★ *QOTD: What techniques do you use to help you evaluate a speaker before you buy them?* ★ *CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” in the description for answers to many of your questions* ★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
This is a FANTASTIC video for beginners. I truly miss the days of easily being able to test speakers side by side. Maybe do a follow up video of the difference of sound signatures (warm / neutral etc)? Side note. I'm totally biased in the necessity of adding a subwoofer. This is coming from a guy who's system is geared towards movies, but also listens to a LOT of music.
Audio Salon type of dealers seem to be slowly going by the wayside these days, and especially during the pandemic. So I think now, that walking into an audio dealer to listen to speakers is sadly disappearing, and that’s a shame. Okay, if you’re shopping for a big ticket item like a house for example. How do you know whether you’re going to like living there for say 10, 15, 20, or 30 years, or perhaps, a lifetime, if you don’t at least tour the home first, get a feel for the property, and perhaps meet the seller and/or the realtor first to see whether or not it’s a good fit or not? The same goes for an automobile. Are you going to automatically buy an automobile without taking it for a test drive first? Probably not. Well, I think the same principle should apply to buying high fidelity equipment as well, and definitely the entire chain. And it starts with the obvious first. The size and dimensions of the space of which you’ll be doing all or a majority of your listening. If you have a large room, then a stand mounting bookshelf speaker system is not going to cut it, unless it is substantial in size (and more than likely, expensive too), whereas, if you have a small room or a studio/efficiency apartment, then pretty much, large heavy floor standing speaker systems should be eliminated from the equation altogether. And then your ears should be used as the best instrument or measuring yardstick of all. What sounds great to you and to you only? Now, after that, then I would go by . Budget/Looks/Style (all in a three-way tie) . Genre of Music . Sensitivity (output level of sound) . Impedance (which could be amplifier dependent) . Frequency Response Now knowing speakers that I have actually listened to in audio showrooms before, and have a familiarity of what they sound like (and I have listened to Polk, Klipsch, KEF, Martin Logan, Magnepan, and Vandersteen before). I would buy those online as I am familiar to their sound quality and I don’t have nothing to worry about. Other speakers which may catch my eye later on, before buying them from the dealer, I am going to ask about a return policy and a money back policy first if it turns out I don’t like them. I would go by reviews from professional reviewers and give their reviews a whole lot of weight before I would make a purchasing decision. What was said before applies here. Audio journals (like “the Abso!ute Sound” and “Stereophile”) are a valuable resource. -Charles-
I fully agree with your method to narrow down the choice. I use the same points especially when doing it for someone else. In fact I use mainly the 3 first points. Knowing that most adults can only hear up to 10-12 kHz the frequency response is not very usefull except for the lower end of the range. For my personal choice I had to do with my wife’ opinion about the size, the look and the colour of the speakers. She stil say they are ugly, but she likes the way they sound. So I agree with Kristi. But from experience I MUST listen to the candidates in order to find the right one for me. As you say the only person who must like your system is you. I’ve seen many times doing a preselection for friends and then change completely during the audio test. The winner finally being the most appreciated during the listening sessions. To do that, I have a couple of CDs that I know very well and that I use to compare the speakers and systèmes. I used to do that when I was younger (last century) when HiFi shops were commons. Now, to listen to half a dozen models in good conditions you need to go to different places and by apointment only. So the latest ones I bought, I did not listen to them. I choosed the Klipsch RF7 mk3. But I knew very well the mk2 and I used the different reports on the web from profesional reviewers to select this new version when I found a good opportunity.
I agree with your wife about style, so my ? That I have had for a few years would be what (white) colored finish Speaker at a budget of 1200 would be a good Option???
Hi Andrew, please review the Demand series from Definitive Technology …..I just bought a D7 (the smallest one from the series) and they just blow my mind with a sound stage presence and bass …..my previous speakers from Monitor Audio were with 6,5 inch driver….but D7 with 4,5 inch driver are much more powerful…….it’s just unbelievable….
*COMMENT RE: IMPEDANCE* - I struggled with the best way to break this topic down so that it wouldn't be too daunting for newcomers to the hobby. I know there is more to impedance than meets the eye, or how I chose to communicate it in this video. My apologies. Honestly (and in the spirit of full disclosure), I simply wanted to say that "not all amplifiers like or can work with a speaker with a lower impedance so always check the speaker's rating against what your amplifier or receiver recommends." I should've gone with my gut and just made the explanation even more simple without trying (and for some of you failing) to word the topic how I did. Apologies for any confusion this may have caused. At the end of the day, the take away from the impedance chapter is still sound even if my wording of it was a little wonky. I hope this clears things up, I sincerely appreciate the feedback, and I apologize again if you found my analogies troublesome. Thanks for watching as always and be well! -Andrew
Good work Andrew Thanks for clarification on this part of the video for matching speaker impedance with the amplifier I've been into working on and studying the engineer side electronics for 35 years and I still "refresh myself" and go over ohms law constantly. LOL
Kristi, you are a treasure. I laughed for 5 minutes after hearing "...not really..." Pitch and tone was PERFECT!. You made my day. Sorry Andrew, but I am with your better half on this. Looks matter, even for a gear head like me...
Speakers are a piece of furniture indeed and looks count even when you go for concealed or low visibility speakers such as on-walls, otherwise we would all just have those enormous Magnat or JBLs in our living rooms 😁
Actually an important note here is Aesthetics can play a Crucial role in selecting speakers because from a psychological point is that if u don't like what u see and is not visually satisfying to U ,it can actually change what u perceive the sound u listen too..and it could sound from an acoustic point of view incredible!
THANK YOU ,THANK YOU ,THANK YOU…. You guy’s are awesome. Taking it back to the basics. Nice little reminder in this crazy world of audio. Like everybody else… I wholeheartedly agree with Kristi. One needs to like looking at your masterpiece. Thanks again guy!! Great work as usual .
Kristi's comments are 200% right. I started shopping for my first new set of speakers in 20 years. I spent about 3 months looking at reviews and read magazines. I made the decision of what I wanted. My local HiFi shop had them in stock. Done Deal! Happy Days!🙂 On the day to pick them up, my wife came with me. "Hold on! No way are those going into our sitting room! Too big and they look awful!" 😞 End of deal! So we sat in the shop and listened to some speakers, and I ended up with a pair of Dali Zensor 5 which I never ever considered. But my wife loved their small size and their look. They also sounded good. So yep, looks, size and other half approval matter! 🙂
Good on you for reiterating the point about debt. Stress over “have I spent more than I can afford” can put quite a damper on what should be a purchase that brings you joy.
It's nice and simple I would love more companies companies to do 1 thing 1 thing for me as as audio hand that I am I am give me voice prompts when you're setting up every receiver it will be easier on my disability thee I was I was born with several parts of yor in which several parties as you might know most of you it's almost to you in this community by now So yes I will love boys and girls when you setting up a receiver for the 1st time and in the room the girl would be They're for my disability I'd just speakers if you wan to know about this speakers I would do Bluetooth on them if ever possible it's possible it's not a woman's I would find ones that are 82 are easy to set up as much as possible bit's possible but still sounds good that's the way I would do it hope I hope I spoke correctly and I hope you guys be able to read this Because I'm using the Google make on my keyboard so my keyboard so hopefully you could read this guy but that's the way I would like to set up my room one day in the future I mean see you on the next one bum bless yes and happy listening listening guys
There’s even an old acronym that defines this: WAF or Wife Acceptance Factor. It probably dates back to the time of Edgar Vilchur and Henry Kloss. This ain’t news. The idea that loudspeakers should be heard but not seen is over 6 decades old. @Andrew Robinson the methods used by various manufacturers use to measure sensitivity and frequency response aren’t the same. How does one compare sensitivity and frequency response when Polk, JBL, Klipsch, etc all use different methods to measure it? Nominal impedance too is hardly a useful measurement? A speaker that is a less reactive (or more resistive) load might be an easier load than a speaker with higher nominal impedance but having a more reactive load. For example a 4 ohm rated speaker with an impedance that does not drop below 3 ohms or rise above 12 ohms might be easier to drive than a 8 ohm rate speaker whose impedance drops to 2 ohms and rises to 50 ohms and has several peaks and valleys.
I gotta tell, I discovered you about a year ago when I was deciding to get back into the hobby and home theater. Those early videos did not include Kristi. I took about a 4-5 month break, I come back, start listening to the channel, and now we get Kristi piping in at the end of each video. At first, I was like, “dude, I want to hear you, not your wife!”, and I’d just go onto the next video. Occasionally, I’d listened to her comments, but not super seriously. THEN, I heard her describe the Wharfdale bookshelf speakers, and I was like, “this woman is me! She’s the ‘real person’ deciphering what you just said!” On top of that, watching you watch her, it is so obvious how in love with this woman you are, which is great. Y’all are the best team. Period. Now, I’ve completely switched my stance; now, I listen to all the tech stuff from you and just wait to hear Kristi - the “real person’s” opinion. Thank you, Andrew and Kristi for the great content that y’all put out. No other channel gives the kind of info that you two do, and I can’t possibly be the only one who appreciates it. Again, thanks!!
