If the next speaker is the KEF LS50 (and family) When I bought mine the best Hi Fi store in my city didn’t have them on display, for demo or otherwise. I wonder why? 😀 When I decided to buy from them, they had them .. but stacked and boxed in the basement. The guy who sold me them barely said a word to me. He knew.
@@seabud6408 Definitely not the "best speaker" by far. While it is popular, there are also a great many that don't like it. The problem I have with it are the looks, and the price. I personally don't think it is worth the price given that you can get the Q-150 with similar performance for MUCH less.
I own a set of OHM Acoustics Model F speakers since new. If you like a room filling , sound like you are there speakers you will love these. Something can be absolutely accurate but not filled with emotion. Everyone who has heard my speakers are absolutely stunned by what they sound like.
I BOUGHT MY INFINITY QLS-1’s IN 1978 AND STILL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THEY CONTINUE TO BLOW ME AWAY !!! THE IMAGE & SOUND STAGE + ACCURACY IN ALL ASPECTS HUMAN VOICE, ETC.. AT ALL VOLUME LEVELS THEY PERFORM THEIR DUTIES
Your remarks about the tweeter being forward. I've found the same thing in my testing. I drive alot so my main system is in my truck. I have 4-inch Dayton and 1-inch Peerless tweeters on a plate coming off of the pillars in the carners of the dash. 6.5 MBQuart in the doors and alpine r12 subs. I had to mount the tweeter towards the inside and angled further in of the mids to get my time alignment correct and have a complete stereo image. Once I tuned it to a flat response 1/12 octave +-4db 20-25k. I use a Astell&Kern DAC as my source. Sounds amazing.
Of course "The Best Sounding Speaker Ever?" is the one you make! More like the best sounding speakers are the ones that sound the best to "your" ears! ;) Ironically the drivers you are using look very similar to Joseph Audio, which I do like!
I loved the sound of the baby Advents book shelve speakers ~40 yrs. ago, and the ESS Heil Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter (but could never afford it)
I’m glad you said that not every speaker works for every application because I believe that is so true! I’m probably a little outdated but the Quad ESL-63 electrostatic speakers are perfect FOR ME. Sometime in the 80s a recommendation for the perfect speaker for opera lovers appeared in Opera News, and as an opera lover in need of speakers, I immediately searched for a way to audition them and immediately felt they were the perfect speakers for this opera lover. That was in the 80s and I still think they are the perfect speakers FOR ME. I like to joke that I’m going to have them buried with me.
I think it depends on the application of the speakers, not exactly the musical genre. In recording houses, they might have one or three different sets of monitors, but generally, the producer will track on one set. That is the situation no matter what type of music they're making. So in that sense, yes, one pair of speakers can be very effective for critical listening, no matter the genre of music. But on the consumer level, people tend to like speakers that lean toward their preference for music. So the issue is maybe more application-specific, not as much genre specific.
Technics back around that same time made a speaker line specifically for "opera" (even denoted the very first pair ever made to Austria State Opera), the Technics Audio Flat Panel series SB-AFP 10, 100, and 1000. I have heard they are the bar none best speakers for playing back opera as they were designed specifically for that purpose as the president of Matsushita Industries at the time was a huge fan of classical opera and wanted a speaker that could "replicate it perfectly in the home". they are very rare though, the 10s can be found here and there commonly for a few thousand a pair (very comparable in size to the Quad ESL-63), the 100s which are twice the size of the 10s like once every 4 or 5 years, and the 1000s which again are twice the size of the 100s...well....it's mostly just legend that they actually exist, none have ever come up for sale on the used market during the internet age (seriously, no records exist of a sale by anyone in the last 25+ years), so good luck finding the pure unobtanium speaker.
Quad ESL 63 loudspeakers are still the most natural sounding and excellent in reproducing sound of acoustic instruments but not meant for loud rock music. Downside - high maintenance.
That depth (or forwardness) of the highs vs lows is hugely determined by the phase response. Lower crossover point essentially pushes back the highs. If you want the best depth you need to avoid phase shift in higher frequencies. That means pushing down crossover points or linearizing phase with FIR. It's something no one is talking about. They say the effects of phase aren't audible (due to flawed testing and untrained listeners) but if you play with FIR to only affect the phase response (no effect to frequency response) you'll easily hear the changes in depth. Many people prefer the unnatural forward sound that you get from high amounts of phase shift since it's what they're used to with most speakers. It's the difference between having elements sitting in your room in front of you vs having a window open up to a different world. Unfortunately many audiophiles want to feel like the musicians are in their room (which includes interacting far too much with the room to get that sense of "here")
How can I play with this using my mini dsp? Can I? I have a pair of diy open baffle speakers that I’m interested in going fill active on. I’m using kef q100 as the mod and hi with analog xo right now crossing to 15” drivers at 300hz and those pass to subs at 80hz. Can you do FIR with mini dsp?
Completely agree with your experience................most audiophiles ( and some idiophiles ) do not understand that and glorify the shortcommings as being a high end audiophile's asset................So wrong they are !
Long time Watcher (relatively) and first time Responder... Wow very Revealing recordings! Fantastic stuff... Great recordings, extremely clear and accurate sounding in comparison to the orginal tracks. Really makes you understand the effort put into the design and production of the 'LGK 2.1's' (would expect nothing less of course from you guys) 🙂 Thank you again for the Downloads you provided... really nice experience being able to listen to it after watching your video!
I’ve had loads of different speakers over the years but my current ones are the best in 4 different houses. They are B&W PM1 stand mounts, love their sound and their looks. I’ve just augmented them with two PV 1 subs which has opened up the sound stage even more. 👌
5:20 I think the Series 3 ii Sub (Bose) I just picked up for $21 at a thrift (one that always has speakers for some reason) - it has a pass thru filter like that. I'm excited to try it as soon as my Sony SS CS5's arrive. If not I'll be buying another filter pair - they're cheap. We'll see what-what as Time, Space, and Materiality roll by!
