I used to think that bass was most difficult to achieve. Now I appreciate that every frequency is difficult to achieve.
I have heard large and very expensive speakers go boom-boom, but most do not provide that sense of mass, scale, and weight. Even fewer have proper integration with the midrange and tweeter to give the lower frequencies a sense of direction and the proper speed within a given recording venue.
The midrange is also very difficult to achieve. The goal of transparent, open, clear, deep, and beautiful midrange has proven the most elusive to put together within a single system. Some speakers do a couple of these, but it is unusual to hear all.
The treble, likewise, can be elusive. I am speaking about sparkle, shimmer, detail, openness, bite, and beauty. Plus, this has to be perfectly balanced as not to go too far into hyperdetail, harshness, and glare. It is a very, very fine line.
When you have it dialed in, the reaction is both visceral and emotional. Does the hair stand-up on the back of your neck, do you get a lump in your throat, does your heart flutter and melt, do your eyes tear-up?
I have heard large and very expensive speakers go boom-boom, but most do not provide that sense of mass, scale, and weight. Even fewer have proper integration with the midrange and tweeter to give the lower frequencies a sense of direction and the proper speed within a given recording venue.
The midrange is also very difficult to achieve. The goal of transparent, open, clear, deep, and beautiful midrange has proven the most elusive to put together within a single system. Some speakers do a couple of these, but it is unusual to hear all.
The treble, likewise, can be elusive. I am speaking about sparkle, shimmer, detail, openness, bite, and beauty. Plus, this has to be perfectly balanced as not to go too far into hyperdetail, harshness, and glare. It is a very, very fine line.
When you have it dialed in, the reaction is both visceral and emotional. Does the hair stand-up on the back of your neck, do you get a lump in your throat, does your heart flutter and melt, do your eyes tear-up?