Speaker Comparisons - What Did I Really Gain By Upgrading My Speakers?

[@charlieanderson8497]

You're Husband is a real trooper. Dragging speakers up and down, hooking them up and testing them for you. . Glad your happy with new ones.

[@MelindaMurphy]

He's terrific. I'm very lucky. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@fieldauditservices6870]

So is her husband. Hahaha

[@rocnred]

I am so glad you are still happy with your purchase. Buying equipment these days is so hard since there is no place to listen to gear anymore. I used to be able to go to at least 6 different Hi-Fi stores, making comparisons before I purchased. I want to upgrade my speakers but am torn since they still sound great. Can I get something better? The curse of every hi-fi nut job, myself included. I believe the saddest part of this video is that people didn't know that Sting sings on "Money for Nothing." Sting even came on stage for Live Aid in '85 to sing with Dire Straits just for that part. He is even mentioned in the credits. His voice is unmistakable. Reference discs: Jesse Cook-One World, Rumours, Brothers in Arms, Take Five, Sabotage, White Album. I have to listen to all of those. Nut Job 101. But that is the fun of this journey!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Those are great test records. No complaints here. ♥️🤗 Several people incorrectly reprimanded me the last time I mentioned that Sting was featured on Money For Nothing so I wanted to make that clear this time around. Lol. Buying stereo equipment is harder these days due to a lack of stereo equipment showrooms. Thankfully, I was told that if I wasn't happy, I could send the speakers back. It was a risk but it worked out great for me. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️

[@ericelliott227]

Hmm, one listen to Money For Nothing and Sting's voice is unmistakable. I would think it was easy to recognize. How many people didn't know that was him? If it truly is a lot that is a statement, a sad statement in society, because it means less people listen to music than I thought and my number was high! Yes, it is near impossible to buy any HiFi gear now, money or not. Speakers are especially troublesome. I'm glad I am not in market for speakers (or any other big stuff) as I am very happy with what I have. I got my speakers when there were still shops around. If I needed new speakers today, I'd have to go without and get rid of all my gear because it is now impossible to shop for speakers.

[@wa2368]

@@MelindaMurphy Are you really an audiophile or is it the audio nerdy husband who's scripting these videos? I have been keenly observing audiophilia for 30 years. The female brain rarely falls for it. It's always the ocd dude behind the scenes.

[@fieldauditservices6870]

@@wa2368 Seriously? You think females don't enjoy this hobby?! You need to get out more, my friend. It's a big, wide world out there.

[@weatheranddarkness]

To the point about trying stuff, it really pays to understand your needs/desires before digging into the process, and understanding your current equipment's strengths too. After that it pays to make friends. As hearing stuff in a home environment is more informative than in a shop anyway. I guess I'm lucky there's a good few shops around these parts, but it's rare they have anything I'm truly interested in hearing anyway. But the collapse of real retail is real. To the point about test tracks, my first inclination is to reach for whatever is the freshest memory of being disappointing (the dud in my latest garage sale haul for instance) to see if i've fixed what was bugging me there. After that I progress to either faves that don't necessarily play well (old copy of Steve Miller 'Book of Dreams' for instance) to validate musicality, or something with piano that's important to the music, maybe some Oscar Petersen. Making sure the fullness of the piano is well captured will tell you a lot going forward about is going wrong vs right. I've also picked up a couple things that I've listened to at other people's houses. That helps triangulate my experiences a bit. And only after all of the above do I start pulling out the ones that always sound fantastic. At that point I'm finally ready to compare on the finer points.

[@ronkindel9734]

I’m so happy to see you taking the next step in your audio journey to take the time to sit down and really listen to the music you already love and appreciate the sound your recent upgrades you to experience. Higher resolution and lower noise floor can open up your love of the music to deeper and more satisfying layers of enjoyment. Unfortunately, the quest never seems to end as you teach yourself how to truly listen and appreciate each time you improve the weakest link in your audio chain. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I have.

[@MelindaMurphy]

It's been a very fun journey. I am experiencing music in such an incredible way. My husband will keep me in check when it comes to buying equipment. Lol. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗

[@tobymummert3035]

Melinda. I am an audiophile and I've been one since 1985 when I started to really seriously get into audio equipment. I'm 59 now and I think I am pretty well qualified and know enough to make a serious suggestion to you about your speaker upgrade. The most important thing that everyone needs to know and remember, regardless of what it is. It could be audio equipment or could be in your refrigerator or a new car or a new part for another device of some sort. Break-in period!!! Brand new cars that you drive off the lot need to be driven at least 7500 MI before it can reach its Optimum performance. You will not get the gas mileage that the car is supposed to get and the engine and all of its parts have to break in and settle during that 7500 MI period. The same goes for new audio equipment. A new set of speakers can take anywhere from 100 to 200 playing hours before they are at their best performance and ready to rock. Even if someone buys a pre-owned pair of speakers or any pre-owned audio equipment that may have not been used for months and months, then that would be a re-break in period. NEVER expect a new pair of speakers to sound super fantastic right out of the box. They need break in time. You need to play your audio system for 100 to 200 hours as mentioned above. Speakers need to be loosend up and all the internal crossovers and the woofers and tweeters all need to be broken in and I guarantee you if anybody buys a brand new pair of speakers and expects them to sound fantastic right out of the box they are going to be terribly disappointed for the most part and 100 to 200 hours later you will not believe how great your stereo sounds! Trust me! I have been at this for far too long and I know what I'm talking about😊

[@highfell1]

If any piece of new hifi equipment doesn’t sound better or great immediately , don’t kid yourself that breaking it in will make THAT much of a difference.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree that equipment does need some break in time. The company even told me that the sound quality will get better with time. 😀 I could tell a big difference immediately and the sound quality just got better from there. I apologize for the delayed response. I was on vacation. Take care.

[@markcarrington8565]

Hi Melinda, great idea for a video. The fact that you rate your old speakers so highly demonstrates how important the source is in the hi-fi chain. With a lesser turntable you wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference so easily. And, as you discovered, less exotic speakers can sound excellent with a great record deck and amplification. Glad you’re enjoying your journey.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you! Both sets of speakers are excellent for their price point. I agree that having a solid turntable and cartridge makes all the difference. Take care. ♥️🤗

[@kevindillinger3699]

I just built a set of GR-Research X-LS Encore's and very happy I did.

[@stephensams709]

I want to get the same speakers. I wish I could find someone else to build them though.

[@kevindillinger3699]

If you were near me I would do it. It only took we a week. I bought the assembled cabinet and painted it with DuraTex. @@stephensams709

[@MelindaMurphy]

Congratulations! That's very cool. I love that some people are skilled enough to build exactly what they want. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@cdgee6399]

I just heard the GR Research NX Otica speakers in a friend's house. They left me unimpressed.

[@HowardFrischer]

I find it amazing how guitar and stereos are so similar. The stereo has a turntable, a preamp, power amp and speakers, a guitar setup has guitar, preamp, power amp and speakers. I know for a fact (guitar speaking now) the speakers make the biggest difference in the chain you could buy so many different speakers, and swap it out just in that cabinet, and wow what a difference.

[@cirenosnor5768]

@HowardFrischer - The speakers actually aren’t the most important components in the chain although one can immediately hear differences between speaker brands. Case in point: play the same song on a turntable, cassette, CD player, etc and the speakers will sound different. To be more specific, the same song with different turntables. The speakers are only as good as the source fed into the speakers. This theory was first introduced by Linn LP12 turntable when compared to other tables. Before the Linn LP12, the speakers were thought to be the most important component. One last example. My preamp died and had to substitute it with another till the usual process repaired.,The substitute through same speakers turned the hifi system into something very average and mediocre. The three dimensional soundstage, etc dissapeared

[@MelindaMurphy]

Speakers definitely make a huge difference. Many say to spend the most of your budget on speakers. 🤗♥️ Of course, sound quality is subjective. We all like our own thing. Thank you and I apologize for the delayed response. I was on vacation. Take care.

[@caseybryant7409]

After doing a lot of research my next step up speakers will be the Zu DWX "Supreme" package. Have you had the chance to deput these speakers yet? Steve Guttenberg rated these as one of his top speakers for 2023 and you really can't beat the price and HELLO, made in America!

