Which speakers should I get?
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Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=79778
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Topic: Which speakers should I get?
Posted By: Oliverum
Subject: Which speakers should I get?
Date Posted: July 15 2011 at 12:11
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Hi guys, I'm looking around to get a proper home stereo setup. Since my apartment is not very roomy, the plan is simple - I should probably get a stereo amp (something like Denon PMA-510 AE without additional decks, but suitable for digital input from my computer and TV) and a pair of decent mid-size speakers (to put on a shelf not on the floor). Now here comes the tricky part - which speakers should I get and is Denon PMA-510 AE a reasonable choice at all? Thanks and all the best, O. ------------- All the best freaks are here, please stop staring at me. Marillion - Freaks (1988). |
Replies:
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: July 15 2011 at 12:24
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What will you be using it for? And I don't mean the amp ... I mean the room. Will you just be listening to music, is there also a computer, will you be watching movies or playing computer games, too? Will you eventually be making music? Those are all things you need to consider in advance if you don't want to find yourself upgrading your gear as you go along. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: July 15 2011 at 12:56
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Price has to be taken into consideration, too. ------------- 
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Posted By: Oliverum
Date Posted: July 15 2011 at 15:59
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That's a good point, I forgot to describe in detail what sound I'm looking for  . Well, to start with, I've had Philips SHP8900 cans for a couple of years and I'm quite satisfied with them. But sometimes I want to let my friends hear what I'm listening or just walk around without being tied to the computer. So why not buy a decent set of computer speakers you might ask. The thing is, I think I've been spoiled by the crystal clear and yet powerful sound of SHP8900-s, so I do not want to lose in sound quality very much. I'd like my speakers also to be able to deliver music in great detail (even in low volumes) but still be powerful enough to rock the living-room when it is necessary. Actually studio monitors were the first thing to come to mind, but I'm not sure if they are exactly suitable for home use. To answer your question, Mr Progfreak, I'm looking for a stereo setup for my living-room (quite small) and primarily for listening prog from my laptop  Watching movies is more like their secondary purpose. I'm not a gamer and won't be making my living-room into a recording studio either (at least not in the foreseeable future). And to The T - the price should not be over 200 eur (270$) per speaker. ------------- All the best freaks are here, please stop staring at me. Marillion - Freaks (1988). |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: July 15 2011 at 16:11
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So I'm guessing you want amplified speakers, not speakers that need an amp? But you are buying an amp. Logitech would have been a decent reccomendation for case one. But for case two, I'm not sure what brands they sell where you live but Klipsch (or Energy) are reliable, efficient, good-sounding and unexpensive. -------------
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Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: July 16 2011 at 00:00
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For the space conscious stereo listener I strongly suggest Definitive Technology BP6's. They have front and rear firing drivers and are ultra durable. I bought my pair in 1997, turned them sideways, dumped them out of a truck, had cats use them is a scratching post, blasted every type of music imaginable at high volume through a Carver TFM 15CB and they happily absorbed it all. They are now incorporated into my 7.1 home theater as front LR's powered by a Denon AVR2310 with Definitive Technology ProCinema60.6 as rears and center. They still sound as crisp as the day I bought them. They run $400 each, but considering how many sets of $200-300 speakers I went through in the 5 years prior to buying them, I would say the totally earned their place. The BP series also has upper end models with powered subs in the cab. Honestly, the smaller, less expensive versions have a much cleaner sound and plenty of low frequency response for small spaces. For your amp choice, not versed on the PMA series, but I am never opposed to Denon. But if you can find an old Carver power and pre kit on ebay, you will be happy and your friends' prog hipster envy. ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: July 16 2011 at 03:02
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I've now been using Logitech X-530s for a couple of years, and even at decent volume I'm quite pleased with the sound. Only last Sunday I was watching the Opeth gig that was streamed for free, and there I reached the limitations of this (80 EUR) setup. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Multimedia-Theatre-Speaker-System/dp/B0006LCMK4" rel="nofollow - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Multimedia-Theatre-Speaker-System/dp/B0006LCMK4 Of course you have a much bigger budget, so I would actually recommend these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Digital-Multimedia-Theatre-Speaker/dp/B0006HBCL8" rel="nofollow - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Digital-Multimedia-Theatre-Speaker/dp/B0006HBCL8 Now these sound really great, even at wall-trembling volume - and even if you may not find 5.1 capability to be important, once you have it you may find it quite nice. Be sure to try some 5.1 mixes of popular prog albums: http://progfreak.com/Charts-50699.html?ps=prog&tags=mix_5_1&y=*any" rel="nofollow - http://progfreak.com/Charts-50699.html?ps=prog&tags=mix_5_1&y=*any  BTW: I also have a hi-fi system in my room - actually a pretty decent one, consisting of a Harman Kardon HK-620 amp and a pair of Elac CL 82. But I don't really use it anymore - in some ways it sounds better than my X-530 speakers, in other ways it doesn't sound as good at lower volume (perceived high volume when I'm sitting right in front of the computer). I don't have a compelling reason to sell the hi-fi, but I am planning to upgrade to a bigger set of 5.1 speakers myself. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Oliverum
Date Posted: July 16 2011 at 17:44
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Thanks guys for all your recommendations! Although I'm trying to avoid floor speakers (because they take a lot of room) and 5.1 systems (they take a lot of room and there is a lot of wires everywhere) this discussion has been helpful.
