Nearfields for audiophile listening?

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by sashafuckinggrey, Feb 27, 2016.

  1. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Wow... Love those springs!

    :bow:
     
  2. wombat

    wombat New

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    I am happy to see some interest in Quested V2108 monitors here. When I am mentioning these to fellow "audiophiles", I usually get an empty stare in response. Many would not even consider listening to them. Their mistake.

    I have been using mine in my main audio system for a few years now. I also use a pair of Neumann KH120A and can switch between these two monitors. My profile picture shows both monitors.

    Some of you were asking for impressions about the V2108. Compared to the Neumann monitors, the mid range of the Quested is not quite as forward or in your face. This allows for very relaxed listening over many hours. However, the mid range is also not as recessed as the one of the Event Opal monitors, which almost disappears. The biggest difference between Quested and Neumann is in the soundstage. The Quested generate a bigger and deeper stage with much more space around instruments than the Neumann. While already playing on a very high level, the Neumann sound is more obviously coming from a small box. In terms of tonality, both are surprisingly similar, i.e. none is brighter than the other etc. I saw that someone here recently reported "harsh and fatiguing treble" coming from the Neumann but I would be tempted to blame other parts of the system for this because I have nothing of this in my system (both monitors are connected to a Musical Fidelity M8Pre preamp via a Goldpoint XLR switchbox).

    Why do I keep both monitors? Because I like them both. For 95% of my listening (of mostly (free) jazz), I am using Quested V2108. Only for some electronic music (e.g. Yello), I prefer the more forward presentation of the Neumann KH120A despite its lower frequency content that would seem to favour the bigger woofer of the Quested V2108. But obviously, if I had to choose one pair, I would keep the Quested.

    I also noticed interesting discussions about studio monitors vs. hifi speakers and near vs. mid field a few pages ago in this thread (yes, I read the whole thread). I think there are very soft boundaries between these categories. Very often, you can read that studio monitors somehow sound more "clinical" than hifi monitors. If this means avoiding deliberate attempts of "sounding" the speaker, I can agree to this. But I am sure there are many hifi speakers, which can claim that as well.

    I also find that the difference between near and mid field is often exaggerated. I use both of my monitors in a mid field setup. The Quested are located in the corners of an equilateral triangle of 3.5m originating from my listening position. They are standing close to the corners of the short side of a room of 4.1m x 7.7m size. The Neumann are standing between the Quested monitors. I cannot report any obvious disadvantages from this setup. Of course, with an increasing distance, room effects become more noticeable but this is to a large extent independent of the speaker design. I cannot say that the Quested work better at this distance than the Neumann because they are both working well (and certainly sufficiently loud).
     
  3. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

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    Yes. What am I missing?
     
  4. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    In that case, absolutely nothing.
     
  5. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

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    Hm. If that's the only change, the used market for 8020's might be a better option... ?
     
  6. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    When I was researching the 80X0 series, one of the things that prompted me to go with the 8030(B) is the fact it has an XLR pass-through that is attenuated by the volume control. This allows you to route the signal from the source to the 8030 and then to the sub. Once you have the sub dialled in, changing the volume on the 8030 will change the volume on the sub accordingly. With the 8020 the routing is the other way round; you go from source to sub, and then out to the monitors. That means you need to tweak the sub output if you change the volume control on the monitors.

    As far as class D vs the A/B in the prior models, IMO the jury is still out on whether class D can match A/B quality. I think for studio work this is less of an issue, but from a hi-fi perspective you may end up gimping a decent upstream piece of gear that way.

    I'd also like to hear a critical comparison of the new stuff vs the old stuff, but I'm quite happy to have got the last iteration of the A/B driven 8030s.
     
  7. Poleepkwa

    Poleepkwa Friend

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    I think some local finnish magazines will probably get around to it at some point to do a comparison. I asked about it from the Genelec rep at some point. He said that the newer Class D amplifiers produce more power which gives more maximum SPL and dynamic headroom. The benefit of DSP based crossovers and filters the frequency response and directivity behavior is flatter/smoother and the speakers have lower self noise compared to the A/B amps.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2017
  8. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

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    Yep, good points. Size, however, is a premium in this case and I realized that it's going to be too much to have the 8030 on my office desk
    :(
     
  9. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    I was worried about size myself, initially looking at 8010s. I must say I was surprised at just how small the 8030s are in real life. If you have an opportunity to see them in person I encourage you do do so. The rounded design makes them much less imposing than a square monitor. YMMV and all that.
     
  10. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    The 8030B is pretty damn quiet. I need to have my ear like 2cm away to hear it.
     
  11. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

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    Wow, that sucks.
    But is there no way to just using the volume control on the ADI-2 only?
     
  12. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    If the sub has passtrough with high pass filters, then there shouldn't be a problem with any monitors.
     
  13. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Yeah, any pre either digital like ADI or analog will work fine for volume control of both.
     
  14. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

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    Ok sounds good. Will compare pricing and decide after the weekend and then order a pair. Fun times. Still a bit annoyed that the white version is more expensive :(
     
  15. jhaider

    jhaider Acquaintance

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    Actually, research shows that perceived sound from a speaker is bifurcated. Below the transition region (generally somewhere within 200-500 Hz in a home listening room) you hear the room. Above that you hear the speaker. Toole has written a bit on this topic.
     
  16. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    It's more useful to say that above the Schroedinger frequency the speaker shoots bouncy sound rays and below it pressurizes the room. Figuratively speaking, of course!
     
  17. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    No surprise. When I started enquiring into studio monitors, it was a journey of brand names that I had never even heard of. And I bet there are more that I still haven't heard of.

    Different worlds.
     
  18. jhaider

    jhaider Acquaintance

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    That's true, but not what I was getting at.

    I believe it was Olive who did a study where they sat trained listeners in front of speakers and asked them to draw the response curve they heard. Below Schroeder their curves tracked the influence of the room; above it they more-or-less tracked the on axis FR.

    I could be wrong about the citation, but the study is covered in Toole's Sound Reproduction. I'll try to pull up the text this weekend.
     
  19. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    look geithain rl901k. these would be end game for me with a good tube pre amp. 15k unfortunately

    I take some conclusions featured in Toole sound reproduction with a big grain of salt, so do many reputed acousticians.

    in well treated rooms, its a empty generalisation statement to say that "Below the transition region (generally somewhere within 200-500 Hz in a home listening room) you hear the room.".
     
  20. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    delete please
     

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