Speaker Thread
I already have a good amp/dac with headphone combo. Thinking about investing into some speakers.
These are the current 3 speakers I've been looking at:
>Audioengine a5
>M-Audio BX5 Carbon
>JBL LSR305
No one is into speakers? I feel down.
I'm using a pair of Genelec 8030a with integrated soundcard.
Haters gonna hate!
have you consider passive ones?
no ugly noise when nothing plays
anyway JBL are hot right now
were $200 pair on black friday
I have the audioengines. They're very nice, and sound great, but they're far from neutral. They have more of a "fun" sound. My headphones are neutral so I use those when I need that.
The audioengines have a larger focus on the lows and highs. Female vocals, hip hop / rap, techno, and related music will sound best. I like listening to a lot of Rock and Metal, but I find that the bass extends too high into the mids and is present when it shouldn't be.
The speakers are very powerful, and come with their own amp as part of the internals. They also feature a ton of connection options, and a port that can be wired to a sub without requiring any additional connection.
>>51651700
Hmm sounds great. I mainly listen to hip hop and other stuff.
The few times I've seen people who have the A5 always comes with the response "falling for the meme engines" So I can't tell if it's shitposting or what.
I've heard many things about the JBLs too.
>>51650907
tfw want speakers badly
but then you also need a DAC
and shit is overpriced as fuck here: $179 DAC is priced literally over 1k here.
JBL LSR305 $99 each one? $200 the pair?
Well they are $800 here.
Thank you, Argentina.
>>51651810
why in the flying fuck would you need dac?
from all the things that improve experience, DAC is the last one
>>51651810
All the ones mentioned come prebuilt with that stuff.
>>51652044
>>51652053
So how do you connect it to your computer?
>>51651810
A dedicated DAC isn't a necessity senpai.
If you're not sure you need one or you don't have the money, just get a plug that converts XLR or 6.3mm TRS to 3.5mm headphone jack.
>>51652084
onboard sound...
3.5jack on PC side, RCA on the other in to SMSL SA-60
>>51650907
get yamahas
>>51652130
>>51652144
Oh, so it's that easy?
Nice.
>>51650907
LSR305
>>51651810
What about import tax and VAT? Can't you import from a country with more sensible pricing?
>tfw just bought Dali Mentor sub for my living room system
Give me some absolute poorfag speaker suggestions (20-30 €)
>>51650907
Have you thought about vintage speakers? I run Boston Acoustics A150s and usually get compliments on sound quality. The whole process of scanning CL and researching can be fun too.
>>51652144
>>51652286
I've been researching studio monitors this shit all day and here's my conclusion:
>Two combo's available
>One is passive speakers/monitor + amp
>Two is active speakers/monitor + audio interface/mixer (?)
I'm looking at option two, but desperately need some tips for a cheap as fuck xlr to usb interface sorta thing to connect monitors to a PC or whatever, at which I agree on >>51651810 (though I've yet to understand how a DAC works with active monitors, would you care to elaborate?).
>>51652737
Go to thrift shop and pick the cheapest passive stereo speaker + receiver setup you can find. There is nothing good in that price range otherwise. You can get computer speakers which are acceptable for voice calls and nothing more.
>>51652765
What exactly don't you understand about a DAC? I think most of you are referring to a preamplifier(a lot of discrete DACs work as preamps). Your motherboard is a DAC already but sure, you can get a discrete one for your speakers. A lot of the time this is an easy solution if you go for an "all-in-one" external DAC/preamp which has stereo output for your monitors(or whatever you want to plug in) and volume knob.
>>51652572
Dali is so damn aesthetically pleasing, moot bless those Danes.
>>51652840
Lets say I have two active speakers, both featuring 6.3mm/XLR. What the fuck do I wire those to?
>>51651810
I'll cry for you.
>>51652755
Buying vintage gear is just not worth it unless you get it cheap. You usually have to restore the gear because shit's just so old. And it's always going to have blemishes and scratches
Im trying to build a crossover But have no fucking idea how to do so. Im trying to cross over this eminence driver with a 1 inch compression driver.
My xover point will be 1.7khz nut im not sure how to flatten out the response that starts around 450hz.
How does one build a crossover?
LSR305 is the king of desktop speakers for those not wanting to make a serious investment in sound, stands and room adjustment. And it's still a pretty good choice even if you don't mind going the whole 9 yards for a proper setup.
>>51651810
If you have a relatively decent receiver or pre-amp, you don't need a DAC.
