Originally posted by jayne lee wilson
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In the past some people said that loudspeakers made much more difference to the overall sound quality, though in the last few decades loudspeaker design has generally improved, and some good ones can be obtained cheaply. Loudspeakers may also need "tuning" to the music - in the sense that if the requirement is only to play classical music some speakers may be very good, and even then different speakers may be better at orchestral, instrumental or vocal music. If one's tastes also extend to other forms of entertainment, or others in one's abode listen too, then there might be a need for other characteristics. Those Monitor Audios I mentioned earlier might not be much good for rock music - though that wouldn't bother me. It might for some others with more "general" requirements.
You should test out any speakers on a range of music which you think you might want to listen to.
Part of the problem here is that the budget isn't big enough to be able to really optimise, though the good thing is that limits the "damage" if things don't work out.
Regarding dealers, some are helpful, some are good, and some are ... Don't let a dealer tell you what is good and what is not. If you don't like something then there's probably a reason, and similarly if you do.
Discuss your preferences with the dealer, but if you think something sounds in a particular way, then don't let him/her persuade you otherwise.
If you hear some kit you like in a demo, do ask if you can try it at home - things can sound different there, and also of course, stuff may look overpowering at home which it perhaps won't in a shop.
One other tip, but it doesn't work too often - is to watch when other people get a demo, if you can. Firstly, you may find that the sound that you hear is good, but then watch what the salesman/dealer puts on when the other customers have gone away. Doesn't normally work though, as most have dreadful taste in music - or just don't care, but I did watch one salesperson who consistently switched back to one CD player (I think it was an Arcam) after others had left, and in that system I could hear individual instruments in music which I liked, which was not possible with the others. The other interesting thing about that episode was that some of the customers brought along a CD of the New World symphony, which turned out to be a real cheappie CD, but it sounded brilliant on the kit it was played on. So even some very cheap CDs can sound very good on some equipment - and not, on some other.
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