Upgrading to an entry-level audiophile setup - Advice

[Pax]

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.

Is there a number? Is my R350k system good enough or do I need a friend's R1.5m system before it qualifies? To each his own. It is about appreciation of the music at a fidelity level acceptable to the listener to my mind.

As to the OP's question, I do not know any of the speakers (as in experience) and can only comment from knowledge gained from reading about them. I'd be very interested in the Klipsch here, but the secret would be to demo it with your own amp to see if the marraige produces what you want to hear. Amps (and speakers) have characteristics of their own, and some make for an excellent combo, like B & W with Valve Audio, Rotel and Classè amps amongst other.

 

[EADC]

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?

That is irrelevant to the discussion, It takes time and effort to work on these things and man is asking for advice.

Simple.

 

[EADC]

Is there a number? Is my R350k system good enough or do I need a friend's R1.5m system before it qualifies? To each his own. It is about appreciation of the music at a fidelity level acceptable to the listener to my mind.

As to the OP's question, I do not know any of the speakers (as in experience) and can only comment from knowledge gained from reading about them. I'd be very interested in the Klipsch here, but the secret would be to demo it with your own amp to see if the marraige produces what you want to hear. Amps (and speakers) have characteristics of their own, and some make for an excellent combo, like B & W with Valve Audio, Rotel and Classè amps amongst other.

100% agree with that and how it sounds in your room.

But then again I am no audiophile I am just a music enjoyer.

 

[Bewlen]

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

Depends on "your" definition of audiophile. "Budget" has very little to do with it. If it's someone who needs to spend R1million on audio equipment to be "accepted into the club" then that's on you. If it's someone who is enthusiastic about sound reproduction and seeks to achieve enhanced enjoyment and clarity from audio reproduction, and is enthusiastic about the science, research and gadgetry that goes along with it, well then this guy is a budding audiophile.

Do you deem yourself an "audiophile"?

 

[saturnz]

Depends on "your" definition of audiophile. "Budget" has very little to do with it. If it's someone who needs to spend R1million on audio equipment to be "accepted into the club" then that's on you. If it's someone who is enthusiastic about sound reproduction and seeks to achieve enhanced enjoyment and clarity from audio reproduction, and is enthusiastic about the science, research and gadgetry that goes along with it, well then this guy is a budding audiophile.

Do you deem yourself an "audiophile"?

I don't deem myself an audiophile

but I agree with your explanation of what an audiophile is, and this guy doesn't cut it

 

[Bewlen]

I don't deem myself an audiophile

but I agree with your explanation of what an audiophile is, and this guy doesn't cut it

Interesting take, what disqualifies him according to you?

 

[saturnz]

Interesting take, what disqualifies him according to you?

where has he shown any enthusiasm about the science, research and gadgetry that goes along with it...

asking questions about which speaker to take in my opinion does not qualify one to be an enthusiast

 

[A3@MBB]

@Bewlen @EADC Stop feeding the enthusiast police.
Self proclaimed non-enthusiast knocking someone that express interest & learning in a subject.

 

[Bewlen]

where has he shown any enthusiasm about the science, research and gadgetry that goes along with it...

asking questions about which speaker to take in my opinion does not qualify one to be an enthusiast

Oh, you're the "fun one" at parties. Got it.

 

[ViciousClone]

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.

Two local shops have them, I'll maybe go give them a go

 

[ViciousClone]

That is irrelevant to the discussion, It takes time and effort to work on these things and man is asking for advice.

Simple.

100% - And thank you for seeing the approach I was taking.

The field of sound, goes deep, much deeper than I would ever have thought. So asking a forum that allows several people to express their input and experiences with XYZ, just helps me and the rest understand and consider different approaches.

 

[SlinkyMike]

Yeah in this particular use case for 7k I would probably say buy a solid pair of headphones to complement what he is already using.

Otherwise I would save my money and look for a second hand pair of Kef LSX II’s.

Agree. A Schiit headphone amp and a pair of DT990s is probably a fine way to spend around R7k. Likely to go little over that budget really.