>>51651810
Dedicated dacs are not necessary for speakers, the amp is the most important part besides the speakers
Why in the everloving fuck does hardly anyone make speakers above 6.5 inches anymore? The only viable option are studio monitors and then you're paying extra for a flat response curve and two oversized amps that go distortion free to 100dB.
>>51652879
Not him but just buy an adapter for 2$ you mong. What physical size the piece of metal at the end of the wire is, has nothing to do with what type of signal it is
>>51650907
>>51651627
>>51651810
>>51652572
>>51652929
Oh, look, Schlomo, it's the daily JBL shill thread.
>>51652848
Yeah I really like them and they don't sound half bad either.
>>51652879
Well any preamplifier will do. Heck you could probably just run them directly from your motherboard using a splitter cable which terminates into those connectors. I'd get a device which has a volume knob and preamp outputs. SMSL SD793-II is probably the cheapest of such devices. It's an external DAC/preamp/headphone amp. Optical in from your mobo and you are good to go. As for the cables, you just need RCA -> XLR or RCA -> TRS such as this: http://amzn.com/B001UJCS82
>>51653055
1. because subwoofer
2. because improved driver technology (kevlar) and more powerful magnets
>>51653055
I don't wanna be a cunt, but I heard that connecting two 6.3mm/XLR connections through one 3.5mm connection can cause bad signal/interference.
>>51653076
Is what >>51653055 says true though? I can't possibly understand why I'd need a preamp/amp for monitors that are already powered.
>>51652572
>hardwood floors
>>51653076
>Yeah I really like them and they don't sound half bad either.
I'm still gently eye-fucking the Zensor 1's. Sweet price point, only thing I'm not too sure about is that I've heard about their low bass...
>>51653073
JBL's pushing better frequency response, cheaper. That's all there is to it.
>>51653174
Those measurements are not bs either
what speakers can you recommend for a very small room. Now I live in a very small room with a medium size desk.
JBL LSR 305 seem very nice, but I prefer something smaller because my desk size. Active speakers and <200 would be perfect.
>>51653245
Is that their response in your room?
>>51653259
check cambridge audio models and with that budget I would not go for active
>>51653266
No, its this guys room and he measures it freehand
http://noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR305/
>>51653259
250 is the cheapest I'd recommend for active speakers:
http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-A2-Premium-Powered-Speakers/dp/B00DQMJE7E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1449089929&sr=8-2&keywords=audioengine
Pretty good sound considering their size.
>>51653305
Dayum. I guess the speakers and a few tuna cans are all you need for a great setup.
>>51653144
What kind of floor do you want?
>>51653245
it has a higher noise ceiling, though, and has a harshness in the treble
What's the issue with active speakers? Amps shitty or something?
>>51653104
6.5 simply doesn't give the same "feeling" and ability to fill a room as =>8 does though. It's the same difference that make people even buy speakers to begin with. A pair of 200$ headphones are technically superior to just about any speaker setup.
Modern Floor speakers stack smaller drives and do sound good, but they're too tall for a desk and doesn't sound good at that distance anyways.
>>51653131
It doesn't. It's a line level signal.
>>51653131
Preamp is just a device that level matches all the shit you connect to it and outputs them again, unamplified(usually 2Vrms). It's not an amplifier. It just has line level outputs - just like the back of your computer. Preamps generally give you more freedom with I/O options and they often have a volume knob.
I said you could just run powered speakers from your motherboard's outputs with a proper cable(or "adapter"). I also said that I would get an external device to handle that because of convenience and making sure it will work properly. It's much nicer to have a small discrete device on your desk where you can just turn a knob to adjust the volume, plug in headphones and have it act as a DAC which is isolated from the possible crap your motherboard's codec could introduce. 3,5mm stereo jack from your motherboard is not exactly the sturdiest connection either which is why I really prefer not having anything but digital connections being reliant on the I/O of the motherboard. Both will work but it's up to you if you see the value in spending a bit more for a discrete device.
>>51653395
There's no issue with active speakers and yes some can have noisy, hissy amps inside. That generally applies to the cheap models.
>>51653395
As you get higher end they may get outpaced compared to a passive setup of similar price. Or you may already have an AV receiver or somesuch to power speakers and there's no need for each one to have its own wall plug.
>>51653347
So for 200 euros aprox, is better to search passive+amp?, I though that would be more expensive.
