Studio Monitors vs Home Speakers

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

That was 25 years ago. These devices are readily available today.

Time flies. 1995...

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Time flies. 1995...

I am all too aware of its flight.

[Petronius]

Colleagues;
I remain committed to accuracy, tonal and otherwise. I understand the need to tweak the tone controls and maybe even an eq unit. sometimes a recording can use a little sweetening, or maybe it's in an overly bright room.

But then you have that Reference Records recording of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances (Recorded by Prof. Keith Johnson) all it needs is to be turned up. That is what a system (IMHO) should do. Reproduce it without adding or subtracting anything.

Regarding time.....How the hell did I get to be 73?

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by Petronius

Regarding time.....How the hell did I get to be 73?

Congratulations, I hit the mark next month. Began my audiophile journey in 1963, started with McIntosh and Klipsch, will end with them. Unless someone changes the laws of physics no need to change.

[thughes]

Regarding time.....How the hell did I get to be 73?

... at least it's better than stopping somewhere earlier along the journey.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Petronius

Colleagues,
As you know, a speaker discussion can polarize a room full of audiophooles However I will brave the waters and ask a general question;

Which is better, a speaker designed to be used as a studio monitor, or a speaker designed for a home audio system, and does the kind of music played on them make a difference?

Inquiring minds etc.

Just buy a pair of Harbeth 30.2 XDs and be done with it.

You'll be happy.

[Petronius]

That may be. There is no one around these parts who carries Harbeth, and I've always wanted to hear them Until then, and maybe after, I'll keep my own poor JBL 4410's

One final thing; some years ago it was either KEF or Rectilinear, had an ad in the audio magazines (remember them?), that looking at the at the Mona Lisa through blue or orange glasses was akin to listening to Beethoven on inaccurate speakers.

Well, there it is

[PHC1]

Or the Harbeth Super HL5plus. It is an extremely pleasant and non-fatiguing speaker to listen to. That has always been my personal priority but... Doesn't get much flatter either if that is the objective. https://www.hifitest.de/test/bilderg...tion_16005/9#b

[George Prentice]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Good luck with reproducing a rock concert or an orchestra with 110db swings at home. An acoustic guitar or a solo violin is ok but even a full range of the piano is challenging, 27Hz. How about a 5 string bass guitar at 28Hz? Organ at 8Hz, Tuba at 16? Nope.

We do ok but it’s no live music.

I have had season tickets to Oregon symphony for seven or eight years, 7th row center. Listening to a well recorded classical performance, I can’t really tell the difference between live and my audio system. There are differences... the microphones at the Oregon Symphony are placed up in the air... changing the hall dynamics you can hear. Also, there is a delay from being at a concert hall... but looking at it from reasonable person’s point of view there is no material difference. My system can definitely keep up with amd match the dynamics... real crescendoed in the symphony hall overwhelm your hearings ability to differentiate different sounds... this is well reproduced.

rock is harder for a number of reasons.

[bart]

Originally Posted by George Prentice

I have had season tickets to Oregon symphony for seven or eight years, 7th row center. Listening to a well recorded classical performance, I can’t really tell the difference between live and my audio system. There are differences... the microphones at the Oregon Symphony are placed up in the air... changing the hall dynamics you can hear. Also, there is a delay from being at a concert hall... but looking at it from reasonable person’s point of view there is no material difference. My system can definitely keep up with amd match the dynamics... real crescendoed in the symphony hall overwhelm your hearings ability to differentiate different sounds... this is well reproduced.

rock is harder for a number of reasons.

George, I think we'll have to agree to disagree.
My wife and I attend 15-20 classical concerts a year (middle of the 4th-5th row are our seats), and some 10-15 jazz concerts.
Small ensemble music can be reproduced quite faithfully on a good system, like we enjoy at home (5.0).
But a large symphonic orchestra, sorry but no way.
Not even on an MBL reference system (in my personal top 3 of the systems I've heard).