Love how down to earth you are. Not trying to push your flagship product but just being realistic and honest. Some of us spend years trying to get the "best" speaker, only to realize, we listen to our tiny desk top speakers the most. In this day and age with spaces getting smaller, it's a real plus to have tiny point source speakers that sound amazing without breaking your bank. The imaging on stuff like that can be great. Once I found point source speaker designs, I never looked back. What you sometimes loose in frequency extension you gain in spades with image coherency.
agree! and thanks for this comment:) there is no panacea for audio - every speaker has it's pluses and minuses - the most important thing is to find the "right one" for you simply put:) cheers!
Danny liked ATC. I have the SCM 100's they have the famous midrange driver in them. Voices sound incredible. He needs to have a listen to them see what he thinks.
Oh wow, usually I'm very skeptical but the recording of these basically sounded like the original + added room reverb. Wonderful sounding speakers for sure!
Thanks for the insightful videos. Since I live in Europe, it makes more sense for me to have my speakers updated by someone close to me. Since a year, my Audio Physics have been equipped with new high-quality filters with Jantzen Superior Caps and CrossCaps and the cabling has also been completely replaced with Van Damme Blue series. Unfortunately I can't post pictures here, but I can say that this investment is a much better investment for me than new speakers.
Finally, the correct answer at 1:50. And you are brave to say so. Not unlike owning the Infinity IRSV's. Best sounding components need the appropriate room. (I haven't viewed the entire video yet but I just love hearing truth.)
i really enjoy the serious engineering you offer. and i understand most of it...but i really love the way you promote the DIY approach to building speakers.
In my humble opinion, you left out an extremely important aspect of choosing a speaker: the listener's ear! I personally like paper vs poly woofers and metallic domed vs soft domed tweeters. Also the amplifier being used makes a difference in how the a particular speaker responds, even without "upgrading" the cheap caps and resistors in most low end speakers. I have a mid level AV amp that I run with all the filters and "crap" turned off and just use the equalized room adjustments and my low end non-upgraded JBL speakers sound great to me. I was raised on JBL 4311 monitors in the 70s so I think my ear is pretty discerning. Thanks for letting me rant......
I used to think that I liked paper drivers to the exclusion of all others. Until I did blind listening tests. I could not reliably pick out the paper coned driver, there was no "metal driver sound" common to all or even most metal types and the same with polypropolene, aramid or carbon etc, it was all placebo or my expectations and bias. Design (of driver and speaker) is so much more important than cone material. I'm running biggish closed box 3 ways with a planar tweeter, two 4" paper and pleated cloth mids (D'appolito in an internal 3 litre box) and a 10" aluminium / magnesium bass driver and love them.
@@englishsteve1465 That's "sounds" (pun intended) like quite a set up. I remember the old Klipsch KG series ran with poly-ish woofers in the front and paper passive radiator in the back and the horns could be upgraded from cloth dome to titanium. I would venture to say most speaker systems mass produced can be improved with better damping of the components and cabinets and upgrading the crossovers. Manufactures choose profit over performance. I am a tinkerer so I take pleasure in improving the manufacturer's shortcomings. At least, for the most part, they get the box volume right for the desired low frequency response. Cheers!
@@englishsteve1465 That being said, I've been to live concerts ranging from ELP to George Strait to live orchestra. To my knowledge, I have never heard a planar tweeter or a midrange in a 3 liter box. I have heard live music and it does not sound like a CD "mastered" in a studio. I trust these old experienced ears; they can take me back 50 years with uncanny accuracy.
I’m happy with my pair of Telefunken RB70 and Sansui receiver. And with my pioneer SG9500 equalizer I can adjust it to any listening pleasure. The best music to listen to a lot of instruments is Dave Matthews band from my point of view.
I have 2 x Fane design locally built J bins with E Tone 805's and two Emilar EH-500 loaded with some P Audio compression drivers all powered by a ZPE-1000. They sound is incredible at reasonable levels and yes you can feel it if you turn it up. In fact you can see you vision blur when cranked. And yes this is pro PA gear and yes most of it is more than 40 years old.
The speaker with the FR driver and a woofer. Make the same again, but no small driver hole in the box (just the woofer). And mount the FR driver open on top of the box! You will have to change the crossover filter for it. Once you get it to sound good, it will sound really spatial with an amazing holographic soundstage. Try angling the open driver upwards so it sounds the most holographic, and mount it like that (you need to tinker). I did it at 45° angle with poly pipe glued around the magnet and the pipe was cut at 45° angle and screwed on top of the box. Mine are the best speakers I head! You can control voice tone with the crossover, with woofer content and FR content. It's not lean in the med if you do it right.
The pico forte 3s aka the KEF 3001se, but only if you buy them as a matched pair. The 5.1 were the left over misfits that were meant to be carried by the center which to be fair was the best center ever designed and anchored the mismatched other speakers well. The kef 300XSE as a matched pair however is unmatched on its compact size vs it's sound stage depth 3D immersion sheer volume at more than 100 watts, single point audio, zero undesirable cabinet noise while amplifying desirable harmonics using the ratio or PHI everywhere. A diagonally downward firing port that doesn't only play extended bass but extended space as well. The speaker is still ahead of its time and does things no other speaker company even knows to do.
Just like sealed and ported isn't just louder or quicker, it has a sound that everyone here will like one or the other, there is right answer, or a best sound
All I can say about the soundclips is WOW. The LGK 2.1 sounds really excellent! For fun, I mixed the Allison Krauss track, alternating between the original and the sound clip. This shows just how close of a reproduction the LGK 2.1 does on its own. It's clear, as you say, the bottom end wasn't picked up well in the recording, but above the sub, sounds really nice! If you want the wav file, let me know where I should send it. I think others would enjoy hearing them swap immediately back-to-back.