These Audioengine looks good, but I live in Europe and I have only found them for 300 euros or more.
Any other recommendation?
>>51650907
My JBL LSR305's died within a few days and they're currently packed up waiting to be returned. I'd rather just use my Superlux 668B headphone. The speakers were nice but nothing that blew my fucking mind or whatever. You have to fucking blast speakers to get them to that level of just filling the room and making you have some sort of audiorgasm, and it's just too annoying to deal with. Headphones are so easy and cost much less for a high quality.
>>51653174
"A" would be fine if they had used an EQ.
>>51653476
>higher end they may get outpaced compared to a passive setup of similar price
If anything it is the reverse. Passive speakers are more subject to power compression, inefficiency, and limited control. Consumer marketed speakers bring a laughable value compared to pro audio as we consider speakers in the thousands of dollars.
>>51653720
Why did you think they would be mindblowing?
>>51653965
Speakers past about $300 is diminishing return and by $500 you are getting nothing that isn't negligible.
>>51654027
>past...is diminishing return
Once you stop using earbuds as loudspeakers you are hitting diminishing returns. Diminishing returns doesn't mean anything, because we can still realize very audible improvements from more money.
If I'm hearing motherboard noise from my speakers, should I get a DAC?
>>51654027
Past 500 what? Good luck with that bass and SPL.
>>51654070
Yes that would likely fix the problems you are having.
>>51651627
>the fact that a system has passive Speakers makes it noise free
SP2500 for my computer with my se535 and m50x sometimes.
JBL LSR305 for tv
>>51653720
I already have the headphone dac/amp combo. I have the DT 880s with the MODI/MAGNI.
However I've been in need of speaker upgrade because I've been using my shitty Logitech speakers.
>>51653366
Carpet
Hard floors are terrible for response
>>51654304
just buy the A2+, then. the LSR305 are like house party volume.
My speakers just die /g/
I need something really cheap anything below $50 that I can get quick.
What do you recommend.
>>51654359
>Has shity logitech speakers
>recommends AudioEngine
Thats not much of an upgrade
headphones
>>51654070
how do you know its a motherboard noise?
does it go away when nothing is connected or when portable player is?
I'm using a pair of AR 18s as general listening speakers, a pair of JBLs Control 23 (they're PA but good nonetheless) as monitors.
Both powered with a Kenwood KA-405, using my Ecler Compact 5 as a preamp/mixer and my Behringer UCA222 as a DAC/ADC.
Comfy setup really.
I'm buying a pair of Yamaha HS80M today for $300.
Anything I should watch out for with used speakers?
>>51654304
LSR305 is a clear winner over anything Audioengine. Audioengine's for people that want something cute to go with their Apple computer or whatever.
>>51654591
Foam rot, voice coil touching the magnet, crossovers (check for signs of unscrewed screws)
>>51654610
How hard is it for a retard to spot/hear these without disassembly?
>>51650907
Lsr are the best of those, no contest
>>51654625
Are you buying online?
>>51654663
No, going in person in about a few hours.
>>51654591
HS7 cost 400 dollar, lol
>>51654783
A single one does, not the pair
Or where are you getting 2 for $400?
>>51654690
Check if they opened the crossover by looking at the screws in the back, rub at the side of the woofer to check if the foam is rotten and gently push the speaker to see if you hear scratching sounds (if you do, it's bad).
Never trust this man, z review. He hypes e v e r y t h i n g. I found out his name with these simple steps. Goyim Goldenberger.
Fuck I we dont have an Archie we audio guys.
Dogshit
Currently using a pair of brandless 3-way speakers, with both 4x tweeters, 2x squawkers and 1x woofer. Crystal clear sound.
Got a JVC SP-PWE51 active subwoofer and JVC RX-E51B with that. Woofer has a 25-200 Hz range. All of this is pretty old, but the sound is tight.
Considering buying the Logitech Z906 as 7.1 set. And I'd love a pair of Mackie MR6mk3s accompanied by a M-Audio BX subwoofer as a monitor setup. Anyone here who has experience with the Z906, MR6mk series or the BX sub?
So how keked am I?
I got these as a part of 5.1 system. Also got a cheap yamaha amp with 26-200hz range.
So many rave reviews but mostly only for 2.0 setups
>read subjective reviews of item I'm interested in
>every single fucking opinion contradicts itself in description of sound signature
I'm positive at this point that people are just fucking making shit up.
>>51655021
It's easier and better to learn how to read measurements.
