Is speaker adjustibility a marketing gimmick?

caesar

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Wilsons, Focals, etc., all claim to give the listener an advantage because their speakers can be adjusted to the listener's seat position. Is there something to this? Or are these just bad design choices twisted and marketed as a benefit to the customer?
 

caesar

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IMHO there is definitely something to this ( speaking only now for my speakers)

You definitely have one of a handful of the most amazing speakers in the world, so it definitely works for Wilson. But take the awesome Vivid Giya. They just created a really weird shape to it and don't bother with adjustibility, while passing the cost savings on to the customer.
 

FrantzM

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I pride myself in being a function-first person ....

I am however certain I will never put a Giya in my listening room, however good it sounds (well within limits :) ) . Weird, disturbing, unsettling looking item ...
 

caesar

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I pride myself in being a function-first person ....

I am however certain I will never put a Giya in my listening room, however good it sounds (well within limits :) ) . Weird, disturbing, unsettling looking item ...

I understand the emotional response, Frantz. Frank Gehry's architecture generates the emotions you describe in me.

Out of curiosity, have you heard it?
 

Bruce B

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speaker adjustability is a godsend to some. Seriously... the only thing you can do to speakers is to reposition them or your listening distance. With adjustable speakers, you can contour the sound if there are any problems with the room to get that last 3% of fidelity.
 

microstrip

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But have you heard the speaker Frantz

The speaker shape reminds me of the Diva's head in the movie The Fifth Element

Very true and enough to make me uncomfortable listening to it, specially if in pale blue color!
 

FrantzM

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But have you heard the speaker Frantz

The speaker shape reminds me of the Diva's head in the movie The Fifth Element

I understand the emotional response, Frantz. Frank Gehry's architecture generates the emotions you describe in me.

Out of curiosity, have you heard it?

I haven' head them but I do know they would never go in my listening space... This is beyond prejudice , really. I am unsettled by their looks they look like some pod out of a (bad) Science_Fiction Horror flick from the 1950's... I sincerely think I am not alone in this .. I do sincerely believe that their extremely put-offing shape limits their market because from all reports that I ahev read and heard they are truly superior.
 

microstrip

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I haven' head them but I do know they would never go in my listening space... This is beyond prejudice , really. I am unsettled by their looks they look like some pod out of a (bad) Science_Fiction Horror flick from the 1950's... I sincerely think I am not alone in this .. I do sincerely believe that their extremely put-offing shape limits their market because from all reports that I ahev read and heard they are truly superior.

You can always go with the originals - one of the best sounds I have ever listened to (in a ball room sized old hotel room, I must say). Besides, it will get Tim approval :)
 

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Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I haven' head them but I do know they would never go in my listening space... This is beyond prejudice , really. I am unsettled by their looks they look like some pod out of a (bad) Science_Fiction Horror flick from the 1950's... I sincerely think I am not alone in this .. I do sincerely believe that their extremely put-offing shape limits their market because from all reports that I ahev read and heard they are truly superior.

Frantz

that is a perfect example of "expectation bias" :)

I would bet that if you heard the speaker you would have a different impression as they are just that good. Phillip O'Hanlon hit a home run by bringing them into the US
 

caesar

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May 30, 2010
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speaker adjustability is a godsend to some. Seriously... the only thing you can do to speakers is to reposition them or your listening distance. With adjustable speakers, you can contour the sound if there are any problems with the room to get that last 3% of fidelity.

Bruce, that's a great point. How does it work on a Wilson?
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Bruce, that's a great point. How does it work on a Wilson?

you know the answer Caesar. All of the top 3 modules are adjustable in 2 dimension such that the drivers are all focussed at the ear. This is achieved by moving the module forward or back on a track as well as using a pivot bolt that adjusts the angle of the module.
 

MylesBAstor

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Apr 20, 2010
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Frantz

that is a perfect example of "expectation bias" :)

I would bet that if you heard the speaker you would have a different impression as they are just that good. Phillip O'Hanlon hit a home run by bringing them into the US

+1
 

FrantzM

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I may not have expressed myself clearly enough. I am not saying for a second they are not great sounding ... They might be but I find their looks off-putting, almost repulsing...

On the issue of speakers adjustability. They are welcome but for the most part band-aids. I do however believe that true adjustability will be brought in by Software. A software specific to a speaker would do wonders. I wold like to see and hear what something like DeQX or TaCT specfically designed for a speaker would be able to do.
 

Bruce B

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I may not have expressed myself clearly enough. I am not saying for a second they are not great sounding ... They might be but I find their looks off-putting, almost repulsing...

Well listen in the dark then. Don't most audiophiles do that anyway? :rolleyes:
 

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