@@dannyrichie9743 You're welcome! Yep, I created an A/B comparison track from the two wav files you provided (the original vs. the sound clip). It starts with the original, then every 7 seconds after that it switches between the two. I did my best to time-align them. Anyway, I plan on doing the other two test tracks today just for fun. Great work on the LGK 2.1!
should have included Allison acoustics ! hi scored today ! just arrived , shipped a pair of the vintage Allison acoustics grail speakers top of the line ! the superlative top of the line AL130 3 way W/ twin 8' woofers mounted push pull unique CONVEX mids and tweeters ! Back in the day , these speakers were a phenom smoking most other speakers in reviews ! even Consumers Reports scientists and engineers said it was the best speaker they had EVER heard and made it a "best buy " ! LOL Allison w/ the unique proprietary CONVEX mids and tweeters offered a super wide soundstage and unparalleled realism. they also had the twin 8" push-pull mounted woofers , which were electrically OUT of phase BUT acoustically IN phase ! they offered 20% Less harmonic distortion ! Roy Allison RIP , was brilliant self-taught audio engineer and inventor I need to send you one to test but OMG they weigh 68 lbs EACH !
Yep, that’s the bottom line… every application is completely different. And within that application, the type of music people listen to also affect what speakers sound best for each individual person.
Those sound files made my current full range drivers sound awesome. I have Mark Audio Alpair 7.3 drivers in some homemade bookshelf cabinets as near field monitors.
A tip 😊😊 2 way speakers with a subwoofer are the most less space consumers and most versitile . Even better then dedicated 3 way speakers sound wise. 😊😊
A bit off topic, but a little birdie mentioned that you me you are doing an upgrade to the Maggie 3.7i. The improvement on my 20.1s when I upgraded the crossover was mind blowing. So I CAN'T WAIT to see what you do with the 3.7i !!!!!
Yes, that was an extremely huge upgrade. It wasn't just a parts upgrade. They needed a re-design badly. I will be shooting a video on it pretty soon as well.
He heard recordings and found them phenomenal! But he doesn't have guts to play them here! :) I don't understand all talks no demo for audio products! Shows their confidence level!
The best sounding speaker was Dr. Alan Hills Hill Plasmatronic loudspeaker! Sold three systems at $10,000 plus the helium tanks. The LS3/5a BBC monitors in small systems and large systems four panel Accoustats with RH Labs subwoofers. There are only two high frequency drivers that are almost perfect one is the Ionovac and Alan Hills Plasma “thermodynamic” tweeter.
I rebuilt a pair of Polk SDA 2Bs with updated components on the crossovers that would blow most modern speakers out of the water. Driving them with vintage Adcom 565 mono blocks and a monarchy audio M10 pre with a modern DAC and a theta data basic for cd listening.
Kind of apples and sugar here, I don't think it's an issue of room VS audio sources, they work in, parallel. One has to have a great room to hear ANY signal source (music genre) better. It's kind of like saying an engine vs the wheels in a car, but the engine doesn't compete with the wheels, the engine works in tandem.
I guess I could have stated it better. But I don’t disagree with your additions rather than I’ll try to restate my intention. So many of us focus on, and chase, the “perfect” sound via the speaker when in most cases it not advisable until the room is accounted for in some capacity. It’s very easy to endlessly cycle speakers (and all other components at great time and often expense) because without at least a modest understanding of room effect (and speaker placement within said room) we really aren’t able to determine what any specific speakers are capable of.
@@GoggleAX my 2 cents - room acoustics are like the condition of the road, how good that brand new car is but it still needs a good road to drive on to get the full benefit.
@@GoggleAX The problem with room treatments is that it becomes a VERY expensive endeavor. and if u are buying $500 speakers, room treatment really doesn't exist in your budget. Most of us don't even have room to listen that has a decent size to allow music to bloom, or let our speakers stand out from the wall a good distance. So room treatment is mostly a far-afterthought with 90% of audio aficionados.
@@wwlittlejOfficial DIY acoustic treatment is a huge value... there's no force multiplier like DIY room treatment. There's countless online examples... so much so that there's misinformation too. I'll be glad to point any that may be interested in the right direction. It's quite easy, and yes... the room is the one filter that shapes every listening experience... ie., an overlay atop everything.
Best 'speaker' (near field monitor) i've ever heard (had) is the Yamaha MSP7. It was 'good' enough for Apple Records Studio (and others) for mixing, it was more than good enough for me. Unfortunately I lost them (and everything else I once owned) in. wildfire. And sadly Yamaha no longer offers them.
@@dannyrichie9743 I would love to get something like the NX Studios that could work on a very large computer desk (with the monitor behind the speakers), and speakers no more than 8-10” from the back wall.
And, there's a big difference between professional monitors that let recording engineers know what's wrong with the mix, and home audio speakers that let listeners enjoy what's right with the music.
if getting technical magico speakers have the best ''box'' in the world and amongst the best drivers but you are right ,there are alot of variables ,you need a realy good amp to run them and tempered room ,clean electrical power line and so on ,you realy have to work to get results .....
@@shaynakash4222 I always say, that cabinets are the weakest link in commercial speakers, mainly due to manufacturing and somewhat shipping costs. Taking into account the factor, by which surface area of the cabinet surpasses that of the drivers, careful composition, profiling and damping are crucial. No going back to vented, once you hear a well made sealed either.
Just checked out "new favorite" on my newcom nc300 computer speakers and WOW! i cant imagine that recording on my zalytron Aria 5R's with 4-12's! and Silver Kimber interconnects! And yes, UA-cam and Spotify sound dead compared to the CD
Remarkable recordings, wow! It was very difficult to distinguish the original from the LGK 2.1 speaker recorded version. Vienna Tang is easily among my favourite vocalists, such a sweet voice. Love the cheetah shirt, it conveys Danny's sprinting prowess so well! Boss!
We had one of those sent in for upgrades. It had some problems areas, but the biggest problem was how hard it was to remove the drivers. It was practically unserviceable.
Correct. Application matters. It's what I never see hifi reviewers discuss. It comes down to proper SPL loundess with inaudible distortion at the listening position. The general rule with top-quality 2-channel audio reproduction is this......The larger your room, the more you're going to spend to make your listening position a "high end" experience. The cheapest, most high quality way to experience 2-channel music is with headphones. There are fantastic sounding headphones at very affordable costs. Your room listening options are near-field (like sitting at a computer desk), small room, like a dedicated 10'x10' bedroom for music/movies, a 12'x14' small living room in a small house, a 2,000 cuft room, 3,000 cuft room, or some very large converted garage into a home theater. Near-field listening at a desk in an office should not require any room treatment. All other rooms will require acoustic treatment to give you sound anywhere near what headphones would provide. The larger the room, the more expensive the room treatment, the amplification and the speakers will get.
