Upgrading to an entry-level audiophile setup - Advice

[kolaval]

Seems relevant

https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/funny-pictures-thread-no-15.1304370/post-33779418

 

[Grant]

try a little classical music - not one person playing a piano, another with a harp, and two playing violin - nay, proper orchestra of at least 50 members with all the instruments, including percussion - the entire smorgasbord.
the music needs to be big & bold.

the "el dorado & nirvana" for audio equipment manufacturers, is the ability to accurately replicate the sound stage of orchestras performing in acoustically pure sound halls.

give this a try - big and busy music, (about 5 mins )

 

[ViciousClone]

try a little classical music - not one person playing a piano, another with a harp, and two playing violin - nay, proper orchestra of at least 50 members with all the instruments, including percussion - the entire smorgasbord.
the music needs to be big & bold.

the "el dorado & nirvana" for audio equipment manufacturers, is the ability to accurately replicate the sound stage of orchestras performing in acoustically pure sound halls.

give this a try - big and busy music, (about 5 mins )

I’ve been living in my office room listening to music at slightly above normal levels (50%)

Wife pops in last night around 8pm “I think your ears need a break, heck, I need a break please”

It’s been nonstop music listening and playing back ol’favorites and discovering new sounds. So i’ll give it a break today….. up until 12pm’ish and go tweak and tune a bit more haha.

I have it set to where the vocals are slightly a bit forward and don’t fade out, drum strikes and guitar strums are lively. My bass, dealing with that now to find the sweet spot

 

[Jackal65]

There are less expensive hobbies to get into. You will never have sound clarity, It doesn't matter if it is FLAG or MP3 or Analog recordings. Look at SCDS or superior canal dehiscence syndrome. This condition causes people to hear internal bodily sounds it is so bad that you can hear your own eye movement. In short it sucks but it also point to the fact that some sounds you can't hear because your body doesn't want to hear it. Any sound system with isolated power to avoid that humming is a step up. Don't waste your money on perfect sound because you can't hear it

 

[ViciousClone]

There are less expensive hobbies to get into. You will never have sound clarity, It doesn't matter if it is FLAG or MP3 or Analog recordings. Look at SCDS or superior canal dehiscence syndrome. This condition causes people to hear internal bodily sounds it is so bad that you can hear your own eye movement. In short it sucks but it also point to the fact that some sounds you can't hear because your body doesn't want to hear it. Any sound system with isolated power to avoid that humming is a step up. Don't waste your money on perfect sound because you can't hear it

Sooo JBL earphones rather then?

 

[Adenoid Hynkel]

Thank you for reading, TL-DR might apply here

View attachment 1812217

Haven’t read through all the replies yet, but just from looking at your pic, your setup is wrong.

The speakers are placed too high. ideally, the tweeters should be at ear level for proper imaging. It also looks to me that your center monitor might be blocking the direct path of sound, which can mess with clarity and stereo separation. They’re also too close to the wall, which can exaggerate the bass and cause muddiness.

Lastly, they’re facing straight ahead. You want to place them a little further apart to toe them in slightly so they’re aimed at your listening position.

That said, those Edifiers are solid bookshelf speakers. I have 2x sets myself. They punch well above their weight and easily outperform other bookshelfs 3x times the price, in the same class.

 

[Pax]

Haven’t read through all the replies yet, but just from looking at your pic, your setup is wrong.

The speakers are placed too high. ideally, the tweeters should be at ear level for proper imaging. It also looks to me that your center monitor might be blocking the direct path of sound, which can mess with clarity and stereo separation. They’re also too close to the wall, which can exaggerate the bass and cause muddiness.

Lastly, they’re facing straight ahead. You want to place them a little further apart to toe them in slightly so they’re aimed at your listening position.

That said, those Edifiers are solid bookshelf speakers. I have 2x sets myself. They punch well above their weight and easily outperform other bookshelfs 3x times the price, in the same class.