>>51655053
Problem is not everything out there is measured and the manufacturer specs could very well be lies...
>>51654870
Thanks senpai I appreciate
Have funny pic in retuen
>>51655080
I hope you were only reading speaker reviews.
Most of the better/popular/hyped stuff is measured quickly enough.
Certain parts of specs are usually somewhat accurate, but they will weasel any way they can without being technically wrong. The more detailed the descriptions, the more likely it is better.
>>51652144
These are nice
Planning on getting these passive floor standing speakers and a 600W amp by Auna. I also want to get an old passive subwoofer dead cheap but I'm not sure how I can connect it to the amp. The amp is 5.1 but subwoofer out is line only.
What do I do please help me.
>>51655080
eminence, beyma, 18sound and jbl measurements are not lies
>>51655420
Google rca to speakerwire. But should work.
Btw auna is shit and I would recommend to stay away...
>>51655503
What cheap amps would you recommend?
Is auna shit in terms of speakers or amps or both?
>>51655526
Well dunno for 2.1. Honestly I researched much more expensive stuff than you so I cant speak on it. Butt all the amazon reviews of auna are a pain to read.
But for 2.0 and an active sub I would go with smsl:
http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-MINI5-TDA7492-Amplifier-Headphone/dp/B00NMBISBW
And scythe kro craft are a hit topic due to their very expensive hivi drivers and solidness. Buy an separate active sub, pref used.
>>51655420
Auna is shit, trust me
They look and sound like the 20$ speakers you find in Chinese shops
Don't buy anything from electronic.star, it's a big scam
>>51655770
And for this you need a sub out and line out from your pc.
>>51654310
carpet makes literally zero difference unless its some massive furry crap. and even then it mostly helps with highs in limited amount. floorstanders would have much more problems with floor bounces than bookshelves on stands anyway.
>>51656231
Clap. Do you hear a harsh ringing or echo? Do you hear voice echo? This is a problem with hard floors and this effects speakers real bad. There is a reason why studios have carpets
If you are going to get a pair of studio monitors, invest in a audio interface that can give you a balanced signal out. Don't know how much cables you have, but considering how shitty people tend to be with keeping power cables away from audio cables, balanced cables is a nice way to reduce induced hum.
>>51656280
The preference is to put very thick damping panels or larger diffuser panels on walls instead. A little bit of carpet isn't absorbing anything but the very high frequencies, better control is obtained by targeting corners, and makes the place easier to clean.
Pic related, Blackbird Studio Room C.
Hey guys, Im looking to get a pair of speakers for my turntable, not sure where I should start.
first off, Im looking at the teac tn-300, which has a built in preamp, is that good enough for bringing out good detail in music, or do I need to get an external phono amp?
I mostly listen to rock and classical
>>51656666
kill your self my man
ruff
>>51656684
whatever.
>>51656684
Im a literal retard when it comes to this shit, fuck me for asking for help right?
Yamaha hs 8 is great
>>51651700
This, but I still love them
>>51656747
What's the difference between the HS8 and the 80M?
>>51656666
No no. I posted that because I was 51656665
I hope you get your answers, sorry.
How much do I toe in the speakers? I just got my LSR305s.
>>51657717
>How much do I toe in the speakers?
What?
>>51657717
Aim the tweeter at your listening position as much as you can. The on-axis position will be the midpoint between the tweeter and woofer drive units.
Normally, you want to make a equilateral triangle with positioning, but deviation from this is acceptable.
>>51651627
Only if you unplug them from the amp
Bought these on black friday for $420. They won't arrive till may though so I guess that gives me time to save up for a good amp. I'm thinking of getting the yamaha a-s501.
Alesis makes some decent lower-cost reference monitors.
>>51650907
>you bought miccas and some nigger usps mail man stole them so know you have to use some old Yamaha NX-GX50
did i do bad?
>>51658393
Only because you didn't go yell at the USPS people
>>51657959
>They won't arrive till may
wtf, where did you order from?
>want to buy nice speakers
>have to buy other shit to power them
I just want a pair of really nice powered speakers.
>>51653425
Yamaha NS-6490
>>51658708
Just get a pair of active speakers senpai. The jbl lsr 305s are like $200 for a pair right now which is one hell of a deal.