Kristi has a valid point. It is important how the speaker sounds, of course, but let's not forget that you will be looking at this speaker every dy and you should enjoy what you see.
I am proud to say that your 5-6 step process is basically what I have been doing. Obviously, the next step of listening to the speakers is ultimately the most important thing to do. But the whole thing becomes more fun and informative when quality reviewers such as Andrew and Kristi, and other pros, offer to share their experiences, expertise and passion with us. Yep, and it looks like they are both having fun doing it. Thank you guys for such a quality, consumer want to be an audiophile fan channel. Cheers.
Bought the my Jamo mains because of you and haven't looked back. Even went as far as to pick up the center, dude surrounds, and bookshelves for rear surrounds. Worth every penny.
My one rule from the wife is budget, and size FOR NOW. She’s totally cool with big f***-off speakers when we have the room for them….which is, might I say, a great recommendation haha. I don’t think LaScala’s would sound too good in my one bedroom apartment
Well Andrew, and Kristi, I did just that, I bought a pair of speakers that I have never listened to, much less knowing that the company building them was back in business under new ownership. I took your advice Andrew, well, really Kristi's when she said "Just buy them", LOL! And I did! So, I pulled the trigger on the KLH Model 5's in Walnut with the white linen grills, and they look gorgeous, like two pieces of furniture, not speakers. The stands are just the icing on the cake. Thank you both, as I have finally found my forever speaker, this is the speaker I have been craving for years. They are the sound of my youth, and do it with incredible ease. And the sound, OMG! My mother even stopped what she was doing to sit and listen, she has never done that. The soundstage these Model 5's creates is incredible, incredible enough to grab the attention of a 78 yo woman that never pays attention to the music, she is paying attention now. Her first words were, "It sounds like we are sitting right in front of the stage!". She was just as excited as I was to hear these. Thank you both. ;-)
i loved your response, Kristi .. AND Andrew’s response to it! … moments like this make your content fun & unique .. so glad i came across your channel .. informative & smile-worthy every time! .. (btw i’m in DFW so hope y’all are staying safe & warm down there in the capital! ..
Great video again Andrew and Kristi! My last purchase of speakers (Dynaudio Evoke) for the living room was in this order: 1: budget 2: which speakers fit in the living room 3: familiar with brand and sound 4: WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) 5: match with amplifier (specifications) 6: match with speaker cables (single/bi-wire? length, etc.) 7: reviews in magazines and on RUclips (thanks Andrew for your Dynaudio Evoke 20's review!) 8: listening test at my dealer with at least 3 different speaker sets 9: can the speakers be upgraded to a more expensive version of that series later? (start with monitors on a stand and upgrade to floorstanders, which are just as big and therefore have good WAF) 10: purchase and enjoy good music with my wife...
I actually do an aggregate of online reviews and listener impressions. Especially as I can compare each reviewer's observations of speakers that are common to both of us. There's still no replacement for actually hearing them, though, in terms of evaluating sound quality in one's room. Great work, you two!!
My shopping tip is to watch Andrew and Kristis videos. Thanks fully they are honest with positives and negatives. I find most reviewers to rave about literally everything. While sound is objective, I do find my tastes to align with this channel and this is where I start.
As a side note, I have been an electrical engineer for nearly the last 30 years, and I knew what you were trying to get across regarding impedance and amplifiers. You just have to laugh at the scramble of the pedantic keyboard warriors to "write" a wrong! ;-)
Great video again guys. I know you aren’t in the financial advice business but Your first point about budget can not be overstated here. I was 18 and Best Buy gave me a credit card…. By the time I was 20 I had to cut that thing up as it as too easy to make an 88 Escort go boom. And then pay and pay and pay. Now I’m almost 50 and that card taught me so much about life. Now I know that if I want the KLH model 5’s I need to save for them and it’s always worth the wait.
Hi Andrew & Kristi, from France. I chose Rotel A11 Tribute Black and a pair of black Q Acoustics 3050i thanks to your test videos, and other comparative test videos on internet, without hearing them on live. I absolutely not regret one second my choice (Sound quality, sound space, cost &.....design, that's for Kristi !) and I would to thank you for that. Keep going, you are doing a fantastic job !
One of your best and most useful videos, because it focused not so much on a specific speaker recommendation as on a process to use in evaluating any and all speakers, including those not mentioned in this particular video. Well done!
I bought a pair of Focal Chorus 836V’s unseen and unheard just by reviews and the reputation of Focal. Never regretted it and still have them. Amazing speakers.
I owned a pair of b&w 606s2 which impressed me in the dem room. I ended up buying them but within a couple of weeks they were driving me crazy, so bright they gave me a headache after an hour. I sold them and bought some Q acoustic concept 20's, fabulous sounding speaker. Q acoustics are making some great speakers.
I agree with Kristi more than ever. How the product looks is really important factor for me besides obviously the sound quality. For those two reason I'm in love with Klipsch products, all of their products sound amazing and the look is even better
"Nothing in life is worth going into debt over." Thumbs up right there! We all know Klipsch's reported sensitivity is not comparable to other brands. That bookshelf is likely closer to 92 dB "efficient" than 96.
Andrew, in your opinion, which speakers sound the best from these ones 🤯 Polk R700 Wharfedale Evo 4.4 KEF Q950 Focal Chora 826d SVS prime Tower Monitor Audio Silver 500 I go in circles trying to narrow down to two options 😅 they all seem great, but some must be greaterer lol !?
If I were purchasing from this list for myself, the R700s would be at the top of my list, followed closely by the KEF, Focal and Monitor Audio. The Focal and MA speakers have more in common with each other and will present a more lively sound - I'd get the MA over the Focal as I think it's a nicer looking speaker. Polk and KEF should have a more neutral and controlled sound. Wharfedale will be somewhere in the middle. SVS isn't even a consideration for me. The Polk and KEFs will require a competent amp to handle 4 ohm load which may add to your overall cost.
@robinsonbrand Thanks for that!! I was on the fence between Polk and Chora 826-d. I understood that between them there isn't a HUGE gap 😁 As Polk is about 2x more expensive than Chora, think I'll try 826s 🙌
If I am looking for audio gear and Kristi says buy it, I buy it. The girl is batting 1000% so far, you GO GIRL! So far, the KLH Model 5's and the XTZ A2-400 were both Kristi purchases. Thank you Kristi! And Andrew too... LOL!
Stumbled on your channel a few weeks ago while agonising over a speaker decision. Revisiting this video brought me back down to Earth... Ended up with the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 as it ticked all our boxes. Thanks, and keep pumping out the great content!
Watching your reviews and seeing many comment about how pleased they were with their purchase after your review, I trusted your opinion twice and I'm happy that I did.
I watch a lot of videos like this. I ended up purchasing a pair of Paradigm Monitor SE Atoms based on your feedback and was overall very happy with that choice. They fit the budget, had it where it counted (for me) and I could always return them if they didn't do what I was hoping they would. Obviously budget is important but so too is an element of being realistic with one's behaviors/needs. In other words, we all have this ideal about what we think we're going to do and that's always pinned up against what we actually do. The speakers that best fit in the sweet spot of our ideals and our actions will be the best ones to buy.
As a fellow female I definitely agree with Kristi. I'm currently looking through review lists and videos to shop for speakers and if a speaker is ugly to me I don't even bother reading up on them. Sorry not sorry. 😅 They might sound great but if they're an eye sore, no thank you. 😂
Great guide for those that dont know where to start. Speakers can be a bit daunting, as everyone has different takes on what yo look for. Thank you for making it a bit clearer for those just starting their journey! Peace ✌
I totally agree with Kristi! It's not exactly scientific, but there's a thing called the "Aesthetic Usability Effect" that comes from UX. That's geared toward software, but I think it applies more broadly. Basically if I find something more attractive or pleasing, I'm more likely to forgive or overlook it's faults. So I think that's a totally important factor. If no speaker is perfect, and anything I can't spend time with first carries some risk of not being perfect for me, something that I think looks really nice, has that wow factor that makes me excited about it, that could actually be the different between loving a speaker, or just being ok with it.
1) size & looks 2) sensitivity & impedance 3) budget (I would rather wait and save more for the right speaker) I also review what the company has to say about their offering. Even though it is marketing, some of the design goals are usually present. I try to get an expert opinion/ review that Has heard it in person. That is why this channel has been so helpful! Where else can I have someone who knows far more then me detail the options. So far I am happy with the 2 products I bought off this channel’s recommendations! (SVS 3000 micro, Audiolab 6000aplay)
I have found out that I didn't know what I wanted. I figured the perfect speaker for me would be a sonus faber and i do like them. I have B&W, I have listened to Magicos, Focal, and a couple other brands. Then I heard a pair of Klipsch Forte iv. I didn't know i wanted that speaker. It's not perfect no speaker is but it did something amazing. My point is listen to different speaker design philosophy's with a open mind. That will help you narrow your path. Thank you Andrew for recommending the forte iv. Without hearing them i wouldn't know i had a love for horns.
It's easy to develop a taste for Klipsch. The heritage series has a compelling sound even if it isn't perfect & was never intended to be reference neutral.
