"Don Pearce" wrote in message
news:4a006be5.14377828@localhost...
On Sat, 2 May 2009 16:49:33 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:


"Don Pearce" wrote in message
news:49fe52c2.7943468@localhost...
On Sat, 2 May 2009 14:46:05 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:


Means the two waveforms won't be 'mirro images' so won't null.


An important point.


Again, what odds to anyone prepared only to pay as little as possible
for 'budget' speakers?

None. Just that the user won't be hearing clear stereo imaging.


That's a presumption I presume?


No, not really. The quality of the null you get when you wire the
speakers out of phase is a good indicator of the quality
(locatability, if you like) of the stereo image they can produce. A
setup that produces a solid central image in the centre when playing
mono will also produce a reasonable null with out-of-phase mono. The
same goes of course for all the other image locations between the
speakers.


You're on the wrong tack, or making the same mistake yourself - the
'presumption' I refer to is to presume the budget speakers won't deliver a
good 'stereo image' (or out of phase 'null', if you prefer) simply beause
they are *budget*! My experience is that they can, in fact, image very
well
(often, the smaller cabinet, the better) and would go further and say that
many 'budget' speakers up to the 250 quid level these days will 'out
image'
a lot of the soggy old chuffer-boxes that quite a few Old Sweats still
revere and will pay silly money for today.

(Time for someone else to make the effort/expense and look into it, if
they
have their doubts - I've completed my own researches into this subject!)

FWIW, like 50mm 'standard' lenses for 35mm cameras, I believe the small
'entry level' bookshelf speakers are usually *especially good* VFM (if not
quite loss-leaders) to encourage brand loyaly at an early stage and
'imaging' is always mentioned in the advertising and by the comix in their
reviews....


Well, you generally get pretty much what you pay for,


Usually applies to just about everything on the planet....


and with the
more expensive drivers that go into more expensive speakers, what you
are paying for is consistency - quality control in other words.


I don't think the 'names' are likely to risk alienating future loyalty with
duff drivers and poor QC - modern speaker cabinets are automatically churned
out to perfection like kitchen cabinet drawers these days and the people who
fit the drivers are almost certainly quite capable of building the computers
we're on right now!

..

It is
the small differences between the two speakers that determine the
imaging quality, not the actual responses themselves. Of course all
this goes for absolutely nothing until you have the room sorted -
without that you are whistling at the moon if you want decent imaging.


An easy *say*, not such an easy *do* - most people have to blend in with the
decor these days....


And it has to be said that good imaging is easier to achieve with
smaller boxes, unfortunately at the expense of all the other good
stuff, like bass.


insert Heinlein free lunch chestnut here