What to understand before floorstanding speakers purchase?

[BenWatts]

Hours?

Lovely finish. Good choice!

Let say it’s emotional. Of course : hours !

 

[Gray]

The bass kick is shaking my stomach.

And you're on the 3rd floor Ben 🤔
I hope your neighbours remain tolerant 👍

 

[nopiano]

The Obelisk si3 can drive them with no problem. I cannot go over 10’o clock on the volume knob.
The sensitivity appears huge to me.

Just looking back, you can understand now why I said your original unknown #1 would be needlessly loud!

I hope your neighbours approve too! 😉

 

[BenWatts]

After several trials with my partner here is my memo.
We listened to a wide variety of artists:

- Mélanie De Biasio, "Your Freedom Is the End of Me"
- Erik Truffaz - "Les Choses de la Vie" and "Heaven"
- Dream Theater - "Goodnight Kiss"
- Down - "Stone the Crow"
- Dire Straits - "So Far Away"
- Brad Mehldau - "When It Rains"
- Mozart conducted by Karl Böhm (original soundtracks)

... and I'm at a loss.

The Acoustic Energy speakers seem to distribute sound more easily. The sound seems to surround us more effortlessly with the AEs.

The Recital Audio speakers are much bassier. Perhaps a bit too much so.

The Obelisk si3 might also be too rich in bass. I'm not sure it lacks power. It's not a neutral amplifier.

Some details are missing when the mother speaks to her baby in Dream Theater's song "Goodnight Kiss." Some synth details or splashes are timid with the RAs.

There's an enormous amount of bass with Erik Truffaz. The trumpet is excellent in "Heaven," but not better than with the old AEs (which are only a year old).

Down sounds better on the Recital Audio. The LP has always been rich in high frequencies and high mids, sometimes even harsh. I prefer the new ones.

With astonishment and some concern, my industrial models at €1,400 are proving to be strong competitors against the handcrafted models at €2,500. Is it a matter of break-in time? Habit? Fear of making another significant investment mistake?

With Dire Straits: the impact of the bass drum hits me in the gut. It's sublime! But the choirs might be a bit distant. Knopfler's voice sounds different from what I have in mind. His Strat is thicker with the Recitals.

James LaBrie's voice is also matte and thick. Even John Petrucci's sound is different from my references, and it's a sound I know completely! I have his guitar and his amp.

The strangest experience is with the recording of Mozart by the Wiener Philharmoniker on Deutsche Grammophon. The orchestra doesn't seem as detailed to me. I expected a wider soundstage. I expected to be in the hall with the musicians. I'm not. It sounds compact. On the contrary, the voices are incredibly good! When the choir sings Reeeex... an emotion overwhelms me. The chills are there.

For now, I'm confused, and my decision is not made. I could save €2,400!
The sound is already excellent at home, and I really recommend the Acoustic Energy AE-120 mkII! They rival the massive Recital Audio speakers.

I'm not going to change my amplifier! Maybe the Recital Audio speakers deserve a better amplifier. This one is colored and not straight or analytical.

We moved the speakers around, adjusting angles and distances from the wall (from 10 cm to 50 cm). The speakers are 3 meters apart, and the listening position is also 3 meters from each speaker.

This was the midday report after 2 hours of changes, trials, and coffee.

 

[Al ears]

Try blocking the port in the Recital Audio with an old pair of socks??..... 😎

 

[BenWatts]

Try blocking the port in the Recital Audio with an old pair of socks??..... 😎

I haven't tried it yet, and I must admit that the idea of placing socks in the rear vent is a bit off-putting to me. My partner pointed out a rather surprising and accurate characteristic: a kind of dull noise, a sense of oppression compared to the old ones.

Just last night, I spent another two hours moving the speakers. They were initially 3 meters apart and are now 2.44 meters apart, slightly closer together.

Over the next few days, I plan to listen without paying too much attention. I'll let them play for a week and then reconnect the old speakers in a week to see if there's anything added or missing.

 

[Jasonovich]

I haven't tried it yet, and I must admit that the idea of placing socks in the rear vent is a bit off-putting to me. My partner pointed out a rather surprising and accurate characteristic: a kind of dull noise, a sense of oppression compared to the old ones.

Just last night, I spent another two hours moving the speakers. They were initially 3 meters apart and are now 2.44 meters apart, slightly closer together.

Over the next few days, I plan to listen without paying too much attention. I'll let them play for a week and then reconnect the old speakers in a week to see if there's anything added or missing.

Nice setup.
You can get some spongy foam, cut it to shape. That's should work, no cheese added 😁
I noticed your grills are on, have you listened to your speakers without them on?

 

[BenWatts]

Nice setup.
You can get some spongy foam, cut it to shape. That's should work, no cheese added 😁
I noticed your grills are on, have you listened to your speakers without them on?

Hi Jason,
Thanks.
I’ve tried it but I could not hear any difference.

 

[RoA]

You could always add some Room EQ such as DIRAC. This involves more money though and may not be worth it if you simply prefer your old speakers. Upgrading a system is a holistic affair. Often, if you're happy with what you have, upgrading one part significantly can easily unbalance the whole lot and you're digging yourself a financial hifi hole, necessitating upgrading other bits too. Great if you have a plan and money, not so much if not. Then there's your room and how it interacts with your speakers ... . Of course, you may miraculously find that you wake up one morning and your new speakers have transformed from an ugly frog in to ... . I personally have never experienced such a fundamental change in speakers but others seem to have done so ... .

We all chase 'perfection'. There is none. We always find something better. Sometimes putting the breaks on and just enjoy what we have is not such a bad idea.

 

[Jasonovich]

Upgrading a system is a holistic affair.

It certainly is, I confess in the pass I have made light of it. Particularly, if you were to change an amp or a speaker or source component, a small change can adversely affect the whole chain.

An upgrade will entail parting with ££££ but when you upset the eco-system it's always another round of ££££.
Most of the time, if you done your home work, it's a good fit but when it's not, well, in for a penny, in for a pound.

 

[BenWatts]

Thanks a lot @RoA.
Super wise comment.
I have not a single penny to add to this installation. This year is particularly difficult for me on financial aspects and these speakers come after some guitar sold, an Marshall tube amp and some accessories.

My questionnings are:

1. Do I benefit from an improvement ?
2. If there is improvement, does it worth the investment ?


I do not pay too much attention to gear. What is important to me is to get a good sound with high fidelity of the original studio or live capture.
Yesterday evening was a beautiful one : alone at home with LP’s in the night. Only the moonlight.

 

[nopiano]

I do not pay too much attention to gear. What is important to me is to get a good sound with high fidelity of the original studio or live capture.
Yesterday evening was a beautiful one : alone at home with LP’s in the night. Only the moonlight.

When I read your earlier reaction, I was going to write something along these lines: stop ‘testing’ your hearing and the new speakers, just put on some music and enjoy it. The snag is with new stuff we all listen differently, and that’s usually very different to listening for pleasure.

So do as you say, chill for a week, and swap back to see. If you can possibly put the other speakers in a spare room or out of the way that will help the new speakers sound at their best.

 

[Jasonovich]

When I read your earlier reaction, I was going to write something along these lines: stop ‘testing’ your hearing and the new speakers, just put on some music and enjoy it. The snag is with new stuff we all listen differently, and that’s usually very different to listening for pleasure.

So do as you say, chill for a week, and swap back to see. If you can possibly put the other speakers in a spare room or out of the way that will help the new speakers sound at their best.

Sound advice.