Thank you, I fell into this trap last week, bought a pair of Paradigm 200B Bookshelves, hooked them up to my Arcam amp and they sounded great for 15 minutes, then my ears were hurting and had a headache.... The online retailer failed to mention that these speakers are BRIGHT! Couldn't even tame the treble with EQ. Now I know that I don't agree with Metal dome tweeters and will be ordering some Wharfedale Dentons for their warmer sound. I also realized that I didn't need a large speaker with 6 1/2 inch woofer because of my smaller room and use of Subwoofer, I went with the Denton 80 with the 5 1/4 woofer.
If they did a test of a speaker behind a curtain and you loved it but when they pulled the curtain back it wasn't pretty - would you still like it? Looks are only 5-10% of my decision.........
@@scottmeyer6005 That's a tough one! I would be disappointed and would probably have to find something comparable as far as sound and better appearance.
One thing that would have been nice to discuss is radiation pattern preference. Do you like wide dispersion or a speaker with less wide dispersion? Depending on space/presentation preference this may prove to be a bigger make or break item for individuals. For example with your bookshelf speaker comparison Klipsch will have less wide dispersion in the upper frequencies than the Elac. Depending on user preference and space in which the speaker will be used in, this might be the defining factor for purchase. If the Elac is placed too close to the side wall then maybe the Klipsch would be a better purchase. If you have a wide room maybe the Elac is better to fill more of the room with energy.
Buy used! Used speakers are all over the place because no one wants to ship them. You get a chance to hear them because they are almost always listed as-- Local Pickup only.
Bought a pair of Q acoustics 3050i's without hearing them. Pretty much followed Andrew's advice. Result was bingo. All the boxes got ticked and the result was bang on.
I would add a checklist item including whether the place you're buying from has a return option like SVS, Fluance, (full refund including shipping to and back) and some others who offer in home listening but not return shipping (Axiom, unless they've changed that). Nothing beats in house listening and auditioning (how many have listened in store and absolutely hated them when brought home?).
I bought the Jamo S809 based on your review, plus I bought the Jamo bookshelves and a Jamo Sub to complete my surround sound system. Thank you for all your in depth info
I think you guys nailed this one. In addition, For speakers I have never heard, especially with direct to consumer sellers, I will email or even call the company. If someone answers the phone and is patient with questions it’s a good sign. Once I narrowed my choices down to 2 or 3, I started with the best looking speakers in that group and that is the pair I ended up with. It’s one thing to put lipstick on a pig but when a speaker’s looks are backed up with solid build quality and great overall sound then you know you have something special. At the end of the day it’s about craftsmanship. Sound quality is the most important attribute of a speaker but there is a difference between a speaker that goes in a “man cave” that no one else will ever look at and a speaker that is displayed prominently in one’s home.
I rely on reviewers. You are one of my top reviewers. I bought the Magnats purely based on your review and love them. Also, Amazon makes things less daunting as returns are easy of things don't work out.
A very helpful and fundamental approach to buying just about anything. I, too, used this process of elimination when purchasing my XLR cables and music server. It's all about finding what you want/need, for a price, and what you'd like to do without.
For more expensive purchases, listening is a must. My frustration is that sellers don't offer home tests. room dynamics play a role. But this process that you have here is exactly how I do it. Thanks
Kristi makes a valid point. Functional though they may be, speakers are often placed in communal spaces (like living rooms) and as such, aesthetics are a factor.
I appreciate the way you broke down the steps and explained your reasoning. I never really thought about my process but it's very similar to yours. I agree with Kristi, looks do matter, my next set of speakers in the living room needs to pass inspection by management. :)
People should realise that budget AV receivers that have 4ohm switches to claim they can power 4ohm speaker loads "safely" is just a switch to pass regulations and it generally just cuts the power delivered/available to the speakers to protect the amp (and possibly cause the speakers to clip sooner then they actually would). I have 4 ohm Dynaudio speakers and I still run the AVR in 8ohm switch mode as I want the full (all be it a bit limited) power my budget AVR can muster. Also another comment, unfortunately budget AVR's are the best candidate for extra external amplifiers for the front stereo channels but are also generally the AVR's that do not include pre-outs to allow for this (as this is considered a premium feature and is reserved for higher end models). It is a very poor and sneaky game the manufactures play with us consumers 😞 Great video! 👍 Great channel guys! 👍
My budget was $1,000, but I scored some incredible deals. I picked up a Sony AN1000 on sale for $390 and a complete set of Polk Monitor speakers: two full towers, two bookshelf monitors, a CS2 center channel, and a subwoofer for just $150-making it a 5.1 system. Altogether, I spent around $540. I also grabbed some stands, nice cables, and cable management gear. I've had everything set up for about two weeks now. Next on my upgrade list is the subwoofer, followed by the center channel. I originally considered the Q930D, but a friend convinced me to go with this custom setup instead, and I couldn't be happier-it sounds way better than I imagined. HIs philolshy was buy as good as of AVR as you can then buy the speakers 2nd hand.
that was very informative! And I definitely agree with Kristi about the appearance of the speaker! Why would you want a speaker you really don't enjoy looking at? I just listened to a pair of Magnepan Magneplanar MMG speakers which are for sale locally for $600 What is your take on those? Also they are now a few years old. They sounded great in my opinion... thank you
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! I can't find anything where I live. So if I buy. I'm buying blind. And most audiophile forums are the worst. So I always get these condescending answers that don't answer my questions or give me any insight at all!
Christian, we are so glad this video is going to be helpful to you. We hope you know this is a safe space for you to ask even the most rudimentary questions. :)
she is so right about styling... sometimes it needs to be blended in with furniture & surrounding, etc. I remember that 1 ugly looking speaker sounds much better than the other one but I didn't replace with ugly one because it looks not so right. of course the audio quality should be #1 reason to get it first but.. when you trying to upgrade your system the look is important as well.
Tiny flub at 6:13, the lower the speaker's impedance not the more resistance it gives your amplifier but instead so little that the amp cannot keep up. Like if you're coasting down a hill on your bike and you try to pedal but it's already going faster than you can pedal. Your feet will end up flailing around with no control because there's no resistance and you can't catch-up to yourself - that's what's happening to your amp. Obviously I know you know this - it was probably just a slip of the tongue.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Gosh no need for an apology and thank you for the clarification comment. You're right, in terms of wanting to convey that low impedance is harder on the amplifier you did achieve that.
That was a very interesting topic, Andrew. Even when you could listen to speakers in the hi fi demo rooms, if you chose a pair you liked, they would sound completely different set up in your room at home. The main reason i purchased a pair of Rogers Studio 1 speakers in 1984 was they were made in England and British speakers tend to have a common sound which is more "neutral". Back in the 60's the US had basically . two types of speaker sound The west coast sound such as JBL which had a forward sounding midrange and the polite New England (east cost sound) sound such as AR which had a bass heavy sound with highs rolled-off.
Kristi's absolutely correct about speakers' looks. Eliminate the ugly speakers, because you'll have to look at them every single day. There are plenty of speakers on the market, so you'll still have many to choose from.
Kristi is 100% correct, speakers are essentially pieces of furniture, and if you don't like the way they look (or, to be even more particular, perhaps their fit and finish falls short in some regard), you will almost inevitably exclude them from your list of prospects. I have always been loyal (some might say fanatically loyal) to one speaker manufacturer since buying my first pair back in the mid 1980s, namely JBL. I just like their stuff, and I've owned lots of different models (from the bottom of the line, to fairly high up Synthesis product), and just bought a brand new pair of L100 Classic Black Editions just because of their gorgeous, piano black appearance. As an aside, appearance is also a huge determinant to me on the component side, which is why I prefer vintage components (Sony ES specifically) versus modern stuff (which largely seems to follow the Apple minimalist aesthetic that I really dislike). I enjoyed this video.
Sony ES is legendary. Especially if you want to get out of the 70s silverface stuff but still want stuff that had a huge amount of effort put into the design.
I just watched all your reviews (and Many others). I bought the Polk R200 for $549. They are OK but I think I want a livelier speaker. At the Top of my budget the Sonus Faber Lumina II. Ordered them today because you and Kristie both said they were good.
I’m relatively new to the hobby and this was a great, informative video. It’s really great when you’re able to reach each “section” of your subscriber base. No one, regardless of time in the hobby, should be overlooked and you guys certainly don’t do that. Now I’m, with Kristi: Style is important. You’re going to be spending A LOT of time with your speakers. The look of them should add to your listening experience. Contradictory, I know, but we are talking about an experience. Speakers are (at least in my space) centers of the room. All eyes (even non-audio enthusiasts) should go right to them. I get tons of compliments on my Polk RTi A9’s. Great job, guys and thank you again!
Great video! This is a great means to whittle down a massive amount of speakers in every budget. Kristi's perspective is appreciated as looks do play into a speakers fit in a room.
I'm of the opinion that virtually none of us can make subjective comparisons in a vacuum, with no frame of reference. In other words, I think the majority of listeners think that virtually any speaker from a reputable manufacturer sounds good in their listening space when there's nothing to compare it to. It's only when we have something to compare AGAINST that we start thinking in terms of better/worse. So with that thought in mind, buy what your budget can handle, from the manufacturer you prefer, from the retailer of your choice, and enjoy!
