4 ms·

For folks who like this kind of stuff but aren't audiophiles, may I suggest the history of the LS3/5a loudspeaker as a fun read. The LS3/5a was chosen as the re

For folks who like this kind of stuff but aren't audiophiles, may I suggest the history of the LS3/5a loudspeaker as a fun read. The LS3/5a was chosen as the reference small monitor by the BBC then the design was licensed out to various OEMs over the course of its time as the standard. Modern high-end clones are still available. I'm a big fan of ATC loudspeakers (a UK firm, btw), which are quite popular in studios and performance halls¹. Example: The Walt Disney Concert Hall — that wavy, stainless Frank Gehry building here in LA — is outfitted with custom ATC cabinets as the house PA (last I know of, at least). ATC's powered monitors are freakishly overbuilt and can play to stupendous SPLs. I've got dreams of someday having my own set of the active SCM20, which are the perfect size for small living spaces, but they make powered units as big as 150 litres per cabinet². Whoa. My last set of high-end speakers is their SCM11, about the same size. Key house feature: they design(make?) their own bass/mid drivers which are rugged af, and feature monster magnets for their size. Back to TFA; I've never heard the NS-10, but I have always heard they kind of suck. And the reasoning never held water IMHO; it stands to reason that you'd end up EQing the mix to make it sound good on the NS-10, but that would in turn make the mix all out of whack on proper equipment. It's like trying to design the next Corvette with the prototypes running on 175/70R13 tires; how you could tune the system under test (here: the music being mastered/mixed) with such a floppy foundation is beyond me. -- ¹—http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/studios-soundstages http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/studios-soundstages ²—http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/professional/loudspeakers/scm110asl-pro http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/professional/loudspeakers/scm11...

bluedino 9y ago
Actually, the base model Corvette does come with some very mediocre tires. I’ve heard that’s done because owners will end up replacing them with the cheapest option at their local tire dealer, and this way there’s not much of a performance downgrade.
- seanp2k2 9y ago
  Huh? Pilot Super Sports (standard on MY2014 Vettes) are some of the best street tires that you can buy. They’re basically the standard for high-performance street cars. The Ferrari 458 comes with them. They’re stock on the BMW M3, M5, and M6. You can get optional Sport Cup 2s on some Corvette models, but they wear out a lot faster. Src: http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/corvette-stingray-sports-car http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/corvette-stingray-sport... “”” Standard Brembo® brakes provide ample stopping power at a variety of speeds. Standard 19" front and 20" wheels come wrapped in Michelin® Pilot® Super Sport ZP summer-only tires† for incredible grip and precision control. “”” The C5s had not-the-best tires, but they were still developed for the car: https://www.thoughtco.com/best-replacement-tires-for-c6-corvette-916402 https://www.thoughtco.com/best-replacement-tires-for-c6-corv...
lukeh 9y ago
ATCs are great: they make you work hard (indeed, many classic records don't sound that crash hot on them). If it sounds good on them, though, it'll often translate really well.
AceyMan 9y ago
I've caught up a bit on the thread and admit that excellence in the time domain is highly correlated to what audio-wonks call 'inner detail'. And if it sounds lively at low volumes, that helps even more. Case in point: folks love Low there design speakers (full range single driver cone) for excellence in both those aspects, plus they are super efficient which allows pairing with exotic low-power triode valve amps — also known for fantastic detail. However, Lowthers are usually 1/4 wave transmission line enclosures, IIRC, and IME studio requirements are best suited to acoustic suspension designs. Long story short, it sounds like the NS-10 is better than I have always been told.
timc3 9y ago
ATC are still my all-time favourite speaker/monitor brand from the many that I have heard. Just brilliant.
KozmoNau7 9y ago
NS10s aren't quite as bad as their reputation, but they are rather "forward-sounding", a noticeable mid/high peak in response. In turn, this is very handy for picking out distortion and noise in recordings, they tend to beat you over the head if you have too much sibilance going on. I wouldn't want to use them as my only speakers for listening to music, but I can definitely see how they come in handy as a reference tool. Same reason as why many studios have Avantone ("Horrortone") MixCubes and various other less-than-HiFi loudspeakers in addition to their nice monitors, and why they check their mixes on car stereos, bluetooth speakers and clock radios. They want it to sound good on the gear normal people use, not just high-end studio monitors.

bluedino 9y ago

Actually, the base model Corvette does come with some very mediocre tires. I’ve heard that’s done because owners will end up replacing them with the cheapest option at their local tire dealer, and this way there’s not much of a performance downgrade.

seanp2k2 9y ago
Huh? Pilot Super Sports (standard on MY2014 Vettes) are some of the best street tires that you can buy. They’re basically the standard for high-performance street cars. The Ferrari 458 comes with them. They’re stock on the BMW M3, M5, and M6. You can get optional Sport Cup 2s on some Corvette models, but they wear out a lot faster. Src: http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/corvette-stingray-sports-car http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/corvette-stingray-sport... “”” Standard Brembo® brakes provide ample stopping power at a variety of speeds. Standard 19" front and 20" wheels come wrapped in Michelin® Pilot® Super Sport ZP summer-only tires† for incredible grip and precision control. “”” The C5s had not-the-best tires, but they were still developed for the car: https://www.thoughtco.com/best-replacement-tires-for-c6-corvette-916402 https://www.thoughtco.com/best-replacement-tires-for-c6-corv...

lukeh 9y ago

ATCs are great: they make you work hard (indeed, many classic records don't sound that crash hot on them). If it sounds good on them, though, it'll often translate really well.

AceyMan 9y ago

I've caught up a bit on the thread and admit that excellence in the time domain is highly correlated to what audio-wonks call 'inner detail'. And if it sounds lively at low volumes, that helps even more. Case in point: folks love Low there design speakers (full range single driver cone) for excellence in both those aspects, plus they are super efficient which allows pairing with exotic low-power triode valve amps — also known for fantastic detail. However, Lowthers are usually 1/4 wave transmission line enclosures, IIRC, and IME studio requirements are best suited to acoustic suspension designs. Long story short, it sounds like the NS-10 is better than I have always been told.

timc3 9y ago

ATC are still my all-time favourite speaker/monitor brand from the many that I have heard. Just brilliant.

KozmoNau7 9y ago

NS10s aren't quite as bad as their reputation, but they are rather "forward-sounding", a noticeable mid/high peak in response. In turn, this is very handy for picking out distortion and noise in recordings, they tend to beat you over the head if you have too much sibilance going on. I wouldn't want to use them as my only speakers for listening to music, but I can definitely see how they come in handy as a reference tool. Same reason as why many studios have Avantone ("Horrortone") MixCubes and various other less-than-HiFi loudspeakers in addition to their nice monitors, and why they check their mixes on car stereos, bluetooth speakers and clock radios. They want it to sound good on the gear normal people use, not just high-end studio monitors.