What kinda speakers are you guys all going to be running through your vidars? I literally have zero knowledge on speakers, just headphones. Is there a general consensus on good speakers that won't break the bank for someone just wetting their feet?
Speaker thoughts, just getting started. (some of this will be familiar from headphone selection)
What type of music do you listen to and what do you listen for
How important is the price?
Are you keyed up and really want to use the Vidar?
My background: I listen primarily to classical music so use that as a point of reference. Also I am assuming a modest size room.
Frequency: To produce low frequencies well is expensive. It is relatively easy to produce a good speaker that has a flat frequency response down to 65 Hz, with sweet highs and with the lows and highs well integrated. The lowest note on a cello is 65 Hz. So e.g.if you primarily to chamber music, a speaker that is ‘flat to 65“ would be fine. (E.g. the old B&W DM 302s, you might be able to pick up a pair of those used for under $150...? They are beautiful for chamber music. And there are other such options, I just happen to love these B&Ws )
But “flat” to 65 is important. The lowest note on a double bass is about 40 Hz. So symphonic music played on those speakers will sound weak in the bass, the foundation is missing. To ‘compensate’ for that many makers of these cheaper speakers emphasize the bass from 120 HZ down to their ‘cutoff” around 65 Hz. The gives a greater sense of ‘heft’, but of course the problem is you can never hear chamber music correctly from such a speaker. Hence from my perspective, forget that type of speaker.
(One could add a sub-woofer to the above B&W type of speaker, but then one is no longer in the same price range!)
So if you listen to symphonic music you want a speaker that is at least ‘flat to 40“. (The lowest notes on a piano are about 30Hz, so even with this the low notes from a piano concerto/sonata will be lacking.) And that means more expense. If budget is a significant factor, consider powered speakers such as the Audio Engine 5+, $400 new (It has a built-in class A/B power amp.) Combine that with almost any Schiit headphone preamp and you have a nice system. The highs are not the sweetest (i.e. the very most accurate timbre on flutes, cymbals...), but to my hear it is very well balanced. You may need to equalize the bass down a few decibels in some listening rooms. For people with a limited budget, this is where I suggest they start with 2 channel. (Obviously there are other powered speakers in this price range.)
If you are hot to try a Vidar, you will neglect that paragraph. But even if you have only a modest Mumby>Vali 2 combo, think about it.
The expense comes when you want a speaker to bring the additional heft of being “flat to 30“ and/or you want something that offers more finesse and is flat to 40. To my ears that is where the Vidar enters, i.e. passive speakers are the order of the day, and/or sub-woofers. But now in my language we are talking about ‘breaking the bank’. And in this price range other responses already offer good suggestions.
edit:
Finally, ‘What do you listen for", or “where do you like to sit"?
If you sit in row C at the orchestra, the sound that reaches you ears will be different than if you sit in row M or the balcony. I prefer the balcony, which is to say I want the music to blend well and develop its full harmonic texture. People that like row C will be more concerned with impact and attack, a different texture, and hence will want a different type of speaker than I.
For what it’s worth. NF