Hello, I'll introduce myself and ask a question if I may...
I've got an AV system in a converted garage.
Since having a dedicated room, I find I'm enjoying 2-ch music more and more. I'm looking for recommendations for secondhand speakers in the £300-£800 price range.
I prefer the thought of secondhand kit because it seems better value, mid-end speakers don't seem to have changed that much over the years and if I don't like them, I probably won't lose much selling them on. I prefer the thought of that against dealer demos within rooms that sound nothing like my own.
I currently have a pair of Linn Index II's on ku-stone stands and a particularly clean and tunefull (imho) SVS active subwoofer http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_4/svs-25-31-pci-subwoofer-12-2002.html
For my taste in music, CD's I've been listening to;
Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder, Dire Straits, Macy Gray, Seal, Morcheeba, Dido, Craig David, Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Sheryl Crow, U2 and Sting, oh and Aimee Mann.
I think I'm looking for more mid/mid-bass clarity and enjoyment. The "follow the tune" in Linn speak. My technical head knows I've got a 250Hz trough in the in-room response and that the Index's could be considered a little bright.
I also have another pair of Linn Index II's as rear speakers, although for AV surround front to rear identical voicing doesn't appear to be as important to me as I thought it would, so I'm not particularly tied to the Linn brand technically, although I like the thought of it. It's my assumption that with 5.1 channel music releases becoming more common and better made that 5.1 channel music may become more the norm long-term, but let's face it, I really enjoy 2 channel and have hundreds of CD's so that's what I'll want to get the most use of. I find it strange sitting on-stage with the performers with a piano behind me, plus the room gives me a good enough depth and rear acoustic with 2-channel any way.
This is currently driven by a relatively honest 125W/ch Denon A10SE THX Ultra AV amp (as confirmed by the late great Bob Tomalski review) which is relatively good with music for the breed, and a Denon 2-ch POAT-10 THX Ultra power-amp of similar spec and quality, so I think I'd be ok with reasonably difficult to drive loads. I'd one day like to replace these with high-end pre/power but frankly it's so good, I think I could realise a big speaker upgrade before tackling the amplification.
I guess I'm saying, I buy in to the activ, bi-amping ideas and will probably go that way in the near future.
I'm also going to hear some BlueSky SAT 6.5 active (bi-amped internally) monitors http://www.abluesky.com/p_s_gb/p3s1s1.html in a few weeks time, which would cost the upper limit of my budget for a pair, including the power sockets and long audio cables I'd have to run where I currently have bi-wire speaker cables. They would never require or facilitate a crossover or bi-amp upgrade though! Probably a good thing financially, long term!
The room itself is relatively good acoustically, having a soundproofed wall where the garage door is, although the front main speakers do have to go near the conrners, each side of the 7ft projection screen. I may also add some Auralex LERND bass traps in the corners and Wedgies or the like on some of the walls or something similar to deaden the reflections a bit more at some time.
So, your experience and comments would be appreciated.
thanks and regards,
Rob.
I've got an AV system in a converted garage.
Since having a dedicated room, I find I'm enjoying 2-ch music more and more. I'm looking for recommendations for secondhand speakers in the £300-£800 price range.
I prefer the thought of secondhand kit because it seems better value, mid-end speakers don't seem to have changed that much over the years and if I don't like them, I probably won't lose much selling them on. I prefer the thought of that against dealer demos within rooms that sound nothing like my own.
I currently have a pair of Linn Index II's on ku-stone stands and a particularly clean and tunefull (imho) SVS active subwoofer http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_4/svs-25-31-pci-subwoofer-12-2002.html
For my taste in music, CD's I've been listening to;
Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder, Dire Straits, Macy Gray, Seal, Morcheeba, Dido, Craig David, Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Sheryl Crow, U2 and Sting, oh and Aimee Mann.
I think I'm looking for more mid/mid-bass clarity and enjoyment. The "follow the tune" in Linn speak. My technical head knows I've got a 250Hz trough in the in-room response and that the Index's could be considered a little bright.
I also have another pair of Linn Index II's as rear speakers, although for AV surround front to rear identical voicing doesn't appear to be as important to me as I thought it would, so I'm not particularly tied to the Linn brand technically, although I like the thought of it. It's my assumption that with 5.1 channel music releases becoming more common and better made that 5.1 channel music may become more the norm long-term, but let's face it, I really enjoy 2 channel and have hundreds of CD's so that's what I'll want to get the most use of. I find it strange sitting on-stage with the performers with a piano behind me, plus the room gives me a good enough depth and rear acoustic with 2-channel any way.
This is currently driven by a relatively honest 125W/ch Denon A10SE THX Ultra AV amp (as confirmed by the late great Bob Tomalski review) which is relatively good with music for the breed, and a Denon 2-ch POAT-10 THX Ultra power-amp of similar spec and quality, so I think I'd be ok with reasonably difficult to drive loads. I'd one day like to replace these with high-end pre/power but frankly it's so good, I think I could realise a big speaker upgrade before tackling the amplification.
I guess I'm saying, I buy in to the activ, bi-amping ideas and will probably go that way in the near future.
I'm also going to hear some BlueSky SAT 6.5 active (bi-amped internally) monitors http://www.abluesky.com/p_s_gb/p3s1s1.html in a few weeks time, which would cost the upper limit of my budget for a pair, including the power sockets and long audio cables I'd have to run where I currently have bi-wire speaker cables. They would never require or facilitate a crossover or bi-amp upgrade though! Probably a good thing financially, long term!
The room itself is relatively good acoustically, having a soundproofed wall where the garage door is, although the front main speakers do have to go near the conrners, each side of the 7ft projection screen. I may also add some Auralex LERND bass traps in the corners and Wedgies or the like on some of the walls or something similar to deaden the reflections a bit more at some time.
So, your experience and comments would be appreciated.
thanks and regards,
Rob.
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