[@MelindaMurphy]

I would love to listen to those speakers. 🤗♥️ I hope to have the opportunity someday. I do appreciate anything that's made in America. 🇺🇲 Thank you and have a great week.

[@JoeJ-8282]

There's actually a LOT of pop music that makes for great speaker comparisons! Two of the MANY that I personally know extremely well and which I almost always use in critical speaker comparisons are: Frou-Frou (Imogen Heap) - "Details" album (gorgeous, just gorgeous!) Echosmith - "Talking Dreams" album (same as above, along with some really great guitar picking by the band!) Those are two of the best, most beautifully recorded pop albums of all time, (IMO), and they both also have great and very clear female vocals, which are ultimately the very BEST thing to use in speaker comparisons IMO! A few other ones I also use quite often, and I know extremely well, are: Hooverphonic - both their "Blue Wonder Power Milk" and their "A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular" albums have absolutely amazing and very complex layering of multiple instruments and sounds together at once, all with very good clarity, (on really good speakers anyway), with a significant amount of strings, so they take you away into another dimension almost! The KLF - "The White Room" album (especially "Build A Fire" song! WOW!) Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and quite a few other more modern pop artists also all have at least a few songs on various albums that are really beautiful if they are heard on truly good speakers too, so really ALL types of music can be used for speaker evaluation, not always only just classical or jazz, which so many people tend to gravitate towards first. Whatever you use for speaker comparisons, I think the more diverse your music styles and tastes are, the better, because playing a wide diversity of music during your comparisons gives you a much better overall sense of what all each speaker does (and doesn't really) do well or best, which gives you a better representation of what it's OVERALL capabilities and sound quality are like! And BTW; I also agree that your choices of music in this video were excellent comparison songs for speaker evaluation, (I have used all of those myself also in previous years), and of course it's always "to each their own", whatever music or sound style, etc that joyfully and wonderfully pleases your own ears (and heart!) when you're listening to it! Whatever you do, always keep on having fun and enjoying music, whatever you have in your system at any given point in your life!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the wonderful suggestions. I have several of those artists in my collection including that Echosmith album. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@mlblue5355]

Speakers make a big difference. It’s always nice to test different speakers out, see what they can do, and what the difference is between different speaker sets. I’m happy that you continue to stand behind that Ted Nugent album! You just can’t go wrong!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you and I agree that the Ted Nugent album is wonderful. It's a great record for testing out new speakers. 🤗♥️ I apologize for the delayed response. I have been on vacation. Take care.

[@joeythedime1838]

Nice open and honest discussion. I find the big problem with A/B testing speakers is getting the room placement correct for each pair of speakers. Room placement is huge and getting it correct can take a while. Also, having two pair of speakers next to each other creates other problems as the drivers in the non-functioning speaker pair can act like passive radiators. I agree with you on have core source of reference material. Some of my go to reference music is Donald Fagen's Night Fly, Diana Krall's Wall Flower and James Taylor's Hour Glass. For a live recording Alchemy: Dire Straits Live is hard to beat.

[@MelindaMurphy]

A lot goes into A/B comparisons. I did my best to accurately do the comparison. ♥️🤗 Thank you for those wonderful suggestions. Thank you and take care.

[@1984robert]

I am a classical music fanatic and CD collector so most of my "test CDs" are classical music but I have two rock CDs too which I use for test the soundstage of the equipment. First is "Grantchester Meadows" track from Pink Floyd's album Ummagumma. There is a bird chirping in that music which is continously and fastly flying from left to right and right to left. After a copule of minutes it starts to lift and it is chirping from the upper corners of the room. Its horizontal location is not clearly pinpoint but it is clearly sounds from the upper corner. When I first heard it years ago, I had a fullrange single driver speaker which had excellent imaging and it was unbeliveable experience. I don't know how this effect was made but it is a masterful sound engineering. And there are even more great sound effects in this piece (a fly for example) but this bird sound was unbeliveable for me. Second album is Amused to death by Roger Waters. I think other comment also suggested this. It's full of sound effects which are unbeliveable. Right at the beginning there is a dog barking clearly from the right side. Not from the right speaker, but at right side next to me. And after that there is a radio voice from the left side next to me. And that is just the beginning. I like this album because these effects are not just for their own sake. These serves the music and at the end of the album I don't even know which is real and which is illusion. Masterpiece. I haven't heard Mofi SourcePoint speaker yet but since these are "point source" coaxial speakers I suppose these also have excellent imaging and soundstage. As you said in this video at Dire Straits song.

[@howard5992]

Ummagumma. was one of my first LP purchases in1970. Glad you mentioned it. What are your speakers today ? I am mostly classical music as well, but also enjoy jazz and folk and electronic and some rock.

[@1984robert]

@@howard5992 Thank you for your question. Now I have a small 2-way tower speaker which is built by a local technician here in Hungary with SB Acoustics drivers. He made my amplifier too. I have a relatively small 14 sq meters dedicated listening room and he made membrane bass traps too which are very useful for me. When I bought this house 4 years ago, I listened to many dealers here. I listened to Audio Note, Sonus Faber, ATC, Neumann, Genelec, Audio Solutions, KEF LS50W, Fyne Audio and other local manufacturers. Although these current speakers are obviously not perfect, here in my room and for my taste these were most appropriate then. And fortunately these were most cheap. I may replace these speakers in the future but I'm still searching the successors. :-) I like rock music too but I listen to it ony as background music and for this purpose my cheap desktop Genius active computer speakers are enough for me.

[@howard5992]

@@1984robert Seems you are having fun exploring different options. I had moved from a nice two-way bookshelf speaker to a mid sized three way floor standing speaker to a larger version of the same. Now I have electrostatic which are very good but I am always interested in a different and possibly "better" sound.

[@1984robert]

@@howard5992 Actually I am more interested in music and even music theory than hifi but I would like to find the best equipment for me. And as you said, exploring is fun. My little room limits my possibilities, I can't put large speakers into it. I've never heard electrostatic. How different its sound from the normal speakers?

[@howard5992]

@@1984robert I understand. Your comment that you were a classical music fanatic is largely why I responded to your original post. It's about music, not gear. But the gear does deliver the music.

[@66drog]

I just upgraded to the SVS Ultras bookshelves. Very happy with that sound signature.

[@MelindaMurphy]

They make great speakers. I'm glad to hear you are happy. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@ridirefain6606]

Thanks for the post. Love that a blind AB test was done. I find speaker upgrades to be a real hard thing to pin down as actually being an upgrade. There are so many modestly priced speakers that overachieve that spending three to five grand more on a more prestigious brand really does not get you all that much. Glad you were able to discern improvements from your choices.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree. Sometimes we pay more for a prestigious name and cool looking gear when there is equipment out there that's just as good for less money. Thank you and take care.

[@shimtest]

agree 100% on blind testing. this is sorely needed on KZbin audiophile reviews, yet it's very rare!

[@richardelliott8352]

not that it matters here, because the sound is so clearly different between the tested speakers, but a true blind test has a large enough sampling to statistically eliminate the subjectivity of human hearing problem , meaning the results have to be statistically better than a coin flip. I mention this because the phrase gets thrown around by some people on the internet who assume it is just a matter of closing one's eyes.

[@shimtest]

@@richardelliott8352 agree, but I would take a flawed blind test over the usual reviews I see . confirmation bias is just too overwhelming in those cases

[@Jeep_on_audio]

Blind tests are very overrated because of their time constraint. They are good for some purposes. Like training yourself to trust your ears and not your eyes or preconceptions. But once you know how to navigate just on hearing, blind tests don't have much benefits. Just like when your setup gets better and your listening abilities are more trained (ie your brains not your ears) you don't need to close your eyes to imagine the soundstage. The disadvantage of a blind test, as well as ABX testing is that it is just a snapshot. Very short. To really learn how something sounds and what it is capable of takes time. Just like good music takes time to appreciate.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you! As I learn more about stereo equipment, this is the best and most fair option. Take care. 😃

[@Dave__f]

I have like 5 sets of speakers. They all sound great in different rooms, with different amps and music. I can't really pick a favorite and price really means nothing. My tower speakers don't "voice" like others although if i put a tweeter on the top of my towers... wow! Nice review 🎉

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you very much! There are so many factors involved in this. I doubt there is a best speaker. The key is finding the best speaker that works best in your room and with your other equipment. 🤗♥️ Take care.