>>51650907
Just got LSR305 to replace some old M-Audio BX5 D2's. Have a Presonus sub paired with everything, so there's barely any change to the sound, other than a wider sweet spot for the JBLs. I'm actually impressed at how good the M-Audios are considering they are a good deal smaller than the JBLs too (similar weight though)
Wouldn't passives be a better value than actives, if one already has an amp, since you aren't paying for what you don't need?
>>51658679
The 530s just went out of production.
Look on amazon, people are over pricing them to 1000 or so right now.
These are the ones you're supposed to not aim the tweeters directly at you, to avoid beaming, right?
>>51658810
The amp is a sunk cost anon, it shouldn't factor into your next purchase
>>51658831
Why shouldn't it?
Yes, if there's something active that is genuinely better than any passive option, then sure, I shouldn't get a passive solely because I've already got an amp, but otherwise, it's a piece I already own, and can reinvest into a new system.
Wouldn't the cost savings of not having to include an amp make for better speakers?
>>51658869
You shouldn't limit yourself to just passive speakers just because you have an amp
If at the same level of quality passive speakers are cheaper, then yeah, get the passives, but don't limit yourself just to passives because you have an amp already.
When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail
However, in terms of having to threw new cables around, passives would definitely be worth it
>>51658932
Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
Won't passives be a better value?
>>51658810
>>51658962
If you can get something good used for cheap, go for passives. I'm don't really know what models would be good though.
Is there any dac or such that has 2.1 channels?
My room is too small for anything more than stereo, but I still want to be able to properly use the LFE channel.
But buying a 5 channel receiver would just be a waste, and probably worse quality than my speaker amp.
>>51659126
>Is there any dac or such that has 2.1 channels?
Like every DAC in existence. Your motherboard will work just fine. Well, the .1 part depends on your sub, but you just use its crossover.
>>51658679
JBL direct. I think they were clearing out the rest of their stock because they seem to be discontinued now.
>>51659167
That's what I mean, the .1 part, for the dedicated .1 channel.
Can't really get that with a cross over.
You're right, some sound cards have it, but I've also preferred a simple usb dac...
I was hoping there was a simple usb dac with a sub out, or maybe something with an hdmi in, and 2.1 out?
>>51659200
Yeah you can. Just do DAC -> Sub (set crossover) -> Speakers
>>51659230
There's also external sound cards like these, but they look pretty sketchy + same problem.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-6-Channel-5-1-External-Optical-Audio-Sound-Card-Adapter-Laptop-Notebook-PC-/400852410469?hash=item5d54aa6065:g:ZzsAAOxyUylTUA26
I don't want to spend a huge amount on a dac, I spent 40 on my current one, but 10 dollars for multiple....
>>51659230
>Crossover
The LFE track can have sounds 3-120, and is supposed to only go to the sub.
Can't replicate it with just a crossover.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-frequency_effects
>>51659280
There are subs that support LFE.
>>51659341
How does that work?
Does the sub have a line level speaker out or something, and an optical/hdmi in?
>>51659359
It's just an input and then yeah line level output to speakers. For example, the jbl lsr310s has LFE. In theory, any sub that lets you set the crossover to 120hz should have the same effect as long as it has the appropriate input and outputs.
>>51659407
>Crossover to 120
That wouldn't be the same at all.
Then your L+R channels would go through it, and the sub would play way too high frequencies.
>>51658614
i just amazon refunded bro fuck I aint dealing with the feds.
>>51659423
>>51659407
I just looked at the JBL LSR310, it just has two channels in, and can then apply a high pass filter to the speaker out.
That's not at all what I'm talking about.
The .1 channel is completely separate from the other 2.
>>51659423
>>51659451
>The .1 channel is completely separate from the other 2.
Wasn't that what you were asking about? I'm confused. Do you want the low frequencies to be played on the speakers as well?
>>51659533
No, the .1 channel should be sent to the sub.
But the .1 channel != the left or right channels.
I want the left and right to go the speakers as usual, and the sub cross over as usual, but the .1 channel to be sent to the sub, and only the sub.
Like a surround system does, but for stereo.
The .1 is it's own dedicated channel.
You can't just set the cross over to be 120 hz, because even if you mix that channel in with the L + R, that's way too high a cross over.
The ideal is what a normal surround receiver does, the non .1 channels get crossed over and sent to the sub, the .1 gets sent to the sub no cross over.
This needs a dedicated sub out though.
So the dac has three channels, one for left, one for right, one for the sub.
Sub channel has the .1 channel, plus lower freqnecies of the left + right channels.
