Audiophile speakers

[Charles Rose]

When does a speaker become an audiophile speaker? Is it price, bi-wire/bi-ampability, frequency response, manufacturer, semantics? Just wondering.

Charles

[jkratzer]

When the speaker is only sold at snobbish specialty stores in low quantity. LOL! :D

Seriously, I believe that Polk RTi's are audiophile speakers and are just as good as some so-called "audiophile" speakers. With both Klipsch and Athena now sold at Best Buy (these brands are considered "audiophile"), that just reinforces my argument that speakers can be sold at big box retailers and still be audiophile.

[mantis]

When does a speaker become an Audiophile speaker???

Huh well I never really thought about it untill just now.I'm gonna say a speaker can be labeled as such when a certian or group of people consider it to be of high quality and true to the music so to speak.

Higher end companies like Wilson,Dynaudio,Martin Logan,Sonus Faber are examples of high end Audiophile speakers.But that doesn't mean that they are the only ones.

So really it comes down to the listener or listeners.

I consider the Lsi15's to be a Audiophile grade speaker,entry level in my opnion.

[jrausch]

It's defined as a person or product that is enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction. I believe it is when an audio product can faithfully reproduce the original event without adding its own color or flavor to that event. This of course omits 95% of most audio products out there. So the pursuit of perfection is more or less the goal of an audiophile speaker and not a specific standard that is set.

[TroyD]

I don't think that there is any one 'right' or 'wrong' answer.....if you dig it, go with it.

BDT

[Zero]

"Audiophile Grade" products are typically given their title after being accepted into a community of stringent, often self proclaimed elitests.

It is relatively easy to spot Audiophile grade products. Typically they are displayed on an attractive, solid wood fixture, or in a spacious dark lit room. Often giving off the shoe polished appeal, classy text, unique looks, and solid construction.

Traditionally, Audiophile quality was a term meant to describe a product of fidelity and extraordinary capability in musical reproduction.

That term has since been distorted.

An Audiophile product in my mind, has always been that of something which can satisfy the hunger of an enthusiast who has had experience with this hobby. An Audiophile product earns its keep by keeping such savvy individuals satisfied, whether its a 200 dollar product - or a 200,000.

[VR3]

A Audiophile speaker is in a room that cost as much to build as the system.

In this case, I heard a Wilson Audio X-1 setup, the setup itself, (HT), amps, sources, pres, projector, screen, etc etc everything cost 500,000. The room in there costs 500,000. It was free standing, floated more the less, it has zero vibrations, and was literally sound proof. It was acoustically perfect, and was by far the most audio accepting room I have EVER stepped into. Now that is when a speaker is beyond Audiophile. When the room costs as much as the system. Haha..anyways

I believe my speakers are Audiophile quality for the Audio Enthusiast. Not some stuck up rich mofo that could buy a mountain for his daily use if so be it...

I also believe, when something can cost less, but sound siginifically better, Polk is a prime example. It seems Polk Audio sets the standards in low/mid line speakers. I have heard the Klipsch speakers, their TOTL. I must say, it didn't smash mine. Possibly more open in the midrange, but I could not justify the price of the Klipsch. Boston, they're another that I think is a load of trash, not even caliber of RT. Polk, Klipsch, Def Tech, Dynaudio, Sonus Fabor, Wilson, etc

I will say this. The Polk Audio SRT is Audiophile quality. It made a 8,000 dollar Sonus Fabor look like a Car Speaker that was dumped in salt water for 9 months......
The SRT is on the same levels of Wilson Audio, not quite there, but the Wilson could not have its way with it. I am sorry Wilson, just not gonna happen.....

[dorokusai]

This is a completely unanswerable question, its too subjective. It has sparked some good comments, but it only matters to the listener and/or buyer in the end.

[RuSsMaN]

Originally posted by ATCVenom
[B...stringent, often self proclaimed elitests....
[/B]

Like Dan? ;)

Cheers,
Russ

[Emlyn]

The dictionary definition of audiophile is basically anyone who is enthusiastic about the reproduction of high fidelity sound. Since beauty is in the ear of the beholder, and what constitutes high fidelity sound varies from one person to the next, anyone who is enthusiastic about their sound system meets the definition of audiophile--even someone with Bose speakers.

[DynamiteD]

An audiophile speaker is a speaker that is built with top shelf audiophile grade parts. I'm assuming that audiophile grade parts meet some kind of stringent requirement to be deemed as such. For instance, gold plated bindings would usually be considered audiophile grade bindings. Now, does this all make a difference. Who knows. It has been my experience that the law of deminishing returns exists in the audio world. Once you get to a certain level, say $1000 on speakers or a receiver you'll have to ante up a lot more to achieve a better sound. For instance msrp Rti70 would be $800 and for the LSi15 $1600. My take with the audiophile parts comes from reading many audio articles, it seems to be how they refer to a product as audiophile quility.

[F1nut]

Audiophile speakers are what you own and everything your friends own are not.

[dorokusai]

Emlyn/F1 - :D True.

The whole thought of "audiophile" grade parts even having weight is ridiculous. It is a generic term, and that gets dressed up by others. It the same with saying that cars used to be made better, and blah blah blah. Its all BS. Its all subjective, period.

Speaker parts that have high quality replacements...are called high quality replacements. You don't hear me saying replacing the boost controller on my turbo with an autophile part, no, its an upgrade to a better one.

[paymontana]

If you find the sound you can't describe in words coming from a set of speakers.

If you say those are the speakers i want beside my 60" mits and can afford them.

If your buddy starts crying because he hears your sound compared to his over priced BOSO'S.

If your dog barks at a cat he hears on your ht.

If you can say yes to any or all of these you have found audiofile speakers.

[Charles Rose]

When is a speaker an audiophile speaker? When the speaker talks about audiophiles.... :D

But really, my feeling at the time I posted the question was that to call a speaker an audiophile speaker was in a sense incorrect use of the word audiophile. But many reviewers of speakers use the term. Just do a search of the term on-line and see what comes up.

What Emlyn stated is correct. An audiophile is an enthusiast for things of the audio world. But, I have read many reviews referring to audiophile speakers where the implication was for really high grade (high cost-not necessarily higher quality) speakers. Just wondering what that line is...Personally, I feel that my little RT7s are audiophile quality.


Charles

[dorokusai]

AMEN! :)