It brings in a little more room interaction that is picked up in the recording. It also blends left and right signals too much and then doesn't sound like the original when played back at all.
Nice but i would like to see some graph.I m fun of linear speakers like,ATC Dutch & Dutch.. how do i know if they match my frequency graph target to buy them?
EXACTLY! Even if it had a perfectly balanced, pure output for whatever input was applied, there will be people who don't care for it. These things are quite subjective, to put it mildly. Oh, and that's without taking budget, power levels, whatever is driving them out of the equation - not to mention the enviroment, as you pointed out.
Considering the fact everyone's hearing is a little different due to people's ears having slightly different frequency response. For example some people can't hear high frequencies as well as other people.
@@dannyrichie9743 Awesome! Perfect timing cuz I'm finally about ready to finish my build. So exciting! And p.s. the LGK 2.0 /C-speaker ideas are awesome! Now you got me considering a full blown GR 5.1 monitoring setup for my studio! 🔈 🔈 🔈🔈🔈
What speaker was made that performs the best under most circumstances in the most room environments without too many modifications? A few speakers come to mind that probably fit that criteria. Not everyone wants to go and teak a speaker's crossover and drive layout to get some sort of SPL or whatever correct. So out of the box, I think of speakers like the Sony SS-GR1, the Infinity IRS-V and later Genesis systems, or even the legendary Apogee Diva or even the Technics AFP-1000 (if they even exist anymore). Personally, one of the best speakers I have personally listened to in a room was an old pair of JBL L-300s probably built in the mid 1970s. Those things were just insane with great response, just imagine what people thought of them when they were brand new!
I still own my 1979 JBL 4311's. I remember listening to the L-300 and comparing them to the equivalent TANNOYS, which were a bit more expensive. The TANNOYS were amazing but the L-300's definitely were a bit better. They both were performing at 1/2 a watt to 1 watt each, as I had my eyes set on the bang box ( switch box ) and the wattage meter. Then I turned the volume to 10 watts and I then only dreamed of owning them one day$$$$$.
The best sounding speaker is the one that sounds best to you. There are people to whom speakers are tools and those speakers are unique for the people using them for certain ends. In the end, its completely subjective. No other criteria needs be met except how you like them.
@@dannyrichie9743thanks, assuming it goes between the preamp and the amp and therefore does not work on integrated amps? Or is it line level for the speaker outputs?
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
The best sounding speakers are always the next speaker that you plan to buy
Sadly that's true 😂😊
If the next speaker is the KEF LS50 (and family) When I bought mine the best Hi Fi store in my city didn’t have them on display, for demo or otherwise. I wonder why? 😀 When I decided to buy from them, they had them .. but stacked and boxed in the basement. The guy who sold me them barely said a word to me. He knew.
+1. .. A trueness no man can deny.
@@seabud6408 Definitely not the "best speaker" by far. While it is popular, there are also a great many that don't like it. The problem I have with it are the looks, and the price. I personally don't think it is worth the price given that you can get the Q-150 with similar performance for MUCH less.
So so 👍 true
I own a set of OHM Acoustics Model F speakers since new. If you like a room filling , sound like you are there speakers you will love these. Something can be absolutely accurate but not filled with emotion. Everyone who has heard my speakers are absolutely stunned by what they sound like.
I BOUGHT MY INFINITY QLS-1’s IN 1978
AND STILL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THEY CONTINUE TO BLOW ME AWAY !!!
THE IMAGE & SOUND STAGE + ACCURACY IN ALL ASPECTS
HUMAN VOICE, ETC..
AT ALL VOLUME LEVELS THEY PERFORM THEIR DUTIES
That's very cool. I just bought my "forever" speakers - I hope they outlast me 😊
@@everything777 What did you buy?
Those look amazing man!
O K
no need to yell
Your remarks about the tweeter being forward. I've found the same thing in my testing. I drive alot so my main system is in my truck. I have 4-inch Dayton and 1-inch Peerless tweeters on a plate coming off of the pillars in the carners of the dash. 6.5 MBQuart in the doors and alpine r12 subs. I had to mount the tweeter towards the inside and angled further in of the mids to get my time alignment correct and have a complete stereo image. Once I tuned it to a flat response 1/12 octave +-4db 20-25k. I use a Astell&Kern DAC as my source. Sounds amazing.
Living room about 35 sq meters.Waiting for your recomendations.Thanx you're trustworthy!
Of course "The Best Sounding Speaker Ever?" is the one you make! More like the best sounding speakers are the ones that sound the best to "your" ears! ;) Ironically the drivers you are using look very similar to Joseph Audio, which I do like!
I loved the sound of the baby Advents book shelve speakers ~40 yrs. ago, and the ESS Heil Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter (but could never afford it)
I’m glad you said that not every speaker works for every application because I believe that is so true! I’m probably a little outdated but the Quad ESL-63 electrostatic speakers are perfect FOR ME. Sometime in the 80s a recommendation for the perfect speaker for opera lovers appeared in Opera News, and as an opera lover in need of speakers, I immediately searched for a way to audition them and immediately felt they were the perfect speakers for this opera lover. That was in the 80s and I still think they are the perfect speakers FOR ME. I like to joke that I’m going to have them buried with me.
I think it depends on the application of the speakers, not exactly the musical genre. In recording houses, they might have one or three different sets of monitors, but generally, the producer will track on one set. That is the situation no matter what type of music they're making. So in that sense, yes, one pair of speakers can be very effective for critical listening, no matter the genre of music. But on the consumer level, people tend to like speakers that lean toward their preference for music. So the issue is maybe more application-specific, not as much genre specific.