>>51659589
Oh you mean the .1 channel as in the chaneel for movies/5.1 surround sound. Sorry about the confusion. Yeah, I have no idea there.
>>51659644
Yeah, that's what I want.
I don't need to spend/want to waste the space for the rear channel portion.
>>51659656
It might be possible to do that via software if you downmix the audio right, but I'm not sure.
>>51659668
I'd still need a third channel to output on.
I guess a dedicated dac for it + software might be workable....
I'm surprised no one else seems to want this.
>>51652918
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=diy+crossover
>>51654591
This guy here I just set them up and I'm more than a little hard
Thank you for reading this blog post
>>51654783
>>51654826
I have a pair of HS7 I bought them locally around 550$(for pair) shipped and tax included in new condition earlier this year.
they are great to have
I recommend them
>>51655526
consider buying onkyo or yamaha receivers in new or second hand.
if second hand try before you buy.
>>51656666
do you have turntable or wanna buy turntable?
if you want a turntable check out:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP120-USB-Direct-Drive-Professional-Turntable/dp/B002S1CJ2Q
if you're not poor I'd recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP1240-USB-Direct-Turntable/dp/B007R9B0UQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1449123984&sr=1-1&keywords=audio+technica+1240
if you are poor you can go for this one but I recommend 120 instead of this:
http://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT-LP60-Automatic-Stereo-Turntable/dp/B002GYTPAE/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1449124038&sr=1-1&keywords=audio+technica+60
a reasonable amp with phono input would be like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha--S301BL-Natural-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B00MXUCN0A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1449124090&sr=1-1&keywords=yamaha+phono
and a reasonable speakers would be:
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Arena-130-Black-Loudspeakers/dp/B00W5XVJMI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1449124375&sr=1-1&keywords=jbl+arena
but you can always get better vintage amps, turntables and speakers and most of the time vintage equipment will sound better and they are strong too.
you may have to look for one for cheap (and I mean you can find vintage amps and speakers dirt cheap)
if you don't wanna bother buy new.
>>51657717
>>51657766
>Aim the tweeter at your listening position
not quite, that advice only applies to traditional dome-tweeter-on-cabinet-front speakers.
LSRs are controlled directivity speakers, so they can benefit from steeper (or shallower) toe-in. how close the walls are to your speakers is a big factor.
you want to avoid short-range sound reflections off walls and objects to preserve timbre and imaging, and increase long-range reflections from far-away walls to increase spaciousness.
avoid at *all costs* reflections that arrive at your head within 2ms after the main sound (aka stuff within 2 feet of your speakers).
reflections that arrive after 10ms stop being bad, and reflections after 20ms (and up to 50ms, though it takes a huge room) increase spaciousness.
SO: JBL LSR (and all other controlled directivity speaker) toe-in guide:
start with the tweeter-at-your-head advice as a baseline.
do you have a wide room? are your left and right walls far away from your speakers? try rotating your speakers "out" as much as possible before your listening seat gets too much reduced treble. use treble adjustment on back to compensate. this will create a spacious, faux-surround sound effect with razor sharp center imaging, with the tradeoff being it only works at the listening position.
have a narrow room, with walls near your speakers? toe them in farther, so they start pointing more at each other. this will increase spaciousness by reducing early lateral reflections off the left/right walls, and increasing contra-lateral reflecs off the opposite, far walls. the effect wont be a faux-surround effect, but it will be more accurate.
the huge benefit to this version is that the imaging sweet-spot becomes HUGE and changes only minimally even if you walk across the room.
put as much sound absorption on the back wall between speakers as possible. put as much distance from the back wall as possible.
yeahhh
![http--www.sbprojekt.rs-images-cke-images-04_BG[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/JqFkU3m.jpg "http--www.sbprojekt.rs-images-cke-images-04_BG[1].jpg")
>>51661064
why am i getting conflicting information from jbl
>>51661168
and from the manual
![picture_closeup[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/Lzt0YyU.jpg "picture_closeup[1].jpg")
bmr
>>51661183
>subwoofer/left frequency effects
Where's the right?
>>51661206
>lfe
> low-frequency effects
>>51659126
>>51659589
i feel you, man.
