Sound Quality Vs. Measurements

[vacuphile]

De gustibus non est disputandum.

[fas42]

Yes, but after reading many people speak favourably of them, and knowing they are a key tool when mastering recordings, I did have higher expectations ...

Frank

[nigel pearson]

Originally Posted by vacuphile

De gustibus non est disputandum.

Maxime vera sint, tamen ...

Mala electio innixam malus informationes ?

[dvv]

Frank,

I'd like to suggest that you have, most unfortunately, NOT heard the real deal in active monitoring.

If you'd run into an ACT or two, you'd never say what you did because there would be no cause for crticism. Although, VERY expensive, no doubt.

If you had run into some Klein & Hummel products, I think you'd like them. Clear and clean like well water, yet sound-wise at least 100 proof.

And Bob Stuart's Meridian active speakers certainly merit mention, excellent fare, just as we have come to expect of Bob Stuart. He seems incapable of failing anything.

And, as Vacuphile says, they do blow away the vast majority of classic systems.

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by vacuphile

Fas42, does this include Genelec, just to mention one brand? In that case, I have to strongly disagree. Most active studio monitors I heard run circles around the stuff that passes for HiFi.

Not in my hi-fi world..

I have heard no active speaker pro or domestic to run circles around anything ..

[dvv]

Originally Posted by a.wayne

Not in my hi-fi world..

I have heard no active speaker pro or domestic to run circles around anything ..

And of course, your audio world is representative ...

Wayne, your audio world is where the Devil fears to tread.

[nigel pearson]

When I was in mainstream audio the customers felt active was too big a risk . Passive allowed a change of mind or upgrade .

I would welcome the active option for the Mid and Top . This could be where the crossover is external and detachable .

I have to say most active speakers are not the giant leap in performance I would have expected . I suppose that often the drive units were made with passive in mind .

Quad ESL and Magnaplanar sort of qualify as active .

[a.wayne]

D,

Please name the best active, i will make the effort to locate and listen .....

Meridian ...... Soooft
Genilec ....... Sooooft
Linn ..... Sooooft
Lyngdorf...... I have not heard yet , but will in a few weeks

[dvv]

Originally Posted by a.wayne

D,

Please name the best active, i will make the effort to locate and listen .....

Meridian ...... Soooft
Genilec ....... Sooooft
Linn ..... Sooooft
Lyngdorf...... I have not heard yet , but will in a few weeks

I have no experience at all with Genelec, so I cannot compare, much less comment. Ditto for Linn, I plain despise that company and make sure I never get in touch with them. Silly, I know, but there it is.

My taste is quite clear - ACT would be my second choice, Klein & Hummel my first.

Of the two, ACT went for as linear as possible, K & H went for personalization. In mid position of all pots, you get real linear response, but their ranges are -6...0...+6 dB, so there's lots of room for persnal adjustment. I happen to like the choice, even if my personal settings are never off by +/- 2 dB from center.

Please note that my comments on K&H are valid for their studio class monitors from 1991 or 1992, those are the ones I used when editing my TV show in 1996, 1997 and 1998. I made no effort to keep up with them, I have no idea what they are making today.

I also disgree with your comment on Merdian - I do not find them to be soft, with 3 "o", presumably better than the others with 4 "o". I would say they are a little too polite for my taste, but would add that this was a typical personal taste comment.

From your comments, I surmise you like 'em loud, brash and shrill. Not to even walk the deadly killing field of impedance.

[fas42]

Originally Posted by dvv

If you'd run into an ACT or two, you'd never say what you did because there would be no cause for crticism. Although, VERY expensive, no doubt.

If you had run into some Klein & Hummel products, I think you'd like them. Clear and clean like well water, yet sound-wise at least 100 proof.

Yes, I'm certain that they are there, but will be, expensive!! The best videos from Kenrick Sound, on YouTube, demonstrate many key, positive attributes of this level of gear ...

And Bob Stuart's Meridian active speakers certainly merit mention, excellent fare, just as we have come to expect of Bob Stuart. He seems incapable of failing anything.

And, as Vacuphile says, they do blow away the vast majority of classic systems.

These also were a disappointment, but will acknowledge they were previous generation units that I heard. Suitable for HT work only, in the demo I heard ...

Frank