Speaker Setup (<USD700)

[aaron-xp]

Am intending to set up my first speaker system (am using AKG K601 headphones for listening currently). I already have a CDP, the Marantz CD5001, so I'd suppose that part of the equation would be settled.

Have been looking at several integrated amplifiers and speakers and came up with a few possible combinations. Would like to ask for your opinions on them.

1) CD5001 --> Marantz PM4001 --> Mordaunt-Short MS914
2) CD5001 --> Marantz PM4001 --> Mission M33i

Floorstanders are not exactly needed, and am also looking at the Mordaunt-Short 902i, Wharfedale Diamond 9.1. As for other amplifers, the Cambridge Audio 540A is also considered.

Will listen to the set ups before buying, but would like to hear some of your opinions.

I listen to almost everything, but don't really know what I want from this pair of speakers (I prefer speakers to headphones for their nice "airy" feel, but headphones still beat most speakers in terms of resolution and detail).

A friend also asked me about a speaker rig for about SGD1000 which is about USD650. I was thinking of a CD5001, PM4001 and MS 902i combination, which would leave about USD60 for speaker stands/cables. Any comments on that? Thanks a whole lot.

 

[MdRex]

Hi aaron, KEC at Adelphi is a nice place to try out, friendly and helpful staff. BTW, I'd leave a slightly higher budget for stands.

 

[aaron-xp]

^ It's rather makeshift now. Was wondering if my room is big enough for a floorstander (MS914) or if I should go for the standmount (902i). I could spend a bit more on the stand for myself, but I would probably have some trouble convincing my classmate who is in for the idea of wall mounting. What do you think of a room of about 2.7m by 5.4m?

I got most of my price quotes from KEC.

 

[spacemanspliff]

Please do consider Omega speakers. They are the closest thing to a headphones level of detail I have heard. The organic midrange on these is not to be missed.

http://www.omegaloudspeakers.com/index.htm

Also, ask my friends at Quest for Sound for recommendations. These fellas really know their stuff and even build great pieces themselves.

http://www.questforsound.com/

Their SQ-84 amp is an amazing piece for the $$. I really regret that I cannot use speakers in my house. Next house I will build a speaker room but atm that isn't possible.

 

[robert1325]

I do agree with the above poster, Low power amps with High efficiency speaks is the way to go with a low budget !

I'm currently using High-Eff OB speakers(hawthorne audio ) with a trends ta10 t-amp ... Costing a total of about 500. They handsdown beat my old cambridge 640A / B*W dm603 s3 setup... The old setup is just nowhere as musical and listenable for longer periods. The old setup was slow , boomy , sizzling .

Don't get fooled by adverts and Hi-Fi shops, go for something simple like a cheap tube amp or t-amp + High Eff. speakers, like omega, hawthorne or maybe the tekton design on ebay. Have a look at Obad imports, their stuff is great if you want to order everything at one place.

http://www.musical.ca/index.html

Good luck!

Robert

 

[Raphael]

Speaker: Bookshelf: X-LS or X-CS (easier placement)
Floorstander: X-SLS or X-MTM


Receiver/Amp: Panasonic SA-XR55 or SA-XR57

Might want to throw in an X-Sub as well if you're craving those low frequencies. By the way, if you choose to wait longer, I think the X-Pro would really please you, but your setup will exceed $700. The X-Pro will be sold at $599. First time I have ever heard of a magneplanar driver in something at that price range!

 

[gotchaforce]

X-MTM

 

[terrymx]

Here are my opinion about how to go upgrading with your budgets. I had the trends audio and onix x-ls setup and they are good but with a $700 budget you can go better, its actaully a mind blowingly good sound amp just lacks the power. I am very advocate of full towers if you could afford them. They deliver big sound and big bass which mean you won't need to get a subwoofer, and in my opinion in the process have more sound balance in the system. If you have take out $300 for a subwoofer then you would have to compromise the best sound you could get. So the Onix X-sls full tower might be considered. Although there are big sounding bookshelves as well. Spending big money on an amp I would make sure you make it last, the marantz is a good choice for warm and smooth sounding amp, but you want something with more power than 2x30W. And it looks like the source department is settles, I would try to balance the budget to get the best speakers you can get in the end.

For amp you should troll around audiogon and ebay for good deal on Rotel, Marantz, Denon or NAD. Here are some to at your price range: Marantz pm7200 (very smooth and warm, class a amp), rotel ra-02 (fast and detailed, can be on the bright side), Denon pma1500r (extremely big sound, maybe not the most detailed and focus bass sometimes), NAD C320BEE, NAD always known for sound quality and high current output and higher perform than price worth, but this one has slightly increased bass to compensate those who own cheaper speakers. All are good candidate for low range hifi sound and to be found at around $300.