Technics back around that same time made a speaker line specifically for "opera" (even denoted the very first pair ever made to Austria State Opera), the Technics Audio Flat Panel series SB-AFP 10, 100, and 1000. I have heard they are the bar none best speakers for playing back opera as they were designed specifically for that purpose as the president of Matsushita Industries at the time was a huge fan of classical opera and wanted a speaker that could "replicate it perfectly in the home". they are very rare though, the 10s can be found here and there commonly for a few thousand a pair (very comparable in size to the Quad ESL-63), the 100s which are twice the size of the 10s like once every 4 or 5 years, and the 1000s which again are twice the size of the 100s...well....it's mostly just legend that they actually exist, none have ever come up for sale on the used market during the internet age (seriously, no records exist of a sale by anyone in the last 25+ years), so good luck finding the pure unobtanium speaker.
Quad ESL 63 loudspeakers are still the most natural sounding and excellent in reproducing sound of acoustic instruments but not meant for loud rock music.
Downside - high maintenance.
That depth (or forwardness) of the highs vs lows is hugely determined by the phase response. Lower crossover point essentially pushes back the highs. If you want the best depth you need to avoid phase shift in higher frequencies. That means pushing down crossover points or linearizing phase with FIR. It's something no one is talking about. They say the effects of phase aren't audible (due to flawed testing and untrained listeners) but if you play with FIR to only affect the phase response (no effect to frequency response) you'll easily hear the changes in depth. Many people prefer the unnatural forward sound that you get from high amounts of phase shift since it's what they're used to with most speakers. It's the difference between having elements sitting in your room in front of you vs having a window open up to a different world. Unfortunately many audiophiles want to feel like the musicians are in their room (which includes interacting far too much with the room to get that sense of "here")
How can I play with this using my mini dsp? Can I? I have a pair of diy open baffle speakers that I’m interested in going fill active on. I’m using kef q100 as the mod and hi with analog xo right now crossing to 15” drivers at 300hz and those pass to subs at 80hz. Can you do FIR with mini dsp?
"Unfortunately many audiophiles want to feel like the musicians are in their room"
Really unfortunate. How dare they.
Completely agree with your experience................most audiophiles ( and some idiophiles ) do not understand that and glorify the shortcommings as being a high end audiophile's asset................So wrong they are !
What is FIR?
@@Vincent-lw2sp Finite Impulse Response (FIR).
I'd love to hear conversations between Danny and Paul from PS Audio as a series of talks.
Long time Watcher (relatively) and first time Responder...
Wow very Revealing recordings! Fantastic stuff... Great recordings, extremely clear and accurate sounding in comparison to the orginal tracks.
Really makes you understand the effort put into the design and production of the 'LGK 2.1's' (would expect nothing less of course from you guys) 🙂
Thank you again for the Downloads you provided... really nice experience being able to listen to it after watching your video!
I’ve had loads of different speakers over the years but my current ones are the best in 4 different houses. They are B&W PM1 stand mounts, love their sound and their looks. I’ve just augmented them with two PV 1 subs which has opened up the sound stage even more. 👌
5:20 I think the Series 3 ii Sub (Bose) I just picked up for $21 at a thrift (one that always has speakers for some reason) - it has a pass thru filter like that. I'm excited to try it as soon as my Sony SS CS5's arrive. If not I'll be buying another filter pair - they're cheap. We'll see what-what as Time, Space, and Materiality roll by!
That was a beautiful answer LO. L.
Love how down to earth you are. Not trying to push your flagship product but just being realistic and honest. Some of us spend years trying to get the "best" speaker, only to realize, we listen to our tiny desk top speakers the most. In this day and age with spaces getting smaller, it's a real plus to have tiny point source speakers that sound amazing without breaking your bank. The imaging on stuff like that can be great. Once I found point source speaker designs, I never looked back. What you sometimes loose in frequency extension you gain in spades with image coherency.
Thank you.
Totally agree
agree! and thanks for this comment:) there is no panacea for audio - every speaker has it's pluses and minuses - the most important thing is to find the "right one" for you simply put:) cheers!
Danny liked ATC. I have the SCM 100's they have the famous midrange driver in them. Voices sound incredible. He needs to have a listen to them see what he thinks.
Oh wow, usually I'm very skeptical but the recording of these basically sounded like the original + added room reverb. Wonderful sounding speakers for sure!
Thanks for the insightful videos. Since I live in Europe, it makes more sense for me to have my speakers updated by someone close to me. Since a year, my Audio Physics have been equipped with new high-quality filters with Jantzen Superior Caps and CrossCaps and the cabling has also been completely replaced with Van Damme Blue series. Unfortunately I can't post pictures here, but I can say that this investment is a much better investment for me than new speakers.
Finally, the correct answer at 1:50. And you are brave to say so. Not unlike owning the Infinity IRSV's. Best sounding components need the appropriate room. (I haven't viewed the entire video yet but I just love hearing truth.)
i really enjoy the serious engineering you offer. and i understand most of it...but i really love the way you promote the DIY approach to building speakers.
The most sold loudspeaker is the RFT-BR 25 build in East Germany sold 650.000 times 😮 It sounds amazing 🎉
Best sounding speaker is a PERSONAL choice
That gray Encore looks great!
Really cool that you carried out this little project. Creative and explorative!
In my humble opinion, you left out an extremely important aspect of choosing a speaker: the listener's ear! I personally like paper vs poly woofers and metallic domed vs soft domed tweeters. Also the amplifier being used makes a difference in how the a particular speaker responds, even without "upgrading" the cheap caps and resistors in most low end speakers. I have a mid level AV amp that I run with all the filters and "crap" turned off and just use the equalized room adjustments and my low end non-upgraded JBL speakers sound great to me. I was raised on JBL 4311 monitors in the 70s so I think my ear is pretty discerning. Thanks for letting me rant......
I used to think that I liked paper drivers to the exclusion of all others. Until I did blind listening tests. I could not reliably pick out the paper coned driver, there was no "metal driver sound" common to all or even most metal types and the same with polypropolene, aramid or carbon etc, it was all placebo or my expectations and bias. Design (of driver and speaker) is so much more important than cone material. I'm running biggish closed box 3 ways with a planar tweeter, two 4" paper and pleated cloth mids (D'appolito in an internal 3 litre box) and a 10" aluminium / magnesium bass driver and love them.
