fraseyboy Posted September 18, 2010 Posted September 18, 2010 I'm looking for cheap (less than $300) bookshelf speakers for usage with an old Onkyo integrated stereo amplifier and my PC. The furthest away they can be from my ears is around 1m so they must be able to be used in non-optimal positioning configurations and not sound crappy. They will be used mostly for music. What are my options here?
tanman_sg Posted September 18, 2010 Posted September 18, 2010 I was at The Listening Post yesterday and saw some Mission bookshelves for $180 in the used corner, they've also got some Tannoy's for $250. You could borrow them to see if they're your cup of tea.
BP28 Posted September 18, 2010 Posted September 18, 2010 are you using them as studio monitors for home recording?
fraseyboy Posted September 18, 2010 Author Posted September 18, 2010 I'll look into those ones at the listening post. They will be used just for general music listening.
TheBlueMushroom1553552749 Posted September 23, 2010 Posted September 23, 2010 Hate to do this to you, but I just picked up a pair of Lambert SP 225's for $100 ex TM. Stunning speakers, am using them at work in precisely the situation you describe. (NAD 3020 as amp). Well worth keeping an eye out for IMO, FWIW
Declannz Posted September 23, 2010 Posted September 23, 2010 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=319636401 there you go. swear to the spaghetti monster they aren't mine, and if you want an amazing speaker, they are the bargain of the century if you can get em for about $200. I have the model down and have never, ever heard anything as good in a small speaker. That includes many studio monitors and hifi stuff going into the thousands of dollar range. Maybe it's just my ears that love the MA versions of Audax, but if you don't try them you may as well kill yourself. Yes, they are that good.
fraseyboy Posted September 24, 2010 Author Posted September 24, 2010 Declannz;133907 wrote: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=319636401 there you go. swear to the spaghetti monster they aren't mine, and if you want an amazing speaker, they are the bargain of the century if you can get em for about $200. I have the model down and have never, ever heard anything as good in a small speaker. That includes many studio monitors and hifi stuff going into the thousands of dollar range. Maybe it's just my ears that love the MA versions of Audax, but if you don't try them you may as well kill yourself. Yes, they are that good. Aren't they a tad overkill? The room they would be in is very small (2x3m) and the arrangement is FAR from optimal. They would have to be just over 1m from my ears. Would I be better off with proper reference speakers such as above or with monitors designed for near-field usage like the powered M-Audio AV40?
Shane Hanify Posted September 24, 2010 Posted September 24, 2010 Gidday fraseyboy, also to consider would be Mordaunt Short's Carnival 1. Pure (Fitzgerald ave) carry them. Cheap as chips, but sealed, so very very quick and tight but not bass monsters by any stretch. And out of left field, seeing as we're talking active ... Microlab solo 6c I've not heard these running but have been told that they're quite good. They can also be had for just under $200. Cheers, Shane.
Declannz Posted September 25, 2010 Posted September 25, 2010 I wouldn't think they'd be overkill. They are really tiny, but sound big. The really little ones I've got aren't fussy about the placement or surface. I had them on my desk at work for a few weeks before deciding they were too good for that. each speaker was about 70 cm from the ear. they were excellent, especially for vocals. They've got that LS35a knack for making voices sound really natural. i've heard M-audio monitors, some bottom end things in somebody's studio. they were okay, but I don't remember thinking they were great. maybe that's a good thing for mixing though.
fraseyboy Posted September 25, 2010 Author Posted September 25, 2010 Hmm ok. They're pretty big compared to my other options. I made a list: M-Audio AV40 (powered) for $246+Shipping Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 for $265+Shipping Tweak City Audio WAF-1 for $230 Tannoy Mercury FR for $249 Mordaunt Short Carnival 1 for $249 Monitor Audio MA-8 for $200ish The WAF-1's aren't very well known but they have a very good reputation (and are heavily reduced) so I'm leaning towards them.
SpongyP Posted September 25, 2010 Posted September 25, 2010 fraseyboy;133999 wrote: The WAF-1's aren't very well known but they have a very good reputation (and are heavily reduced) so I'm leaning towards them. Interesting. Where do you find the WAFs in NZ or would you be buying online?
fraseyboy Posted September 25, 2010 Author Posted September 25, 2010 I would be buying from http://tweakcityaudio.com/ who, unlike most sites based in USA, DO ship to New Zealand. They're designed by Danny Richie who is apparently a famous speaker designer although I've never heard of him. People are praising them for their very huge and realistic soundstage and comparing them to speakers double the price.
Ayou21553552688 Posted September 25, 2010 Posted September 25, 2010 Unless you have size / space restrictions ... get something bigger & more efficient. Most of those things at around 86db won't sound any good until they are cranked up a bit. Small speakers produce hardly any bass at low volume. IME your better off with something like an 8" speaker just ticking over & still producing a decent range. I own small speakers, so trust me on this one. Mine only get used at higher volume so its not really a problem for me, but at your listening distance of 1m ... you'll expose your ears to too higher db, just to get some bass happening.
fraseyboy Posted September 25, 2010 Author Posted September 25, 2010 I do have some space restrictions. I can't have floorstanders since there is no floor space in front of me due to my desk. Perhaps the follow image will help: http://imgur.com/twO0x.jpg If I were to have bookshelfs they'd probably be best in the corners, where the toaster and curtain tieing thing are currently. From there, the distance to where I sit would be about 1.2m.
mechanism Posted September 25, 2010 Posted September 25, 2010 Do not place studio monitors in the corners! When setting up control rooms for studios you can use the 33% rule. You should sit 33% away from your front wall in relation to your room. From there you can create an equilateral triangle of where you are sitting and your speakers. Distance from your speakers is really by trial of listening to see what sounds best, but still maintaining that equilateral triangle. This is just the tip of the iceberg, go to www.tweakheadz.com for heaps of info on studio stuff.
Papa Hemi Posted September 25, 2010 Posted September 25, 2010 rse and making some. This auction ends today - $40 bucks should get the drivers: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=318843580 This is dsan's thread on constructing some spiral horn/labyrinth cabs: http://audioenz.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=8232&highlight=fonken All up under $200 easy! And all the fun, experience and joy! Go on, do it! You know you want to! P.S. The TM seller has three pairs of these ending today, I would opt for the ones in my link, they are older, but have a bigger magnet. No connection to seller, off course.
fraseyboy Posted September 26, 2010 Author Posted September 26, 2010 I have tried speaker building before and failed miserably so I'd rather not go through that again. I'd probably just end up screwing up and wasting a whole bunch of money...
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