Hi all, an audiophile friend connected me to this sub and you all ensure it's packed with invaluable information. I recently bought a pair of KEF R5 towers off FB marketplace for $1100USD cause I thought it was a great deal and I loved the R3 metas in store. Well, come to realize I work at my desk 8+ hours most days and grossly overestimated the space I had to work with. I'm super happy with the R5s, they're just too big. I'm considering selling them and getting the LSX II which are on sale for $999 and pairing them with an SVS SB-1000 Pro sub. I Just can't listen normally at volumes that let the R5's stretch their legs. Should I be considering anything else.? I'm currently using Qobuz off my PC through a Steinberger audio interface. Would love your thoughts. Am new to this hobby, though I've owned a pair of Quad 11L's for 2 decades. Thanks in advance!
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New Member. KEF R5s but want smaller setup.
- Thread starter dispo5796
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So I'm not opposed to passives with an amp, but currently my integrated hybrid amp has bit the dust and I'm just running a Yamaha RX-V477 AVR receiever to power them. So I'd like to spend around $1500 to either go 1) new passives + better amp OR 2) active speakers with a sub. I'm doing 90% nearfield listening at lower volumes. Thanks for your input Alex!
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Thanks @Jim Taylor, this seems like a wonderful community within a sea of angrily dissenting opinions about what it means to be an "audiophile" so I'm happy to have found you guys. Hopefully as I grow in the hobby I can contribute more!
MarkS
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If the Yamaha is working properly, a "better" amp will not do anything for the sound (if that's what you're after).
Active speaker recommendations by price and measurements:
www.audiosciencereview.com
Ditto, passive:
www.audiosciencereview.com
Active speaker recommendations by price and measurements:
Active Speaker Recommendations for USA (by @sweetchaos)
I'm constantly asked which speakers to purchase...so, here you go! :D This guide is for ACTIVE speakers. For PASSIVE speakers go here. Click on the "Spoiler" buttons below to expand each section. Readme: Legend: Active Speakers (aka Studio Monitors): Bookshelf speakers (when turned 90deg)...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Ditto, passive:
Passive Speaker Recommendations for USA (by @sweetchaos)
I'm constantly asked which speakers to purchase...so, here you go! :D This guide is for PASSIVE speakers. For ACTIVE speakers go here. Click on the "Spoiler" buttons below to expand each section. Readme: Legend: Passive Bookshelf Speakers: Passive Tower/Floorstanding Speakers: RAN OUT...
www.audiosciencereview.com
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@MarkS , are you suggesting I won't notice a difference in sound quality running, let's say the same pair of speakers, like my current R5s, through a better amp? I was eyeballing the Cambridge audio AX85 I think it is, it's an integrated with 85w per channel.
And thanks for the links!
And thanks for the links!
i don't know for sure what the poster was saying , but that's pretty accurate in general... it's about the ability to drive the speakers to volume ( volume you listen at).. in a small room at moderate levels an avr is generally more than enough... amps don't have a sound signature...
MarkS
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Correct. Decades of properly controlled blind listening tests have shown that the tiny measured differences in solid-state amps (operated below clipping) are almost always inaudible to almost all listeners (especially over speakers as opposed to headphones).
Now many here like to chase better measured performance (even if they can't hear it), and of course better feature set, better looks, whatever, can legitimately impact a buying decision.
For better sound, persuing some sort of room correction is far more likely to be a better value for money spent.
SteveC
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For just a bit more you can order a factory new pair of original R3's. I bought a pair a few weeks ago and just love them! https://us.kef.com/products/r3
Just my 2 cents, but, my recent experience with an ADAM Audio T7V and T10V system is that I prefer near field monitors for near field listening. You may want to give studio monitors a shot.
You would need a pre amp & DAC. I use a Topping DX5 Lite. The above mentioned Neumann KH 120 monitors have built in DSP for equalization and phase correction. That will bring an audio interface and mic into the picture if you want to implement it. Or, there is Sonarworks Sound ID software that will work with the ADAM Audio monitors. But, there again you'll need a mic (the Sonarworks mic) and an audio interface. I have the Sonarworks software but have not implemented it yet. You may want to message b7676 about the Neumanns. But equalized and phase corrected sounds like many an audiophile's dream.
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The Neumanns look as if they take digital (spdif/coax) input.
Excuse me, the Neumann KH 120 II take digital input and have DSP. The KH 120A do not have DSP and take analogue only input.
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