One thing I recommend when shopping for speakers you can't hear is watch/read a few different reviewers discuss speakers that you HAVE heard. If your opinion aligns with their comments then they may have similar tastes to you and thus their comments and recommendations may be more applicable to speakers you are considering.
I have one method to evaluate what speaker I like. I read how heavy they are? This gives me the opportunity to decide if I can Run out of the store with one without getting caught.! ;) I love watching your channel. Very informative and very objective.THX!
Heres how i do it. (not in this order or any particular importance) 1) Price - Can you afford them, do you have to strech your budget? - don't! 2) Asthetics - Do they look nice to you? does athetics even matter to you (are they going behind a screen anyway?) 3)Measurments - are they technically good or designed by people who cant even design a crossover? 4)Reviewers - Do people who like similar music/gear/etc like them - but never base a purchase soley on any single factor. Find 2,3,4 you do like and order 1 or 2... even order 1 single speaker (some do sell singles others not) from each that you may like, then return the ones you dont like. "ones you like" meaning in the ways YOU decide - do you measure them in your room or just 'voice' them by ear to decide? - dont let others tell you thats wrong.
yes, Kristi. my view of youtubers is overly simplistic but its also still my opinion. i am not a youtuber so i dont claim to know the ins and outs of it. its simply an observation. But i still stand by my personal opinion that some youtubers are more reliable than others. And MK, if you think my way of doing things is wrong, thats great. you do things how you want to. Difference is what makes things interesting. we all do things our way and what works for us. I am happy with the speakers i have purchased so my method worked to get me speakers that i like. Thats really all it boils down too. PS i dont know where the comments went, i assume they were deleted to avoid argument.
Genius, great video guide. I’m planning my home theatre and a hi fi set up for my new home and now you’ve made my weekends more fun and productive, you guys make the journey fun for us.
This is not a knock against Klipsch. I own a pair RP-600m II speakers and IMO they are excellent. However, Klipsch sensitivity ratings; and those of a number of other companies, have to be taken with a large grain of salt. I am not going to get into technical details that I'm not fully qualified to discuss. What I do know is Klipsch has their own way of measuring speaker sensitivity. I've seen several reports that claim that Klipsch's reported sensitivity may be 4db to 9db higher than their actual sensitivity. Klipsch isn't the only manufacturer whose speaker sensitivity is exaggerated., but Klipsch does tell us how they measure sensitivity, unlike some of its competitors. So if you narrowed your search down to two sets of speakers and one has a reported sensitivity of 91db compared to a model that is reported to have 96db sensitivity, there might be very little actual difference between the two. The higher rated model might even be less sensitive than its competition. Don't just look at the numbers on the box. Check reputable reviewers who test anechoic speaker sensitivity.
I hear her on looks. I find "big black boxes" a turn off and I don't want them in my space. Everything else is spot on, too. Thank you for the explanation on ohms. I needed that information as I continue my search.
Looks are subjective & also contextual. I really like the KLH 5s and Klipsch Forte's but they don't suit my decor in my living room or listening room. I don't care much about that but I actually bought Focal which has a more modern aesthetic. Some people hate wood veneer finishes. Some dislike boxy designs. My wife really dislikes the Klipsch Cornwall as she thinks them inelegant. Some people actually want to put their bookshelf speakers on bookshelves. Some want a vintage or heritage feel for both speakers and amplification. It's a bit like cars in that respect, there are different aesthetic tastes as well as budgets.
Wow, an excellent step by step process for selecting speakers for your use. My past preference was always going to my preferred audio store and switching between multiple speakers using the music selections of my choice. It made picking out a pair or at least narrowing down the selection extremely easy. The tonal and dynamic audible differences were immediate and satisfying. Today’s process is far more difficult, but you have created a very sensible and logical process. Thanks so much, Andrew!
I really like this channel. Cool guy, speaks perfectly, pleasure to listen to and learn from. Personally, I see nothing wrong with using credit to buy things instead of taking money out of savings or to just use credit regardless of savings. I’ve done it hundreds of times and it’s never adversely affected my life. I know it has hurt many to get in over their heads. But to make a blanket statement that no one ever should borrow to buy something would mean 99 percent of people would never own a car, etc.
1. Consider your purpose 2. Consider your budget 3. Consider your space 4. Consider your equipment 5. Consider your style (both audio and design) 6. Keep an open mind about brands
Buying speakers? I purchased a set in Feb 2021. I measured my room, furniture placement and located where I’d be in the room when doing my serious listening. When I looked at the cost of (attractive) speaker stands for bookshelf units I realized tower units were ideal for me. The footprint is roughly the same either way. After that I read and watched reviews. Oh yes, somewhere in there I decided on a budget. While I miss the days of auditioning equipment in person, the real truth is that the differing showroom environments made reliable comparisons nearly impossible. One more item: I had to decide what kind “sound” was I after with my preferred music genres.
The only thing I don't agree with is that those speakers wouldn't need a subwoofer. Any setup which doesn't have a big cone needs at least one sub. There's this misconception that subs need to sound loud and boomy, but a properly set up sub disappears in the room. I don't know that I have a sub until I turn it off and realize that it adds a lot of "atmosphere" to whatever I'm listening to, even speech.
We recently learned that a retailer we do not wish to be affiliated with was using our review for marketing purposes without permission. Once we learned that HECO is unlikely to be supported here in the US long term, we made the decision to pull the review. To be clear, we have nothing against HECO. They make a great speaker.
I would recommend knowing the EXACT return policy wherever you buy from. I purchased the KLH model 5's and did not like them. When contacting their customer service I was told that they had to be returned via freight, on a pallet - which is extremely difficult as a non commercial customer. Make sure you can easily return if you don't like.
Why is it that some random cheap speaker you buy just to make do for the meantime ends up sounding better than the one you have been saving up for? £400 Kanto Yu6 vs £2300 Sony HT-A9
Andrew / Kristi, nice video and some great points to consider. Im actually in the market for some speakers, but luckily I have a good hifi shop here in Madrid where I can go and listen to the speakers Im interested in. Im trying to decide between the KEF R5, Focal Aria 926, and the B&W 603-S2 (I cant quite get into the B&W 700 series budget-wise). There is an error in your description about ohms that I hope people dont beat you up too much about. You are correct that the lower the ohms the more work the amp has to do, but you said something like "the lower the ohms, the more the resistance". That's not correct. The lower the ohms, the LESS the resistance, and the less the resistance, the more current the amp will send. If the amp sends more current at the same voltage, then its sending more wattage (watts = current x voltage). I know, its a minor detail, but Im an engineer and my eye started twitching a bit when I heard that ;) not really, but I imagine several people's eyes will twitch :D
There's a very simple solution! Buy what you like then never ever listen to or watch reviews and don't ever walk into any audio salons and you are in paradise!😁 Ignorance is bliss! There's always gonna be newer , greater, whatever 😁 So just buy, enjoy and forget. Best regards
I like, and agree with, your reasoning and your final choice. And I have burnt out an incompatible amp trying to drive 4 ohm speakers over time and volume.
★ *QOTD: What techniques do you use to help you evaluate a speaker before you buy them?*
★ *CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” in the description for answers to many of your questions*
★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
This is a FANTASTIC video for beginners. I truly miss the days of easily being able to test speakers side by side. Maybe do a follow up video of the difference of sound signatures (warm / neutral etc)?
Side note. I'm totally biased in the necessity of adding a subwoofer. This is coming from a guy who's system is geared towards movies, but also listens to a LOT of music.
Audio Salon type of dealers seem to be slowly going by the wayside these days, and especially during the pandemic.
So I think now, that walking into an audio dealer to listen to speakers is sadly disappearing, and that’s a shame.
Okay, if you’re shopping for a big ticket item like a house for example. How do you know whether you’re going to like living there for say 10, 15, 20, or 30 years, or perhaps, a lifetime, if you don’t at least tour the home first, get a feel for the property, and perhaps meet the seller and/or the realtor first to see whether or not it’s a good fit or not?
The same goes for an automobile. Are you going to automatically buy an automobile without taking it for a test drive first? Probably not.
Well, I think the same principle should apply to buying high fidelity equipment as well, and definitely the entire chain. And it starts with the obvious first. The size and dimensions of the space of which you’ll be doing all or a majority of your listening. If you have a large room, then a stand mounting bookshelf speaker system is not going to cut it, unless it is substantial in size (and more than likely, expensive too), whereas, if you have a small room or a studio/efficiency apartment, then pretty much, large heavy floor standing speaker systems should be eliminated from the equation altogether. And then your ears should be used as the best instrument or measuring yardstick of all. What sounds great to you and to you only?
Now, after that, then I would go by
. Budget/Looks/Style (all in a three-way tie)
. Genre of Music
. Sensitivity (output level of sound)
. Impedance (which could be amplifier dependent)
. Frequency Response
Now knowing speakers that I have actually listened to in audio showrooms before, and have a familiarity of what they sound like (and I have listened to Polk, Klipsch, KEF, Martin Logan, Magnepan, and Vandersteen before). I would buy those online as I am familiar to their sound quality and I don’t have nothing to worry about.
Other speakers which may catch my eye later on, before buying them from the dealer, I am going to ask about a return policy and a money back policy first if it turns out I don’t like them.