[@donniewn]

I’ve got the MOFI speakers . I think your amplifier is what makes the difference with those speakers. They really love tubes . And they also love jazz . If you like focus they’re for you . Every speaker has its advantages and disadvantages . And every speaker is different . I have different sets because I get bored with the same sound . You didn’t waste your money . You just created more options for your enjoyment .

[@howard5992]

@@MelindaMurphy also, best relates to the type of music we prefer and to the qualities of music that matter most. All in all, speaker design is about compromises. The first constraint is cost and the second is size, but even beyond that their are multiple tradeoffs in any speaker design. Thanks for the great informative review.

[@Drivehead103]

Yes! I added aperion super tweeters to my Cerwin Vega three-way E712 for that extended high frequency from the folded ribbon tweeter. It has adjustments for volume and where it kicks in.

[@LanceGreidet-bi9zk]

You hit the nail right on the head you get so much enjoyment listening to the music that's what the hobby is all about

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree! Thank you very much! ♥️🤗

[@mondoenterprises6710]

A pair of La Scalas would really tie the room together with dual subs.

[@flouisbailey]

If you can get a pair for her $1,000 budget? Yes, I have Klisch RF 52 ll, the 12 inch sub, but likely these are now over the $1,000 price point. The horns sound good on horn speakers drums and guitars on cone speakers, both in same box.

[@cardinalfang7725]

You did everything right. You proved it to yourself and that's what matters. And I actually believe you as opposed to a lot of other reviewers. Plus, this is two videos of yours in a row for me where you used Ted Nugent's Stranglehold as a reference...so now you're as good as it gets. Stay with it.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Lol. Thank you! Stranglehold is a great song and sounds great on my stereo equipment. I appreciate the kind words and encouragement. Take care.

[@plaubelmakina8916]

Ted’s debut album was great. I use I often use some cuts from the Doors, Sort Parade 50th Anniversary Deluxe. Unbelievable how the sound with my tube amp and Klipsch Heresy’s. FYI, Meatloaf sings some songs on Teds album

[@karlnehring6114]

It would have been helpful for you to have explained how the speakers were placed in your room. Was each pair placed in its optimum listening position? Optimum distance from walls, seating position, and toe-in? Also, were volume levels carefully matched between the two pairs? These are the sorts of things that would need to be done to make a blind A/B speaker comparison really meaningful. Especially when you base your comparison on imaging, speaker placement is a key factor. True blind A/B speaker comparison is pretty much impossible in a home environment. On the other hand, I applaud your effort and honesty. The real point is to enjoy the music you love, which you appear to be doing quite enthusiastically! Quite refreshing!

[@martyjewell5683]

Excellent comment.

[@MelindaMurphy]

First off, I apologize for the late response. I just got back from vacation. ♥️🤗 Each speaker was in their best spot for performance and faced inward to a small degree to create a listening sweet spot. I'm sure that this blind test wasn't perfect but it did reveal the truth about the fact that my new upgrade was very worthwhile. I could definitely hear the difference. It was fun to go back and experience the sound on the old speakers and compare them with the new. Thank you for the kind words. Take care.

[@martyjewell5683]

It's really the best way to compare speaker sound. Direct A/B switching exposes any strengths/weakness's of speakers. Years back, stores like Tech Hifi had speaker audition rooms where you could compare potential speaker purchases using your own LP's. I do disagree with "sweet spots" or tilting/toeing speakers as I believe that wide dispersion and excellent imaging can result in room filling sound that's almost totally detached from the speakers. After all, high fidelity does mean true to the original. Guess I'm just not an "on axis" guy. Hey, not for nothin' but speaker tastes do vary. @@MelindaMurphy

[@ummagumma7826]

Love that you get so much enjoyment out of the speakers. I’d like to try but I’m pretty happy with my 90s Cambridge Soundworks speakers.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Being happy with what you have is the end goal. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@myronhelton4441]

I listened to my Bobby Hutcherson Oblique & Happenings albums & was amazed at the sound, the Oblique album had a dark sound. both remastered by Rudy Van Gelder, who had a sound room with a tall ceiling cathedral room for good sound. A recommendation for great acoustic guitar sound from 1955 is: A Recital by Tal Farlow. Bands can play pn caves, cathedral, valley, in a large skating rink with wooden floors vibrating the sound louder, or a large room with marble high walls as my post office has where you can hear a pin drop. A long narrow hall with a hard wood floor can transmit a whisper loud a long distance. A thin hardwood floor can vibrate sound louder, it can also let sound go through the floor to lose sound. Sometimes bigger rooms like sometimes bigger rooms with cathedrals play sound louder than small rooms. Echoes in rooms require speakers to be farther from the walls, bit echoes or reverberations can make sound play louder. A flute, a long hard wood floor with walls on both sides, or a long valley between rows of trees can reflect sound toward the valley to make stronger echo. Large rooms or large areas with hard wood floors reverberate or echo to make the sound louder, small rooms can play less loud, because the sound is to close to your ears to be able to echo, the sound hits your ears quicker in a fraction to not be able to echo, thus the sound is quieter. Hardwood floors, valleys, or especially valleys with trees on each side reflecting vibrations toward the valley can make the valley louder. Hard surfaces such as hardwood floors, marble, caves or concrete can reflect sound. There is one band on tv that plays in caves. This may be why outdoor live albums sound louder in a bigger environment. .

[@MelindaMurphy]

I still need to pick up Happenings. I will definitely need to buy that album. ♥️ My room is a challenge because it is a large room with tile floors. I do have a huge area rug that does help considerably. Thank you and I apologize for the delayed response. I was on vacation., ♥️🤗

[@roberts338]

Melinda, I have three different stereo systems with all different speakers and each one sounds a bit different, but none of them are bad, just a different color of sound. They range from Wharfedale, Infinity, and Altec, my Altec’s being over 50 years old, to me the Altec’s are the most neutral. However the room, and the placement are so critical to the sound. Don’t fall into the Audiophile trap, that the grass is always greener on the other end. Be Happy! ❤😀 with your music!

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree. I will avoid the traps. 🤗♥️ The room and the placement is so important and it's all subjective. Thank you and take care.

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

Cyndi Lauper is an amazing talent! For those who have only heard her "hits"they are missing a lot! I think with speakers there are so many variables that can effect the sound you get- type of music you listen to, the room they are set up in, and the sources you use. It really is a revelation when you discover that you have a hifi component that objectively performs better- rather than differently, than the component it replaced. All that said, it sounds like you are having a blast. Good for you!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you! I'm definitely having fun. My former speakers were good for the money but the MoFi's are on a totally different level. It was nice to take a step back to compare the difference. I've come such a long way. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗

[@rolandbogush2594]

Thank you, Melinda, that was a really clear and well presented report, free of jargon and the usually incomprehensible buzz words that many other reviewers use when describing how things sound! It's great you were able to validate your purchase in that 'blind' way, as it can be so hard to really know if you made a good choice. I love Alison Krauss's 'Windy City', but not so keen on her songs with Robert Plant. My go-to track for testing new equipment is 'Dirge' on Planet Waves - if you can hear Robbie humming along with his guitar, it's a good sign! Have a lovely week, Melinda!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Planet Waves is an excellent test record choice. ♥️ My husband and I haven't been able to get into the Krauss/Plant music either. 🤔 Thank you for the kind words regarding my stereo equipment video. I appreciate the encouragement. Take care. ♥️🤗

[@terencejay8845]

I'm not a huge fan of hers, but I use a Madonna track these days. It has incredible clarity, totally silent moments, to full orchestra backing; 'Don't Cry For Me, Argentina' I'm plodding around in the Hi-fi budget section and tracking down the vintage models I used way back. I still have the Dual 505 turntable I bought in 1980, with a selection of cartridges. (I would add that for full spacial testing, I use 'Tomita - Clair de Lune'. It will fill every inch of a room. )

[@rachelsghost]

It’s not easy to go with a less expensive speaker when you are putting it up against a “cache” premium brand. One thing folks that watch your channel know is that you are absolutely sincere. That aspect of your character draws so many of us to you, Melinda. A very informative video. I just picked up a Canadian 1st press of “She’s So Unusual”. It’s a remarkable album indeed. 😎👍🏻

[@hoobsgroove]

You're always going to get much better bang for buck if you buy speaker kits monoprice in America, Wilmslow audio in the UK I think they do ship and they do it as a flat pack you glue it together or you can just buy the drivers and crossovers parts for even cheaper and blueprint, you can get it cut in a local shop marine ply. Go for MTM transmission line.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you very much Rachel. I did see your copy of She's So Unusual. Those early pressings sound extremely good too. Take care. ♥️🤗

[@jeffbellin8224]

It's really cool to hear things in recordings you previously didn't know that were there. When I upgraded my integrated amp a couple of years ago (Pathos Classic Remix), I started hearing things like singers moving closer and farther away from the microphone, as well as side-to-side movement; and that rendered more of the intention of the singer. And when I got new speakers (JM Reynaud Cantabile Jubilee), I was hearing all of this specific placement in the soundfield - not just horizontally and vertically, but layers of depth. All of that information was there in the recording, it had just been masked. So, as you have discovered, EVERYTHING makes a difference, even the cables and power cords.

[@MelindaMurphy]

It's very cool to hear new details in music I have been listening to for years. ♥️🤗 I'm so glad I have made these upgrades and I'm sure you feel the same way. Thank you and take care.

[@Rick_Schott]

Good stuff, glad it turned out this way. Props to the Mr. for helping out on this test, it must have been some work! I got some speakers in October and I already feel like I should have invested more... it's always something 😂

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree. It's always something. 😃 I'm grateful for my kind and patient husband. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@pedrofernandez8729]

Got a vintage Marantz and Technics turntable, last year I got Emotiva speakers. Recently I found a cheap Emotive amp on Facebook hooked it up with Marantz as a pre-amp, cleaned my records really well and now they sound better than ever. Small steps do make a difference in improving your sound.

[@MelindaMurphy]

That's awesome. Emotiva makes great equipment. Thank you and take care.

[@mickyd3]

I had a different experience, at least originally when I upgraded speakers. I lived with many Magnepans over the years; my last set was a 1.6QR. I was about to upgrade to the 3.7i or the 20s. The 20s wide for my room, so I started looking again at the 3.7i. I loved them, but then I compared these to Martin Logan 11a 13a. I was able to get a demo set of 13a for less than the Martin Logan 11a. The audio retailer brought them to my house and did an initial setup. I went back and forth between the Maggies and the Martin Logans and I was originally, very disapointed with my new speakers. So disapointed, I almost returned them. I remembered that I spent a considerable amount of time setting up my Maggies and getting the best sound. I spent over 2-3 months and finally found the magic placement for my Martin Logans and then EVERYTHING was magical. The sound was coming from all around me and the sound was so effortless and precise. Once I got everything in place, I added more QRD panel diffusion to the front wall and then even more magic. It took a couple of more years to tweak it to perfectiion. Over the years I replaced my 2 SVS Ultra 13 subwoofers and flanked my Martin Logans with a pair of Rel S812s. I then purchased a smallerSVS SB13 and placed it directly at the front well to help further emphasize 18-25 hz. I enjoy watching videos on what others have experienced in their journey. Keep up the great work. On another note, I was equally amazed on the difference that power conditioners made to my system.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am hoping to be able to listen to some Martin Logans soon. I have heard that many speakers also require a "break in" period so that might have been the case for you as well. I'm so glad you are experiencing the magic. ♥️ That's what it's all about. Thank you and take care.

[@benjaminqilafku5714]

Such a refreshing 15 min of a hifi talk by a lady. Thank you Melinda. You are blessed with a wonderful husband who supports your hobby. Some albums I've been impressed as the high quality recording. Hailey Tuck, Coquette jazz vocal. Cecile Verny Quartet, The bitter and dhe sweet. Donald Fagan, The Nightfly. The Fleetwood Mac, The Dance, live. Jon Batiste We Are. Brian Skonberg, Bria. Etc, etc, etc I have te spend a very long winter night otherwise.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the wonderful suggestions and for the kind words. I am definitely blessed. ♥️ I apologize for the late response. I was on vacation. Take care. ♥️🤗

[@scottbennett3119]

Very cool comparison! I am glad you get more for your money spent when going with the MoFi. And I feel like you're very honest! Thanks

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you very much! 😀♥️

[@tturner12341]

I’m a JBL fan. I’ve been using them for years. I remember clubs back in the day used JBL and I believe they still use them. My go to test album is Talk Talk Colour Of Spring. Is a beautiful album.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I love TalkTalk. 🤗♥️ JBL speakers are classic. Thank you and take care.

[@walterpen371]

I still own my 1979 4311's. I really wanted the L-300's but way over my budget.

[@tomstrum6259]

Hi Melinda,....A good way to really Know the True sound of your Fave albums & Really Know what is laid down in those record "Grooves" is to arrange to bring them to whatever best "Mix Down" recording Studios you can find...They deff Have the Best sound "Equalized" playback Rooms, Speakers, turntables & other Equipment we can't usually Afford at home....Arrange for "After Hours" Session & repeatedly Play the Album cuts to Memory.... They will Show you all the Controls & sometimes leave you Alone to really "Crank" it up !! .....Then bring same Albums around when Auditioning your new Speakers & other componet equipment for Comparison & what Your ears like Best...

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the tips! Great advice!!!

[@marcusoliveira9094]

Hi Melinda! You did the right thing to compare your former speakers after listening to the MOFIs for a while. Back in 1981 i used to have some fine JBL speakers but the audiophile in me decided to get the new QUAD electrostatic ESL-63. They were expensive and i wasn’t that impressed listening to them in my room. After 30 days of having sincere doubts on my purchase a buyer came to check the JBLs and asked to plug them on in order to be sure everything was OK. i will always remember how awful the JBL sounded and how happy i became after realizing the HUGE difference between those speakers 😊 I still hope to have another QUAD in a near future. Peace!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Great story. That's why I revisited my old speakers. I already knew the MoFi's were better but it was nice to go back and listen to the old speakers again for confirmation. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️

[@toulcaz31]

It could be a cool series for you to pick 5 of your favorite albums and then visit different homes with different audio setups. I would really love to see you testing a more vintage setup like Altec or Klipsch speakers with McIntosh amplification or something similar.

[@MelindaMurphy]

That would be an awesome video and it's a really great idea. For me, the challenge would be to find other people around me that are also into vinyl and have a decent set up. Again, it's a great idea. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@USNBRENDON]

Doing blind A / B side-by-side comparisons is really important for making determinations like this. Your passion and honesty truly come through and I appreciate your genuine perspective. Unfortunately, 4K per pair is outta my price range but the SVS wouldn't be at all too costly, so your analysis is helpful. Thanks

[@MelindaMurphy]

The SVS Prime Tower speakers are excellent for the money. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@llkmiz]

Great video! Well put together, and it is a joy watching your Audiophile journey.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you so much! 🤗♥️

[@antwanalston4572]

Great video speakers testing is so important because you want your sound experience to be enjoyable and entertaining I definitely agree have a great day and a blessed Tuesday

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree. I thought it would be interesting to go back and hear things the way I had before I got my upgrade. This test confirms for me that I made a good choice. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗

[@gregpostlmayr672]

well done. i A/B test speakers all the time and normally drag my son in as well to assist and to judge as well it definitely can be quite revealing, and must be on guard or aware that first listen to something new may reveal something more, and instincts (speaking for myself) may be that it sounds better, when actually it may be a bit more colored. therefore in addition to A/B test it's important to give both extended listening evaluations to see how they wear on your ears.... and since all our ears are different, we may have different outcomes, thus making this hobby so much fun. thanks again for the video and thoughts on the artist / albums as well. always good!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Great advice and it's something we should all keep in mind when testing equipment or even reviewing a record. A different sound isn't always a better sound. Spending time and listening often is key. Thank you and take care.

