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Looking for Advice on My Nearfield Setup – KEF Q350 + Yamaha A-S501 + Topping E30 II

Hey everyone,

Hoping to get some feedback on my current setup and whether I’m heading in the right direction for nearfield listening.

Right now I’m running:

DAC: Topping E30 II (in DAC mode, not preamp) 

Amp: Yamaha A-S501BL 

Speakers: KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers

The setup is in my office, which is 11' x 12' with 10' ceilings. The speakers are spaced 8 feet apart and sit 42" high on custom stands. My listening position is about 4.5 feet from the speakers, and they’re toed in just slightly—essentially aimed right at my ears.

While I understand that KEF speakers are very dependent on proper positioning and imaging, I’m just not loving the sound right now. I’ve experimented a bit with the filters on the DAC and tone/loudness adjustments on the Yamaha, but I still feel like something is off—maybe the synergy, or maybe this setup isn’t ideal for nearfield use?

I’m still within my return window for the amp and speakers, so I’m open to making a change if needed. My budget is about $1200 for both the amp and speakers, though I could stretch a bit (painfully) to something like the KEF LS50 if it’s really worth it. That said, I’m totally open to other brands—both speaker and amp.

While I appreciate the clarity and imaging the KEF Q350s are known for, I'm finding the overall sound a bit sterile and lacking warmth. Vocals and instruments feel a little distant or cool, rather than full-bodied and engaging. I was hoping for something more rich, natural, and emotionally involving-the kind of sound that wraps around you and feels organic, not clinical.

Even at lower volumes, I want a sense of presence and fullness, but instead, I feel like I'm getting a flatter, more analytical presentation. There's good detail, but not much soul or musicality-if that makes sense.

Appreciate any advice on:

Better placement tweaks for nearfield listening

Alternative speakers or amps that work better in a small room 

Whether the Q350s just aren't the best match for nearfield 

Suggestions on getting more out of the current gear before swapping

Thanks in advance for any help—really just trying to learn and get the best sound possible without throwing money at the wrong solution.

 

 

vail3000

Showing 1 response by yyzsantabarbara

yyzsantabarbara
5,021 posts
 

I have spent a few years trying various office systems (including a laundry room when my son was born).

The very best sound I have had was by eliminating the room. That is using the RAAL SR1b earphones or CA-1a headphones. However, even for myself I cannot listen to the phones for the whole time I am in my office (M-F about 18 hours). The RAAL SR1b gets late night duty and takes top honours for best 2-channel sound.

I learned that you could get almost any speaker to work in a small room using convolution filters to run on Roon or JRvier (this is DSP). This only works for streaming and requires a bit of computer technical savvy. I got my floor standing Thiel CS3.7's to sound good in the same size room as you. I paid $750 to get a digital guru to remotely fix my setup.

Digital Room Calibration Services, Convolver, Headphone Filtersets

After a few years of the 3.7's I went to a more appropriate speaker for a small room. The Magnepan LRS+ at $1000. This speaker will fill your room with a wall of sound. It lacks a bit of the detail that a KEF LS50 Meta has. However, it is even easier than the LS50 to place in a small room. The LS50 is good in a small space but you need to have acoustic treatment to handle the first reflections.

The LRS+ in comparison did not need the treatment because the sound radiating pattern is more direct. You can place the LRS+ panels closer to the side wall and angle the speaker to your seating position.  You need to place the speakers at least 3 feet from the front wall.

Only issue with the LRS+ is that to really make it sing you need some power and that will add to the cost. I tried the following with seriously great results,

  • CODA #16
  • Sanders Magtech

The following are low-cost amps that could drive the LRS+

  • Schiitt Wotan ($2k)
  • Parasound A21+
  • many high-powered Class D amps

I ended up losing the office space to an even smaller room and I sold the LRS+ to buy a used Magenpan Mini ($1000). I have it sounding better than the LRS+ since the Miini has better details. I am using the Schitt Wotan and a Schitt Yggi+ DAC.

With the LS50 | LRS+ | Mini I am using the KEF KC62 sub which works perfectly with these lively speakers.

With the LRS+ and LS50 I was about 8 feet away from the speakers. With the Mini I am about 4 feet away. The Mini is my best setup in a small room after the RAAL SR1b earphones. I am rather surprised at how good this sounds.

My small room system is Schiit Yggi+ OG | Schit Kara F preamp | Schitt Wotan amp | Magnepan Mini | KEF KC62 sub.

If your amp has the power, then the LRS+ or Mini will give you a very engaging sound with less problems with placement. The LS50 and other cone speakers are more difficult to place in a small room, so you need treatments for best sound.

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