Dilemma _ Speakers for the bedroom

[ShazMatazz]

A brief intro.
The room is 13ft deep x 18ft wide (10ft high I’m guessing). I plan to stand the speakers on a cabinet shelf 16 inches tall(very low). The cabinet shelf top is not even higher than the bed mattress it’s placed in front of. But that’s the complexity of my requirement. The wife and I don’t plan to listen to music while planted in our respective sides of the bed. The bedroom system is planned to be used while doing random tasks while spending time in the bedroom area.
We tend to switch on the music first thing after waking up, while brushing or in the shower, getting dressed, folding clothes, unwinding after work, etc. It may sound like a very casual listening requirement but both of us have a serious ear for music and hence we’re looking for good soul soothing music to fill the air while we go about our things.
The focus is not on pin point imaging , but rather a big clean chesty performance with an even soundstage.

The dilemma is whether I should go with passive or active speakers.
I own the Cary Audio Aios which I’ve never had the chance to use. I’m contemplating if I should get a set of stereo speakers to pair with this amp/streamer or sell the AIOS and buy a pair of actives.(I’m crying right now).

Budget for the speakers: usd 1000.

I’m currently settled in a beach town in Vietnam and demo options are limited, almost nonexistent. All I’ve had the chance to listen to are the klipsch The Fives (we actually loved them since the demo room was really small and well treated), a pair of JBL 43xx passives and a pair of vintage SF bookshelves.

Buying options online here are
Revel s12, s16, concerta m12, m16, m22, m105. performa3 m106
JBL 610, 620, 630, 530
Klipsch fives, sixes, sevens , nines, rp 500s 600s
Typical Focal, jamo, kEF , whaferdale, svs, Polk, models

We stooped as low as to listen to BT portable speakers like the JBL Authentics 300/500, Harmon Kardon GO Play3, onyx 6/7 . I’m not against these and they didn’t completely disappoint, but these would never fill that void in my chest.

I’m starting to be less helpful as I continue elaborating on this post and hence I’ll stop.
I guess you folk understand where I’m going with this.

Any and every bit of advice is welcome.

Cheers. Iru

 

[staticV3]

The bedroom system is planned to be used while doing random tasks while spending time in the bedroom area.
We tend to switch on the music first thing after waking up, while brushing or in the shower, getting dressed, folding clothes, unwinding after work, etc.

The focus is not on pin point imaging , but rather a big clean chesty performance with an even soundstage.

Don't get a stereo system. Doesn't make sense if you don't have a consistent MLP.

 

[coonmanx]

Don't get a stereo system. Doesn't make sense if you don't have a consistent MLP.

I disagree with this. A good system will sound good even if not in the MLP. I too listen more like the OP. Sometimes I am actually in the listening position but often times I am not. But it always sounds good no matter what. And to me that is what a good system should be and what it should do. I used to be that dedicated MLP guy but no longer. I just don't have time for that anymore...

 

[Timcognito]

Sonos Five Smart Speaker Review

This is a review, listening tests, and detailed measurements of the SONOS Five streaming wired/wireless smart multi-room speaker. It was kindly drop shipped by a member and costs US $549. The Five is solidly built and feels rather substantial in hand. Packaging is always is apple-like...

www.audiosciencereview.com

"Conclusions
What is the old pilot line? Any airplane landing that you can walk out of is a success? Applied here, any smart speaker that doesn't sound like garbage is a major accomplishment. SONOS however, goes way beyond that requirement and produced an excellent sounding speaker that is powerful with very deep bass. Its response is not perfect but comes close to being accurate especially for this class. Side-firing tweeters provide the spacious and wider dispersion that such a speaker needs to have. And triple woofers provide the impressive dynamics. Clearly strong engineering and acoustic design has been used in develop of the Five.

I am happy to recommend the Sonos Five smart speaker."

 

[A Surfer]

Yes, that is fine, but why should the OP bother with a system when active speakers would also sound great? What is the advantage of dedicating extra space for components that aren't really required?

 

[coonmanx]

Yes, that is fine, but why should the OP bother with a system when active speakers would also sound great? What is the advantage of dedicating extra space for components that aren't really required?

This is a great question and exactly what OP seems to be struggling with. I am a traditionalist who has always had an amp and speakers and that is still my setup. I don't really have any issue with space so that seems to work for me. I can not speak for the OP. That is a decision that he will have to make and I realize that there are a lot of good active speakers out there these days.

Of course these days you can also find those small amps that will carry the load. Maybe if I didn't already own three class AB amps I might get one...

 

[Joe Smith]

I use an Aiyima A04 amp (low power) with Paradigm Titan v1 speakers in the bedroom, with a switcher that lets me select tape, CD or a Bluetooth antenna. Works great for the quiet, ambient listening and all fairly compact in placement (equipment all on top of a bookcase, speakers on short stands on either side).

 

[mglobe]

Sonos Five. Personally I’d do two of them.

 

[A Surfer]

Sonos Five. Personally I’d do two of them.

They are quite good. I have four of them.

 

[pablolie]

I use a humble Logitech Boombox with a small sub in my bedroom. It's set up about 7ft high but angled down towards the middle of my bed. It totally satisfies me for that purpose. Meaning I enjoy real listening sessions.

I also have a headphone rig for my Shure SE535 (right on the side of my bed) , which isolate well and sound amazing. Probably way over engineered for the new age relaxing stuff I use that for.

