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Internet Direct Speaker companies share sonic characterisics with traditional brands?

post #1 of 10
11/8/09 at 9:23pm
Thread Starter 
Hello,

Someone made a comment in a different thread that Axiom's tend to sound similar to Paradigms - I found this intriguing.

It would be interesting if those of you with ID speaker experience share that view or others?

I know that to my ears PSB & NHT have kind of a similar sound, and that ERA Design reminds me of Paradigm, and that if you like B&W sound you will like.... more expensive B&W's ;-) and perhaps Dali's. and if you are single you will like Magnepan's, Wilson, and to a lesser extent Martin Logan's, and that if you wear a smoking jacket & sport a goatee you might like Harbeth's (I digress)

So, just for fun, what does the Ascend Sierra-1 sound most like? Axiom, Newformreasearch, Salk, etc., etc.,

Would love to hear people's thoughts!

Ron
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post #2 of 10
11/9/09 at 5:25am
Its not really a ID vs B&M thing here.

Find any speaker in any design and there is a high probability of finding a similar speaker out there. There are only so many drivers, box designs, crossover designs to choose from so some companies are going to have similar sounds in the end.
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post #3 of 10
11/9/09 at 7:04am
I would say that most brands I have listen to have different sound even within the same line.
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post #4 of 10
11/9/09 at 7:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NIN74 View Post

I would say that most brands I have listen to have different sound even within the same line.

They may all have a different sound but they can all sound similar if very similar drivers are used, same box volume, same port size.

In the end it becomes a subjective and almost meaningless discussion since one persons definition of "sounding different" is another persons definition of "sounding similar".
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post #5 of 10
11/9/09 at 10:15am
Thread Starter 
I certainly didn't mean this question to be ID "vs." B&M (hence my first three examples). I've not heard any ID and am just interested in observations if anyone thinks that there are similarities.

I'd be interested in comparisons between b&m speakers too, but less so because I think I've heard all the majors except REVEL (GRR - their dealer network irritates me) and Gallo's cool looking reference series.

Ron
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post #6 of 10
11/9/09 at 11:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonaldoCombs View Post

I certainly didn't mean this question to be ID "vs." B&M (hence my first three examples). I've not heard any ID and am just interested in observations if anyone thinks that there are similarities.

I'd be interested in comparisons between b&m speakers too, but less so because I think I've heard all the majors except REVEL (GRR - their dealer network irritates me) and Gallo's cool looking reference series.

Ron

FWIW, B&M guys can build incredible speakers, ID guys can build incredible speakers. There isn't a desginer advantage with being involved with either.


Are you looking for similar ID speakers to a B&M brand?
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post #7 of 10
11/9/09 at 11:19am
I have a 5.0 setup consisting of all Emotiva - 8.3s - 6.3 center - ERD surrrounds. They remind me very much of the Infinity Interludes I've owned the past 8 years - IL50s (sold) IL40s - and IL30s (sold).

I used an Infinity Beta C360 in concert with the 8.3s for a few weeks. The sonic signature is very close to the Emotivas. Timbre match is quite close. The Beta line is very close (sonic sounding) to the Interlude line and use the same CMMD drivers. The 1" tweeter is very good. And FWIW the C360 is a very decent center channel speaker.

The real difference becomes very clear when I crank power to the Emotivas. They just get louder - no distortion at any level I wish to listen at. Not so for the Infinity speakers. At normal levels there is very little differences in the clarity of sound other than the dual 8" woofers on the Emo's deliver more bass. The IL40 has a single 8" ported - the Emo is sealed.

The IL50s had a rather muddy bass response - they also have built in 250w 10" subs. Not well controlled bass at that.
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post #8 of 10
11/9/09 at 11:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

FWIW, B&M guys can build incredible speakers, ID guys can build incredible speakers. There isn't a desginer advantage with being involved with either.


Are you looking for similar ID speakers to a B&M brand?

Agreed there is not necessarily a designer advantage either way. How something is sold is irrelevant to how it is designed.

I am interested in opinions of whether certain speakers sound "similar" to others, particularly speakers I haven't heard (ID) relative to speakers that I have (B&M). Or if you like one speaker maybe you will be likely to like another - I listed examples of how IMO that is the case hoping that others might follow suit.

I have some interest in the design reasons behind all of this, but zero interest in how those conversations tend to play out.

Ron
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post #9 of 10
11/9/09 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knucklehead90 View Post

I have a 5.0 setup consisting of all Emotiva - 8.3s - 6.3 center - ERD surrrounds. They remind me very much of the Infinity Interludes I've owned the past 8 years - IL50s (sold) IL40s - and IL30s (sold).

I used an Infinity Beta C360 in concert with the 8.3s for a few weeks. The sonic signature is very close to the Emotivas. Timbre match is quite close. The Beta line is very close (sonic sounding) to the Interlude line and use the same CMMD drivers. The 1" tweeter is very good. And FWIW the C360 is a very decent center channel speaker.

The real difference becomes very clear when I crank power to the Emotivas. They just get louder - no distortion at any level I wish to listen at. Not so for the Infinity speakers. At normal levels there is very little differences in the clarity of sound other than the dual 8" woofers on the Emo's deliver more bass. The IL40 has a single 8" ported - the Emo is sealed.

The IL50s had a rather muddy bass response - they also have built in 250w 10" subs. Not well controlled bass at that.

Thank you Knucklehead90 - that is exactly the kind of info I was hoping for. I think Infinity is one of the best value brands out there, and Emotiva's electronics are pretty. Also, I'm glad to see a sealed box design, they are few & far between nowadays.

Ron
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post #10 of 10
11/9/09 at 5:03pm
Thread Starter 
Summing up: Emotiva's may sound similar to Infinity (very interesting), Axiom's sound like Paradigm kinda, and Sony's sound like a B&W having a bad day.
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