How to Choose the Best Audio Speakers for You!

[@tonelives1023]

You don’t know how much we appreciate you

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Awww, Thank you!

[@PossibleAudio]

This topic is a deep subject. 100 million variables involved.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Exactly. So when I see "Speaker of the year", I immediately think "For who?"

[@PossibleAudio]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics truth

[@tonelives1023]

This is more valuable than most will understand. Great job. Really smart.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

I appreciate that!

[@louiesipes2257]

Steph, what those who scoff at your setup fail to realize it it takes more thought and understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Anyone? Can turn a blank canvas into a pleasing listening environment. Kudo’s. To the bigger question….which speaker? Especially among younger people just getting into this…they don’t yet know what their preferences are. They figure that out and half the battle is won. Good video. Have a golden day 😊

[@Victor-qf1yu]

Thank you for sharing your points to think over while choosing right speakers relevant to particular listening conditions and habbits. Best regards from Russia

[@randomsuper]

you're awesome skunkie and we love your vids.

[@alwilliams5177]

Once you are listening to really good gear, it's mostly just flavors of awesome.

[@michaeldina1103]

Thanks for making this video! Even though it’s just you talking it feels like a good discussion with everyone. I love that we are talking about ways to have hifi sound in un ideal spaces. An exploration into what’s possible by leveraging the different variety of speaker designs at our disposal. I appreciate that you touched on the certain priorities that should be considered when selecting equipment. I’m sure this is a source of frustration and confusion for a lot of people who don’t have a dedicated listening space. Perhaps we need to rethink the listening space concept a little more?

[@markd4741]

Howdy! There was a period of time where I was shopping for some expensive-serious speakers, learned some things one day, and they altered some conceptions I had. That if you want big sound, you gotta have big speakers. And found that's not quite true. Many years ago I auditioned a pair of small ProAc SC-1 Speakers on Stands at a dealer, but they were complimented by 2 Powered Subwoofers. The integration they achieved was breathtaking, nothing at all seemed to be missing. That combo checked all boxes very nicely indeed! I realized that moment that this seemed smart, made sense in a number of ways to have a speaker (subwoofer) that is designed to more properly reproduce the lower octaves. Where so many speakers cannot. One advantage, the main speakers get a break. That one is not trying to squeeze out very low octave registers they cannot reproduce. The other also is that the main Amp-Receiver is getting a big break too, because that's where lots of wattage goes in an audio system, with producing bass response. A win-win situation.

[@richbrown5852]

I'm no audiophile, and i have a strong attachment to goodmans magnum and magister boxes, there's something quite endearing and warm about the mix of smooth upper roll off and large cone area for the bottom end.

[@nc3419]

I have used alot of bookshelf speakers myself and have found some that I like and some that I do not. Those I have liked do not give everything that you want speaker to do but mostly do. Those I have did not or even those that were just too deficient in some area were always sent back. And interestingly, putting a speaker that works well for you in another room, whether at the same home or when you move can sound alot different too, for better or worse. Some are more flexible with room change, some not so much. So it is impossible to tell someone what is best especially for them and where they are at in this hobby/journey, etc. I have used Focal, Triangle, Dali and Paradigm but have also returned speakers within a brand if not balanced enough in the attributes I like to hear. Among these attributes are separation, natural tonality, note weight and creating a nice deep stage if not wide also. Resolution and accentuation of details or certain frequencies may stand out but it's not enough if the before-mentioned attributes I need are not met. Slam is nice but can be too much for a comfortable listen. If a speaker docent get you foot tapping that also says alot. I tried the Quad S2 in my space, approx. 25 by 13 feet and it did not work. Highly resolving, plenty of detail but a flat stage and the magic just wasn't there. For movies they were great as you could hear every little nuance of what was recorded but lacked for me with music. While those I liked performed with less resolution and detail but could really convey the energy of a performance. This was with really good solid state including a Hegel. Either it was mostly the speakers or perhaps the room too, either way with enough experience, you will know if a speaker or system is right for you. For some reason, I mostly find speakers using Kevlar or Aluminum difficult to fully satisfy while variations of paper drivers do well. I can live with either a soft dome or metal tweeter if well implemented and of sufficient capability.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Totally agree, a speaker I love may not work at all for you.

[@ramseyedward7940]

Great video 👍 I like the way you express your thoughts & feelings about speakers and sound!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@markd4741]

I remembered quite a few things about the old ProAc SC-1, and yeah, was a quite pricey little speaker back then, but it was a pretty nice performer. Coincidentally the same basic size parameters as the Quad S2. Does the Quad equal the Proac? Tough to say? I might say maybe not. But the Quad appears to be a quite nice speaker to listen to. And the price was a best buy for them. The old adage of garbage in-garbage out holds true with any speakers. Quality components up front is paramount. The weak links always abound in an audio system.

[@chrislj2890]

5:54 Was that picture your house or the new owner? I really like bookshelf/stand mount speakers as they are so flexible. One I'm currently intrigued with is the KEF Q Concerto Meta bookshelf speakers which are 3-way and run $1,300. But I think if I got a fourth pair of speakers my wife would be very displeased. It's not the money it's the fact we have a small house and I keep filling it up with stuff I don't really need, lol.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

That's my house.

[@g-train9372]

I share your view with having the HIFI work in a living space. I’m lucky my wife is very accepting of my rather large Cornscala type speakers and gear. If I had a dedicated listening room I would find myself listening on my own most of the time. It would be too self indulgent for me. I’m lucky my family room is large enough to accommodate my system and other furniture and my rather large family. Half the time the system is on with sound flooding the house while we get on with life. If I choose to sit in the sweet spot I can also do that. In truth I like my set up better when I can widen the sweet spot and enjoy the experience with my kids, friends or spouse, go on musical journeys and sit back and enjoy or get up and get my groove on. That’s what it’s about for me. It’s the emotional connection to music, not picking it apart and listening to the gear. My 2 cents.

[@tothemax324]

2 x Rel T/Zero MKIII subs will mate nice with your Quads. Subs not meant to be heard dialled in right and placed behind the stands IMO, takes some load off the mid bass driver is bonus cleaner midrange.

[@Keith-ux9ku]

I recommend you check out the book This is Your Brain on Music. I have read it several times and still don't understand a lot but I think it ties in some of your thoughts about music complexity.

[@Michael-bj4sz]

Great video!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@1mctous]

My ideal pop and rock music SPL is about 70 dB average with peaks 6 dB above that. My room is pretty quiet with only 31-32 dB background noise.

[@ConorHanley]

I think you misunderstand the Klippel measurement system , it will tell you how the speaker measures and even how it might sound like in an average room etc. Why it might sound bright, dull has annoying resonances or a multitude of other things and inform the speaker designer where he's gone wrong etc. Its a great tool but what type of speaker a person might like or not and how it sounds in an individual room is an empirical experience.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

But does anyone have an "Average room" and it's measuring the speak playing one frequency sine wave at a time. Unless you listen to test tones, there is a lot more going on when you are playing music. I'm not saying there is no value, but it's not the end game either.

[@JohnScheppler]

If it is truly just measurements, then speaker designers would be obsolete. They would be one speaker built to measurements and done. However, since everyone hears differently, there will continue to be multiple speakers being produced.

[@jonathanmoore8886]

I find the hardest part is auditioning speaker because I don't have a dealer near me. I feel silly ordering speakers online, then sending them back followed ordering another pair and sending them back if I don't like them. Just creating open box items for audio vendors.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

This is a situation created by the internet, not something that is your fault. Especially if this "store" has no brick and mortar location, they have to expect this will happen as part of doing business.