Speakers for Large Scale Orchestral Music

[Simon Hickie]

I listen to all sorts of music from singer-songwriter to large scale orchestral works. My current speaker cabs are now at the tip and the bass drivers on fleabay. A friend and I wandered into Superfi this afternoon out of curiosity. A pair of £2000 Kefs, Arcam amp and feed from an Arcam dac sounded utterly hopeless and typically hi-fi. We described the system as 'struggling' with respect to soundstage, dynamics, clarity, transparency etc. etc. The salesperson was surprised as nobody had made those observations before. He also commented that I was, therefore, looking at something MUCH more expensive. Perhaps I'm getting a better understanding of what I'm listening to.

This got me thinking. The modern trend for multiple small drivers just doesn't seem to cut it for an appropriate portrayal of big orchestral stuff. There are obviously a number options including a pair of DIY Cube 1 sized semi-omnis (on hold again pending the move), a pair of open baffle jobs with 15 inch bass drivers (Martin King style but with a (doped) bass driver running full range), something like Steve's latest & greatest (although my wordworking capabilities are limited), a two box solution like Stu's or something else. I value transparency above absolute bass extension, but I want timpani to sound like timpani, not a pale imitation. Suggestions / ideas / observations welcome.

[Lindsayt]

Which Steve are you talking about? Steve who took his 2 section speakers to MCRU's on Sunday? They were really nice speakers.

I agree about Superfi Kefs being hopeless. There's every chance you can knock up something much better.

[pgarrish]

I think the issue with many speakers is they try too hard. Tiny drivers being asked to do too much bass being the main culprit. If you can find honest speakers that just do what they can I think they will satisfy even if not at the absolute scale you may want. Eg little JPW sonatas are pretty good. That said, bigger drivers have less limitations so you should not only lose that strained sound but get the scale you want. If you're feeling really brave (and flush) a pair of Shahinian Diapasons takes some beating but I like big Tannoys too

[Vinyl-ant]

Metronomes are a simple build, mine will do orchestral stuff well, the big uns that stevetheshadow had would do it with ease. They'd do anything with ease tbh