@OP: get some isolation between your speakers and the stands. Also: remember that great sound in a poorly treated space is money down the drain. Research and DIY room treatment at your budget.
I also think a sub at 50% in a small room is too much. Dial it back to where you can barely hear it. Probably 20% or thereabouts. Technically speaking the sub is supposed to fill in about an octave under your speakers assuming they go to 50 odd hertz. That is much less than people think it is. get that right because you're going to be choosing gear based on your current experience.

I have not enjoyed my Fosi amp. I got one to fill in while my main system was in repairs and it sounds terrible tbh. You have to really drive to get get any low end out and very frustratingly it seems to have some sort of phasing issue where the speakers sound out of phase no matter which way I connect the poles (dafuq??). I didn't even think that was possible, bought a phase checking app out of desperation and it always shows the speakers are slightly out of phase. I'd save my money if I were you.

 

[ViciousClone]

I don't deem myself an audiophile

but I agree with your explanation of what an audiophile is, and this guy doesn't cut it

Joh, tough club to join - DO NOT talk about Fight Club!

 

[saturnz]

Oh, you're the "fun one" at parties. Got it.

so he hasn't shown any enthusiasm about the science, research and gadgetry that goes along with it

got it

 

[Bewlen]

so he hasn't shown any enthusiasm

posting on forums, wanting to engage others on the topic: enthusiasm

about the science,

mentioned his listening space, starting to understand the science behind it

research

listing multiple speaker options he researched, already has some other well-regarded options in his gear stack

and gadgetry

all of this is gadgets

got it

no you did not.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I have not enjoyed my Fosi amp. I got one to fill in while my main system was in repairs and it sounds terrible tbh. You have to really drive to get get any low end out and very frustratingly it seems to have some sort of phasing issue where the speakers sound out of phase no matter which way I connect the poles (dafuq??). I didn't even think that was possible, bought a phase checking app out of desperation and it always shows the speakers are slightly out of phase. I'd save my money if I were you.

This is actually a very good point.

You can have an awesome system that sounds amazing at "party volumes" but in day to day normal listening sounds like crap because things just don't work together at those volume levels.

Buy something for the 99% use case, not the 1%.

So many people (probably with too much money) go put massive systems into small rooms that never quite work for that space or use case.

 

[EADC]

100% - And thank you for seeing the approach I was taking.

The field of sound, goes deep, much deeper than I would ever have thought. So asking a forum that allows several people to express their input and experiences with XYZ, just helps me and the rest understand and consider different approaches.

Do what makes you happy bud, asking questions from people with more knowledge is always a good thing.

There will always be people who have no joy in life but to **** on other people.

Keep going the thread is interesting and I enjoy reading others input.

 

[SlinkyMike]

This is actually a very good point.

You can have an awesome system that sounds amazing at "party volumes" but in day to day normal listening sounds like crap because things just don't work together at those volume levels.

Buy something for the 99% use case, not the 1%.

So many people (probably with too much money) go put massive systems into small rooms that never quite work for that space or use case.

So true. Another reason why headphones are a really great option. Equipment is very expensive. I spent over 20k treating my room. I could have bought a cable for that.

 

[SauRoNZA]

So true. Another reason why headphones are a really great option. Equipment is very expensive. I spent over 20k treating my room. I could have bought a cable for that.

Yeah headphones are a very good point of reference when you want to get serious about this stuff and then trying to replicate what you hear there in a bigger room.

So many little details easily heard on headphones are a lot more difficult to hear in a room especially if you didn't know they were there to begin with.

Also find so often people are obsessed with Lossless/Hi-Res because they are scared they would miss something...but then they are missing it in the first place and wouldn't even know it was missing.

 

[SlinkyMike]

Yeah headphones are a very good point of reference when you want to get serious about this stuff and then trying to replicate what you hear there in a bigger room.

So many little details easily heard on headphones are a lot more difficult to hear in a room especially if you didn't know they were there to begin with.

Also find so often people are obsessed with Lossless/Hi-Res because they are scared they would miss something...but then they are missing it in the first place and wouldn't even know it was missing.

Yep, also the cost though. A valve amp for a set of cans can be had for a fraction of the cost of a set of monoblocks.