[@adsph]

Good morning. I think its great you can change out loudspeakers from time to time. I appreciate your honesty always. Thanks for sharing what you experienced.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you very much! 🤗♥️

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

Thanks for the video. I have that version of Brothers in Arms on CD. It sounds better than the other 2 CD versions I have. Blind A/B testing is definitely the way to go when comparing equipment. Kept it coming.

[@MelindaMurphy]

The blind test revealed the truth. 😀 Thank you and I apologize for the late response. I was on vacation. Take care.

[@Big-J-8579]

The delta when you climb the stereo equipment tree often becomes very small. Yes, you should and you did notice the difference. I'm glad you enjoy your new stuff and also realize the old stuff is still very good.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Yes, my older speakers are very good and a fantastic value. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️

[@jimmyBside]

Hey MM. Holy smokes…”My new REL subwoofers”…That ought to kick it up a knoch. Your system is getting serious! I was just listening to Money for Nothing last week. Such a fun song. Sting really gets going towards the end. Got my old rig warming up. Fresh cup of coffee…Now that’s a Saturday night.☕️

[@MelindaMurphy]

My stereo equipment is getting real! Lol. Money For Nothing is a fun song and it sounds like you had a fun night. I apologize for the late response. I was on vacation. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️

[@mondoenterprises6710]

I'm with you on the Dire Straits. I have the original Vertigo cd pressing and the SACD 5.1 mix. Lots of different sounds on that record from low to high with vocals, production, and instruments.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree. I have several Dire Straits records and they all sound very good. It's cool that you have the Vertigo label CD. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@MrVjjorge]

Brothers in arms was the first album recorded totally digitally and the CD was used in HiFi Shops in the day as perfect demo album for the systems, it was supplied free with system purchases in many shops

[@MelindaMurphy]

It's definitely a great album for testing equipment. I can understand why it was free with purchase because the album helps most stereo equipment shine. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️

[@mondoenterprises6710]

My favorite Bros. deep cut is Why Worry.

[@stephaneleman-langlois2105]

Beautifully done review. Thank you very much. No idea why almost every subjective review ignores the power of blind testing. Perhaps they are afraid they won't hear the spectacular improvements they are claiming...

[@MelindaMurphy]

Blind comparisons are a great way to give an honest review free of bias. All I want to know is the truth. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@WinkingFish]

Not all, but a lot of our music tastes overlap, and this video was so helpful! I am not ready for the MoFi price point, but after your feedback and comparison with the SVS Prime Towers, I decided that was the next upgrade. I have had them for a week, and am very happy! They went into a a TV surround set up as our new front mains, which also doubles as secondary listening space. A very good upgrade from the older pair of entry-level Polk speakers I had. THANK YOU for sharing such great info on not just your new toys, but how the previous ones held their own. Finally, kudos to your husband for the thoughtful suggestion to also check out female vocals during the evaluation. While Sting's voice will probably get the most playtime on my system (He's my favorite), the ladies from the 80s get a lot of love in this house, including that MoFi copy of "She's So Unusual." Keep up the great work, and keep on spinnin'!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you so much for the kind words. I apologize for the delayed response. I had a minor family emergency. I think you will be very pleased with the SVS Prime Tower speakers. They are excellent for the price you pay. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@Drivehead103]

I tried the SVS prime towers and returned them quickly. I have Cerwin Vega E712 300 w 3-way floor standing speakers and have aperion super tweeters sitting on top. I did not try a different speaker positions because the sound difference was so huge there was no way it could be made up for with speaker placement. SVS prime towers were very thin sounding. I listen to rock, jazz and outlaw country mostly. Of course all of this is subjective with many variables.

[@Harald-MacGerhard]

Melinda, thank you so much for doing this, this is heartfelt absolutely what this is all about, the love for music, great experiences, magical moments. I love it, keep up the great work Melinda 😎 One great album is Leftism by Leftfield, great music, really great mastering, super sound quality all over 🥳

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the suggestion and I also really appreciate the encouragement. 🤗♥️ Take care.

[@brianmoore581]

Yes, Sting definitely sings in Money for Nothing. There are a few unique voices that can't be duplicated, and can't be mistaken. Sting definitely has one of those voices. I agree that better speakers can make a huge difference, but depending on the song, sometimes that difference may be subtle. My Revel Salon 2 speakers can put out incredibly deep bass if it's in the song, but some songs really just don't have it. And some songs just aren't recorded very well, so a bad recording still sounds like a bad recording on good speakers. I still have my B&W 804 speakers that I replaced, and I did the comparison like you did, although I don't have anyone that could switch out the wires to make it a blind test. I think it was still an honest test. I'm happy with my upgrade. Synchronicity by The Police, Crowded House first album, Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen, Naturally by J.J. Cale, Astral Weeks by Van Morrison, The Dream of the Blue Turtles by Sting: those are all albums important to me that can reveal something about your system. For me, getting the quiet songs right is just as important as getting the loud, dynamic songs right.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for mentioning all of those terrific albums. I have many of them and just picked up Astral Weeks a few months ago. ♥️ I agree that every song and record can yield differing results. I definitely experienced that on this test. I also agree that some records sound terrible and good stereo equipment reveals bad sound even more. For example, I have yet to get a great sounding U2 record. They may be out there but I haven't found one yet. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗

[@brianmoore581]

@@MelindaMurphy U2 is another favorite of mine. I still have the original Joshua Tree from 1987 on lp. I think it sounds okay, but mine is so scratched up from playing it on my teenager system, a Sears LXI (I think) all in one system. I don't think I would ever play it on my turntable now, which is a Rega P1. U2 is probably better to buy on CD. Did you ever think about expanding into CD and SACD? Maybe getting a high-end SACD player?

[@graemeferdinands5856]

This was a fascinating video to watch, Melinda!! I loved this comparison! 👍👏👏

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you very much! ♥️🤗

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Great listening in my ride home. Inspires me to do a blind test on my new and old stuff. Curious about this step up transformer too! I upgraded my phono amp a while back and was stunned how much a difference it made. Have a hunch this step up kit could be a game changer as well.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I was pretty surprised by the differences I heard with the MC-1. It definitely improved the soundstage, imaging and I noticed a much quieter noise floor. Thank you and take care. 😃♥️

[@gn4368]

Melinda, nice review and thanks for doing it. Did you notice any difference in volume when your husband switched speakers? The MoFi is 91 db sensitive while the other speaker is 87 db sensitive. I think it is important to match volumes when comparing different pieces of equipment. We usually feel if something plays louder it is better, at least when listening for a short period of time.

[@MelindaMurphy]

At first, the SVS Prime Tower speakers were louder to my ears but my husband did match the volumes before play testing. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗

[@PhillipTMurphy]

There was about a 1.5 DB difference between the two, with the SVS speakers being slightly more efficient.

[@jmfloyd23]

Great video Melinda. I bought a pair of Klipsch Rf-820’s and 2 Klipsch subwoofers. Hooked them up and to my surprise my old Cerwin Vega AT-15 speakers blew them away.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Oh wow! That must have given you a new appreciation for the older speakers. 🤗♥️ I apologize for the late response. I was on vacation. Take care.

[@jmfloyd23]

@@MelindaMurphy yes! I appreciate the Cerwin Vegas very much! I bought them new in 1991 had the foam surrounds replaced on the woofers in 2019 they sound glorious again!!

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Hi Melinda, you know, the most important thing for a person with their sound systems is what it sounds like to you. Nothing else matters, as long as you can afford it.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Very true! ♥️🤗 Thank you very much!

