Re: Thanks, Chaps!(or chappesses)
Dr X said:
Barefoot's views, as a speaker designer, are particularly interesting.....I auditioned all three in the shop but it's impossible to make a judgement there (to put it mildly!)....
Opinions vary widely, and that does in big part result because comparing monitors is a difficult task. Rarely do you find an optimal setup for decent comparisons.
My opinions are based both on listening to the monitors, usually in a showroom, and lots of experience with the particular designs and components in question. I know what to listen for and I know what the speakers are fundamentally capable of doing. The design and materials of the speaker drivers are really the ultimate limiting factors in the performance of a speaker. The box, electronics, and overall integration can be done with various degrees of excellence or buffoonery, but you simply can't circumvent the fundamental limitations of the drivers. So, I'm usually not overly surprised by the sound of a speaker (though I'm sometimes surprised by the price which can be disproportionately high relative to the components used.... hhahh chhooGenelec!... excuse me), because most manufacturers use variations of components that are widely available and that I know well. I've designed speakers with the Dynaudio Esotec tweeter and 17W-75 midbass used in
the BM-6A, the Vifa D25AG and P17WJ used in
the HR624, the Eton 7-360 midbass use in the S2-A, etc. None of these I use anymore, because there are either now superior alternatives, or I've just learned better. Likewise, I've evaluated and declined using the Vifa TX25TG tweeter in the Blue Sky's and the Heil tweeters used in A.D.A.M.'s.
Anyhow, where was I going with this? Oh yeah, I rarely give monitor reviews on this board, mainly because I just don't like the monitors that are in the price range of most homerecors. Maybe I'm a snob, but to me it's often like asking, "which shade of dookie do you like?" But when it's a clear choice between say a Genelec and a Dynaudio I'm happy to chime in. And I feel I can speak confidently about this because, beyond just trying to A/B them in a showroom, I'm very familiar with the components and designs involved - all of which have quite predictable attributes.
barefoot