Recommendation about my first bookshelves

[YurtVonnegud]

Greetings everybody,

This is gonna be my first real speaker experience. I'm currently using Z2300 and Trust 2.1 system
I did some research but I got many questions.

In Spinorama ELAC B5.2 got higher score than DBR62 w/eq or w/sub+eq, how is that happening? Can I really get more quality from B5.2s?

I got Fosi Audio V3 and I got a GameDAC from SteelSeries and I will use it with my computer so I can use EQ's I guess.

and what do you think about these speakers, which one would be your recommendation and why? (these are used prices of course except for B5.2)
ELAC DBR62 (260 Euro)
ELAC Debut B5.2 (190 Euro, new)
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 (250 Euro)
Klipsch RP-600M II (300 Euro)
Polk R100 (330 Euro)

If you wanna recommend anything I would like to hear that too!
My budget was 200 euros but I change my stereo once a decade so I can go up to 400 euros.

Thank you very much

 

[Power Pop 23]

Greetings everybody,

This is gonna be my first real speaker experience. I'm currently using Z2300 and Trust 2.1 system
I did some research but I got many questions.

In Spinorama ELAC B5.2 got higher score than DBR62 w/eq or w/sub+eq, how is that happening? Can I really get more quality from B5.2s?

I got Fosi Audio V3 and I got a GameDAC from SteelSeries and I will use it with my computer so I can use EQ's I guess.

and what do you think about these speakers, which one would be your recommendation and why? (these are used prices of course except for B5.2)
ELAC DBR62 (260 Euro)
ELAC Debut B5.2 (190 Euro, new)
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 (250 Euro)
Klipsch RP-600M II (300 Euro)
Polk R100 (330 Euro)

If you wanna recommend anything I would like to hear that too!
My budget was 200 euros but I change my stereo once a decade so I can go up to 400 euros.

Thank you very much

Welcome to ASR !

I am not sure I am seeing a higher score at Spinorama for tonality. The score is a distillation of measures. In general, a larger bookshelf loudspeaker will measure as having lower distortion than a smaller sibling loudspeaker from the same series. I am not familiar with the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2. I think a used, ELAC DBR62 can be a low-risk option. The Polk ES20 bookshelf loudspeaker measured well at ASR when recommended EQ settings were applied.

 

[YurtVonnegud]

Welcome to ASR !

I am not sure I am seeing a higher score at Spinorama for tonality. The score is a distillation of measures. In general, a larger bookshelf loudspeaker will measure has having lower distortion than a smaller sibling loudspeaker from the same series. I am not familiar with the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2. I think a used, ELAC DBR62 can be a low-risk option. The Polk ES20 bookshelf loudspeaker measured well at ASR when recommended EQ settings were applied.

Thank you! I was thinking about ES20 actually but gave up on that when I've seen the Spinorama scores. I don't know for sure but Flatness score was high and I guess that means that Speaker is less stable?

DBR62 is my top pick for now too.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Thank you! I was thinking about ES20 actually but gave up on that when I've seen the Spinorama scores. I don't know for sure but Flatness score was high and I guess that means that Speaker is less stable?

DBR62 is my top pick for now too.

Yes, there is more deviation in frequency response with the Polk ES20 compared to the ELAC options. In his review Amir found that the Polk ES20 could be made more 'stable' (using that term) via Parametric EQ that also reduced measured distortion. The ELAC DBR62 requires less EQ to achieve similar results. I would go with the ELAC DBR62 unless the Polk ES20 can be purchased for significantly less.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Can you show a picture on how you going to place them and is it a desktop setup?
If you place them close to a wall for nearfield listening then i would recommend a smaller speaker with a 4" or 5" woofer with a smaller subwoofer for a better sound. Most speaker manufacturers say you need atleast 500mm or 20 inches distance from a wall. Also make sure to disconnect the speakers from the wooden desk with isolators.

Spinorama measurements are done with speakers free in the air and not close to a wall.

 

[YurtVonnegud]

Can you show a picture on how you going to place them and is it a desktop setup?
If you place them close to a wall for nearfield listening then i would recommend a smaller speaker with a 4" or 5" woofer with a smaller subwoofer for a better sound. Most speaker manufacturers say you need atleast 500mm or 20 inches distance from a wall. Also make sure to disconnect the speakers from the wooden desk with isolators.

Spinorama measurements are done with speakers free in the air and not close to a wall.

I use a 2 meter (78 inches) desk so I can put them 50cm away from wall no problem yeah it's a desktop setup but I'm thinking putting stands on desk to get them up to my ear level. Here's a photo of it, I've made it clean with GPT. It's away from rear wall about 10 cm and the desk is 60 cm. There is a space in the right so I can center the desk.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Looks like you have some room to play with. Are you going to listen to music when sitting close to the speakers? (1 meter nearfield)

 

[YurtVonnegud]

Looks like you have some room to play with. Are you going to listen to music when sitting close to the speakers? (1 meter nearfield)

Yeah I'll be at my chair most of the times.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Yeah I'll be at my chair most of the times.

I would go with the smaller Wharfedale Diamonds 12.1 speakers with isoacoustic risers and a small sub like WiiM Sub Pro. But yeah your amp does not have a sub out.
Only 2 speakers, the amp and the monitor should be on the table, make sure your PC is off the table.

Maybe save some money at work for this upgrade.

• Fosi Audio MC351 2.1
• Wharfedale Diamonds 12.1
• WiiM Sub Pro

If you do not have the extra money then the ELAC DBR62 or the Dali Oberon 3 is a good choice for now.
Enjoy your music!