Should have read the thread. It could have saved you typing most all of your response.

 

[Pax]

Haven’t read through all the replies yet, but just from looking at your pic, your setup is wrong.

The speakers are placed too high. ideally, the tweeters should be at ear level for proper imaging. It also looks to me that your center monitor might be blocking the direct path of sound, which can mess with clarity and stereo separation. They’re also too close to the wall, which can exaggerate the bass and cause muddiness.

Lastly, they’re facing straight ahead. You want to place them a little further apart to toe them in slightly so they’re aimed at your listening position.

That said, those Edifiers are solid bookshelf speakers. I have 2x sets myself. They punch well above their weight and easily outperform other bookshelfs 3x times the price, in the same class.

Should have read the thread. It could have saved you typing most all of your response.

 

[ViciousClone]

This WiiM is something else!
Was playing around this weekend, but couldn’t get the nasty 70-80Hz dip out the graph. Had the sub in 5 different positions and corners to no avail, but at the end, back to where it originally was, but turned 90 degrees haha.

I shelved the 10 PEQ, to 8000Hz and -2db’s
The Polk XT15’s are quite bright at the high frequencies. WiiM gives you amazing flexibility in amending your sound

The Polk’s respond well to frequency amendments

 

[ViciousClone]

Me again

So, fast track and long story short - The wife wants a set for our entertainment room, casual listening and airplay when she's in the kitchen - WiiM Amp and a Bookshelf set

I found a Wiim Amp locally used, for R5k, and thought I'd hand over the Polk XT15's, that she thinks sounds amazing. Personally, I feel my mids are a but thin and lacking, my sub covers my lows and the highs are very good.

Keep my WiiM amp and Sub, but I've found the following loudspeakers I can replace my set with but it's a mix bag of feelings and hope you can steer me a bit (MyBB)

I can get, in budget;
Monitor Audio Bronze 50's - R5k
Monitor Audio Bronze 100's - R5k - 3 months old (But damn they're bulky and big boys)
Polk XT20's - R5.5k'ish
Klipsch R50m - R6.8k
Polk ES15 - R5.4

Considering size alone, the Bronze 100 is out, but has good reviews.
I do enjoy some punch when a nice drum solo comes in.

Out the above, what would be considered a decent bump up from the XT15's I currently listen to. They're great for the price, let me leave that there, nothing wrong with them.

 

[saturnz]

Me again

So, fast track and long story short - The wife wants a set for our entertainment room, casual listening and airplay when she's in the kitchen - WiiM Amp and a Bookshelf set

I found a Wiim Amp locally used, for R5k, and thought I'd hand over the Polk XT15's, that she thinks sounds amazing. Personally, I feel my mids are a but thin and lacking, my sub covers my lows and the highs are very good.

Keep my WiiM amp and Sub, but I've found the following loudspeakers I can replace my set with but it's a mix bag of feelings and hope you can steer me a bit (MyBB)

I can get, in budget;
Monitor Audio Bronze 50's - R5k
Monitor Audio Bronze 100's - R5k - 3 months old (But damn they're bulky and big boys)
Polk XT20's - R5.5k'ish
Klipsch R50m - R6.8k
Polk ES15 - R5.4

Considering size alone, the Bronze 100 is out, but has good reviews.
I do enjoy some punch when a nice drum solo comes in.

Out the above, what would be considered a decent bump up from the XT15's I currently listen to. They're great for the price, let me leave that there, nothing wrong with them.

nothing you listed or have demonstrated shows you have a budget even remotely close to being an audiophile

maybe you just want good sound for what you pay, but thats not an audiophile

 

[ViciousClone]

nothing you listed or have demonstrated shows you have a budget even remotely close to being an audiophile

maybe you just want good sound for what you pay, but thats not an audiophile

Howdy

I 100% agree with you, this isn’t audiophile level.

I’ve been doing some extensive research, and the term audiophile is rather used loosely.

