Sure, at shows or at dealers you can't expect much. Proper set-up can take many hours. That also holds for the main speakers themselves. I have found that I shuffled my speakers around after new gear purchases, acoustic changes or power changes to adjust for the overall changes in sound. As for subs, it took me a while until I really understood and was able to dial in the phase of my JL Audios. Doing that, based on many recordings of very different music (orchestral, chamber, rock, jazz, electronica, you name it), takes a good amount of time as well. And if you only have a 0/180 phase option rather than the possibility of continuous adjustment, as is the case with many subwoofers, then you very well may have a problem, in my opinion. I would have had one.
All in all, I have spent countless hours on my speaker set-up, both main speakers and subs. And no, you can't delegate all that hard work to a paid set-up expert who visits for a day or two either. Sure, that person might be of big help, but the final and tedious fine-tuning, according to your own personal tastes and perceptions which only you know and nobody else, will be in your own hands.
Just plonking down a speaker system in your room and hoping for a miracle doesn't cut it. No matter how much money you throw at it.
I totally agree and have said many times shows are for a taste and a small taste of what the gear can do but more for a look at what is out there.
The real secret sauce here is getting a room that will work with a speaker. I see so many people who can afford a large speaker buy them but then put them in a seriously challenged space. That space is too small, or the wrong dimensions, or there are other factors like family and furniture and easthetics that make the speakers operation virtually impossible, Thsi si done and the owner spends his time searching for a fix of a problem that he created for himself.
AL large and expensive speakers are not created equally. There are many companies that make a "reference level" speaker becasue it sia marketing tool and they may have some clients who stick with the brand and buy them
These are not usually great sounding items, they are however some street cred for the brand.
I wont name names but if we are serious and honest they are easily spotted.
The issue with producing excellent and "better level " sound quality is difficult to do anywhere let alone in a store. Stores have limited space and are moving stuff all around constantly. I know in my showroom I hate to take my system apart for anything. It takes al ot of time to get it right and taking it apart is like almost starting from scratch.
So a showroom with speakers they drag in or roll in or with many speakers in the room is seriously compromised.
Audio takes a lot of perspiration and effort along with some cash.
THe really good products out there can all produce some seriously good sound, perfect no, some better than others yes, but with the propper room , gear and lots of work one can get a great result.
There is a place for much of the gear and some speaker companies that made reallyu good speakers at reasonable price and size will be in thier sweet spot however playing in the other leagues may leave them on the outside.
I selll big, bigger and huge speakers.
They are not interchangeable
They all wont work the same in a room
The bigger speakers were DESIGNED for larger spaces -- what a surprise :LOL