[@bradotoole7538]

It is so great to see your music is what I remember from my younger years.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Yes, I still love music from the 70's and 80's when I was growing up. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@charlesf2804]

Female vocals are standard test material for many who audition equipment; nice move. I've never used them, though. I tend to listen to individual instruments within songs. I pick out something and follow its line throughout a track. And I don't know the price until afterwards; for me, that offsets the fact that my auditions aren't blind. For auditions, I've had a set of 4 or 5 CDs to use, spread out among classical, male vocal, jazz piano, an organ/brass ensemble, acoustic guitar, and prog rock. It is good that you did your test, to remove any feelings of buyer's remorse. And a shoutout to Philip for lugging the SVS speakers up and down the stairs.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I like the way you test out equipment. I will also follow one instrument when doing the testing. The female vocals were very revealing as well. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@MelindaMurphy]

My husband is fantastic. I'm very lucky. 😃

[@dimitris470]

Finally someone who talks in terms of specific music. Love it!!! I love brothers in arms and use it all the time as a reference record. I also like Love over gold. The thunderous drums and piano is great to test for weaknesses and smudged dynamics. Also Shangri-La and maybe the Division Bell. For more "textured" music, the FIM XRCDs are great. Personal favorite is the Autumn in Seattle. Enjoy the new speakers in good health

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the great suggestions. I agree that Love Over Gold sounds incredible. It does make a wonderful reference record. Thank you for the kind words. Take care. 🤗♥️

[@wholiddleolme476]

Yes! anyone who doubts that Sting sang in Money For Nothing needs to take a look at Dire Straights performance in Live Aid 1985, that should clear up any debates or confusions.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Yes! I think most people just forget over time that Sting sang on that song. It's part of what makes it so great. Thank you and take care.

[@tomstrum6259]

Hi Melinda ,....I'm a bit older than you as I got Started in "Audiophile" level sound in 1977. ...All your Speaker & stereo equipment sound Auditioning songs are Great & my Faves also !! .... 1977 had such Great releases such as Fleetwood Mac "Rumors" & Heart's "Barracuda" albums which I carried around when Auditioning my "Perfect" affordable componets...I highly Recommend those to check your Speakers, Amps & other playback equipment with !! .....

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the recommendations. I still need to find that Little Queen album by Heart. Barracuda is an incredible song. ♥️ Take care.

[@richardriley4415]

In my opinion the speakers are the most important component in your system. I've been considering a step up transformer. I'll check out your video on that.

[@MelindaMurphy]

The step up transformer works great with my set up. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@terrycullen3262]

Source first, garbage in garbage out!!😊

[@AndiCat14]

I thought everyone knew that was Sting singing the intro! LOL

[@MelindaMurphy]

Not everyone knows that and were very quick to correct me last time I mentioned Sting. Lol. That's ok. I understand the confusion. Thank you and take care.

[@keensoundguy6637]

All of us who heard it back in '85 instantly recognized it as Sting. If someone argues it's not him, make a note not to ever watch or read any loudspeaker reviews they might make.

[@donalddeorio2237]

Sting has such a distinctive voice I don't know how you could mistake that it wasn't his voice

[@MelindaMurphy]

I think people were thinking I had the lead singers of Dire Straits and The Police mixed up. Lol. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗

[@frommatorav1]

@@MelindaMurphy Any one who would say that, doesn't really know Money for Nothing. I grew up with it. No way you could mistake Sting singing I want my MTV.

[@bigjuan4u]

Oh, just a thought with reviews: always very important to get volume levels as close to exactly the same as possible, as the louder one will tend to appear to be the better one, but might not be. For instance, if you were flipping from one set of speakers to the other, one set might be more efficient than the other and so sound louder and possibly deceptively better. Best Wishes.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Yes, my husband did the volume matching. The SVS speakers were originally louder. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗

[@bigjuan4u]

@@MelindaMurphy A beautiful wife who is into music and hi-fi. Surely every man’s dream. Your husband must have accrued lots of good karma points in his previous life.

[@oliverbeard7912]

Speakers are the most characterful aspect of an audio system. Their distortion is typically around 100 times greater than the best amplifiers with electrical,mechanical and acoustical factors to consider. Electronics don't really care about room acoustics, where speaker placement, frequency response and dispersion are all susceptible to modifications from the room and listener position. With so many variables, the differences between designs and brands are generally more marked than to be found elsewhere in the audio chain.It's good that you're getting along well with the MO-FI speakers. Andrew Jones is a really nice chap.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Andrew Jones is awesome and I am really enjoying his speakers. ♥️🤗 They were a great choice fo me. Thank you and take care.

[@lepunque]

Hi Melinda, greetings from England. My go to album has always been Abbey Road. It has always been a great sounding album & in my opinion the 2009 remaster & 50th anniversary remix just took it to new heights. PS I have recently been embracing headphones coupled with Chord Mojo2 headphone amp/dac, this opens up a whole new sonic landscape 😊

[@MelindaMurphy]

I still need to try out headphones. That would be a cool experience. I have the 50th anniversary version of Abbey Road and it is quite nice. 🔥 Thank you and take care.

[@marktait2371]

mate last summer i bought 1988 past masters series havent listened to yet how does that compare to 50th local quite expensive vinly and cd also got the hmv 88 boxset the cover photo walking right to the price sticker hmv was 13.99 pounds has 27 page booklet badge logo still sealed but other copy in the masters set missing revolver so cheap price been all owyer dales some durham some lanc. mostly train m1 backroad to dales to.kirky lonsdale and cumbria keswick just one night stay friend former dj giving me old school.high end headphones havent got yet think bose 80s

[@jmsully3]

I have a pair of SVS Prime Tower speakers and for $1000 bucks they are a steal. The bass response is really good and overall tonal balance is good. The one problem is imaging, especially depth. I'm thinking about upgrading to the new Ultra Evolution Towers, as I've been very happy with my SVS system. I would really like to get some Focals, which is what I have in my car system, they are really awesome speakers, but out of my budget for my home system. As far as go to recordings? There are two that I always use, Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" and Steely Dan's "Aja". I also like Joni Mitchel's "Blue", well recorded and she has a beautiful voice and is such an awesome songwriter. And yes, I love Dire Straits, every record of theirs is well recorded and sounds great, just like Steely Dan. I can't really argue with your choices, except Ted Nugent. Unless it's the Amboy Dukes.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree that the SVS Prime Tower speakers are great for the money. I was very impressed. 😀.No doubt, you are making an excellent choice. I agree with your record listening recommendations. They are all well recorded albums. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️

[@CotesDuQ]

Its kind of funny that there is a mofi version of Brothers in Arms. I recall back in the 80's that we all clamored for DDD CD's. All digital from the original master right to the final medium. Most were ADD (Original was analog but then mixed and put on CD, digitally). And now we have a DDA. I love it!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Yes, this is a wonderful example of digital sounding great. They did a fantastic job on this and it's hard to believe this record came out so long ago. Thank you and take care. ♥️

[@jpsalazar706]

I have the Kef LS50 meta and I have the Cindy Lauper album on Qobuz and omg! That song sounds amazing!

[@MelindaMurphy]

It's a great sounding album that is simply amazing when played through great equipment. Thank you and I apologize for the delayed response. I have been on vacation. Take care. 🤗♥️

[@jpsalazar706]

@MelindaMurphy oh no problem. I'm a kid from the 80s and I love this album along with Madonna True Blue (another album with great audiophile sound)

[@PurpleDreki]

Great selection of equipment and upgrades, Melinda! Thank you for sharing!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the kind words. ❤️🤗 Take care.

[@pkflash2004]

That was a great review/ comparison Melinda. I've got an expensive hifi and some recordings sound absolutely glorious. I've made upgrades along the way, changing interconnects, speaker cables, etc and each have made improvements without a shadow of doubt to me. However, one of the problems I have is when favourite pieces of music sound 'worse' because of the upgrades I have made. The better the hifi, it tends to highlight the inadequacies in some recordings and unfortunately this makes me want to play them less. I have certain records that I always go to to check out the differences in components. One album that I enjoy and I use as a test is Gillian Welch - Time (the Revelator). If you're not familiar with it please check it out. The music is beautiful and there is an intimacy you can feel when you listen to the recording. Love your reviews by the way.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I'm not familiar with Gillian Welch so I will have to check "Time" out. Thank you for the suggestion. With my new equipment, some records that already sound bad, sound even worse. Lol. But most of my records that were recorded well really shine. It would be very frustrating to make a big upgrade only to be disappointed with a favorite album. So far, that hasn't happened to me. Thank you and apologize for the late response. I was on vacation. Take care.