That is actually pretty close to what I imagined I would need . How is your experience? Are computer speakers (like a decent set of Logitechs) more responsive than bookshelf speakers powered by external amp? I've read that bookshelf speakers deliver very good and detailed sound in higher registers but lack mid-range and bass... Also is it true that much of the detail in music is lost when played in relatively low volume because speakers need a lot of power from the amp and it is not getting it when played in low volume? Btw right now I'm thinking to buy Yamaha ns333-s.------------- All the best freaks are here, please stop staring at me. Marillion - Freaks (1988). |
Mr ProgFreak wrote:Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: July 16 2011 at 17:58
I'm no audiophile but I got a pair of Energy speakers around six years ago and they still sound wonderful to me today. That being said they're also the only serious speakers I've owned. At the time I was living in a small apartment and they worked great there.
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Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: July 16 2011 at 18:14
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Well, I've still never owned a better pair of speakers than the ones my friend made for me in high school. He used to get really high and study all that sound crap, and said he could make speakers that sounded better than the stuff at the audio store. I'm not claiming they are better than everything, but they were damn good even if they looked bad. I'm pretty happy with the Yamaha towers I have, though I wish the woofs were just a bit bigger. |
Posted By: Oliverum
Date Posted: July 17 2011 at 03:49
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Definitely going to check Klipsch and Energy out at my local hi-fi store. A bit expensive though but it depends on the sound whether they are worth the money or not...
------------- All the best freaks are here, please stop staring at me. Marillion - Freaks (1988). |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: July 17 2011 at 09:25
About the "5.1 systems take a lot of room" and "there is a lot of wires everywhere": It depends. When you use the back speakers, then yes. You can keep them disconnected though when you're not listening to 5.1 sources, and of course you can opt for more expensive 5.1 systems that will use wireless satellite speakers. About my experience with the X-530 vs. the HK/Elac system: The X-530 is much more responsive and provided that you sit in the sweet spot right in front of the computer with decent volume. Obviously they don't have enough power for a whole (medium-sized) room - for that you would need a bigger system like the Z-5500 or Z-906. The key is to keep the system within the optimum range of power output - if you go below you are missing out on the dynamics, if you go above the sound quality will diminish because of distortion and mechanical problems in the speakers. The latter is a bigger problem - most modern systems operate reasonably well at lower than optimal volume. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: July 18 2011 at 03:08
I recommend a Nad, a Rega or a Rotel amp instead of a Denon; There are a lot of nice bookshlef speakers but Mission is a sure musical value at first price. |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: July 18 2011 at 10:05
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Trust your ears when it comes to speakers, especially if u are on a budget. Go listen to several in your price range and pick the ones that your ears like. I have heard several speakers in the past 6 months and in a lot of cases, a US$1000.00 set sounds no better than a US$400.00 set. There are some speaker mfg I'd like to hear but the local stores do not carry this type of equipment anymore. I can't find any store that for example carry Klipsch RB 81 II, which I would like to hear. Higher end speakers I will not buy online without a listen.-------------   
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Posted By: Oliverum
Date Posted: July 23 2011 at 07:34
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Thanks again. IŽll take some CD I like, take a couple of hours and give it a spin in local hi-fi stores.
------------- All the best freaks are here, please stop staring at me. Marillion - Freaks (1988). |