Nearfields for audiophile listening?

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

  1. yunie_

    yunie_ Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Singapore
    i know spotify's quality, but yeah i suspect it's some fundamental problem with the cary app setting which i use to play spotify.

    the sales guy is a volunteer i think. telling me shit without checking his facts. he says the Cary AIOS amp/dac is a 30w class D. I gave him the most ridiculous look but fall short of calling him out since i don't know whether low wattage class D makes sense at all. website says the cary's is a 75w A/B btw.

    nothing wrong with the listening or speakers' position.

    you know your words hold weight for me so if i can find that here in Singapore, I'm getting it.

    heck, I've never heard of graham audio before you suggested it. i've always dismissed those old looking speakers brand like tannoy and would have easily dismiss graham as well.
     
  2. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,201
    Trophy Points:
    93
    I doubt youll dislike the graham ls6.

    as for the lm3886. good luck finding a used unit. its so cheap i think there's no risk in buying new. ( I bet it will be better then your Hegel). the lm3886 aitkida beats a 2500$ kinki amp.
     
  3. yunie_

    yunie_ Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Singapore
  4. Metro

    Metro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,590
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Francisco
  5. yunie_

    yunie_ Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Singapore
  6. yunie_

    yunie_ Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Singapore
    @rlow I'm thinking of getting vidar and have both atc scm11 and Graham ls6. Since you have all of them, how is the vidar in powering the atc and Graham? I know you have the 19s and not the 11 but it should provide me with a good reference.

    From your posts, it seems like vidar should be good for Graham since the amp is good for bass and prolly not so good for atc because it will make it sound too lean?
     
  7. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,735
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    Vidar is good for both. Vidar overall is slightly warm, so there shouldn’t be any leanness with the SCM11. What preamp do you plan to use with it? The only thing I would say about Vidar and the ATCs is that Vidar’s treble is a bit dry and not really smooth/sweet/delicate sounding, and you can hear this come through in the ATCs, which can sometimes sound a bit etched up top. Depending how you like that (some prefer more “bite” in their treble than others) this may be fatiguing, but it really depends. Also it depends on the preamp and whether it smooths some of this off or not. Overall though Vidar works well for both these speakers based on my preferences.
     
  8. yunie_

    yunie_ Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Singapore
    i'm using something that you would prolly warn me not to.

    benchmark dac2 hgc.
     
  9. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,419
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    .
    Well f**k, I just broke the plastic switch on my left JBL 305p speaker where you change the input sensitivity. Why da f**k is that switch recessed!? I use a pocket screwdriver to flip that switch but I guess I used too much force. Shit. I was trying to switch it back to +4dbu and hook up the Convert-2.

    Oh well I've been looking at picking up a new pair of nearfield monitors anyway. Budget $4k...maybe $5k.

    I've gotten it down to the following models:

    Neumann KH310
    JBL 708p
    Dynaudio Core 7

    As I said awhile ago, I have no way to demo these before purchase so it's gonna be bought "blind" from a place that has a no-hassle return policy.

    I'm super f'ing impressed by how great the 305ps sound from the Convert-2, so I was thinking maybe stick with JBL but step up to the 708p, but Psalm is warning not to get something with a compression driver if its gonna be nearfield. If I got those they would be moved further from my desk.

    What I would love is to get a pair of passive monitors that can use my two Vidar amps. The JBL 708i passive I don't think I can hook em up, I gotta get whatever amp JBL requires.

    Should I stay away from AMT drivers for monitors? Any opinions on them? Any other horn monitors that are even better than the JBLs?

    And WTF is with the weight of those 708ps? Only 25lbs? Are they that underbuilt or something?
     
  10. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    At that budget, the sky is the limit. Almost everything will sound good in that price range unless you get metal tweeters. You might not even want to spend that much. The bigger two ways go lower, get louder, and sound more open at the expensive of midrange detail most of the time.

    For the JBLs? Yes, they are underbuilt for the price. The JBLs are okay but have a sound. You can't really go wrong if you like their sound with their monitors other than running into random design issues. The 708 sounds HUGE.

    AMTs are cool like the A7X but I prefer soft domes. The A7X sounds cool. Avoid the other X series monitors. The HEDD monitors like the Type 20 are supposed to be sick from everything I've heard.

    KH310 is great too but rather reserved being a sealed speaker. You will hear everything but it's not the most exciting thing in the world.

    Dynaudio? I'd go for the old school BM6a or BM15a over any of the new stuff. BM6a sounds punchy and great and BM15a is huge but has midrange suckout. It's main plus is it sounds HUGE.

    Barefoot Footprints are awesome and in your budget.

    KRK V8 S4 sound awesome and HUGE will save you some dough. V6 has more upper mids but isn't HUGE. If they hiss, just return them.

    Quested V2108 is awesome but slightly outside of your budget. Once again, they sound HUGE.

    It's hard to go wrong man.
     
  11. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,419
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    .
    Ah that's what I'm looking for, something punchy, exciting and hard hitting. And can get loud without any distortion.

    Looks like the KH310 is out then.

    I don't give a f**k about hiss unless its somehow much worse than the 305s (which ain't bad at all and complaints about them hissing are overblown).

