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Help me set up my first setup

fweakyyyy

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Joined
Apr 4, 2024
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Hello!
I'm looking to start my hi-fi journey and i'm desperately searching all over the forums for suggestions since months. I mainly listen to classical, jazz and indie music in a 20mq room with low wooden ceilings. My budget for speakers + integrated amplifier would be around 1500€ also considering used gear. I like a warm sound so i'm also considering vintage and hybrid amplifiers.
Please consider that placement would be not more than 30cm from the rear wall.
I've narrowed down a list of the following gear:

Speakers:
  • Celestion sl-6
  • B&W DM12
  • Celestion Ditton 11
  • Proac Tablette
  • KEF ls-50
Integrated amplifiers:
  • Audio Analogue Verdi 70
  • Exposure 2010
  • Unison Unico Primo
  • Aeron A160

Sources would be a Wiim Streamer and a vintage Lenco turntable.

My biggest question, other than pairing, would be if there's a lot of difference between modern speakers like the ls50 and the vintage ones.


Thank you in advance for your precious suggestions!
 
I like a warm sound so i'm also considering vintage and hybrid amplifiers.
If you want a warm sound you can get that with a parametric equalizer (PEQ). If you use a PC or Windows or Mac there are solutions available. The Mac software costs a small amount and the Windows version is free. Looks like this if you have Windows.
PEQ (6).png

You can see the various equalizer software on this webpage. If you want a equalizer which you should because it is the biggest change you can make in a audio system just like changing out speakers is a major change.
 
Get the most neutral, lowest distortion, and highest bass extension speaker that you can with your budget (usually ends up being active).

Then, if desired, use the WiiM's Parametric EQ to shape the sound to your preference.

As always, a UMIK-1 is highly recommended (borderline mandatory).
 
For your price range a Yamaha will be the best performance and value you can get. Those esoteric amp names you posted are not suitable. They are too expensive for your budget. You need to focus on the speakers and look to Yamaha.
 
My biggest question, other than pairing, would be if there's a lot of difference between modern speakers like the ls50 and the vintage ones.
Yes, speaker design has improved greatly over the years.
MHO is that you can't go wrong with the KEF LS50. The most important part of your budget, spend the $ here.
Down the road maybe add a subwoofer.
 
@staticV3. I went to the Wiim webpage and there is a bit of info for me there but no details about the power output semi linearity. I am not familiar with the Wiim stuff. Can they run 4 Ohms?
 
@staticV3. I went to the Wiim webpage and there is a bit of info for me there but no details about the power output semi linearity. I am not familiar with the Wiim stuff. Can they run 4 Ohms?
Amir has measured a few of there products.
 
Amir has measured a few of there products.
Thanks. I never read that review. I usually stay away from the Wiim. But it is so popular now I need to get up to speed on that stuff.
 
@staticV3. I went to the Wiim webpage and there is a bit of info for me there but no details about the power output semi linearity. I am not familiar with the Wiim stuff. Can they run 4 Ohms?
The WiiM Amp/Amp Pro can run 4Ω.

Though personally I'd choose a WiiM Pro/Pro Plus/WiiM Ultra paired with active speakers.
 
Yes, that Wiim is extremely good value for US $299. It does 4 Ohms like a champ too.
 
If you are buying new, you get more bang-for-the-buck with a receiver than with an integrated amp. Receivers are produced and distributed in quantity and sold into a competitive market. (But not all modern receivers have phono preamps.)

I like a warm sound so i'm also considering vintage and hybrid amplifiers.
A good amplifier won't have a "sound" (except for tone controls). Its job is to amplify. If you want "tube sound" there is no one tube sound. A good tube amp will be like a solid state amp with no sound of its own. And if it does have a sound characteristic, you'll need to listen to decide if you like that particular amp.

Your speakers WILL make a difference. Your amp shouldn't. And of course, EQ/tone controls can also make a difference.

