Very new to high end audio - Recomendations
Have a look at these search results. I’m amazed there are so many choices. https://www.google.com/search?q=inexpensive+powered+speakers&prmd=sinv&source=lnms&tbm=i... |
Active speaker are fine and you can run them as stated above. I can’t really recommend any as I have only used a few. Most people on here use passive speakers and separate power amps to tune the sound a bit more. Paradigm kef Dynaudo ATC focal B&W are all highend brands that make good powered speakers with Focal and ATC targeting the studio market. Headphones are pretty good these days so just any old cheap powered speaker will probably be disappointing. What headphones do you use and like? As passive speakers that are a lot of good used deals on here (audio mart might work better in Europe). Even a modest setup will be more enjoyable than headphones IMO (I have a bunch of headphones too). The speakers just have way more soundstage and presents. Videos of best budget system ideas. https://youtu.be/ZlWShSH5RRs https://youtu.be/Fdb8wLd73Tg |
@james633 I have the Audeze LCDI4. What do you mean exactly when you said Focal and ATC targeting the studio market? What are the other brands targeting? Also, I've heard the term 'studio monitors' are they all small speakers passive or active that are used for mixing purposes only? I'm after something I can just place mostly anywhere in the house and listen for musical perjoyment (a mix between perfect reference and enjoyment) :P, Source is Master tidal, with at this stage line out with a Sony zx507 DAP. |
The studio monitors are gears toward near field listening (as in sitting at a desk or mixing board) and are very flat tonally. Lots of people want more color (more bass, less highs etc) than flat studio sounds. Me I like a flat sound. Many (maybe most) powered speakers are geared toward the pro market abs designed just to hook up to a dac or preamp which your DAP could function as. The output voltage could be pretty low though as home equipment is designed for 3v input I think and protectable stuff is around 1.5v output. Power speakers designed for home a lot of times you can just use airplay or wifi from your phone. No “source” needed. Way our of your budget but something like Kef would be nice. https://us.kef.com/digital-hifi/active-desktop/ls50-wireless-2.html Based on your audeze headphones (I have owned the LCDX) you might like the paradigm Shift A2. They have really strong bass for their size and soft highs. They are $350 each in the US. They have no wirless capability. https://www.paradigm.com/en/powered/a2 audeze have very strong deep bass. You will probably end up wanting a sub in the long run to be happy. |
Typically powered speakers are used in pro sound applications whether they be studio or live sound from a band. With your budget an integrated amp with a couple speakers would be the way to go. You can use bookshelf or monitor speakers if your room is not very big,. The integrated amp consists of a preamp which accepts the signal from your source ( CD player, streamer, etc) and sends the signal to the amp which sends the amplified signal to the speakers. The integrated amp will give you the proper inputs for whatever source you use which is often lacking in powered speakers. Also Audiogon is probably not the best place to shop for you at this point in time. Most of the stuff will probably be above your budget. But have a look anyway. Look at Audio Advisors and maybe Crutchfield which will probably be able to put together a system that meets your needs at your budget. Also, They have salesmen which may be able to help you with a phone call if that is possible for you. I believe you may be in Europe somewhere and I'm not sure the possibilities. Hope this helps. |
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@murphythecat Audio gear is just like high-end watches. A watch may cost 40k and the other $400 or $4000 With high-end gear, you are paying for incrimental improvements to already superior pro gear. That extra 10-20% is worth it to some people. The watch with the highest price likely has a prestigious name behind it. The inner workings are significantly more complex and refined. With regards to amplifiers and other audio components, the engineers who designed it worked hard to ensure its performance characteristics. Their bills also need to be paid...marketing....and distribution. On the flip side, cheaper audio gear (and watches) are produced in much higher numbers. The manufacturing process may be much easier as well. |
I personally agree with artemus_5 and I think passive speakers with an integrated amp is the way to get started. JBL 580s and 590s are good starter speakers. Every 3-6 month JBL sells them off their sight at 50% off or more. They are a screaming deal at this prices. Ignore the list price as they are on sale several times a year. Klipsch RP600M is also a good starter option. |
These might be worth checking out for someone new to hifi gear and looking for some good sound with nice flexibility for inputs. Local dealer near me sells them and I’ve listened to them many times while at his shop. Impressive little package with what I feel is a good starting point for new folks on the 2 channel journey and keeping a budget in check. https://www.kantoaudio.com/powered-speakers/tuk/ |
Vanatoo would be a good place to start. I have both their “Zero” and “One” on desks in my home with USB input from Roon on my computer. https://vanatoo.com/shop/speakers/transparent-one-encore/ Nice place to start with full powered speakers including a DAC and Bluetooth input. Excellent for the price, but beware it is just an introduction to future possibilities… |