    I asked about the AMTs because I can get a good deal on a pair of Emotiva Stealth 8s that weigh a whopping 45lbs each, have A/B amps and have solid reviews from those that have heard them.

    I'll take a look at the rest of those monitors. I've looked for a BM6a before but don't see any for sale at the moment.
     
  12. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Honestly, I would go JBL, KRK, or Barefoot and just rock out. Quested if you want a more laid back tweeter. I dislike JBL and love KRKs personally but neither are for everyone and KRK are owned by Gibson so ymmv. I actually like the HS8 more than the JBLs. It's all preference. You're not me so you might love something totally different.

    Definitely get sturdy stands and a measurement mic and do some basic treatments afterwards if they start to overwhelm your room with bass. Maybe allocate some budget for that because some of these 8" long throw woofers in big ass cabs put out a lot more low end energy than some small budget nearfields.
     
  13. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Chennai, India
    @Psalmanazar , you and I have exchanged notes on the Kali monitors. I own the 8 inches and connect them directly to the Convert-2. The sound is pretty neutral with no hiss and sound very mid-centric. The bass is there when needed but does not overwhelm any other part of the FR.

    Not having heard any other nearfields, how would you compare them to the HEDD Type 7 or the Adams 7X? I can get both of them here in India. Other models being heavily promoted are the Questeds, JBLs and Dynaudio.
     
  14. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,419
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    .
    Which Dynaudio's, Koth? Have you heard any of their Core lineup?
     
  15. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    They're all great man and going to be better than cheaper stuff like the Kalis, which are heavily built to a price point. Everything is cheaped out on the mass market stuff: the cabs, amps, drivers, magnets, power supplies, baffles, crossovers, even the box that they come in sometimes. Try them out yourself. That's the only way you're going to find out. I'd go for Quested V2108 for the stuff I've heard available there because that thing is huge, dark, rich, sexy, and revealing. It just lacks a ton of super low energy. The A7X sounds great and I'm sure the HEDD 7 is flatter and all that.

    None of these really have problems in sounding good. The problems come with usage, preference, and translating over to other speakers as a tool. We can rag on the JBL 305 and the Yamaha HS8 all day but they do what they are supposed to do as tools and are cheap and the HS8 sounds surprisingly good. ATCs and Questeds are super high end tools. NS10s and Proac 100s are unexpected tools. Some of these so-called pro nearfield monitors just don't work so well as precision eq tools. I wouldn't bend over backwards to use the JBL 708, the KRK V8, or even the A7X as tools for that but they can sure sound good and a helluva lot better than most consumer bookshelves and on axis standmounts for what each of them are good at.
     
  16. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Chennai, India
    I have not auditioned anything yet. The guy I know that sells the Dynaudio line up is super impressed with the Core 7.
     
  17. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,419
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    .
    Psalm, if someone is getting nearfield monitors for audiophile playback would you rather steer them towards looking at traditional passive floorstanding speakers? Thing I like about the monitors is how immediate and impactful they sound. I can only imagine getting better quality monitors may slam even harder. I want a take-no-prisoners aural assault shit. Maybe I'd get more out of going the passive loudspeaker route? At least you can swap out amplifiers.

    If you go check those out, would love to get your impressions on them. Demo them with the Convert-2 ;)
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2019
  18. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It depends what you want and how you're listening to them. Nearfields are meant to be listened to up close on axis. Maybe 1-3 meters away depending on the speaker. Midfields can go further back and a lot of the 8" stuff functions better maybe 5-6 feet from your face. Floorstanders tend to be better for propagating sound for relaxing on the couch but you can't adjust the height and you're never going to get some big ATC midrange popping out from most audiophile speakers or get anything as punchy as the big KRKs or even as clear as the small KRKs (lol at saying this) for anything close to the price. Even the awful old KRK Rokits with the glass aramid woofers were actually pretty decent small hi-fi speakers for their price. Hi-fi speakers are meant to sound good. The ones that get used as monitors are the ones that DON'T SOUND GOOD like the Proac 100 and NS10m and Auratone 5C.

    The other thing is price. Dealer markup for hi-fi stuff is huge compared to most monitors. A brand like sells both hi-fi and pro can mark up the hi-fi stuff a ton more with nicer cab work. The wives of audiophiles don't want to see some massive black MDF box tearing down the house with an 85 db kickdrum. Look at what gets sold to audiophiles as bookshelves and pc speakers and then you can walk into a chain instrument shithole store and hear the A7X drop bombs on them for dynamics and details for anything close to the price range. The more expensive stuff not sold in Guitar Shitter? Nukes it.

    Now for massive three way monitors? Floorstanders can be cheaper and offer way more bang for buck for just listening if you can find one you like. I haven't but I don't care to. I listen at my desk, prefer two ways, and don't even have my real TV hooked up. I'd rather use my 90s CRT to play Super Mario Kart.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2019
  19. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,462
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
  20. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    My Quested's are very quiet if you're worried about hiss. It's pretty much gone after 30cm with my ear on axis to the tweeter. They don't use cheap class d bullshit.
     

Share This Page