I would go by reviews from professional reviewers and give their reviews a whole lot of weight before I would make a purchasing decision. What was said before applies here. Audio journals (like “the Abso!ute Sound” and “Stereophile”) are a valuable resource.
-Charles-
I fully agree with your method to narrow down the choice.
I use the same points especially when doing it for someone else. In fact I use mainly the 3 first points. Knowing that most adults can only hear up to 10-12 kHz the frequency response is not very usefull except for the lower end of the range.
For my personal choice I had to do with my wife’ opinion about the size, the look and the colour of the speakers. She stil say they are ugly, but she likes the way they sound. So I agree with Kristi.
But from experience I MUST listen to the candidates in order to find the right one for me. As you say the only person who must like your system is you.
I’ve seen many times doing a preselection for friends and then change completely during the audio test.
The winner finally being the most appreciated during the listening sessions. To do that, I have a couple of CDs that I know very well and that I use to compare the speakers and systèmes.
I used to do that when I was younger (last century) when HiFi shops were commons.
Now, to listen to half a dozen models in good conditions you need to go to different places and by apointment only.
So the latest ones I bought, I did not listen to them.
I choosed the Klipsch RF7 mk3. But I knew very well the mk2 and I used the different reports on the web from profesional reviewers to select this new version when I found a good opportunity.
I agree with your wife about style, so my ? That I have had for a few years would be what (white) colored finish Speaker at a budget of 1200 would be a good Option???
Hi Andrew, please review the Demand series from Definitive Technology …..I just bought a D7 (the smallest one from the series) and they just blow my mind with a sound stage presence and bass …..my previous speakers from Monitor Audio were with 6,5 inch driver….but D7 with 4,5 inch driver are much more powerful…….it’s just unbelievable….
*COMMENT RE: IMPEDANCE* - I struggled with the best way to break this topic down so that it wouldn't be too daunting for newcomers to the hobby. I know there is more to impedance than meets the eye, or how I chose to communicate it in this video. My apologies. Honestly (and in the spirit of full disclosure), I simply wanted to say that "not all amplifiers like or can work with a speaker with a lower impedance so always check the speaker's rating against what your amplifier or receiver recommends." I should've gone with my gut and just made the explanation even more simple without trying (and for some of you failing) to word the topic how I did. Apologies for any confusion this may have caused. At the end of the day, the take away from the impedance chapter is still sound even if my wording of it was a little wonky. I hope this clears things up, I sincerely appreciate the feedback, and I apologize again if you found my analogies troublesome. Thanks for watching as always and be well! -Andrew
BTW, any chance you could review the new Rogers Speakers that are just out, the LS5 9's? ~Peace
No problem. Let Christy explain it next time...she'll get it right ;-)
Great video for ppl like me located in the Caribbean.... we buy based on recommendations from u guys... and looks is definitely major in my eyes
Good work Andrew
Thanks for clarification on this part of the video for matching speaker impedance with the amplifier
I've been into working on and studying the engineer side electronics for 35 years and I still "refresh myself" and go over ohms law constantly. LOL
Made sense to me, Andrew. Don't apologize to comment terrorists; it only makes them bolder.
Kristi, you are a treasure. I laughed for 5 minutes after hearing "...not really..." Pitch and tone was PERFECT!. You made my day. Sorry Andrew, but I am with your better half on this. Looks matter, even for a gear head like me...
Speakers are a piece of furniture indeed and looks count even when you go for concealed or low visibility speakers such as on-walls, otherwise we would all just have those enormous Magnat or JBLs in our living rooms 😁
Actually an important note here is Aesthetics can play a Crucial role in selecting speakers because from a psychological point is that if u don't like what u see and is not visually satisfying to U ,it can actually change what u perceive the sound u listen too..and it could sound from an acoustic point of view incredible!
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THANK YOU ,THANK YOU ,THANK YOU…. You guy’s are awesome. Taking it back to the basics. Nice little reminder in this crazy world of audio. Like everybody else… I wholeheartedly agree with Kristi. One needs to like looking at your masterpiece. Thanks again guy!! Great work as usual .
So true. Kristi your delivery was perfect!
My algorithm for buying speakers: 1) listen to smart people about the manufacturer's reputation, 2) wait until they're on sale.
Kristi's comments are 200% right. I started shopping for my first new set of speakers in 20 years. I spent about 3 months looking at reviews and read magazines. I made the decision of what I wanted. My local HiFi shop had them in stock. Done Deal! Happy Days!🙂 On the day to pick them up, my wife came with me. "Hold on! No way are those going into our sitting room! Too big and they look awful!" 😞 End of deal! So we sat in the shop and listened to some speakers, and I ended up with a pair of Dali Zensor 5 which I never ever considered. But my wife loved their small size and their look. They also sounded good. So yep, looks, size and other half approval matter! 🙂
Good on you for reiterating the point about debt. Stress over “have I spent more than I can afford” can put quite a damper on what should be a purchase that brings you joy.
@Douglas Blake If I didn't follow that rule I would have McIntosh and Sonos Faber in my system.
For me Kristi nailed it. The looks are very important to me. Even if I love the sound I will never buy something that doesn't fit in my space
Looks matter in hifi, for sure!
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsI am on the same boat. I first see how speaker looks then I search how it sounds.
It's nice and simple I would love more companies companies to do 1 thing 1 thing for me as as audio hand that I am I am give me voice prompts when you're setting up every receiver it will be easier on my disability thee I was I was born with several parts of yor in which several parties as you might know most of you it's almost to you in this community by now So yes I will love boys and girls when you setting up a receiver for the 1st time and in the room the girl would be They're for my disability I'd just speakers if you wan to know about this speakers I would do Bluetooth on them if ever possible it's possible it's not a woman's I would find ones that are 82 are easy to set up as much as possible bit's possible but still sounds good that's the way I would do it hope I hope I spoke correctly and I hope you guys be able to read this Because I'm using the Google make on my keyboard so my keyboard so hopefully you could read this guy but that's the way I would like to set up my room one day in the future I mean see you on the next one bum bless yes and happy listening listening guys
There’s even an old acronym that defines this: WAF or Wife Acceptance Factor. It probably dates back to the time of Edgar Vilchur and Henry Kloss. This ain’t news. The idea that loudspeakers should be heard but not seen is over 6 decades old.
@Andrew Robinson the methods used by various manufacturers use to measure sensitivity and frequency response aren’t the same. How does one compare sensitivity and frequency response when Polk, JBL, Klipsch, etc all use different methods to measure it?
Nominal impedance too is hardly a useful measurement? A speaker that is a less reactive (or more resistive) load might be an easier load than a speaker with higher nominal impedance but having a more reactive load. For example a 4 ohm rated speaker with an impedance that does not drop below 3 ohms or rise above 12 ohms might be easier to drive than a 8 ohm rate speaker whose impedance drops to 2 ohms and rises to 50 ohms and has several peaks and valleys.
Kristi DID nail it. For me, those copper drivers are hideous. Probably wouldn't buy, even though they probably sound the best.
I gotta tell, I discovered you about a year ago when I was deciding to get back into the hobby and home theater. Those early videos did not include Kristi. I took about a 4-5 month break, I come back, start listening to the channel, and now we get Kristi piping in at the end of each video. At first, I was like, “dude, I want to hear you, not your wife!”, and I’d just go onto the next video. Occasionally, I’d listened to her comments, but not super seriously. THEN, I heard her describe the Wharfdale bookshelf speakers, and I was like, “this woman is me! She’s the ‘real person’ deciphering what you just said!” On top of that, watching you watch her, it is so obvious how in love with this woman you are, which is great. Y’all are the best team. Period. Now, I’ve completely switched my stance; now, I listen to all the tech stuff from you and just wait to hear Kristi - the “real person’s” opinion. Thank you, Andrew and Kristi for the great content that y’all put out. No other channel gives the kind of info that you two do, and I can’t possibly be the only one who appreciates it. Again, thanks!!
Dave you absolutely made my day!
Kristi has a valid point. It is important how the speaker sounds, of course, but let's not forget that you will be looking at this speaker every dy and you should enjoy what you see.
I am proud to say that your 5-6 step process is basically what I have been doing. Obviously, the next step of listening to the speakers is ultimately the most important thing to do. But the whole thing becomes more fun and informative when quality reviewers such as Andrew and Kristi, and other pros, offer to share their experiences, expertise and passion with us. Yep, and it looks like they are both having fun doing it. Thank you guys for such a quality, consumer want to be an audiophile fan channel. Cheers.
Bought the my Jamo mains because of you and haven't looked back. Even went as far as to pick up the center, dude surrounds, and bookshelves for rear surrounds. Worth every penny.
I only have about 100 rules for buying speakers. Most of them involve my wife. :(
You’re a good man Charlie Brown.
The sixth thing to consider (should be the first?), that this RUclipsr left out of the equation.
Just get rid of the wife like I did. Problem solved. 🤷
I AM the wife and all my rules are all about the sound only. My only external rule comes from the husband and that rule is budget. lol
My one rule from the wife is budget, and size FOR NOW. She’s totally cool with big f***-off speakers when we have the room for them….which is, might I say, a great recommendation haha. I don’t think LaScala’s would sound too good in my one bedroom apartment
Well Andrew, and Kristi, I did just that, I bought a pair of speakers that I have never listened to, much less knowing that the company building them was back in business under new ownership. I took your advice Andrew, well, really Kristi's when she said "Just buy them", LOL! And I did!
