Most natural sounding floorstanding speaker?

c_corie
c_corie Posts: 138
edited December 2008 in 2 Channel Audio
What brand/model speaker has the most realistic "in the room with you" sound? Also does a speaker that sounds "forward" translate into natural? I guess I would say B&Ws especially the 700 and 800 series sound natural, but they're wicked expensive. How are the new RTA series?

Also are there any not well know speakers that sound very real? I listened to the Magnepans and didn't really like them. So maybe I want a forward sound as opposed to truly natural?

Also I don't know if any of you know/like Porcupine Tree, but their CD "Recordings" has an amazing vibe of being there in the room. Thats the CD I test most speakers with, not because it sounds AMAZING, (it sounds good) but it has a sense of space too it.
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  • skipf
    skipf Posts: 694
    edited December 2008
    Carver ALS Platinums.
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited December 2008
    Best I have heard are Wilson Audio - Watt Puppies. (the ones I heard were series 8)

    I personally find them rather ugly, but damn do they sound awesome. I WILL one day own a pair. I also listened to the Wilson Audio - Maxx speaker (at over twice the cost of the Watt Puppy) and liked the watt puppies more.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2008
    The B&W's I've heard I wouldn't consider natural sounding, and since you like B&W's, you like forward. Other speakers that may spark your interest are Polk RTiA/RTi and newer KEF's.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • c_corie
    c_corie Posts: 138
    edited December 2008
    So i have Polk Monitor 11s, they're good just too laid back sounding? And not enough depth too the sound maybe? They're nice esp for the price I paid ($20-goodwill blown fuses, haha) but not AMAZING. Also I rediscovered Panasonic/Technics T200 speakes which are really not that bad.

    Also do slimmer speakers/smaller drivers appear to have a "bigger sound" or is it the reverse. Because the Monitor 11s I have are physically wide but they don't sound "huge." But those cheap Technics which have like dual 5inch woofers and are slim, seem to sound much more....big at least given their comparative size. Any ideas?
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2008
    A crossover rebuild would bring them back to life.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited December 2008
    Personally I think every speaker to a degree will impart a sonic signature with respect to sound re-production. Ultimately “most natural” will be in the ears of the beholder. I think also to a degree it will depend upon what type of music you listen to as well.

    For example if you are heavily into rock; odds are you will not find listening to panels to be a “natural;” experience; however if you are into acoustical strings you would have a different perspective.

    For me the enjoyment is the journey of exploring different types of sound from different speakers.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited December 2008
    Even if you have the ever elusive "most natural sounding" speaker [if you can even find it, seeing how that's a subjective term], the room can take a great speaker and either make it shine or sound like crap. The room is part of the reproduction process and is a very important part of the equation.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • BottomFeeder
    BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
    edited December 2008
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Even if you have the ever elusive "most natural sounding" speaker [if you can even find it, seeing how that's a subjective term], the room can take a great speaker and either make it shine or sound like crap. The room is part of the reproduction process and is a very important part of the equation.

    I sooo wish you weren't right here, but I've recently discovered just how true this is. A friend of mine & I rearranged my furniture in order to give my speakers a lot more breathing room & viola! WOW! My speakers sounded waaaaay better than ever before!

    Wish I could keep the room the way we made it, but WAF prevents me from doing so...Rats.
    "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited December 2008
    Mine
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited December 2008
    Really, truly natural? Like real life natural?
    Quad electrostatics. Vintage or new, take your choice. And they're not even scarily expensive.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited December 2008
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Really, truly natural? Like real life natural?
    Quad electrostatics. Vintage or new, take your choice. And they're not even scarily expensive.

    Yeah, real life natural without the real life low-end.

    NEXT!
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited December 2008
    I have been reading about Totems, and I read that they disappear, and are very natural sounding

    I have heard some B&W 802`s and really liked them, but big $$....but again what isn`t ?!!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • c_corie
    c_corie Posts: 138
    edited December 2008
    so i just hooked the monitor 11's back up and they sound a lot more detailed and clearer and less muddy, BUT they don't seem to have the depth of those crappy technics T200 speakers. makes no freakin sense to me. or maybe it's not depth maybe the T200 are so upfront that anything that isnt up front in the mix has depth?
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  • BottomFeeder
    BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
    edited December 2008
    I like NJPOLKER's answer: "Mine"

    Makes sense to say that. Sometimes I don't even want to hear anyone else's system / speakers because then I might like mine less.

    So, that's my answer too: mine!
    "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited December 2008
    c_corie wrote: »
    so i just hooked the monitor 11's back up and they sound a lot more detailed and clearer and less muddy, BUT they don't seem to have the depth of those crappy technics T200 speakers. makes no freakin sense to me. or maybe it's not depth maybe the T200 are so upfront that anything that isnt up front in the mix has depth?

