What makes for a "good" speaker other than range? How impt is range?

[Deleted member 4644]

My old Onkyo (HT-780) front speakers have a 55 Hz-35 kHz range.

My new Polk speakers have a 38Hz - 25kHz range.


Are the Polks actually better? If yes, what makes them better? And how much do I lose in not the higher range?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644
My old Onkyo (HT-780) front speakers have a 55 Hz-35 kHz range.

My new Polk speakers have a 38Hz - 25kHz range.


Are the Polks actually better? If yes, what makes them better? And how much do I lose in not the higher range?

First of all, the specs you give for the polks are deceptive. Typically its accepted to reference the -3dB frequencies because that is a hard limit. Otherwise, they could define frequency response by any drop in response that they choose.

So, assuming the -3dB frequencies are accurate for each, your new speakers will have more range on the low end than your old ones...but not much. What makes more of a different is what everything in between the high and low frequency cutoff looks like, how this complements their room and positioning, how the drivers distort, and other negative effects in regards to sound. You can't judge which is better simply by looking at their high and low frequency response or a frequency response chart.

 

[Tiamat]

low Distortion, good Dispersion, FR without sudden changes in the slope of the curve, good power handling (can play loudly without compression).

Those are major specs. that make a "good" speaker.

What makes a "good" speaker sound "good"? Your room acoustics. This includes placement of listening position, speaker position, furniture, windows, etc.

 

[spidey07]

Tonal accuracy would be the big one. And their ability to "disappear" and have really precise/deep imaging - which can also be your room.

Frequency response is important just outside of range. For example a speaker could be close to +3db on the highs and -3db on the lows - making it sound "bright". Or it could be the reverse and sound warmer or bass heavy. Or there could be a hump in the mid bass or a dip in the vocals. All of this gives speakers that sound different, some better than others, some much better than others.

Depending on who's listening of course.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
low Distortion, good Dispersion, FR without sudden changes in the slope of the curve, good power handling (can play loudly without compression).

Those are major specs. that make a "good" speaker.

What makes a "good" speaker sound "good"? Your room acoustics. This includes placement of listening position, speaker position, furniture, windows, etc.

QFT, even crappyish speakers can "sound" good with proper room setup. Just look at all those Bose kiosks at any audio store. You always see them in a specially made "room" as that is the only way those speakers are going to sound any good. Take em home in a real environment and they will sound like garbage.

 

[gzervali2006]

Sounds like some nice speakers

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
your new speakers will have more range on the low end than your old ones...but not much.

just wanted to point out that the difference between 33 and 55 Hz is pretty significant from a tonal standpoint. At the low end of the spectrum, small frequency changes make big differences in the "note." For instance, 35 Hz will allow the speakers to play the root frequency of a bass guitar using most common tunings. 55 Hz won't. The new speakers will probably play a half dozen notes lower on the scale.

 

[Rubycon]

Speaking of Bose the Doc feels that frequency response is so important that it's omitted from specification sheets on all his speakers.

Let's face it! A 3.5" speaker can move in and out 30 times per second but do you honestly believe it can make the air compress and rarefy fundamentally with low distortion? Of course not!

 

[Christobevii3]

I think real world ability and reputation of the company matters more than any frequency response listed ever.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
your new speakers will have more range on the low end than your old ones...but not much.

just wanted to point out that the difference between 33 and 55 Hz is pretty significant from a tonal standpoint. At the low end of the spectrum, small frequency changes make big differences in the "note." For instance, 35 Hz will allow the speakers to play the root frequency of a bass guitar using most common tunings. 55 Hz won't. The new speakers will probably play a half dozen notes lower on the scale.

Except you missed his previous thread where he showed the -3dB specs for his new speakers. What he posted here had no limit to the range of the frequency response. The spec with the hard limit of +/-3dB only went down to 48 Hz. That's why I was pointing out that the difference between his old speakers -3dB limit of 55 and the new ones 48 Hz is not that significant...its there...but not something that makes it automatically better.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2271873&enterthread=y