 

[eddantes]

My shorthand for selecting speakers:

• once you have seen measurements and they are "reasonable" (tonality, then linearity, then directivity) - they don't need to be perfect or even "better" than X, just close
  • then optimize for bass => the lower the better
  • finally if you need a tie breaker: horizontal directivity => the wider the better

This is because - I would not be able to detect with my ears many of the "flaws" shown in measurements (expecially 5K and up) - so why sweat those details?

 

[DSJR]

From a distance in every sense now, simply choosing budget price bookshelf/high stand' speakers purely on a spinorama or Klippel result is going to be a bit fraught with danger I feel, as you'd need to get a basic 'flavour' of hiw these boxes actually 'sound' on the music you like when placed in that position. for example and without resorting to eq, one model may drive the shelf and general room-position better or worse than another, despite basic bass response being similar. Our brains may also decode what our ears are telling us, giving general preferences for tonal balance and *tolerance* of sonic artefacts - apologies for my crudeness of prose here.

I'd argue for you to buy a model on sale-or-return if possible, so you can try it in your favoured position (isolation stands of some sort would be a must I'd suggest) and then see how you go, as long as you keep the speakers mint during the trial period so you can return if not happy (I used to hate dealing with returns with marks and badly treated packing materials).

Obviously with the desktop and whatever is behind that curtain, some eq may be necessary to fine tune what you end up with for best satisfaction. Good luck

 

[YurtVonnegud]

My shorthand for selecting speakers:

• once you have seen measurements and they are "reasonable" (tonality, then linearity, then directivity) - they don't need to be perfect or even "better" than X, just close
  • then optimize for bass => the lower the better
  • finally if you need a tie breaker: horizontal directivity => the wider the better

This is because - I would not be able to detect with my ears many of the "flaws" shown in measurements (expecially 5K and up) - so why sweat those details?

That makes DBR62 first choice I guess then. It goes lower, it's pretty flat, price is middle ground and from what I've seen, it's got a wide directivity.

 

[YurtVonnegud]

From a distance in every sense now, simply choosing budget price bookshelf/high stand' speakers purely on a spinorama or Klippel result is going to be a bit fraught with danger I feel, as you'd need to get a basic 'flavour' of hiw these boxes actually 'sound' on the music you like when placed in that position. for example and without resorting to eq, one model may drive the shelf and general room-position better or worse than another, despite basic bass response being similar. Our brains may also decode what our ears are telling us, giving general preferences for tonal balance and *tolerance* of sonic artefacts - apologies for my crudeness of prose here.

I'd argue for you to buy a model on sale-or-return if possible, so you can try it in your favoured position (isolation stands of some sort would be a must I'd suggest) and then see how you go, as long as you keep the speakers mint during the trial period so you can return if not happy (I used to hate dealing with returns with marks and badly treated packing materials).

Obviously with the desktop and whatever is behind that curtain, some eq may be necessary to fine tune what you end up with for best satisfaction. Good luck

You're right, thanks a lot! I was cold to buying it and returning it because idk I don't wanna make extra workload for other people but maybe I should because I couldn't find any place that I can listen to them in place. I'm living in a small city in Germany sadly.

 

[DSJR]

You're right, thanks a lot! I was cold to buying it and returning it because idk I don't wanna make extra workload for other people but maybe I should because I couldn't find any place that I can listen to them in place. I'm living in a small city in Germany sadly.

I'm shooting in the dark here, but the Lowbeats.de site may be able to help you with EU made speakers - they sometimes/often have respponse plots (not Klippel-grade, but in-room acceptable I think [shame that I think they've stopped properly testing pickup cartridges]).

There's an intertesting German brand - Norbert - that's local to Germany only I believe, but the few tests I've seen of their products shows that they seem to be well designed and not silly money either I think

 

[AnalogSteph]

There's an intertesting German brand - Norbert - that's local to Germany only I believe, but the few tests I've seen of their products shows that they seem to be well designed and not silly money either I think

s/Norbert/Nubert

OP, what made you settle on a "traditional" setup with passive speakers for a desktop system? It's not like it makes things any cheaper or better.

 

[YurtVonnegud]

s/Norbert/Nubert

OP, what made you settle on a "traditional" setup with passive speakers for a desktop system? It's not like it makes things any cheaper or better.

Hi, I didn't understand the question. I was using Logitech Z2300 which is so old and not a good system I guess? So I wanted to get a great audio level without paying thousands. DBR62 + Fosi V3 (48W 5A) looks pretty good now. I caught a deal on them both of them comes at a total price of 400 euros now. Which is the same price with pair of Kali LP-6 V2.

If you are asking why not active speakers, because I got some hissing on Z2300 and it's making me mad and I don't wanna hear that anymore ever. Most people said Active speakers have hissing or so hard to fix it when something happens so I just considered long-term. What would differ between DBR62 and LP-6 v2 or your recommendation in terms of Audio?

 

[YurtVonnegud]

btw, I don't know still because I didn't used DBRs but if I would like to get a sub, is there some models which is under 150 Euros (used) you can recommend? V3 got a Pre-Out (new models have volume control on pre-out) and I guess I can use it with a sub.

 

[DSJR]

s/Norbert/Nubert

Many thanks for the name correction

 

[daniboun]

The Polk R100 are damn good with the Spinorama PEQ )

 

[Cereus]

Hi there
und grüaß di!

Since we're talking about a desktop setup, why not look at desktop speakers? I registered here right now only to suggest the Adam Audio D3V. There's a review from Erin on Youtube and it looks like it's quite a banger of a speaker. I am actually having my eyes on it myself.

Best regards
Peter

P.S.: I am just now seeing that there is a good deal on them for 242€ right now. You can find it if you look on a famous german deal website/app but I will not link to it because that's not why I initially suggested them.