@@englishsteve1465 That's "sounds" (pun intended) like quite a set up. I remember the old Klipsch KG series ran with poly-ish woofers in the front and paper passive radiator in the back and the horns could be upgraded from cloth dome to titanium. I would venture to say most speaker systems mass produced can be improved with better damping of the components and cabinets and upgrading the crossovers. Manufactures choose profit over performance. I am a tinkerer so I take pleasure in improving the manufacturer's shortcomings. At least, for the most part, they get the box volume right for the desired low frequency response. Cheers!
@@englishsteve1465 That being said, I've been to live concerts ranging from ELP to George Strait to live orchestra. To my knowledge, I have never heard a planar tweeter or a midrange in a 3 liter box. I have heard live music and it does not sound like a CD "mastered" in a studio. I trust these old experienced ears; they can take me back 50 years with uncanny accuracy.
I love ribbon tweeters. I think we all have our preferences
I’m happy with my pair of Telefunken RB70 and Sansui receiver. And with my pioneer SG9500 equalizer I can adjust it to any listening pleasure. The best music to listen to a lot of instruments is Dave Matthews band from my point of view.
very happy with how you explain things lately.. great video..
Your videos are great. I'm happy I found you.... just last night.
Royd,Epos,mission,especially monitors,just love them
I have 2 x Fane design locally built J bins with E Tone 805's and two Emilar EH-500 loaded with some P Audio compression drivers all powered by a ZPE-1000.
They sound is incredible at reasonable levels and yes you can feel it if you turn it up. In fact you can see you vision blur when cranked.
And yes this is pro PA gear and yes most of it is more than 40 years old.
Best speaker I have ever heard, ADS L-2030. These speakers were used for recording in Telarc studios in the 80's.
The speaker with the FR driver and a woofer.
Make the same again, but no small driver hole in the box (just the woofer). And mount the FR driver open on top of the box! You will have to change the crossover filter for it. Once you get it to sound good, it will sound really spatial with an amazing holographic soundstage. Try angling the open driver upwards so it sounds the most holographic, and mount it like that (you need to tinker). I did it at 45° angle with poly pipe glued around the magnet and the pipe was cut at 45° angle and screwed on top of the box. Mine are the best speakers I head! You can control voice tone with the crossover, with woofer content and FR content. It's not lean in the med if you do it right.
Great overview...well spoken and explained.
Are you going to experiment with passive radiators on the towers?
Keep up the awesome work.
The pico forte 3s aka the KEF 3001se, but only if you buy them as a matched pair. The 5.1 were the left over misfits that were meant to be carried by the center which to be fair was the best center ever designed and anchored the mismatched other speakers well.
The kef 300XSE as a matched pair however is unmatched on its compact size vs it's sound stage depth 3D immersion sheer volume at more than 100 watts, single point audio, zero undesirable cabinet noise while amplifying desirable harmonics using the ratio or PHI everywhere. A diagonally downward firing port that doesn't only play extended bass but extended space as well.
The speaker is still ahead of its time and does things no other speaker company even knows to do.
Properly balanced/in harmony ))
Hi Danny, are those Inline Filter available to buy in your website store? Thanks!
No, but I will shot a new video just on those things.
@@dannyrichie9743 yes! please do!!
@@dannyrichie9743 thanks!
Awesome job (Again). I really need to check these out. Thanks
Hi Danny what DAC are you running 🏃♀️
It is a one off custom DAC that a group of guru's designed and built. It was a bit of a test bed for digital tweeks.
Just like sealed and ported isn't just louder or quicker, it has a sound that everyone here will like one or the other, there is right answer, or a best sound
How sweet Allison Krauss.
Do you sell inline filter on your web shop? I do want to try cancel the frequency which below my speaker capable Range.
I'll do another video on those.
@@dannyrichie9743 Thanks Danny, I’m curious as well.
@@dannyrichie9743 thanks Danny, I saw your video very help. when I have any issue during i make them, I will email you. Cheers
Thanks, Sensei!
A wonderful bookshelf speaker demonstration.🔉🎶
Great video. Can’t wait to hear them 👍
All I can say about the soundclips is WOW. The LGK 2.1 sounds really excellent! For fun, I mixed the Allison Krauss track, alternating between the original and the sound clip. This shows just how close of a reproduction the LGK 2.1 does on its own. It's clear, as you say, the bottom end wasn't picked up well in the recording, but above the sub, sounds really nice! If you want the wav file, let me know where I should send it. I think others would enjoy hearing them swap immediately back-to-back.
Thanks for listening and comparing. The original wave file is available from a link right under the video.
@@dannyrichie9743 You're welcome! Yep, I created an A/B comparison track from the two wav files you provided (the original vs. the sound clip). It starts with the original, then every 7 seconds after that it switches between the two. I did my best to time-align them.
Anyway, I plan on doing the other two test tracks today just for fun. Great work on the LGK 2.1!
@@musictypefoundry7345 Ah, that sounds great.
@@dannyrichie9743 I've prepared the A/B swapping tracks. Do you want them?
@@musictypefoundry7345 Sure, I'd love to hear them.
Do you think the RSL Speedwoofer 10S MKii is a decent subwoofer?
Thanks
should have included Allison acoustics !
hi scored today ! just arrived , shipped a pair of the vintage Allison acoustics grail speakers top of the line !
the superlative top of the line AL130 3 way W/ twin 8' woofers mounted push pull unique CONVEX mids and tweeters !
Back in the day , these speakers were a phenom smoking most other speakers in reviews !
even Consumers Reports scientists and engineers said it was the best speaker they had EVER heard and made it a "best buy " ! LOL
Allison w/ the unique proprietary CONVEX mids and tweeters offered a super wide soundstage and unparalleled realism.
they also had the twin 8" push-pull mounted woofers , which were electrically OUT of phase BUT acoustically IN phase !
they offered 20% Less harmonic distortion !
Roy Allison RIP , was brilliant self-taught audio engineer and inventor
I need to send you one to test but OMG they weigh 68 lbs EACH !