So, I pulled the trigger on the KLH Model 5's in Walnut with the white linen grills, and they look gorgeous, like two pieces of furniture, not speakers. The stands are just the icing on the cake.
Thank you both, as I have finally found my forever speaker, this is the speaker I have been craving for years. They are the sound of my youth, and do it with incredible ease. And the sound, OMG! My mother even stopped what she was doing to sit and listen, she has never done that. The soundstage these Model 5's creates is incredible, incredible enough to grab the attention of a 78 yo woman that never pays attention to the music, she is paying attention now. Her first words were, "It sounds like we are sitting right in front of the stage!". She was just as excited as I was to hear these. Thank you both. ;-)
i loved your response, Kristi .. AND Andrew’s response to it! … moments like this make your content fun & unique .. so glad i came across your channel .. informative & smile-worthy every time! .. (btw i’m in DFW so hope y’all are staying safe & warm down there in the capital! ..
Thank you so much!! Same to you.
Great video again Andrew and Kristi! My last purchase of speakers (Dynaudio Evoke) for the living room was in this order:
1: budget
2: which speakers fit in the living room
3: familiar with brand and sound
4: WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor)
5: match with amplifier (specifications)
6: match with speaker cables (single/bi-wire? length, etc.)
7: reviews in magazines and on RUclips (thanks Andrew for your Dynaudio Evoke 20's review!)
8: listening test at my dealer with at least 3 different speaker sets
9: can the speakers be upgraded to a more expensive version of that series later? (start with monitors on a stand and upgrade to floorstanders, which are just as big and therefore have good WAF)
10: purchase and enjoy good music with my wife...
I actually do an aggregate of online reviews and listener impressions. Especially as I can compare each reviewer's observations of speakers that are common to both of us. There's still no replacement for actually hearing them, though, in terms of evaluating sound quality in one's room. Great work, you two!!
My shopping tip is to watch Andrew and Kristis videos. Thanks fully they are honest with positives and negatives. I find most reviewers to rave about literally everything. While sound is objective, I do find my tastes to align with this channel and this is where I start.
Aw, thanks so much.
As a side note, I have been an electrical engineer for nearly the last 30 years, and I knew what you were trying to get across regarding impedance and amplifiers. You just have to laugh at the scramble of the pedantic keyboard warriors to "write" a wrong! ;-)
Just for plain old aesthetics, I love the look of Klipsch speakers. Those copper-colored woofers and horn tweeters just look so classy.
Great video again guys. I know you aren’t in the financial advice business but Your first point about budget can not be overstated here. I was 18 and Best Buy gave me a credit card…. By the time I was 20 I had to cut that thing up as it as too easy to make an 88 Escort go boom. And then pay and pay and pay.
Now I’m almost 50 and that card taught me so much about life. Now I know that if I want the KLH model 5’s I need to save for them and it’s always worth the wait.
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Hi Andrew & Kristi, from France. I chose Rotel A11 Tribute Black and a pair of black Q Acoustics 3050i thanks to your test videos, and other comparative test videos on internet, without hearing them on live. I absolutely not regret one second my choice (Sound quality, sound space, cost &.....design, that's for Kristi !) and I would to thank you for that.
Keep going, you are doing a fantastic job !
One of your best and most useful videos, because it focused not so much on a specific speaker recommendation as on a process to use in evaluating any and all speakers, including those not mentioned in this particular video. Well done!
I bought a pair of Focal Chorus 836V’s unseen and unheard just by reviews and the reputation of Focal. Never regretted it and still have them. Amazing speakers.
I owned a pair of b&w 606s2 which impressed me in the dem room. I ended up buying them but within a couple of weeks they were driving me crazy, so bright they gave me a headache after an hour. I sold them and bought some Q acoustic concept 20's, fabulous sounding speaker. Q acoustics are making some great speakers.
I agree with Kristi more than ever. How the product looks is really important factor for me besides obviously the sound quality. For those two reason I'm in love with Klipsch products, all of their products sound amazing and the look is even better
"Nothing in life is worth going into debt over." Thumbs up right there!
We all know Klipsch's reported sensitivity is not comparable to other brands. That bookshelf is likely closer to 92 dB "efficient" than 96.
Andrew, in your opinion, which speakers sound the best from these ones 🤯
Polk R700
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
KEF Q950
Focal Chora 826d
SVS prime Tower
Monitor Audio Silver 500
I go in circles trying to narrow down to two options 😅 they all seem great, but some must be greaterer lol !?
If I were purchasing from this list for myself, the R700s would be at the top of my list, followed closely by the KEF, Focal and Monitor Audio. The Focal and MA speakers have more in common with each other and will present a more lively sound - I'd get the MA over the Focal as I think it's a nicer looking speaker. Polk and KEF should have a more neutral and controlled sound. Wharfedale will be somewhere in the middle. SVS isn't even a consideration for me. The Polk and KEFs will require a competent amp to handle 4 ohm load which may add to your overall cost.
@robinsonbrand Thanks for that!! I was on the fence between Polk and Chora 826-d. I understood that between them there isn't a HUGE gap 😁
As Polk is about 2x more expensive than Chora, think I'll try 826s 🙌
If I am looking for audio gear and Kristi says buy it, I buy it. The girl is batting 1000% so far, you GO GIRL! So far, the KLH Model 5's and the XTZ A2-400 were both Kristi purchases. Thank you Kristi! And Andrew too... LOL!
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Stumbled on your channel a few weeks ago while agonising over a speaker decision. Revisiting this video brought me back down to Earth... Ended up with the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 as it ticked all our boxes. Thanks, and keep pumping out the great content!
Probably the most informative and helpful video I’ve seen in the AV space. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! Hope to see you on the next video (Sunday).
Watching your reviews and seeing many comment about how pleased they were with their purchase after your review, I trusted your opinion twice and I'm happy that I did.
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I'm happy to hear that. What did you end up purchasing?
Kristi for the WIN! Fully agree appearance is very high on the list and filters out many speakers for me. Belongs right after budget too. Well done.
I watch a lot of videos like this. I ended up purchasing a pair of Paradigm Monitor SE Atoms based on your feedback and was overall very happy with that choice. They fit the budget, had it where it counted (for me) and I could always return them if they didn't do what I was hoping they would. Obviously budget is important but so too is an element of being realistic with one's behaviors/needs. In other words, we all have this ideal about what we think we're going to do and that's always pinned up against what we actually do. The speakers that best fit in the sweet spot of our ideals and our actions will be the best ones to buy.
As a fellow female I definitely agree with Kristi. I'm currently looking through review lists and videos to shop for speakers and if a speaker is ugly to me I don't even bother reading up on them. Sorry not sorry. 😅 They might sound great but if they're an eye sore, no thank you. 😂
Welcome to the community! No judgment here. Can't say I'd do it any differently especially with the stylish AND good sounding options available.
Great guide for those that dont know where to start. Speakers can be a bit daunting, as everyone has different takes on what yo look for. Thank you for making it a bit clearer for those just starting their journey! Peace ✌
Well said, Kristi. Speaker appearance is high on my selection points.
I totally agree with Kristi!
It's not exactly scientific, but there's a thing called the "Aesthetic Usability Effect" that comes from UX. That's geared toward software, but I think it applies more broadly. Basically if I find something more attractive or pleasing, I'm more likely to forgive or overlook it's faults.
So I think that's a totally important factor. If no speaker is perfect, and anything I can't spend time with first carries some risk of not being perfect for me, something that I think looks really nice, has that wow factor that makes me excited about it, that could actually be the different between loving a speaker, or just being ok with it.
1) size & looks 2) sensitivity & impedance 3) budget
(I would rather wait and save more for the right speaker)
I also review what the company has to say about their offering. Even though it is marketing, some of the design goals are usually present.
I try to get an expert opinion/ review that Has heard it in person. That is why this channel has been so helpful! Where else can I have someone who knows far more then me detail the options.
So far I am happy with the 2 products I bought off this channel’s recommendations! (SVS 3000 micro, Audiolab 6000aplay)
I have found out that I didn't know what I wanted. I figured the perfect speaker for me would be a sonus faber and i do like them. I have B&W, I have listened to Magicos, Focal, and a couple other brands. Then I heard a pair of Klipsch Forte iv. I didn't know i wanted that speaker. It's not perfect no speaker is but it did something amazing. My point is listen to different speaker design philosophy's with a open mind. That will help you narrow your path. Thank you Andrew for recommending the forte iv. Without hearing them i wouldn't know i had a love for horns.
It's easy to develop a taste for Klipsch. The heritage series has a compelling sound even if it isn't perfect & was never intended to be reference neutral.
Thank you, I fell into this trap last week, bought a pair of Paradigm 200B Bookshelves, hooked them up to my Arcam amp and they sounded great for 15 minutes, then my ears were hurting and had a headache....
The online retailer failed to mention that these speakers are BRIGHT! Couldn't even tame the treble with EQ. Now I know that I don't agree with Metal dome tweeters and will be ordering some Wharfedale Dentons for their warmer sound.