And... "warm" has more than one meaning. Sometimes it means mid-bass boost (easy to dial-in with EQ) and sometimes it means "pleasing distortion". It's not so easy to dial-in distortion, but most people prefer no audible distortion. And sometimes "audiophiles" imagine that they're hearing slight distortion or something "magical" that goes-away in blind listening tests.
 
Though personally I'd choose a WiiM Pro/Pro Plus/WiiM Ultra paired with active speakers.
Good call, or personally I'd just add a nice external amp, maybe used?
I usually stay away from the Wiim.
Got ya, I wish I could offer a nice US product from Schiit, but there's nothing in his budget there. :(
 
Yes, that Wiim is extremely good value for US $299. It does 4 Ohms like a champ too.
There's incredible value there, it even has a sub-out for future expansion.
A entry product near impossible to beat for the $
 
Good call, or personally I'd just add a nice external amp, maybe used?

Got ya, I wish I could offer a nice US product from Schiit, but there's nothing in his budget there. :(
If Schiit made a 60 W/ch integrated I imagine people would be all over that.
 
Get the most neutral, lowest distortion, and highest bass extension speaker that you can with your budget (usually ends up being active).

Then, if desired, use the WiiM's Parametric EQ to shape the sound to your preference.

As always, a UMIK-1 is highly recommended (borderline mandatory).
Thank you for your answer, i love tweaking eq settings. Umik-1 would be nice to calibrate!
 
For your price range a Yamaha will be the best performance and value you can get. Those esoteric amp names you posted are not suitable. They are too expensive for your budget. You need to focus on the speakers and look to Yamaha.
I found those amps around 600€, i would just need to add like 400-600€ for vintage speakers or 1,2k€ for ls50.
 
I found those amps around 600€, i would just need to add like 400-600€ for vintage speakers or 1,2k€ for ls50.
You are going about this all wrong... you need to spend the majority of the budget on speakers... old speakers have issues sometimes like older technology and inferior sound, the ferrofluid dries up, the cone suspensions dry up and crumble to dust, the voice coils are damaged and being sold even if nobody is aware of the damage. etc... There are lots of common issues with used speakers... You should be spending about 70% to 75% on the speakers as a rough estimate to give you some numbers to move around a bit... With that budget the Wiim is a excellent suggestion or if you want a amp then buy a Yamaha and save your money, get a parts and labor warranty and a solid performer that historically has made amps that are still in use even 40+ years later I have seen.
 
You are going about this all wrong... you need to spend the majority of the budget on speakers... old speakers have issues sometimes like older technology and inferior sound, the ferrofluid dries up, the cone suspensions dry up and crumble to dust, the voice coils are damaged and being sold even if nobody is aware of the damage. etc... There are lots of common issues with used speakers... You should be spending about 70% to 75% on the speakers as a rough estimate to give you some numbers to move around a bit... With that budget the Wiim is a excellent suggestion or if you want a amp then buy a Yamaha and save your money, get a parts and labor warranty and a solid performer that historically has made amps that are still in use even 40+ years later I have seen.
Gotcha, thanks! What speakers/amp would you choose for my budget and listening needs? I ask you so i can make a list and audition them if i can
 
Gotcha, thanks! What speakers/amp would you choose for my budget and listening needs? I ask you so i can make a list and audition them if i can
There are Yamaha receivers. I am in Canada so I can't link you to the Yamaha USA webpage or wherever you are at... So you'll have to search them yourself
Rs-202 (Pretty simple but effective.)
RS-300 (Nice amp design.)

These are integrated Yamaha amps. They are more money and cost about the same as the used gear you are looking at. You get way more with the Yamaha integrated amps than any of those amps you listed in your first post.
A-S301
A-S501

I am a KEF guy. I sold the stuff for several years and I serviced it when I became a electronic technician. KEF has always been a stand up company. So the KEFs are my choice. They sound fabulous too so that's a bonus... LoL.
 
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