the rest of the chain. Take 2 pairs of speakers (or 2 amps, preamps, CD players, TT, cartridges, whatever) , on paper the specs could be identical (near identical) you hook them up in the same place to the same things and the present differently ( sometimes radically so) . If you figure in (and I realize the components in the chain might vary less) the effect can be addictive. My point is the presentation (and perhaps to a degree) ,, the reception ( being us), really makes reading the # (almost) useless. I grant a useful tool.

So I have to tend to agree with this
motorstereo said:
I'm betting I'm like many others here.............mine: are "perfect" for my situation and who really gives a sh#% what the other guy thinks:)
Click to expand...

I also think there may be not be a holy grail to all , there are paths we as groups tend to follow.
Then there are the speakers we want to try but our listening spaces don't lend themselves to optimum positioning.
So in fact we arrive at this

justjed2 said:
Static? Perfect just IS. It can't be bettered, or it wouldn't be perfect. If you change anything, it is no longer perfect. As for perfection being relative? If you have good equipment running at maximum efficiency, and there's really nothing you can do at the time to make it any better, you have achieved relative perfection. Not necessarily ALL it could possibly be, but as good as it can be at the time.
Click to expand...

The last part of this equation is , we get to that spot and its often a different place than the next guy. Then we do our best to share the commonalities.:idea::crazy:
Maybe I should have some coffee. I'm just babbling:dunno:
 
Does the quest for "Less Flawed" really have to degenerate into the quest for "Perfect"?

I suppose it does. Human nature. When we find "less flawed", we look for "MORE less-flawed".

For right now, that makes me unhappy and frustrated. Which is odd, because I've been mostly happy with my speakers since I bought them in '87. An upgraded crossover and HF drivers, along with some needed maintenance a few years ago kicked-up my satisfaction level even more.
 
I've also gave some thought to the fact that over our collective collecting, listening, we've heard flawed things that we might have liked in a certain song or songs. Later listening to it accurately ( for lack of a better term) it was missing that flaw that you liked and it seems like it's missing now). I guess you could make the same statement about our hearing loss. So many variables in the mix
 
Last edited:
nj pheonix said:
I've also gave some thought to the fact that over our collective collecting, listening, we've heard flawed things that we might have liked in s certain song or songs.
Click to expand...

That's certainly true with respect to Bob Dylan's and Neil Young's voices. And some, including me, like the slight distortion that comes with tubes.
 
While there may not be "the perfect" speaker in theory. There are speakers that are so close to perfection that I certainly would not care. But these are speakers that are going to cost more than $500 or $1000 on Craigslist. They are going to cost real money, and be difficult to obtain. And offerings like Altec Model 19 or 604, while lovely, are not in the same neighborhood.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
It doesn't matter what speakers you have, and it doesn't matter what gear you're driving them with. You will likely never, EVER, hear what the guys who designed it heard. And you will likely never, EVER, hear what the guys at the magazine who reviewed it heard. Different room, different barometric pressure, hell, even different temperature can make a difference.

OK, let's say the box was engineered in an anechoic chamber. Do YOU have one? No? Strike ONE! And if you do have an anechioc chamber, do you have the exact same electronics(yes, all the way down to the cables) that were used to figure the specifications you've been reading? No? Strike TWO!! OK, you have an anechoic chamber, and all the same gear(yes, all the way down to the cables). If it reaches 88 degrees in your town, and 6000 people reach up and turn the air conditioning on, and the line voltage on the AC grid drops 1.6 volts, this changes how the electronics perform(maybe just a tiny amount, but it does change) Strike Three!

OK, you have an anechoic chamber, all the same gear(even cables), and perfectly regulated line voltage. The temp is within 0.25 degrees of what was ambient when the specs were figured, barometric pressure is identical. and you're pushing 1 watt, sitting 1 meter from the cabinets, and you get the identical SPL as what was quoted. THAT'S GREAT! Sort of. Because as soon as you take all that gear out of the anechoic chamber and set it up in your own room, all those specs mean just exactly ZIP. ZERO. NADA.

The absolute best that you can hope for is that, when you get it set up in your room, you actually LIKE the way it sounds.
 
Splatter Pak said:
I've owned and enjoyed a couple pairs of Stax earspeakers, and they are very, very close to perfect. Bass is the downfall. In time I mostly gave up headphones of all kinds.
Click to expand...

I'm an ex Stax owner. I agree, they are very close to what (IMO) sounds right. Unfortunately they don't have the visceral bass response that only large/multiple woofers can provide. However, I must admit I'm seriously considering a new pair of earspeakers even though I don't really like headphones. They sound so good!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom