Just thought I'd stop by and thank everyone. You all gave me a lot to think about and look at. I picked up a pair of Totem Hawk speakers today. I'm very pleased!
Full circle and thinking about speakers
This all started a couple of months ago by buying a pair of old B&W DM305 speakers and i'm completely new to all of this..
Then a Rogue Cronus, Nottingham TT w/ a Lyra Cart. Waiting for an EAR phono stage to arrive Monday.
On the digital side - a Pro-ject streamer and Schitt DAC (place holder but it all sounds very decent).
So now I'm back to the speakers, cables and interconnects. I would like something at a level with the other gear - not that the B&W's are bad, they just aren't great.
What I like about the B&W's: clear detailed and focused.
What I don't like: At times the highs are glaringly high and when I expect there to be gobs of bass, there just isn't any to speak of. Jazz trios and quartets sound pretty awesome. Rock not as good.
Condo life, which means my listening level is on the low side. Wall moving bass is probably not what I am looking for.
Listening space: The room is 14' x 25' and I haven't settled on which direction to arrange speakers. Currently they are projecting across the 14' width. That may very well change.
Any recommendations of where to start the search are highly welcomed. Speaker types, specs etc...as I know very little.
Let's say under 2K and used is fine if it gets me to a higher level.
Thanks all
Then a Rogue Cronus, Nottingham TT w/ a Lyra Cart. Waiting for an EAR phono stage to arrive Monday.
On the digital side - a Pro-ject streamer and Schitt DAC (place holder but it all sounds very decent).
So now I'm back to the speakers, cables and interconnects. I would like something at a level with the other gear - not that the B&W's are bad, they just aren't great.
What I like about the B&W's: clear detailed and focused.
What I don't like: At times the highs are glaringly high and when I expect there to be gobs of bass, there just isn't any to speak of. Jazz trios and quartets sound pretty awesome. Rock not as good.
Condo life, which means my listening level is on the low side. Wall moving bass is probably not what I am looking for.
Listening space: The room is 14' x 25' and I haven't settled on which direction to arrange speakers. Currently they are projecting across the 14' width. That may very well change.
Any recommendations of where to start the search are highly welcomed. Speaker types, specs etc...as I know very little.
Let's say under 2K and used is fine if it gets me to a higher level.
Thanks all
Showing 15 responses by smaarch1
@tomic601 a Lyra Delos. Thanks - it already sounds awesome @oldhvymec will keep sensitivity in mind. @russ69 I’m learning - every effects everything else @howaboutthat41 I’ll have a look at the Fritz @millercarbon - I apprecviate your input to the magnepan recommendations, they are gorgeous! but 3’ feet into the room is just not going to happen. Besides my daughter just said: DAD! Enough! LOL Anyone for Focal floor standing? Thanks everyone - |
@hombre heard you the 1st time around. .Can they stand alone or do they need a subwoofer? Interesting speaker - Looking at them now https://www.magnepan.com/model_lrs |
Larry the 305's are ported on the back about midway up. the 302's are bookshelf and the top portion looks identical but without the lower port How much of a difference the port makes? I don't know. The 305's can also be bi-wired, which they currently are. Chorus - no not moving - just jokingcoachpoconner - great, thanks - more to consider |
LOL too funny - now I'm thinking of moving. Great responses and I'm taking a step back.I agree with getting the front end settled first, room treatment and getting the speakers located on the short wall. I just don't know how yet - this wall is glass and opens to a balcony overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades. I haven't been able to find B&W spikes so yesterday I went to the hardware store and bought some M6 bolts and decoupled the speakers from the floor - BIG difference. Yes the speakers have been moved off the front wall - inching forward The other thing I am considering is my coffee table. Silly me... It consists of two flat files, filled with drawings and it weighs a ton. I have to believe this is soaking up a lot of sound. And to Tom's point about the DAC - it is one of the cheaper Schitt DAC's, a Modi 2 and I have every intention of replacing it. @inna I think the Ear phono stage will tell me a lot and I can hardly wait for it to arrive - The Nottingham is sort of like having a Ferrari parked in the driveway and not knowing where the keys are..... All said - this has been a great journey. Thanks everyone. |
Thanks everyone - A lot of knowledgeable responses. The latest advance occurred last night after hooking up an EAR phono stage that just arrived. The first needle drop from the Nottingham was scary and shocking. The room completely lit up! And so did I. I believe the front end of my system, while not the "best", is rock solid. Not to say there can't or won't be improvements. There will. But first I am going to take a step back and deal with rearranging the space. I see where the problems are and will help the B&W's out a great deal. Tonight I'll make a big change and move 30 plus years of paper mass (drawings). That's where my bass is going - I'm completely certain. It will also deal me where I am and give me a reference. Much appreciated everyone |
@realworldaudio I'm amazed at everyone's advise including millercarbon. He understands something and I'm here to learn so I appreciate it all. @kennyc. Thanks I'll look them up. As I stated in my last post, I need to acoustically clean up my space - first order priority. That said there are a pair of Totem Hawks and a pair of Spendor's available locally that I'm interested in hearing....maybe this weekend? Any advice on either is welcome |
Thanks for more comments. So here’s an update. This weekend I’ll focus on arranging the space for a more appropriate listening/spatial experience. Should be fun and I know well what I want to do. I’ve become interested in a few speakers since I posted this and doing my research. Taken by what I have read about Pearl Acoustic Sibelius full range single drivers. I like the simplicity and thee design approach - they make sense to me. However after talking with some knowledgeable friends, my thoughts have shifted a bit to two way floor standers. Specifically looking at Totem Hawks and a few others. Called an Audio place who happens to be a Rogue and Totem dealer. He invited me up to listen to a used pair of Totem Hawks thru the same Rogue amp. I’d like to keep it simple and without multiple drivers, the complex crossovers that come with them, or subwoofers. Maybe not rational but an aesthetic thing i suppose? I have to say I’m really intrigued by the Pearl Acoustics.....and single drivers in general. Any thoughts on full range single drivers are welcome! In the meantime I’m simply enjoying what I have - It sounds fairly awesome already. @buckheadmacc - thanks for the suggestion and the well wishes |
Fleschler thanks for the recommendation to Legacy III - interesting pieces howaboutthat41 The Spendor's you are referring to may be local to me and I have my eye on them. Don't know anything about the Kudos but will look. Called a local dealer how has a set of Totem Hawks for sale (used) and is a Spendor and Rogue Audio deale He has invited me up to liston to the Hawks through the same Rogue I own. So at this point I'm focused on the Totem Hawks and the Spendor A4's Thoughts are much welcomed. |
@audioconnection you are the third person who recommended the 4 ohm tap. so off came the cover and out came the wrenches. This is a significant change! Awesome and thanks. @213runnin - I went to audition Totem Hawk’s and Spender D7’s yesterday. I was impressed with both. My conclusion (at the moment) is the Totem’s better suit my environment. The Spendor D7’s, were glorious but I think they would overwhelm my space.....and my neighbors. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow and buy the Totem’s. And that Folks draws this discussion to its conclusion. Thank you everyone. This has been an enormous help in something I knew little about. Much Appreciated. Next up is a new DAC, but not now! |