Heck some would say a small combo that I have now is “budgetphile” but again, what marks and merits where the lines starts and ends

Yes, i’m out to get the best bang for my bucks. Coming from a set of edifiers 1280DBs, the current setup is a huge jump in audio enjoyment, soundstage, clearance and the list goes on.

So if anything
I’d like to give this kit to my wife, remove her little jbl xtreme and she has a nice little quality music station that would last years.

Question begs, the speakers I’ve listed, some of the guys have them, hence, i’m asking the forum for their opinions on the speakers I’ve listed.

I’m sorry that my kit isn’t audiophile and that you feel the term was used to quick for what I have. You are welcome to share your insights regarding where the line starts to label your set as audiophile level, it sounds (nudge nudge) that you know a bit about this area.

 

[saturnz]

Heck some would say a small combo that I have now is “budgetphile” but again, what marks and merits where the lines starts and ends

who would say that?

 

[ViciousClone]

who would say that?

Forums right across the world my good sir.
Several sub forums even labelled budget audiophile.

But it seems they might be wrong if I read and understand your concerns

 

[SauRoNZA]

Me again

So, fast track and long story short - The wife wants a set for our entertainment room, casual listening and airplay when she's in the kitchen - WiiM Amp and a Bookshelf set

I found a Wiim Amp locally used, for R5k, and thought I'd hand over the Polk XT15's, that she thinks sounds amazing. Personally, I feel my mids are a but thin and lacking, my sub covers my lows and the highs are very good.

Keep my WiiM amp and Sub, but I've found the following loudspeakers I can replace my set with but it's a mix bag of feelings and hope you can steer me a bit (MyBB)

I can get, in budget;
Monitor Audio Bronze 50's - R5k
Monitor Audio Bronze 100's - R5k - 3 months old (But damn they're bulky and big boys)
Polk XT20's - R5.5k'ish
Klipsch R50m - R6.8k
Polk ES15 - R5.4

Considering size alone, the Bronze 100 is out, but has good reviews.
I do enjoy some punch when a nice drum solo comes in.

Out the above, what would be considered a decent bump up from the XT15's I currently listen to. They're great for the price, let me leave that there, nothing wrong with them.

Klipsch would get a serious listen from me especially if you wanted the variety between two different systems as they sound quite different.

But ideally you would give them a listen first before choosing or if you are happy to roll the dice give them a few months and then change, especially as you are happy to buy second hand.

 

[EADC]

nothing you listed or have demonstrated shows you have a budget even remotely close to being an audiophile

maybe you just want good sound for what you pay, but thats not an audiophile

What's the budget to be considered an audiophile?

 

[saturnz]

What's the budget to be considered an audiophile?

this is the issue, an audiophile is not someone whose primary focus is a budget

this audiophile lacks basic knowledge and is asking basic questions of choice, an audiophile may not have an audiophile audio system, but at the very least would be knowledgeable on the products and the issues that pertain to audio

 

[SauRoNZA]

What's the budget to be considered an audiophile?

It’s a bit like saying if you don’t drive a Lamborghini you can’t be a petrol head.

It’s more a state of mind for appreciation than necessarily partaking on a particular level of investment.

 

[EADC]

this is the issue, an audiophile is not someone whose primary focus is a budget

this audiophile lacks basic knowledge and is asking basic questions of choice, an audiophile may not have an audiophile audio system, but at the very least would be knowledgeable on the products and the issues that pertain to audio

Nonsense that is not what you said, you explicitly stated it is not a audiophile budget, I am looking for the number you say is an audiophile budget.

 

[saturnz]

Nonsense that is not what you said, you explicitly stated it is not a audiophile budget, I am looking for the number you say is an audiophile budget.

yes it was poorly expressed, the intent was to show that budget and audiophile is not something that go hand in hand

and if you are struggling with a basic choice between relatively similar speakers are you really an audiophile if you cannot make this decision

besides the speakers, has the OP considered the budget for his listening room?