>a dedicated dac for (the third channel) + software
is technically possible, but it'll be an uphill battle. i've never come across software that will send different channels to separate sound drivers.
what you need to do is create your own .1 channel with summing boxes.
first, each channel coming out of the DAC gets its own wye-cable, so you have 2 left channels and two right. one pair of L and R continue on to your speakers as usual.
the extra L and R then go into a summing box, which safely combines them into a single, mono channel you then run to your sub(s). (and of course, a warning to NEVER use wye-cables to combine two sources into one. you'll blow shit up right quick.)
you sacrifice the bespoke .1 channel from the 5.1 mix, but this doesn't matter. nearly anything that has a 5.1 mix comes with a stereo mix, which already has the .1 content---AND the surround channels---already mixed in by the engineer.
I just need a good 2.1 setup for my computer system. No heavy sound/video editing or anything special, but I don't want to pay more than $300.
Do I need any other equipment off a standard motherboard? I'm new to higher quality sound systems.
I'm looking at the HiVi M50W right now but any other suggestions would be helpful.
Klipsch speakers are better and cheaper than the A5.
>>51660834
btw I'm not that guy who said it's 400$.
![51xj5q1oxUL._SY355_[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/84KrcnJ.jpg "51xj5q1oxUL._SY355_[1].jpg")
I was getting a hum from my M-Audio BX5 D2's and a loud pop when starting the PC. I bought one of image related for $30 and now I can have them up full volume and not here anything but what comes out of the sound card. Most unwanted noise is ground loop related.
BTW don't buy those cheap coke can shaped isolators on Ebay etc they kill your bass and volume.
>>51661168
re: that first picture:
JBL is referring to the "frequency response sweet spot", which is improved over regular speakers no matter how you position them (within reason).
the shown position is similar to the "toe-out" position i mentioned. usually only people in the center will get the "faux surround" effect and correct imaging, but everybody gets stable, accurate FR.
the "far toe-in" position i mentioned will increase the *imaging* sweet spot, not the FR sweet spot (which remains good as long as you properly adjusted the treble levels on the back)
example: people sitting on the left of a couch get less volume from the left (closer) speaker, and more volume from the right (farther) speaker, keeping the image from collapsing to the closer speaker.
the point is, the room and preference determines amount of toe-in. you have to play with it and figure out which tradeoffs are good for you. and sometimes, yeah, the "pointed at head" position shown in the manual turns out to be the best.
(regular, non-controlled directivity speakers can only work for a single seating position via the "pointed at head" position. only the single seat gets correct FR and imaging, and nobody gets a chance at true spaciousness or correct timbre unless the room is huge.)
>>51661308
M50Ws are not good, just like anything marketed for computers. it doesn't even have a real sub; that box just covers the mid-bass range and upper-mid bass(a huge no-no since it's only mono) ranges.
buy a pair of LSR305s, which are on sale right now for $242 from amazon. they play just as deep as the M50W and blow them out of the fucking water in all other areas.
if you find you need more sub-bass, save a little more and get a used, real subwoofer.
>>51656530
Been in a few studios like that. It's always amazing to hear your music coming from pro gear in a pro environment. Most bedroom producers don't know how to create good sound which is why so much music today sounds like shit.
>>51661641
Ok, thanks
>>51661263
>Wye cables.
Huh, I never know that about Wye cables.
Right now I'm using this.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001F347K?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Which connects everything to everything.
I guess this is fine as long as I don't plug two outputs into it, right?
I actually used to use a Y cable to mix like that, although I only ever used one source at a time. I use a sys passive preamp to do that properly now, but I didn't realize it could actually damage stuff.
Do you have any recommendations for a good summing board?
>>51661471
Huh, that might be useful, I get hum sometimes.
Does it degrade quality at all, and do I just put it between my preamp, and amp?
(I've got multiple sources.)
>>51661817
you can make your own passive summing boxes with some resistors and connectors if you're handy with a soldering iron.
http://www.rane.com/note109.html
active boxes keep you from losing gain, as the name implies, but i've no idea where to get them cheaply.
it's such a simple design you think they'd be available on amazon for $10, but no luck last time i looked.
>>51661883
Yeah, most of the ones I can find online seem to be for absurd prices.
I found this, but I don't think it's what I want.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GJCA6M?keywords=summing%20box&qid=1449129282&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
This seems like overkill.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boutique-passive-analog-summing-boxes-with-snake-8x2-/141842208115?hash=item2106745573:g:ofQAAOSwf-VWXcih
I guess I'll try making my own, I guess this is pretty much an either works, or doesn't work.
Most soldering I've done is on my old pokemon games, but I do have a solder iron, so what do I have to lose.