I also realized that I didn't need a large speaker with 6 1/2 inch woofer because of my smaller room and use of Subwoofer, I went with the Denton 80 with the 5 1/4 woofer.
Kristi, I'm with you on speaker aesthetics. The Klipsch La Scala may sound good but they do not look good. Thanks for the informative video!
If they did a test of a speaker behind a curtain and you loved it but when they pulled the curtain back it wasn't pretty - would you still like it? Looks are only 5-10% of my decision.........
@@scottmeyer6005 That's a tough one! I would be disappointed and would probably have to find something comparable as far as sound and better appearance.
One thing that would have been nice to discuss is radiation pattern preference. Do you like wide dispersion or a speaker with less wide dispersion? Depending on space/presentation preference this may prove to be a bigger make or break item for individuals. For example with your bookshelf speaker comparison Klipsch will have less wide dispersion in the upper frequencies than the Elac. Depending on user preference and space in which the speaker will be used in, this might be the defining factor for purchase. If the Elac is placed too close to the side wall then maybe the Klipsch would be a better purchase. If you have a wide room maybe the Elac is better to fill more of the room with energy.
Buy used! Used speakers are all over the place because no one wants to ship them. You get a chance to hear them because they are almost always listed as-- Local Pickup only.
Bought a pair of Q acoustics 3050i's without hearing them. Pretty much followed Andrew's advice. Result was bingo. All the boxes got ticked and the result was bang on.
I would add a checklist item including whether the place you're buying from has a return option like SVS, Fluance, (full refund including shipping to and back) and some others who offer in home listening but not return shipping (Axiom, unless they've changed that). Nothing beats in house listening and auditioning (how many have listened in store and absolutely hated them when brought home?).
I bought the Jamo S809 based on your review, plus I bought the Jamo bookshelves and a Jamo Sub to complete my surround sound system. Thank you for all your in depth info
Great to hear!
Good start list. Warranty is something else I consider. A 10-year warranty speaker versus a 2-year warranty will get my attention.
I think you guys nailed this one. In addition, For speakers I have never heard, especially with direct to consumer sellers, I will email or even call the company. If someone answers the phone and is patient with questions it’s a good sign. Once I narrowed my choices down to 2 or 3, I started with the best looking speakers in that group and that is the pair I ended up with. It’s one thing to put lipstick on a pig but when a speaker’s looks are backed up with solid build quality and great overall sound then you know you have something special. At the end of the day it’s about craftsmanship.
Sound quality is the most important attribute of a speaker but there is a difference between a speaker that goes in a “man cave” that no one else will ever look at and a speaker that is displayed prominently in one’s home.
I Made my decision easy. Just watched your Video on the Klipsch rp 8000f and bought them 😂
Greetings from Germany 😊
I rely on reviewers. You are one of my top reviewers. I bought the Magnats purely based on your review and love them. Also, Amazon makes things less daunting as returns are easy of things don't work out.
Do you have any suggestions for a subwoofer paired with the Klipsch the fives for a small room? I know they have plenty of bass, but …
A very helpful and fundamental approach to buying just about anything. I, too, used this process of elimination when purchasing my XLR cables and music server. It's all about finding what you want/need, for a price, and what you'd like to do without.
great video concept, a lot of buyers are in this position and are relying on video content for purchase decisions. Glad you did this
Thank you! Appreciate you watching!
For more expensive purchases, listening is a must. My frustration is that sellers don't offer home tests. room dynamics play a role. But this process that you have here is exactly how I do it. Thanks
Kristi makes a valid point. Functional though they may be, speakers are often placed in communal spaces (like living rooms) and as such, aesthetics are a factor.
I am with Kristi. Life is too short for ugly speakers! Nice video, great tips!
I appreciate the way you broke down the steps and explained your reasoning. I never really thought about my process but it's very similar to yours. I agree with Kristi, looks do matter, my next set of speakers in the living room needs to pass inspection by management. :)
People should realise that budget AV receivers that have 4ohm switches to claim they can power 4ohm speaker loads "safely" is just a switch to pass regulations and it generally just cuts the power delivered/available to the speakers to protect the amp (and possibly cause the speakers to clip sooner then they actually would). I have 4 ohm Dynaudio speakers and I still run the AVR in 8ohm switch mode as I want the full (all be it a bit limited) power my budget AVR can muster. Also another comment, unfortunately budget AVR's are the best candidate for extra external amplifiers for the front stereo channels but are also generally the AVR's that do not include pre-outs to allow for this (as this is considered a premium feature and is reserved for higher end models). It is a very poor and sneaky game the manufactures play with us consumers 😞
Great video! 👍 Great channel guys! 👍
My budget was $1,000, but I scored some incredible deals. I picked up a Sony AN1000 on sale for $390 and a complete set of Polk Monitor speakers: two full towers, two bookshelf monitors, a CS2 center channel, and a subwoofer for just $150-making it a 5.1 system. Altogether, I spent around $540. I also grabbed some stands, nice cables, and cable management gear. I've had everything set up for about two weeks now.
Next on my upgrade list is the subwoofer, followed by the center channel. I originally considered the Q930D, but a friend convinced me to go with this custom setup instead, and I couldn't be happier-it sounds way better than I imagined. HIs philolshy was buy as good as of AVR as you can then buy the speakers 2nd hand.
that was very informative! And I definitely agree with Kristi about the appearance of the speaker! Why would you want a speaker you really don't enjoy looking at?
I just listened to a pair of Magnepan Magneplanar MMG speakers which are for sale locally for $600 What is your take on those? Also they are now a few years old. They sounded great in my opinion... thank you
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! I can't find anything where I live. So if I buy. I'm buying blind. And most audiophile forums are the worst. So I always get these condescending answers that don't answer my questions or give me any insight at all!
Christian, we are so glad this video is going to be helpful to you. We hope you know this is a safe space for you to ask even the most rudimentary questions. :)
This is exactly the kind of video that I needed--thank you!
it's a balance of looks and sound and just trying to get it right is the hard part thx Andrew & Kristi ...
Hells yeah, I haven't even watched this yet - what a great topic idea! Thank you in advance!
she is so right about styling... sometimes it needs to be blended in with furniture & surrounding, etc. I remember that 1 ugly looking speaker sounds much better than the other one but I didn't replace with ugly one because it looks not so right. of course the audio quality should be #1 reason to get it first but.. when you trying to upgrade your system the look is important as well.
Tiny flub at 6:13, the lower the speaker's impedance not the more resistance it gives your amplifier but instead so little that the amp cannot keep up. Like if you're coasting down a hill on your bike and you try to pedal but it's already going faster than you can pedal. Your feet will end up flailing around with no control because there's no resistance and you can't catch-up to yourself - that's what's happening to your amp.
Obviously I know you know this - it was probably just a slip of the tongue.
Please see my pinned comment. Sorry for any and all confusion.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Gosh no need for an apology and thank you for the clarification comment. You're right, in terms of wanting to convey that low impedance is harder on the amplifier you did achieve that.
That was a very interesting topic, Andrew. Even when you could listen to speakers in the hi fi demo rooms, if you chose a pair you liked, they would sound completely different set up in your room at home. The main reason i purchased a pair of Rogers Studio 1 speakers in 1984 was they were made in England and British speakers tend to have a common sound which is more "neutral". Back in the 60's the US had basically . two types of speaker sound The west coast sound such as JBL which had a forward sounding midrange and the polite New England (east cost sound) sound such as AR which had a bass heavy sound with highs rolled-off.
Kristi's absolutely correct about speakers' looks. Eliminate the ugly speakers, because you'll have to look at them every single day. There are plenty of speakers on the market, so you'll still have many to choose from.
Kristi is 100% correct, speakers are essentially pieces of furniture, and if you don't like the way they look (or, to be even more particular, perhaps their fit and finish falls short in some regard), you will almost inevitably exclude them from your list of prospects. I have always been loyal (some might say fanatically loyal) to one speaker manufacturer since buying my first pair back in the mid 1980s, namely JBL. I just like their stuff, and I've owned lots of different models (from the bottom of the line, to fairly high up Synthesis product), and just bought a brand new pair of L100 Classic Black Editions just because of their gorgeous, piano black appearance. As an aside, appearance is also a huge determinant to me on the component side, which is why I prefer vintage components (Sony ES specifically) versus modern stuff (which largely seems to follow the Apple minimalist aesthetic that I really dislike). I enjoyed this video.
Sony ES is legendary. Especially if you want to get out of the 70s silverface stuff but still want stuff that had a huge amount of effort put into the design.
My speakers have 2 prices... what I paid, and what my wife thinks I paid.
Sure, once you've narrowed the field by using criteria like these
😂
I just watched all your reviews (and Many others). I bought the Polk R200 for $549. They are OK but I think I want a livelier speaker. At the Top of my budget the Sonus Faber Lumina II. Ordered them today because you and Kristie both said they were good.
We hope you enjoy them! They are very different from the Polk.
I just buy whatever Andrew says is the best. I now have the HT-A9 that I don't like. I cannot feel the 360 audio. Nice looking speakers, though.