Whatever you do, spend as little as possible on cables. They give you least bang for the buck, so get everything else right first. Then upgrade when you feel the itch, and make sure that you try before you buy, and that those new cables are really the best use of upgrade money. And leave vinyl alone for now. It's a whole new level of commitment. My opinion. YMMV Good luck! |
+1 on hifishark. You can filter for the UK. A small integrated and a pair of small speakers may be found new for about £1000 and if you go used you can get better speakers. Some amps also include a dac but it may be worse than your dap. Or equal. Marantz PM6007 may be for you. I just saw that Dynaudio has active speakers called Xeo 10. A bit over your price but you could look for sales. |
Audio gear is just like high-end watches. Yes, in both watches and HiFi, there is an enormous price range. However, with watches, even $50-$100 can get you a quartz watch that keeps nearly perfect time. With HiFi, with respect to sound quality, there is no equivalent to the $100 Timex. In my opinion, you are unlikely to get a "high end" component audio system for £1000, even with used gear. For that budget, if you’ve ruled out headphones (because sharing music with family and friends is the goal), have a look at some of the Sonos or Bluesound units. A single Bluesound Pulse 2i might work, or maybe a pair of the Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i units. Products like this can sound quite good. They take up little space,and are easy to set up and use. If you later invest in a more expensive component HiFi system, the Sonos/Bluesound units should be easy to integrate as satellites for a bedroom or kitchen. For a little more, you might be able to find a pair of used, high-quality bookshelf speakers and a used integrated amp with WiFi built in. Maybe have a look at something like the Totem Dreamcatchers and a Bluesound Powernode. The Totems might be ~$300+ USD used on eBay, the Power Node 2i about $700 new. |
death_block ... this may be the future to music consumption. That is, a smart phone/ ipad/ laptop with powered speakers. A concept that is largely rebuffed here but has high return for cost and at the end of the day sounds very, very good. Check these guys out ... perhaps you can find some used. Let us know! https://www.elac.com/category/powered-speakers/ |
At some point you’ll outgrow active speakers due to its non flexibility. It could happen pretty fast, so my suggestion is to go class A amplification with high sensitivity speakers….pay a lot of attention to preamplification as sound signature depend on it a lot…tubes are preferred….be ready to do a lot of experiments (speakers positioning, cables rolling, power sourcing, room treatment etc..) |
Hello, I am going to suggest the PSB AM5. These are a lot less than your budget. This is a lot of powered speakers for the money. It even has a built in Phono amp. With your left over money I would invest in a used subwoofer. Not to rock out but to get great sound even at low levels. Another powered speaker is the KEF LSX. These really rock plus come in cool colors. They are baby LS 50s. No sub needed for now and you have full capability but no phono preamp. $1000 is just under your budget and they just upgraded these so you can find the previous model for a few $100 less. You cannot go wrong with these two. It looks like you are in Europe. If someone else wants to check out these two powered speakers and several more and live in the Chicagoland area this brick and mortar has all of this to try out before you buy. https://holmaudio.com/ Later you can add the matching KEF KC62 sub that plays down to 11hz. Also, The big brother KF92 that also plays down to 11hz but 50% louder. KEF makes killer products. |
Knowledge is almost zilch when it comes to speakers/amps etc.You’ll fit right in. [Sorry, couldn’t resist] Most here are FanBoys. Ignore ALL specific recommendations. No one has your taste in music, response, level or R O O M ! IMO, powered speakers are a risk. They are convenient for recording engineers that move from studio to studio. I've never heard a pair that I’d want to take home. You can fine tune separates with cables and amplifiers. FWIW, which is zero, I had the same speakers for 35 years and 5 different amps and about the same number of cables for both interconnect and speaker. [Truth in advertising dept: Speakers were Spica TC-50 and I place coherence over frequency response six ways to Sunday.] Since you referenced quid, search out some High End HiFi shops relatively close by. [Distances are much less in the UK than here in the US.] Time spent now trolling the waterfront will keep money in your pocket later. If you are in one of the bigger burgs, there may be a HiFi or Tube society. Worth checking out. Bonne Chance! |
For that thousand pound budget, try some used equipment first. You can always sell it if not to your taste. And, james633 has a great idea: JBL sells at deep discounts all the time (my son scored a pair of Studio 570 at 50% of retail, they sound very fine with a stack of Carver from the 1980s: C2 pre, m200t amps monoblocked, Schiit Modi3 and laptop source). |
I didn’t realise JBL made decent gear. Where I come from (Australia) JBL is very popular in the mainstream electronic entertainment chain called JBHIFI. JBL products flooded the shelves with crappy portable bluetooth and headphones/speakers aimed at the average consumer who listens through music with their iphones. Is this the same JBL? Search results: 'jbl' | JB Hi-Fi (jbhifi.com.au) |
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What makes a 'loudspeaker' any different to a studio monitor, or bookshelf etc, they look basically the same?In the old days, monitors were for analysis, loudspeakers for listening. In the 80's Yamaha NS-10 loudspeakers became ubiquitous pop music small monitors in studios. IMO, sonics suffered from using them. Later Genelec self powered. I never cared for either, monitoring or listening. |