 

[robert1325]

And that's why you need High-Eff speakers! I've listened to the marantz pm7200 alongside the cambridge 640A. The marantz was a step down. I've also heard some of the NAD stuff. Never listened to the XLS and from what I've read it should be really good but The idea of spending a lot of money on a high power amp that does not sound as good as a lower power amp (within it's limits) is stupid . Especially with a lower budget.

The thing about High-Eff speakers is that you can hook up anything you like, from 3 watt tube amps to 100 watt solid state amps. These omega speakers or tekton design speakers can deliver very solid bass. The hawthorne Silver iris drivers have very natural OB bass without any boxxiness. I sold my cambridge 640A after I heard the trends ta-10 in my system, But it did not have enough power for my 90DB speakers. So I decided to get rid of those to and get some High-Eff speaks. That's when the t-amp was really starting to shine. My future purchase is probably a nice el84 integrated from china... You can get those for 400-500 dollars incl shipping.

Single driver speakers like the omegas or tekton ( or unity audio at obad) have the benefit of a crossoverless design. This gives you a much purer and faster more detailed sound than most cheap 2-3 way speakers.

I don't want to insult anyone with my opinions, but I got lured in the trap of higher watts and bigger inefficient speakers. All those nice reviews in mags seem very glowing but for 1/4 of the price you can get something that's better.

Just my opinion and experience.

 

[lini]

aaron: How big is the room you're going to place your speakers in? How loud will you listen? Is the room acoutically more dampened (lots of carpets, heavy curtains, plush sofas....) or reflective (designer apartment, big windows, nude walls...)? What are your placement options for the speakers?

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[aaron-xp]

Oops, my internet connection was having some problem and I couldn't log onto headfi.

Thanks for all the advice, though it has created a lot more options for me (thus making me happily confused

). My room would be about 2.7m by 5.4m big. It's more reflective than dampened. The floor is marble and most walls are bare, other than for a few cupboards. The a rather large window which spans pretty much breadth-wise of the room (though not entirely height-wise). A curtain (light one) hangs from both sides of the window and can be drawn. I personally prefer to listen not-so-loudly-yet-not-too-softly.

 

[lini]

aaron: I see. How about the placement options? Would bookshelf speakers on stands a bit away from the walls be possible? I'd think a combo of KEF iQ3s (new) and a Marantz PM7200 or PM8000 (used) should work fairly well under the given conditions.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[aaron-xp]

The black boxes would be the speakers. Not too sure about this placement. Furthest from the walls, but yet the most obtrusive.

 

[terrymx]

I sacrifice ones wall for the speakers to stand equal distance from the side wall (mids and stereo width) and 2-3ft from the wall (bass performance) and toe in. Strange in to be right in the middle of the room as well. I would push it back a bit.

With Kef center tweeter 'Q' design the sound can sound good in a wider area. I'ved owned 3 pairs of KEF myself, they are very much about the midrange. The only thing I dislike is the new tweeter are aluminum if you poke it will be a permenant dent, although I did easily order a new one from factory. The speakers is round in the back which is more ideal than box. They are efficience speakers, just imo I could stretch it I would find a good deal on an amp and get a tower speakers, like the kef iq5. http://www.av-land.co.uk/kef/iq5/iq5lrg.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert1325 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't want to insult anyone with my opinions, but I got lured in the trap of higher watts and bigger inefficient speakers. All those nice reviews in mags seem very glowing but for 1/4 of the price you can get something that's better. Just my opinion and experience.

If my speakers weren't so power hungry, I would have stay with the trends t-amp and use it to bi-amp each speakers. Preamp -> 2 X t-amp in power mode, would have been pretty cool. From what it seem with those efficience 8ohms 88db tower speakers they could manage without a sweet.

 

[aaron-xp]

Did a bit of reading up. The Trend is available here in Singapore, so buying it wouldn't be a problem. However, I have problems finding omegas or tektons here. Overseas shipping would not really be an option, given that I don't own a credit card/have a paypal account, nor will my parents approve of the idea (I'm only 14).

Hence, the question, what would constitute a high-efficiency speaker? High sensitivity? How high? 90-98dB? The highest I can find within my price range is probably 89dB (902i and MS914) or 90dB (Monitor Audio BR2).