Thanks for the video! The LGK 2.1 exaggerate the highs a little bit more than the original recording. Otherwize, it sounds really nice!
No compromise just music 🎶
Yep, that’s the bottom line… every application is completely different. And within that application, the type of music people listen to also affect what speakers sound best for each individual person.
Those sound files made my current full range drivers sound awesome. I have Mark Audio Alpair 7.3 drivers in some homemade bookshelf cabinets as near field monitors.
We've measured and tested some of the Mark Audio drivers. If you like those then you'll love our LGK drivers. They are next level performance.
Have you ever heard the dyanco a25 I purchased them many years for 180 dollars a per and still use them.
Pound per pound they were gold!!!
Great information. Off to listen to those tracks!
A tip 😊😊
2 way speakers with a subwoofer are the most less space consumers and most versitile .
Even better then dedicated 3 way speakers sound wise.
😊😊
A bit off topic, but a little birdie mentioned that you me you are doing an upgrade to the Maggie 3.7i. The improvement on my 20.1s when I upgraded the crossover was mind blowing. So I CAN'T WAIT to see what you do with the 3.7i !!!!!
Yes, that was an extremely huge upgrade. It wasn't just a parts upgrade. They needed a re-design badly. I will be shooting a video on it pretty soon as well.
Want to see it tooo
He heard recordings and found them phenomenal! But he doesn't have guts to play them here! :)
I don't understand all talks no demo for audio products! Shows their confidence level!
Really? Links to all of them are right under the video.
@@dannyrichie9743 Indeed they are! Unfortunate that it has not been mentioned in the video itself!
Clips sound really good! 👌
These look fantastic!
The best sounding speaker was Dr. Alan Hills Hill Plasmatronic loudspeaker! Sold three systems at $10,000 plus the helium tanks. The LS3/5a BBC monitors in small systems and large systems four panel Accoustats with RH Labs subwoofers. There are only two high frequency drivers that are almost perfect one is the Ionovac and Alan Hills Plasma “thermodynamic” tweeter.
Hey Richie. Brian from south Africa. Love your show, absolutely brilliant. Quick question what amp is ideal for encores. Super thanks
The Encores are easy to drive and can be driven with just about anything with 10 watts of power or more.
@Danny Ritchie
Could be cool to make a 3-way speaker kit using a tweeter, 3-4” midrange, and a 10” woofer that plays Full Range, no sub needed.
This is a great and very sincere video
Kudos to you Danny
I rebuilt a pair of Polk SDA 2Bs with updated components on the crossovers that would blow most modern speakers out of the water. Driving them with vintage Adcom 565 mono blocks and a monarchy audio M10 pre with a modern DAC and a theta data basic for cd listening.
The room, more important than the music genre and much of the other gear/components.
Kind of apples and sugar here, I don't think it's an issue of room VS audio sources, they work in, parallel. One has to have a great room to hear ANY signal source (music genre) better. It's kind of like saying an engine vs the wheels in a car, but the engine doesn't compete with the wheels, the engine works in tandem.
I guess I could have stated it better. But I don’t disagree with your additions rather than I’ll try to restate my intention.
So many of us focus on, and chase, the “perfect” sound via the speaker when in most cases it not advisable until the room is accounted for in some capacity.
It’s very easy to endlessly cycle speakers (and all other components at great time and often expense) because without at least a modest understanding of room effect (and speaker placement within said room) we really aren’t able to determine what any specific speakers are capable of.
@@GoggleAX my 2 cents - room acoustics are like the condition of the road, how good that brand new car is but it still needs a good road to drive on to get the full benefit.
@@GoggleAX The problem with room treatments is that it becomes a VERY expensive endeavor. and if u are buying $500 speakers, room treatment really doesn't exist in your budget. Most of us don't even have room to listen that has a decent size to allow music to bloom, or let our speakers stand out from the wall a good distance. So room treatment is mostly a far-afterthought with 90% of audio aficionados.
@@wwlittlejOfficial
DIY acoustic treatment is a huge value... there's no force multiplier like DIY room treatment.
There's countless online examples... so much so that there's misinformation too.
I'll be glad to point any that may be interested in the right direction.
It's quite easy, and yes... the room is the one filter that shapes every listening experience... ie., an overlay atop everything.
Best 'speaker' (near field monitor) i've ever heard (had) is the Yamaha MSP7. It was 'good' enough for Apple Records Studio (and others) for mixing, it was more than good enough for me. Unfortunately I lost them (and everything else I once owned) in. wildfire. And sadly Yamaha no longer offers them.
I’m definitely interested in the central speaker. I’ll order it as soon as “Tyler Acoustics“ sends me the “T2’s” I ordered.
Would like to know how any of these might compare to KEF LS50 Metas
Honestly, every kit we offer beats up on those speakers.
@@dannyrichie9743 I would love to get something like the NX Studios that could work on a very large computer desk (with the monitor behind the speakers), and speakers no more than 8-10” from the back wall.
@@dannyrichie9743 many of them does!
And, there's a big difference between professional monitors that let recording engineers know what's wrong with the mix, and home audio speakers that let listeners enjoy what's right with the music.
Great explanation!
What was the sub you used for the smallest speaker did you use. Model number 🤔
Thank You for sharing your expertise. I would really like to know what crossover point you used for the added woofers and what size they were.
They crossed around 80Hz.
Where does one find that little filter box doo diddy?
Yes this!
Some discussion on them here: www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=180797.0
Cat Steven's lp Tea for the Tillerman, I read years ago was mastered on Magnepans.
if getting technical magico speakers have the best ''box'' in the world and amongst the best drivers but you are right ,there are alot of variables ,you need a realy good amp to run them and tempered room ,clean electrical power line and so on ,you realy have to work to get results .....
Simply stunning and maintain composure even when driven hard !
@@paulb4661 well said .....
@@shaynakash4222 I always say, that cabinets are the weakest link in commercial speakers, mainly due to manufacturing and somewhat shipping costs. Taking into account the factor, by which surface area of the cabinet surpasses that of the drivers, careful composition, profiling and damping are crucial. No going back to vented, once you hear a well made sealed either.
