Just to put things succinctly after some more burn-in and listening, my impression is that the SHL5s just create this big, friendly, safe, warm and inviting blob of sound in most of the space between the speakers where all is well.
I did some listening to an SACD of Tapestry (Carole King), and the gentle distortion of her voice is now just right,
smooth but still detailed, but not harsh. That about sums up the affect these speakers have on everything. It is probably a sound where some of the nasty thorns and sharp edges have been excised, at the expense of some openness
or spaciousness, but the character of the sound, the individual personality of the vocal or instrument still comes across, just not as loud and clear as in more revealing speakers. But it is direct, but not at all forward, pushy, or heavy. Just plain nice.
And yes, I think this may be a coloration of some sorts,
as there is a bit of sameness to all recordings, but it is painted in such a pleasant way, you just go with it, in don't-worry-be-happy mode.
But again, it is not boring, or rolled off like a tone control would do. It is toned down in a non-electronic way,
as if that is the way it sounded in real life, a believable type of softness (or at lease lack of harshness) that rings true.
I think this is a a rare speaker I can recommend to people to buy without even hearing it first...
I did some listening to an SACD of Tapestry (Carole King), and the gentle distortion of her voice is now just right,
smooth but still detailed, but not harsh. That about sums up the affect these speakers have on everything. It is probably a sound where some of the nasty thorns and sharp edges have been excised, at the expense of some openness
or spaciousness, but the character of the sound, the individual personality of the vocal or instrument still comes across, just not as loud and clear as in more revealing speakers. But it is direct, but not at all forward, pushy, or heavy. Just plain nice.
And yes, I think this may be a coloration of some sorts,
as there is a bit of sameness to all recordings, but it is painted in such a pleasant way, you just go with it, in don't-worry-be-happy mode.
But again, it is not boring, or rolled off like a tone control would do. It is toned down in a non-electronic way,
as if that is the way it sounded in real life, a believable type of softness (or at lease lack of harshness) that rings true.
I think this is a a rare speaker I can recommend to people to buy without even hearing it first...
