What is a good speaker?

[Edbostan]

Wifey was out yesterday so I enjoyed an extended listening session. I had the music revolving around in my head long after I had switched off the system which made me realise it is all about communication between myself and the speakers. I have, what some may consider, lowly speakers but they fulfilled their brief in providing listening pleasure and that is not always dependent on ultimate cost.

 

[plastic penguin]

Wifey was out yesterday so I enjoyed an extended listening session. I had the music revolving around in my head long after I had switched off the system which made me realise it is all about communication between myself and the speakers. I have, what some may consider, lowly speakers but they fulfilled their brief in providing listening pleasure and that is not always dependent on ultimate cost.

You've answered your own question. If it engages and entertains, that's my definition of a good speaker (good system) and cost is irrelevant. Some of the pleasurable system, in many respects, was my old A65+ amp/MA RS6 speakers.

 

[Gray]

Any speaker can be good - when listening to favourite music at realistic levels.
The brain has the power to compensate for imperfections (a major component in the popular perception of 'burn-in').
No doubt the better the speaker, the better the enjoyment though.....because the brain has to do less work to get it.

Perhaps you need to teach wifey some of your appreciation, maybe with some of her favourites. Or is she a lost cause?

 

[nopiano]

Yes, I’ve had amazing musical ‘moments’, even listening in the car - which is strangely intimate given how close the speakers are - or on the kitchen radio.

But nothing like having a few uninterrupted hours to get engrossed!

 

[plastic penguin]

Yes, I’ve had amazing musical ‘moments’, even listening in the car - which is strangely intimate given how close the speakers are - or on the kitchen radio.

But nothing like having a few uninterrupted hours to get engrossed!

It's because it's in the car that it sounds intimate. Like, in some ways, a good pair of headphones. It's that close proximity

 

[Edbostan]

Any speaker can be good - when listening to favourite music at realistic levels.
The brain has the power to compensate for imperfections (a major component in the popular perception of 'burn-in').
No doubt the better the speaker, the better the enjoyment though.....because the brain has to do less work to get it.

Perhaps you need to teach wifey some of your appreciation, maybe with some of her favourites. Or is she a lost cause?

Wifey does enjoy music but happy enough to listen to Amazon Music via Alexa. She says that she has no time to sit down and is always on the go. Lol

 

[Gray]

...happy enough to listen to Amazon Music via Alexa.

As more and more people increasingly are.
I was given a little Kitsound Hive Bluetooth speaker - would never have bought one. Must admit it sounds surprisingly good at times - for around 30 times less than the cost of my PMC speakers, you're right when you say that a speaker doesn't have to be expensive to sound good (if not exceptional).

 

[12th Monkey]

We've got an Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 (nice name) for music whilst on holiday. It's not hifi, but it's perfectly listenable.

 

[Al ears]

I bought a Dali Katch purely on reviews because I wanted something portable for the kitchen and for holidays
I still don't know how they manage to get a great sound out of a speaker that size...