 

[LTig]

Bose Waveradio (not kidding), Ruark Audi R5, Naim Mu-so, ... this may just be what the OP needs.

 

[Waxx]

JBL boomboxes are quiet good, even the small ones sound decent if you don't except strong bass. They are the modern equivalent of a transistor radio, and are so easy to use that even my technoob mother of 73 can use them without the help of us.

Small more traditional speaker that i know are quiet good are the Edifer R1580MB. They look very cheap, but are actually very good, especially when put close to a wall. Friends use them sicne very long as outdoor speakers (under a patio) and each time i go there (i'm there a lot) i'm surprised how good a small plastic box can sound. They don't go loud altough (but i don't think that is the goal). they are 140 mm x 228mm x 177mm (that is 5.5"x9"x6.6" and can be connected by RCA (line in) or BT and are cheap.

 

[Waxx]

But even a Nuemann KH80 DSP would fit your budget and size restrictions; It's an active speaker and very neutral. Again, it won't go very loud, but other than that it can be good as a speaker for a room. The only downside is that it's limited in it's inputs, that are pro audo formats (xlr balanced and AES). A simple rca to xlr cable can make it work with unbalanced sources (unabalanced to balanced is not a big problem, otherwise it is).

 

[ShazMatazz]

Yes, that is fine, but why should the OP bother with a system when active speakers would also sound great? What is the advantage of dedicating extra space for components that aren't really required?

I appreciate everyone contributing towards helping solve my situation, but just to remind you guys I did mention in my post that I have a Cary Audio AIOs amp/streamer available if I need to hook up a pair of actives. The cabinet shelf can easily fit the amp/streamer(centre) and a bookshelf speaker pair on each side.

 

[unpluggged]

(xlr balanced and AES)

There is no AES (or any other digital input) on the KH 80 DSP.

 

[ShazMatazz]

This is where I'm at currently. Have the Cary Audio AIOs at my disposal (if I need it). The small cabinet shelf sit just opposite the foot of my bed and has enough real estate for a 2.0 active/passive or bar. I'm quite open going the Active/smart speaker route too.. heading out to listen to the Naim Mu-So2 as we speak.

 

[A Surfer]

I appreciate everyone contributing towards helping solve my situation, but just to remind you guys I did mention in my post that I have a Cary Audio AIOs amp/streamer available if I need to hook up a pair of actives. The cabinet shelf can easily fit the amp/streamer(centre) and a bookshelf speaker pair on each side.

You did indeed. My bad.

 

[ShazMatazz]

You did indeed. My bad.

No worries buddy. Also, Update ! I managed to go listen to the Naim MuSo gen2 at a store today. They tore open the box just to let me demo this unit, so there was no break-in time.
The speaker was placed on a shelf against the wall. One side of the room was a glass door and the other side was quite open but completely untreated overall. Music streamed over Bluetooth (as nobody seemed to have the time to set the speaker up). I know this was an absolute crime.
Impressions: extremely bassy, lacking detail and crispness. The speaker got loud no doubt, but lacked finesse.it wasn't bright like I expected, at the same time never delivered a hi-fi sound. I felt that the JBL authentics 500 did a better job than the muso2. But then again, this was right out of the box and had zero hours on it + the environment was unfriendly + source was Spotify over Bluetooth.

Tomorrow I will get a chance to listen to the Klipsch THE NINES. Fingers crossed.

 

[ShazMatazz]

Update: reached the store as soon as THE NINES arrived. Helped the store incharge unbox, set up and wire the speakers (so excited). Took me half a song to decide I was getting them. But I continued to play a few soft rock tracks and immediately both of us were foot tapping....this is when you know know.

Paid for, boxed them up and had em delivered back home.

They sound fantastic right out of the box. I'm using the Klipsch app to dial the bass down 2 notches, rest of the EQ is flat and is near perfect. Unfortunately I can't place them more than 4 feet apart since I'm stuck with the furniture in this rented apartment. But I'm not looking for pin point imaging or an accurate soundstage.

I must say, all the reviews that describe these speakers to be an all-in-one box solution, are correct. They might not sound like a 10k system but for my bedroom the search is over (for now ).

Big thanks to everyone for your valuable contributions. Happy listening

Shaz

 

[ShazMatazz]

Unfortunately I'm taking this thread beyond it's scope, but I'm willing to share the capability of these speakers as I continue to add components up the chain.

Update 1: Tried connecting my laptop to the Klipsch NINES. USB A out to USB B in. Still using the Dac in the speakers. The BT connection that was occasionally a problem is now nonexistent. EQ is via the Klipsch app ( very limited). Speakers are still solid.

Update 2: Got my Cary Audio AIOs up and running and connected the Klipsch NINES using the AIOs pre-out to the line-in on the speakers. EQ is now via the Cary Audio AIOs and analog signal passed to the speakers for amplification.
Tailored the EQ to suit my ears and room.

The sound is clean and bold now. Less than a week in and seems like I'm enjoying a completely different speaker. I'm happy I've managed to unlock what these speakers are truly capable of.

For anyone who is planning to get a pair of klipsch bookshelves and use an external dac and EQ, I'd suggest try out a few budget friendly combinations (streamer with pre-out +dac) at the store. Could offer more value than we'd imagine.

Happy Holidays
Shaz