I’m relatively new to the hobby and this was a great, informative video. It’s really great when you’re able to reach each “section” of your subscriber base. No one, regardless of time in the hobby, should be overlooked and you guys certainly don’t do that.
Now I’m, with Kristi: Style is important. You’re going to be spending A LOT of time with your speakers. The look of them should add to your listening experience. Contradictory, I know, but we are talking about an experience. Speakers are (at least in my space) centers of the room. All eyes (even non-audio enthusiasts) should go right to them. I get tons of compliments on my Polk RTi A9’s. Great job, guys and thank you again!
I think brand experience is also a factor. I've had good experiences with Dynaudio so I'd be more likely to buy one of their products without testing
yup. For me, that would be CANTON and Focal. I have seen and heard enough of their speakers to know I'll probably be happy with them.
Great video! This is a great means to whittle down a massive amount of speakers in every budget. Kristi's perspective is appreciated as looks do play into a speakers fit in a room.
I'm of the opinion that virtually none of us can make subjective comparisons in a vacuum, with no frame of reference. In other words, I think the majority of listeners think that virtually any speaker from a reputable manufacturer sounds good in their listening space when there's nothing to compare it to. It's only when we have something to compare AGAINST that we start thinking in terms of better/worse.
So with that thought in mind, buy what your budget can handle, from the manufacturer you prefer, from the retailer of your choice, and enjoy!
One thing I recommend when shopping for speakers you can't hear is watch/read a few different reviewers discuss speakers that you HAVE heard. If your opinion aligns with their comments then they may have similar tastes to you and thus their comments and recommendations may be more applicable to speakers you are considering.
Would you do a video on In-Wall and In-Ceiling speakers?
I have one method to evaluate what speaker I like. I read how heavy they are? This gives me the opportunity to decide if I can Run out of the store with one without getting caught.! ;) I love watching your channel. Very informative and very objective.THX!
Heres how i do it. (not in this order or any particular importance)
1) Price - Can you afford them, do you have to strech your budget? - don't!
2) Asthetics - Do they look nice to you? does athetics even matter to you (are they going behind a screen anyway?)
3)Measurments - are they technically good or designed by people who cant even design a crossover?
4)Reviewers - Do people who like similar music/gear/etc like them -
but never base a purchase soley on any single factor.
Find 2,3,4 you do like and order 1 or 2... even order 1 single speaker (some do sell singles others not) from each that you may like, then return the ones you dont like.
"ones you like" meaning in the ways YOU decide - do you measure them in your room or just 'voice' them by ear to decide? - dont let others tell you thats wrong.
Great breakdown!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews as is your video my dude and dudette
yes, Kristi. my view of youtubers is overly simplistic but its also still my opinion. i am not a youtuber so i dont claim to know the ins and outs of it. its simply an observation.
But i still stand by my personal opinion that some youtubers are more reliable than others.
And MK, if you think my way of doing things is wrong, thats great. you do things how you want to.
Difference is what makes things interesting. we all do things our way and what works for us. I am happy with the speakers i have purchased so my method worked to get me speakers that i like. Thats really all it boils down too.
PS i dont know where the comments went, i assume they were deleted to avoid argument.
Genius, great video guide. I’m planning my home theatre and a hi fi set up for my new home and now you’ve made my weekends more fun and productive, you guys make the journey fun for us.
So glad we could help!
I think the front or rear port should have a higher weight. If you have to place the speaker 1.5m inside the room 3.5m long ...
Start the video at 12:40 then
This is not a knock against Klipsch. I own a pair RP-600m II speakers and IMO they are excellent. However, Klipsch sensitivity ratings; and those of a number of other companies, have to be taken with a large grain of salt. I am not going to get into technical details that I'm not fully qualified to discuss. What I do know is Klipsch has their own way of measuring speaker sensitivity. I've seen several reports that claim that Klipsch's reported sensitivity may be 4db to 9db higher than their actual sensitivity. Klipsch isn't the only manufacturer whose speaker sensitivity is exaggerated., but Klipsch does tell us how they measure sensitivity, unlike some of its competitors.
So if you narrowed your search down to two sets of speakers and one has a reported sensitivity of 91db compared to a model that is reported to have 96db sensitivity, there might be very little actual difference between the two. The higher rated model might even be less sensitive than its competition. Don't just look at the numbers on the box. Check reputable reviewers who test anechoic speaker sensitivity.
I hear her on looks. I find "big black boxes" a turn off and I don't want them in my space. Everything else is spot on, too. Thank you for the explanation on ohms. I needed that information as I continue my search.
Looks are subjective & also contextual. I really like the KLH 5s and Klipsch Forte's but they don't suit my decor in my living room or listening room. I don't care much about that but I actually bought Focal which has a more modern aesthetic. Some people hate wood veneer finishes. Some dislike boxy designs. My wife really dislikes the Klipsch Cornwall as she thinks them inelegant. Some people actually want to put their bookshelf speakers on bookshelves. Some want a vintage or heritage feel for both speakers and amplification. It's a bit like cars in that respect, there are different aesthetic tastes as well as budgets.
Wow, an excellent step by step process for selecting speakers for your use. My past preference was always going to my preferred audio store and switching between multiple speakers using the music selections of my choice. It made picking out a pair or at least narrowing down the selection extremely easy. The tonal and dynamic audible differences were immediate and satisfying. Today’s process is far more difficult, but you have created a very sensible and logical process. Thanks so much, Andrew!
my technique if im buying a new speaker would be to watch your reviews 👍👍👍
I really like this channel. Cool guy, speaks perfectly, pleasure to listen to and learn from. Personally, I see nothing wrong with using credit to buy things instead of taking money out of savings or to just use credit regardless of savings. I’ve done it hundreds of times and it’s never adversely affected my life. I know it has hurt many to get in over their heads. But to make a blanket statement that no one ever should borrow to buy something would mean 99 percent of people would never own a car, etc.
1. Consider your purpose
2. Consider your budget
3. Consider your space
4. Consider your equipment
5. Consider your style (both audio and design)
6. Keep an open mind about brands
👏
Buying speakers? I purchased a set in Feb 2021. I measured my room, furniture placement and located where I’d be in the room when doing my serious listening. When I looked at the cost of (attractive) speaker stands for bookshelf units I realized tower units were ideal for me. The footprint is roughly the same either way. After that I read and watched reviews. Oh yes, somewhere in there I decided on a budget. While I miss the days of auditioning equipment in person, the real truth is that the differing showroom environments made reliable comparisons nearly impossible. One more item: I had to decide what kind “sound” was I after with my preferred music genres.
The only thing I don't agree with is that those speakers wouldn't need a subwoofer. Any setup which doesn't have a big cone needs at least one sub. There's this misconception that subs need to sound loud and boomy, but a properly set up sub disappears in the room. I don't know that I have a sub until I turn it off and realize that it adds a lot of "atmosphere" to whatever I'm listening to, even speech.
did ye not do a review of the Heco Aurora 700 tower speaker? I can't for the life of me find it (maybe removed? or did I imagine it !!)
We recently learned that a retailer we do not wish to be affiliated with was using our review for marketing purposes without permission. Once we learned that HECO is unlikely to be supported here in the US long term, we made the decision to pull the review. To be clear, we have nothing against HECO. They make a great speaker.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks -- that's a pity. Was the only decent review of them on YT. I'm in the EU myself, so considering them. All the best
Nice little guide/suggestions. Good stuff as always.
Much appreciated!
I would recommend knowing the EXACT return policy wherever you buy from. I purchased the KLH model 5's and did not like them. When contacting their customer service I was told that they had to be returned via freight, on a pallet - which is extremely difficult as a non commercial customer. Make sure you can easily return if you don't like.
Best place to buy speakers by far is Crutchfield. You don't deal with none of that nonsense!
Why is it that some random cheap speaker you buy just to make do for the meantime ends up sounding better than the one you have been saving up for? £400 Kanto Yu6 vs £2300 Sony HT-A9
Get the HT-A9.
Andrew / Kristi, nice video and some great points to consider. Im actually in the market for some speakers, but luckily I have a good hifi shop here in Madrid where I can go and listen to the speakers Im interested in. Im trying to decide between the KEF R5, Focal Aria 926, and the B&W 603-S2 (I cant quite get into the B&W 700 series budget-wise).
There is an error in your description about ohms that I hope people dont beat you up too much about. You are correct that the lower the ohms the more work the amp has to do, but you said something like "the lower the ohms, the more the resistance". That's not correct. The lower the ohms, the LESS the resistance, and the less the resistance, the more current the amp will send. If the amp sends more current at the same voltage, then its sending more wattage (watts = current x voltage). I know, its a minor detail, but Im an engineer and my eye started twitching a bit when I heard that ;) not really, but I imagine several people's eyes will twitch :D
There's a very simple solution! Buy what you like then never ever listen to or watch reviews and don't ever walk into any audio salons and you are in paradise!😁
Ignorance is bliss! There's always gonna be newer , greater, whatever 😁
So just buy, enjoy and forget. Best regards
I like, and agree with, your reasoning and your final choice. And I have burnt out an incompatible amp trying to drive 4 ohm speakers over time and volume.
I needed a video like this!! Thanks for the tips!