    They are old speakers. The caps weren't the best to begin with, and now they are old. Time to rebuild.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited December 2008
    Early's center. No I'm not kidding.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited December 2008
    ben62670 wrote: »
    Early's center. No I'm not kidding.

    Nope, he's not kidding, ya ****!:D:p:D
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • BigMac
    BigMac Posts: 849
    edited December 2008
    The best I have heard was the original B&W Nautilus. Was hooked up to a gazillion McIntosh amps with speaker wire the size of truck. Not really sure if it was the most "natural" sounding, but when I left I thought about those speakers and sound for years. The only other baddass speakers I heard that sounded amazing ( I have not been around that many "OMG" speakers) were the Legacy Whisper speakers that were modded. I heard them years ago at my friends house, they were his fathers. Huge speakers and holy crap did they have alot of bass.
    DON'T CLICK THIS!!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited December 2008
    Vandersteen 2C's.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Igo
    Igo Posts: 411
    edited December 2008
    There are a thousand answers to this question and nobody really know which answer is the correct one.
    ...Link to my System Showcase...
    "ES - Kind'a simple but I like it"

    Sony ES STR-DA4300ES 7.1
    Sony ES SACD SCD-C2000ES
    Sony 400 Disc CD CDP-CX455
    Infinity BU-2 Sub-Woofer
    Polk Audio RT800i Towers
    Polk Audio CS400i Center
    Polk Audio FXiA6 Surrounds
    Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
    DH-Labs T-14 Speaker Cables
    Panamax Max 500 DBS Line Conditioner
    Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50'-Plasma
    Play Station III - BluRay
    Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
    Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited December 2008
    Igo wrote: »
    There are a thousand answers to this question and nobody really know which answer is the correct one.


    The answer is so subjective that there is no "right " or " wrong " answers, as everybody hears what they hear

    It`s just that some speaks sound better to more people than others



    **did I get that right ?**
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited December 2008
    c_corie wrote: »
    What brand/model speaker has the most realistic "in the room with you" sound? Also does a speaker that sounds "forward" translate into natural? I guess I would say B&Ws especially the 700 and 800 series sound natural, but they're wicked expensive. How are the new RTA series?

    Also are there any not well know speakers that sound very real? I listened to the Magnepans and didn't really like them. So maybe I want a forward sound as opposed to truly natural?

    Also I don't know if any of you know/like Porcupine Tree, but their CD "Recordings" has an amazing vibe of being there in the room. Thats the CD I test most speakers with, not because it sounds AMAZING, (it sounds good) but it has a sense of space too it.
    I think that it is a loaded question and it is system dependant and that includes the listening room acoustics etc...;)
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • Igo
    Igo Posts: 411
    edited December 2008
    works....it works.
    ...Link to my System Showcase...
    "ES - Kind'a simple but I like it"

    Sony ES STR-DA4300ES 7.1
    Sony ES SACD SCD-C2000ES
    Sony 400 Disc CD CDP-CX455
    Infinity BU-2 Sub-Woofer
    Polk Audio RT800i Towers
    Polk Audio CS400i Center
    Polk Audio FXiA6 Surrounds
    Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
    DH-Labs T-14 Speaker Cables
    Panamax Max 500 DBS Line Conditioner
    Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50'-Plasma
    Play Station III - BluRay
    Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
    Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited December 2008
    No, I haven't found one yet. It's the life long quest to find one. I am sure most people will change their taste and listening preferences as they ages and men especially lost the ability to hear full frequency range with aging. So, yeah...the best speaker I have yesterday may no longer be the best or the most natural sounding tomorrow (even though it still sounds great). Once again, this is a hobby and a lifelong quest to find one if it does even exists.

    Well, I'll tell you what. If you have a musician wife, it's the most natural as it can get but no guarantee that she will forever be the most natural sounding for you as she ages. :D
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited December 2008
    my Pop`s used to play the vibes...
    I remember when I was a kid watching him play in the living room

    I wish I could find a rig/speaks that sounded that good !!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    edited December 2008
    How about the most un-natural floorstanding speaker? B&W is at the top of my list....hell, I'd rather listen to CV's.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited December 2008
    beardog03 wrote: »
    The answer is so subjective that there is no "right " or " wrong " answers, as everybody hears what they hear

    It`s just that some speaks sound better to more people than others



    **did I get that right ?**

    Yes, you did.

    Next subject can now be presented.

    How about a good ole speaker cable debate or a who had the prom date with the nicest clump of flowers for the evening?
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited December 2008
    that`s an easy one !

    My date was hot, but her mom was a better sport ;)

    and MIT`s...naturally :D
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    edited December 2008
    My date was hotter than hot and her mom hated my guts.......hehe
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited December 2008
    I always knew my girlfriend's mom kinda "liked me"...
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