"House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

[xsundown]

Wondering if Wolf, Paul, Jeff, and all the others have their own house sound similar to headphone manufactures such as Sennheiser, Grado, Beyerdynamic, ect.

[Jeff B.]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Wondering if Wolf, Paul, Jeff, and all the others have their own house sound similar to headphone manufactures such as Sennheiser, Grado, Beyerdynamic, ect.

Well, if the same person is designing the speaker they are going to tend to voice them all fairly similarly. Now, some of mine can sound a bit different depending on the overall bass extension, or the type of driver used. But for the most part there is a voicing that seems right to me, so that is typically what you are going to get. Fortunately for me, a lot of people seem to like my voicing - which is usually always based on a flat response to begin with.

[xsundown]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Well, if the same person is designing the speaker they are going to tend to voice them all fairly similarly. Now, some of mine can sound a bit different depending on the overall bass extension, or the type of driver used. But for the most part there is a voicing that seems right to me, so that is typically what you are going to get. Fortunately for me, a lot of people seem to like my voicing - which is usually always based on a flat response to begin with.

Good to hear. Have you ever been able to listen to Sennheiser HD600 headphones over the years? They have the perfect midrange/voicing to my ears that I would love to have in speakers and was wondering if so, which design of yours would be similar.

[ksneote]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Well, if the same person is designing the speaker they are going to tend to voice them all fairly similarly. Now, some of mine can sound a bit different depending on the overall bass extension, or the type of driver used. But for the most part there is a voicing that seems right to me, so that is typically what you are going to get. Fortunately for me, a lot of people seem to like my voicing - which is usually always based on a flat response to begin with.

After building your Quarks, I am very excited of making another pair of speakers designed for you! I was amazed what you did with fairly inexpensive drivers, can't wait to build something "higher end!" Just need to save up for a while...

[Jeff B.]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Good to hear. Have you ever been able to listen to Sennheiser HD600 headphones over the years? They have the perfect midrange/voicing to my ears that I would love to have in speakers and was wondering if so, which design of yours would be similar.

Yes, I have a pair of HD600's, and have had them for several years. They are my reference headphones. I do use them to reference vocal tracks with. Before them I had HD580's , those go back about 15 years. I have some other headphones too, and a couple tube and and a couple transistor headphone amps that I use, but the I consider the HD600's my best vocal headphone.

[isaeagle4031]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Having heard many of Jeff's, Ben's, JR's, etc builds, I can tell you that each has their own unique voicing. Its really kind of neat. It has actually gotten to the point that many can hear builds from these guys and can recognize the characteristic sounds of the designers. I've had a few people tell me they like the voicing I put into my builds which is really quite flattering.

[philthien]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Having heard many of Jeff's, Ben's, JR's, etc builds, I can tell you that each has their own unique voicing. Its really kind of neat. It has actually gotten to the point that many can hear builds from these guys and can recognize the characteristic sounds of the designers. I've had a few people tell me they like the voicing I put into my builds which is really quite flattering.

What is voicing? Or what can a crossover designer do to impart a voice to a speaker design that provides a signature sound that doesn't cause deviation from flat?

Because I'd think anything characteristic of all of an individual's multiple builds would be a con, not a pro?

[xsundown]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Yes, I have a pair of HD600's, and have had them for several years. They are my reference headphones. I do use them to reference vocal tracks with. Before them I had HD580's , those go back about 15 years. I have some other headphones too, and a couple tube and and a couple transistor headphone amps that I use, but the I consider the HD600's my best vocal headphone.

Great to read. Will be building a design from you next go. Most likely the Piccolo's that I had in mind for a while now.

[isaeagle4031]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Voicing can be as simple as adding a touch more resistance to a tweeter, maybe a bit of a bbc dip (depending on design criteria). Some designers do use as optimally flat as they can which can actually be to the detriment of the build IMO. Over use of parts to get perfectly flat response tends to kill the "life" of the speaker to me.

I would classify voicing as the "art" after the "science". In other words, we can still have a very flat response with a little personality.

[Jeff B.]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

What is voicing? Or what can a crossover designer do to impart a voice to a speaker design that provides a signature sound that doesn't cause deviation from flat?

Because I'd think anything characteristic of all of an individual's multiple builds would be a con, not a pro?

Before I answer your question, let me ask you one first - What is flat? (Yes, it is a trick question)

[philthien]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Before I answer your question, let me ask you one first - What is flat? (Yes, it is a trick question)

I'd say it is an effort to maintain as close to a straight line response as possible?

To reproduce the input signal as accurately as you can?

I suck at trick questions!

[hongrn]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

I'll take a crack at Jeff's trick question as well. I look at a "flat response" as a combination of a fairly decent +/- 2 to 3dB deviation from the desired SPL of the system, combined with good phase tracking and adequate sloping of the drivers. In my opinion, you can't just have a flat response and not consider other factors.

Hong

[craigk]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Before I answer your question, let me ask you one first - What is flat? (Yes, it is a trick question)

Bill Clinton once questioned what is "is." that turned out to be a tricky one too.

[Wolf]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

Voicing can be as simple as adding a touch more resistance to a tweeter, maybe a bit of a bbc dip (depending on design criteria). Some designers do use as optimally flat as they can which can actually be to the detriment of the build IMO. Over use of parts to get perfectly flat response tends to kill the "life" of the speaker to me.

I would classify voicing as the "art" after the "science". In other words, we can still have a very flat response with a little personality.

Not everyone designs speakers the same way. IE- the method of filter usage, how they are applied. Complicated xovers can still sound fantastic with plenty of life, especially in a 3-way. Flat can be anything from sterile to lively, and even tilted toward the treble or the bass- but still flat. Most of the designers shoot for relatively-flat response being as close to a horizontal line as possible, without tilt. Some like a bit of BBC-style (not in the classic sense) dippage in the upper mids to take out the shout in the sound, and this is usually within the +/-3dB spec, making a slightly smiley curve in the middle. Then there are room placements and whether or not the design is intended for toe-in.

I usually shoot for using them toed-in, a good distance 2'-3' from walls, and a flat response with +/-3dB or less tolerance if possible. I've had +/-1.5dB in sims before. I don't like sterile or forward, and don't use BBC-dip in general.

Some have been able to tell it's my design without knowing it was mine.

Later,
Wolf

[Paul Carmody]

Re: "House sound" Do the designers here have a "house sound"?

My first few designs, I was simply aiming for flat and called it good. After more practice, I started to learn how I could shape the sound a bit here and there and make speakers that presented the music I like in a way I liked. Nothing too drastic, but 1 or 2 or 3 dB dips and peaks in the right (or wrong) places can make a huge difference to how long I actually want to listen to a speaker. Now I pretty much know exactly what I'm shooting for with any given design from the get-go. Some drivers may be easier to work with, some might allow for a FR that images better or has a better soundstage. But the overall tonality of my designs is pretty similar, because I like to hear the music I like a certain way.

I know I can't please everyone with this mindset, but when does that ever happen, anyway? We don't all drive the same kind of car, and we don't all like the same kind of ice cream. As long as we all find enjoyment from SOMETHING, that's all that matters.