@@paulb4661 exactly ....
Just checked out "new favorite" on my newcom nc300 computer speakers and WOW! i cant imagine that recording on my zalytron Aria 5R's with 4-12's! and Silver Kimber interconnects! And yes, UA-cam and Spotify sound dead compared to the CD
Danny looks clean, good job Danny.
The LGK 2.1 is a WAW/Fast (Woofer Assisted Wideband) from Full Range speaker wold, the best for wide soundstage
Remarkable recordings, wow! It was very difficult to distinguish the original from the LGK 2.1 speaker recorded version. Vienna Tang is easily among my favourite vocalists, such a sweet voice.
Love the cheetah shirt, it conveys Danny's sprinting prowess so well! Boss!
I got the Triangle Borea BR03 speakers at $229 open box item. I am glad the sound quality for my 86# TV.
We had one of those sent in for upgrades. It had some problems areas, but the biggest problem was how hard it was to remove the drivers. It was practically unserviceable.
All triangle i tried are great for me !
My room is 12' x 12', and I need 110db average at the listening position 6' away, and I have a 30 watt class A amp. Go!!! 😂
Do you sell or ship to the Uk
I have tannoy dual concentrics very good indeed but yours is like to try
We ship to the UK all the time.
Correct. Application matters. It's what I never see hifi reviewers discuss. It comes down to proper SPL loundess with inaudible distortion at the listening position. The general rule with top-quality 2-channel audio reproduction is this......The larger your room, the more you're going to spend to make your listening position a "high end" experience. The cheapest, most high quality way to experience 2-channel music is with headphones. There are fantastic sounding headphones at very affordable costs. Your room listening options are near-field (like sitting at a computer desk), small room, like a dedicated 10'x10' bedroom for music/movies, a 12'x14' small living room in a small house, a 2,000 cuft room, 3,000 cuft room, or some very large converted garage into a home theater. Near-field listening at a desk in an office should not require any room treatment. All other rooms will require acoustic treatment to give you sound anywhere near what headphones would provide. The larger the room, the more expensive the room treatment, the amplification and the speakers will get.
Just curious. Why not position the microphone in the listening position? Why 1/2 way between?
It brings in a little more room interaction that is picked up in the recording. It also blends left and right signals too much and then doesn't sound like the original when played back at all.
Nice but i would like to see some graph.I m fun of linear speakers like,ATC Dutch & Dutch.. how do i know if they match my frequency graph target to buy them?
You could visit our website and see all of the measurements on them.
*WOW!!!* that was from the LGKs? _incredible_
Yes sir, and thanks for listening.
where do i find those mini desktop speakers, the LGK 2.0 ? .... on your website? sure not seeing them
gr-research.com/lgk-series/
The old Electrovoice 1B Eliminator works well in a large room, warehouse.
Do you do side orders of cheese with your speakers?
🐭
EXACTLY!
Even if it had a perfectly balanced, pure output for whatever input was applied, there will be people who don't care for it.
These things are quite subjective, to put it mildly.
Oh, and that's without taking budget, power levels, whatever is driving them out of the equation - not to mention the enviroment, as you pointed out.
Considering the fact everyone's hearing is a little different due to people's ears having slightly different frequency response. For example some people can't hear high frequencies as well as other people.
Good to see new products from you danny. Can't wait to see a review/video on the NX-Studios!
Those are coming. I have just been holding off until we got good stock of the tweeters.
@@dannyrichie9743 Awesome! Perfect timing cuz I'm finally about ready to finish my build. So exciting!
And p.s. the LGK 2.0 /C-speaker ideas are awesome! Now you got me considering a full blown GR 5.1 monitoring setup for my studio! 🔈 🔈 🔈🔈🔈
What speaker was made that performs the best under most circumstances in the most room environments without too many modifications? A few speakers come to mind that probably fit that criteria. Not everyone wants to go and teak a speaker's crossover and drive layout to get some sort of SPL or whatever correct. So out of the box, I think of speakers like the Sony SS-GR1, the Infinity IRS-V and later Genesis systems, or even the legendary Apogee Diva or even the Technics AFP-1000 (if they even exist anymore). Personally, one of the best speakers I have personally listened to in a room was an old pair of JBL L-300s probably built in the mid 1970s. Those things were just insane with great response, just imagine what people thought of them when they were brand new!
I still own my 1979 JBL 4311's. I remember listening to the L-300 and comparing them to the equivalent TANNOYS, which were a bit more expensive. The TANNOYS were amazing but the L-300's definitely were a bit better. They both were performing at 1/2 a watt to 1 watt each, as I had my eyes set on the bang box ( switch box ) and the wattage meter. Then I turned the volume to 10 watts and I then only dreamed of owning them one day$$$$$.
Danny. For years I loved Celestion Ditton. Do us a deep dive.
budgeting for these based solely on the knock at the very end, my friends cornwall IVs don’t pop like that
I suspect the larger Maggie’s with well integrated subs and up to task electronics would be hard to beat
Actually, not hard to beat at all.
Magnepan 20.7s with Coda 16.0 👍
Can you do the Edifier s2000mkiii??? They are the most liked on Amazon preamp studio speakers
Rogers Ls3-5a 15ohm speakers with right tube amplifier.
I kinda agree. xD
The best sounding speaker is the one that sounds best to you. There are people to whom speakers are tools and those speakers are unique for the people using them for certain ends. In the end, its completely subjective. No other criteria needs be met except how you like them.
Where do I get these filters you show? How do you "blend" the sub(s)? ie. what subs do you use, and amps, etc?
I am about to shoot a video on the filters.
What exactly is the in line filter sitting on the desk? I’d like to buy some.
I am going to shoot a new video on them shortly.
@@dannyrichie9743 Would be great if there was a filter built into the speaker, or maybe even a switch to enable a filter.
Danny, do you have the filters to purchase on the site? I took a quick look and didn't see them. Thanks.
No, but I will shoot a video on them this weekend.
@@dannyrichie9743thanks, assuming it goes between the preamp and the amp and therefore does not work on integrated amps? Or is it line level for the speaker outputs?