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Vistance
54
Apr 22, 2015
I tried a pair of these before, just fair warning - they're very bright. After listening to anything for about an hour or so they just hurt my ears too much to go on. I fiddled with the settings and positioning and could not get them to sound less than ear piercing. The bass was a bit lacking unless you really blasted them as well. I was told this would be a big upgrade over my B&W speakers (I'm an audiophile, not mixing music) since I do very nearfield listening. Turned out the B&W's sounded much better to me (B&W 602 S3 for those curious).
I very much can't stand bright speakers though, Klipsch speakers are a complete no go for me. My metal domed B&W's are about the limit for crispness that is still enjoyable without being fatiguing if you ask me. I listened to a vintage pair of KEF reference with a silk dome style tweeter and found it very pleasant but just a little more rolled off on the highs. Someone told me to try the JBL 8" Monitors, I think the LSRs? Didn't try those though, just the HS8s. Way too much treble.
Elemino
7
Apr 22, 2015
VistanceAre you sure the levels on your highs just weren't too high? I have to say I love highs, but these are far tamer than the Infinity Kappa Perfect components in my truck and a bit less bright than my Klipsch Synergy towers. I use them paired to a Focusrite 2i2, and the sound seems very neutral and balanced to me. I agree with your statement about the bass though. They are designed to be played at high volume. I'm considering the HS8S subwoofer as well.
This is a great deal, nearly $100 per speaker less than I paid.
Vistance
54
Apr 22, 2015
EleminoI did indeed try adjusting the levels for the highs. It was set flat out of the box, I tried adjusting down and still too bright. I wouldn't call my B&W speakers muffled in the slightest, they are quite crisp so I still perceived the Yamaha's as having way too much treble. Given historic experience with other famed Yamaha monitor speakers from the old days, it's about inline with what I should have expected.
I have an older pair of Crescendo series Infinity towers with EMIT-R tweeters and even those I do not find to be unpleasant, but certainly the Yamaha's were. Actually, thinking of all the speakers I've heard, the Yamaha HS8's have to be the brightest I've ever heard. HPM-100's were unpleasant, but not as ear piercing. But plenty of people think Klipsch speakers are not bright, and they most assuredly are (they were meant to be mated with tube amps to roll off the highs, as the founder of Klipsch or whoever I remember reading didn't like solid state amplifiers).
Treble is a sensitive subject I'd say. Apparently the masses love too much treble, considering the number of famed vintage speakers that are praised that are insanely bright compared to many other offerings. Plus there's also the infamous smiley face EQ. I know many people love JBL titanium tweeters, but those are also painful to listen to. I heard a pair once and after about 5 minutes I had enough.
Elemino
7
Apr 23, 2015
VistanceMy Kappa Perfects have titanium tweeters. I love them, but some hate them. If the bass is properly balanced, I enjoy listening to them. I like bass heavy music, so they're fine for me.
The soft dome tweeters on my HS8s seem quite a bit tamer. I reviewed these (literally everyday) for two months before buying them, I've never once saw a post or review anywhere (until you comment) about them being too harsh. The reason I chose these over the cheaper KRK was because these are said to be the truest sound you can get in this price range.
When I was asking about the level of the highs being too high, I meant on whatever you're mixing. Have you tried just lowering the level of the tracks that are bothering you? That may mean the levels are too high for the final product.
Vistance
54
Apr 27, 2015
EleminoWell, I'm using it as an audiophile not a producer or whatever have you. I was recommended to do this because of the nearfield listening aspect since I sit close to my speakers. There is no adjustment to make really, I don't use tone control with my B&W speakers and didn't with the Yamahas as that's the fairest playing ground for hearing the speaker and not the equalization.
There's a different standard or expectation I guess with pro speakers than home audio speakers. The B&Ws could be considered nearfield monitors, they're just not powered speakers. The overall tone sounds more pleasant. It doesn't sound too colored to me, I listen critically to music for playback but not in a mixing sense. I still think pro speakers are more biased towards being bright as "natural" than home speakers, which I do not like.
Elemino
7
Apr 30, 2015
VistanceAhh, makes sense now. I'm betting theirs a chance the Yamahas have a more natural sound than your B&Ws. Some manufacturers just make less responsive tweeters than others, but you also have to take into account you're using an external amp with them, which might have an effect on high frequency reproduction as well. I definitely consider myself an audiophile. The little bit of mixing I do doesn't justify the cost of these behemoths, but I wanted a very natural sound and the pros say in this price range this is the speaker to use. The difference with mixing is you can adjust your highs if they're too bright. With post production, you have the EQ and you're at the mercy of the person that mastered the music you're listening to.
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