>>51661917
Actually, is this exactly what I want?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GJCA6M?keywords=summing%20box&qid=1449129282&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
I'm thinking about saving up for a pair of Event Opals. Anyone have experience with them?
>>51661883
not him but on the subject of these DIY mixers..
could you make a box for two sets of stereo into one stereo?
>>51650907
This are Mackie CR4 speakers !
>>51662076
they're shit.
How do the JBL 530 compare vs the LSR305?
How do tiles effect the sound in my room?
I own the JBL's they are amazing. Very very happy with them.
>>51661836
Very little. If you google about it someone did a frequency analysis before and after overlaid. I got a cheap isolator and it killed the sound. So I got this and it is amazing.
>>51661263
Actually wait, how is summing the L + R going to help really?
Won't that just give me a mono signal, with the same issue as before?
The .1 might be mixed in, but it won't be separately from normal 60-120 hz sounds?
I wonder if I could do something with alsa/pulse, tell it to have a 5.1 device, then mix that to stereo, but also direct the .1 channel to a different device, and get a normal usb dac as that device....
>>51662111
This guy has reviewed both and prefers the 530s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAJavBmoAaQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOySstGCMRg
Keep in mind though that the 530s cost 3x as much and that doesn't even include the cost of the amp.
>>51662339
Yeah.
I'm also looking at centers for it, it seems the matching center for it, the JBL 520, has different drivers?
I thought it was extremely important for the center to have the same drivers?
>>51662357
why do you even want a center
>>51662384
For if I ever wanted a 5.1 set up.
There's one for 240 on ebay right now.
>>51662357
Nah, it's not important for the center to have the same drivers. If it was important, you would want a third speaker that's identical to the fronts, instead of a "center speaker" which is going to have different drivers anyway.
>>51662463
Ok.
Now I'm wondering if I should get the JBL 520 now, while it's cheap on ebay, since that line is going out of production, and the 530s themselves are already expensive as hell everywhere now.
>>51662496
Is it likely the center will still be cheaply available like it is now once it gets discontinued soon?
>>51653720
>You have to fucking blast speakers to get them to that level of just filling the room and making you have some sort of audiorgasm,
This is a good caveat.
Before you buy speakers, the single most important thing to consider is what room they'll placed in and how far you plan on sitting away from them.
If you expect a wall of sound, eargasm experience sitting 6-8 feet away in a medium/large sized room, the JBLs or any monitor.bookshelf can't provide that experience. It's like buying a 4K 27" monitor and expecting it to act like a 4k 100" projector setup.
Those JBLs are much like a 4K computer screen. They pack a lot of detail and resolution in a small package, but aren't going to crush you with soundwaves and send you to audio nirvana.
A good entry level pair of floorstanders to get you closer to that experience would be the Infinity Primus line. Rather cheap at 199 ea.
>>51653425
>. A pair of 200$ headphones are technically superior to just about any speaker setup.
This is untrue. The 305 measures flatter and more consistent than just about any headphone on the market.
<Just look at this mess.
Headphones are nice in that they take the room out of the equation, but the "room" isn't necessarily a bad thing. Floyd Toole's work (legendary psychoacoustician), for instance, recommends little treatment and encourages that speakers use the room's early reflection points. This can increase spaciousness, soundstage, etc. The battle is usually controlling low frequency response, and Toole and Olive recommend multiple subs for this purpose. DSP room correction has also come a long way.
Headphones are often perceived as technically superior because their driver proximity to your ears allows you to hear some of the finer details in a recording (which aren't always musically relevant and not even resolved any more clearly than a good pair of properly set up speakers) but other than that, they technically fall behind speakers in just about every way.
Though getting a speaker's "technical best" out of it is harder (with regard to room, positioning, amplification, etc) than headphones, which are plug-in-and-play for the most pair.
But once you hear that "technical best" out of a great setup, headphones kind of sound like toys.
>>51664086
I personally think using diffusors in the first reflection points is a good idea. Absorbers would kill the room response and make everything sound really dull and generally hurt the soundstage and spaciousness like you(or Toole) said. Untreated the first reflection points can be really harmful too but it all depends on the room. I wish I had a room to set up a nice listenign setup for stereo speakers.
>>51664236
>using diffusors
Yeah, I think Toole is an advocate here.
I just have a layman's understanding of his work. Maybe an audio engineer or well versed hobbyist can elaborate more. I like Toole's idea of the first reflection points acting like "additional speakers."
Budget, but very nice.