[@catherine6653]

Nice to see the Cyndi Lauper record. She has a 5 octave vocal range. I think Steve Perry solo record with Oh Sherrie and Foolish Heart would be a good one for testing speakers.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the suggestion. I will have to see if I can pick up that Steve Perry record. Cyndi Lauper has a very unique voice. ♥️🤗 That's such a a great album. Take care.

[@celtic-audiophile]

Every upgrade I’ve done has been plugged into my existing system and A-B done in situ. My final decision is made by “the gorgeous one”, she doesn’t care, it either sounds better or it doesn’t, and that makes the decision. Re the female vocals, the biggest difference is in sibilants, I have albums that this just disappeared as my speakers improved so hubs was spot on.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I have a smart husband. He knows what he's talking about. The female vocals really made a difference. It is nice to have an unbiased opinion. 😃 Thank you and take care.

[@ChuckPadgett]

My demo test track is the Analog Productions 45 rpm version of Take Five by the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I use that one on occasion as well. Fantastic!!! Thank you and take care.

[@sanonmars]

Thats great to hear that SVS prime towers are good and not slouch to 4 times costly speakers. It would be interesting to compare SVS ultra or pinnacle towers.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree. The comparison confirmed two things. 1. The MoFi Sourcepoint 10's were a wonderful step up. 2. The SVS Prime Tower speakers are an extremely good speaker for the price point. 😀 Thank you and take care.

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

Love your videos, great to see your setup in the background! 😊😊

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you very much! I'm sorry for the late response. I was on vacation. Take care.

[@stevenbouler5783]

Another terrific video. Wonderfully cogent and honest! Made my Tuesday!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you very much! ♥️🤗

[@danab7472]

The Sourcepoint 10 looks really good. It'd help if the audio industry figured out a way to get equipment in the hands of customers so they can try it out. As you point out it's not just the expense of something new, it's also that you might be replacing something you already like with something you're hoping to like more. Daunting in my case because I like my speakers a lot and new loudspeakers are a big purchase.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree that buying stereo equipment can be tricky. Some companies let you try out equipment for a certain period of time. In the past, I have made road trips to visit the dealer and hear the equipment in a showroom. That's not the same as listening to them in my home though. It's tricky but I have had a lot of fun as well when it comes to finding the right equipment for my needs. ♥️🤗 Best wishes to you.

[@scottcarlon6318]

What about speaker break in ? If you just take the new speakers out of the box, and put them in a run off against the old home speakers, they might be at a considerable disadvantage because the new speakers sound can change quite a bit in the short term ( 50 - 100 hours ) and not find their true voice until as many as 400 hours. Another thing that affects how the speakers sound against each other is if one speaker pair is 8 ohms and the other is 4 ohms. The 8 ohm speakers might play louder because they may be more efficient, just my thoughts, thanks.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Both of these speakers had plenty of break in time. I bought the new speakers last fall so it was a fair fight as far as that goes. Both speakers are great for their price points. The SVS Prime Tower speakers are the louder speaker so we did volume match them before we did the blind test. Thank you and I apologize for the late response. I was on vacation. Take care.

[@lucillechilds9767]

Hello Melinda, I think Stevie Nicks has the most beautiful voice in my opinion. I’m glad you decided on the right speakers for you and you enjoy them.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree! She's wonderful. I will finally get to see her in concert in May. I am so looking forward to it. ♥️🤗 I apologize for the late response. I was on vacation. Take care.

[@lucillechilds9767]

@@MelindaMurphy no problem, I hope you got some great records on vacation..lol

[@Raskolnikov1863]

Great video! Great equipment review! Normally I don’t like reviews! Very honest!

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you very much for the kind words. I apologize for the delayed response. I was on vacation. 🤗♥️ Take care.

[@RAMIX0908]

hello Melinda is really very good material very delighted for you but to test your new speakers I recommend you the following two albums: 1- the Alan parsons project "tales of mystery and imagination_ Edgar allan poe. 2- Joe cocker "sheffield steel" for the first one you have to listen to it from the beginning until the end without stopping because the tracks are chained, really it's a real test of sound material there are all the instruments you can imagine it's a real regal. i discovered this album when I was 16 and since then I never got tired. of course this is my choice and everyone has their preferences. good listening and a lot of happiness.

[@Jeep_on_audio]

Good choices. Both are indeed great sounding. Joe Cocker is a sleeper. The Alan Parsons Project's albums are all great but this first one is my favorite. Unfortunately the awesome intro voice by Orson Welles was scrapped from the vinyl version (original as well as reissue)

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you for the wonderful suggestions. I do test stereo equipment with Alan Parsons Project's Day After Day and the intro into Eye in the Sky quite often. I will keep your recommendations in mind. Take care.

[@RAMIX0908]

@@Jeep_on_audio Sheffield steel is one of the best albums ever produced! The voice of Joe Cocker is perfectly balanced with the background music to create a totally enjoyable experience. There are unusual and different sounds created here. One must listen without interruptions to feel and hear the impact. I am not even a die-hard Joe Cocker fan, yet I found myself mesmerized by the supporting cast of musicians. Subtle nuances of organ, bass, electric guitar and background vocals makes this a repeat listening pleasure. This album is over 40 years old but sets the standard in my mind for beautifully mixed lyric's and music blended to perfection. I have a vinyl copy and have been looking for a CD copy that will carry me forward for years of listening pleasure. My vinyl version is quite scratched but still an evening of delight. Seriously this album is a MUST listen, it is timeless and near perfection! If this group of musicians/producers has produced anything else I would love to hear.

[@LifelongMusicJunkie]

Hi Melinda. You have talked about that Ted Nugent album so much that I bought it from Acoustic Sounds! It arrived this week and wow, it does sound fantastic! Thanks for that! But, I am nervous on another front. Today I ordered a Rega P8 with Apheta 3 and will upgrade from my P3. What if the sound is not enough to warrant the cost? Plus I upgraded the pre-amp! My fingers are crossed! Cheers

[@MelindaMurphy]

Depending on where you purchased the P8, you may be able to return the turntable if you aren't completely happy. I know someone else that made that upgrade and was completely happy with it. I love my P8 turntable and cartridge. Let me know what you think. The Ted Nugent record is incredible. Thank you and take care.

[@mariosiaven2965]

On a smaller scale I too upgraded my speakers from a bookshelf Polk Audio t15 which served me well for 3 years but it was time to move up cause in my room they lacked base power so I switched to Klipsch R620f tower speakers and although the Polk held their own on the mid-highs the Klipsch were an all around new experience and the comparison pricewise is similar to yours so I spent close to 4 times as much money but man what a difference

[@MelindaMurphy]

I understand completely. For both of us, we got what we paid for and were happy with the results. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@thomaslytle5519]

Interesting video Melinda, thanks. 4 grand is just far too rich for my blood, I’m more than happy with my Fluance XL8f towers and Fluance DB12 sub, they sound Fantastic for my setup and listening room. I’m glad you found your speakers to be worth the cost. Btw: I have a 2 lp (2020) pressing of that Dire Straits mastered by Bernie Grundman and Bob Ludwig, lacquer cut by Chris Bellman, on the Vertigo label at 33-1/3 rpm. Holy crap it sounds Amazing! I’ll never need another copy. Have a great day

[@MelindaMurphy]

Wow! That's a very cool pressing of Brothers In Arms. I didn't even know that one existed. 🤗♥️ I don't think that what amount you spend is what matters. Finding equipment that works well together and works for your room is the key! Thank you and take care. 😃

[@thomaslytle5519]

Agreed! I got lotsa friends who come here to listen to my system and they call my living room the sound lab. I have a Fluance RT-85 turntable, Marantz 2245 (fully restored) receiver, Denon DN600f cd player, Akai GX-F35 cassette deck with an iFi Zen Blue DAC streamer. With the speakers I mentioned, it all sounds absolutely phenomenal. I’m proud of it. Not Super high end but not entry level either. Sounds pretty damn audiophile to me lol

[@bizmofunyuns6463]

I was about to upgrade my HT speakers and swapped out the avr instead, my speakers have new life I haven't heard before and they're nothing crazy. I wish my wife was more into this hobby with me.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Congratulations on your new speakers. Maybe sit her down and play a favorite song of hers on your new equipment. Maybe she will fall in love with the way it sounds. 🤗♥️ Let's hope. Lol. Thank you and take care.

