2nd system, small room
Equipment: I would seek simplicity of use, anything decent will produce a great signal to your speakers.
What speakers, where they are located, and how their output works in that space are the key factors in any room, including a small room perhaps with less placement options. Square rooms are not ideal of course.
My 2nd system is in my office. Very frequent and long use for 20 years as self-employed business (many days: early morning, all day, evenings, some weekends). The last 15 years as semi-retired and fully retired, use every day, but far less hours per day.
For 30 of those years, I had cherished old pieces going, but no ideal speaker location or matching the speaker’s output to the space.
5 years ago, I decided to change everything for improved location, imaging, adjust/balance the speaker’s frequency output.
Modify bookcases for speaker location; modify desk for center location for imaging; true bookcase speakers (size/no ports/horizontal placement if small room); level controls to balance frequencies in the room, specifically at my desk chair.
RESULTS:
Prior New Arrangement: Wharfedale Diamonds (no level controls on speakers)
Changed to Restored AR-2ax, level controls more frequent back then. (sorry about the pic quality)
COMMENTS:
Finally back to Tube Sound, very little heat using Little Luxman 10wpc
https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-sq-n150-integrated-amplifier-specifications
Bookcase depth for 11” deep bookcase speakers; slightly overhanging top for equipment/wires behind; height: high enough for speakers at seated ear level/top low enough for ideal operating height of Vertical TT and Reel to Reel. Note: I had the Teac ‘micky mouse’ dust cover for years, finally got to use it when unit is vertical.
Speakers: Vintage with Level Controls, allows individual adjustments l/r. I restored a pair of AR-2ax for my garage/shop. Nostalgia, had them when in college. Sounded so good I moved them here and bought a second pair for downstairs.
https://audio-database.com/AR/speaker/ar-2ax.html
Left speaker close to wall, right speaker no wall is an issue, minimized by speaker level controls combined with Luxman Balance Control, i.e. combo of frequency adjustment and l/r volume for center imaging.
USE: Prior, or now: I listen to listen, not background sound, so it was/is infrequent use while in here. New arrangement, especially imaging is truly enjoyable, like never before. ‘Background”: I enjoy streaming Pandora to discover ‘new to me’ artists, and I purposely spend some time, here and downstairs jumping around finding Music Videos, which also leads to ‘new to me’ artists.
As I started by saying: any decent equipment makes a very small difference compared to the speakers and the room’s arrangement, thus go for simplicity of use, perhaps achieve visibility of cherished vintage equipment.