[@mrpmj00]

In the Home theater hobby since 2000, I've finally upgraded in 2023 for music's higher sonic demands to the GoldenEar BRX with AMT tweeters and wow. source=Apple Music lossless DAC = Denafrips Pontus II 12th-1 DDC = Denafrips Iris 12th RCA cable = Cardes Parsec streamer = Eversolo DMP-A6 with linear power supply upgrade by Beatechnik. USB cable = Cardas Clear

[@MelindaMurphy]

That's awesome! I bet you are thrilled. 🔥♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@33spree]

Hi Melinda, love your channel. It’s fun to keep old speakers around and see how they sound. Some fare better than others. As our system gets other upgrades in amp and source over time, the older speakers can sound better! I recently put my Elac Unifi UB5 bookshelves to my Hegel amp. I had also added a JL audio sub and Rega P8. The elacs which can be had now for 2-300 sounded great and wowed me, but overall my Harbeth speakers were the winner. Is it worth thousands?… if you have the money 100% yes. If not, NO! Also, beautiful wood is nicer than black vinyl wrap. That’s worth something. Now, can I justify the handcrafted wooden stands from Germany?..

[@MelindaMurphy]

Wow! They sound alike they would be awesome speakers. It's great when they are also beautiful. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️

[@1984robert]

I completely agree with you that blind test is important.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Definitely! It's the way to go for me. It reveals the truth. Thank you and take care.

[@rosalynadams3758]

What a great video. I'm glad for your sake that the MOFIs came out on top. I've been thinking about what albums to take with me when I go to audition some cartridges very soon. So far Sledgehammer for it's bass and top end. Longtime is also on the list for the guitars and because it's such a great track. I'm not sure what else at the moment though, I'm still thinking about it. Your videos are always interesting and informative and it's nice to hear your passion for the music and what your equipment brings to the table.

[@MelindaMurphy]

You will pick the right songs. I love what you have already selected. ♥️ Thank you for the kind words. Take care.

[@timessquarerecordscom1469]

Harry Pearson the Godfather of High end audio The original owner of the absolute sound Reading his magazines back in the day, started me on that journey,

[@MelindaMurphy]

Very cool. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

I have a few speakers but the 2 main are Marantz 6G from about 1970 and Dali from 2000 . There is a massive, obvious difference. The Marantz are very deep sounding. The Dali with smaller speakers don't blur bass tones. All the best to you up there , Summer is coming,

[@MelindaMurphy]

I'm definitely looking forward to warmer weather. ♥️🤗 I'm familiar with the Marantz brand but not the Dali speakers. Thank you for mentioning them. Take care.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

@MelindaMurphy Dali are from Denmark. Today probably made in China like kef. The Marantz have been In the wife's family from new.

[@bigjuan4u]

I’m glad you were happy with the more expensive speakers. I would be tempted to go for ‘old skool’ British speakers line Kef 104ab’s or Spendor BC1’s or maybe something from the Tannoy range. You have the equipment to bring out the best in them.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Someone else just mentioned that they have the Tannoy speakers. I wish we could do a comparison. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.

[@markorchard2272]

Really, REALLY great to hear someone 'BLIND TESTING'!!! Well done you. However, blind testing of CDs/Records is of equal importance. I have multiple album copies on CD/Vinyl and they can make a high-end set-up sound cr*p or make a cr*p set-up sound wonderful. In the mid 80s (when I began my audiophile journey) if someone said Floyd's DSOTM sounded great on something I knew it sounded great. Today I have no idea if the system was tested with a 1st/UK/US/German pressing, a 45rpm MoFi audiophile pressing, a 1985 uncompressed CD, a 24 bit CD, a fully compressed CD from 2020 or whatever Genuinely, if I played my 1st DSOTM pressing on a $1200 Marantz/DALI setup it would sound way, WAY better than a compressed 2018 remaster on a $12000 system.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree that a first pressing DSOTM would beat the reissue. ♥️ I love doing blind tests. It's all about revealing the truth. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗

[@maxpower78-15]

When im testing new gear, i go with songs im most familiar with. Audiophile recordings are great, but the true test is how even poor recordings sound. Cheers! Fun video!!

[@MelindaMurphy]

I agree. I love playing old favorites as well. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.

[@joeycastillo1496]

That great Mellisa! I always thought that blind test is a good reference to check your thinking in place. You just need someone to help you do the test. Everything you said all seemed to point on how Mofi’s strong points played for you. I used to have the Kef Ls50meta, so I understand what you are hearing. Keep up the good reviews, I am interested with reading how female audiophiles opinions regarding this hobby..

[@MelindaMurphy]

Thank you so much for the kind words. I apologize for the late response. I was on vacation. 🤗♥️ Take care.

[@RocknRonni]

First of all no apologies for the source material The best source material to listen to is always something you're very familiar with, as you know. A sign of a quality high-end speaker is its ability to disappear, and provided A solid 3D image. This aspect of speaker reproduction is hard to do and cost more money. For me vocals are always a great test because we know what the human voice sounds like. We know when it's done right. I love that Union station record One of the best sounding records in my collection. As I've always said in my earlier videos the biggest bang for the buck is a great sounding record it can make a modest stereo sound so much better than it has a right to. There's a reason you purchase those tower speakers in the first place because they're great sounding speakers. But as your equipment evolves to get the most out of your source material you need better speakers and we all know about the law of diminishing returns small improvements cost more money. congratulations. Great video. So happy for you!! You're getting a lot of enjoyment out of listening to Hi-Fi. Folks like us are a niche within a niche. From my point of view, most people aren't willing to make the sacrifices we make to get our stereo equipment. We put a priority on these things and have to give up other things to get our stereo equipment. When you have to work hard and sacrifice to get something it's always more rewarding. 😊

[@MelindaMurphy]

It's so great to hear from you Ronni! Like you said, for the money the SVS Prime Tower speakers are great but the MoFi's are on a different level. I have personally sacrificed jewelry, purses and other things most women want so that I can have good stereo equipment and records. This hobby has been a top priority for me and I know it has been for you as well. I hope to someday be near your level. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️

[@RocknRonni]

Dear Melinda you will always be on the top shelf for me. You have an amazing system, in many respects better than mine. You don't have to spend the mega dollars to get a really good hi-fi system you just have to do it smartly, with research asking questions and such. Making the right decisions. You've been really good at doing all that. I always enjoy our conversations because you have a way of making me feel really good about mysel Thanks for all that.

[@nickc4525]

Melinda, enjoy your reviews.You do a wonderful presentation with your style which is open and honest. I have been an audiophile for nearly 50 years. One thing I do when I upgrade I ask myself about the cost difference and if is justified. With that in mind are the MoFi's are four times better than the SVS towers? I know that is a different perspective, but another way to look at an upgrade.And of course not the only way to look ar it mind you. Another wonddeul post. Thank You!

[@MelindaMurphy]

For me the upgrade was worth the extra money. The SVS Prime Tower speakers are great for their price but the MoFi's are definitely giving a more enjoyable listen. Thank you so much for the kind words. ♥️🤗 Take care.

[@jamesschneider3828]

I would have a hard time making the decision between the MoFi source point 10 and the Mission 770. I live in a dead zone, no stores that handle 90% of what KZbin reviewers review. I've never heard either of these but have seen at least a half dozen reviews on each. From what reviews I've seen they will have very similar sound characteristics. The MoFi 'S are slightly higher priced and knowing that they were going designed by Andrew Jones they should be more solidly worth their price. Thanks for your review, every little bit I learn helps.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Like you, I lack stores near me so testing out stereo equipment is hard for me as well. My husband and I discussed making an out of town trip in order to listen to different speakers. Thankfully the store I ordered from (Music Direct) told me I could return my speakers if I wasn't satisfied. Andrew Jones has done such a fabulous job and I am so happy with my purchase. Best wishes to you. 🤗♥️