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Seeking Guidance for a “Good Enough” HiFi Setup in livingroom.

How about this combination:

WiiM Ultra streamer/dac/pre, SEK 4.700, has PEQ and sub management (for future), great app easily accessed by all potential users.

IOM Ultra power amp, SEK 6.400 (EUR 450 + VAT), Hypec NC252MP that can drive pretty much anything and should look grest with the WiiM. 12V trigger connection for ease of use. https://internetofmusic.nl/product/iom-ultra/

Polk Reserve R700, SEK 24.000 (but is on sale relatively frequently - saw it discounted in Norway this fall), great review by Erin. The downward port solution should help in placement close to wall, in my experience (Fyne 502SP) this has worked like a charm.

Total of 35.000 SEK + cables, freight. And the benefit of full guarantees when purchased new from dealers.
Wow, thank you for suggesting IOM Ultra power amp. Looks awesome with the Wiim Ultra. Almost pulled the tigger

The R700 is a biig speaker. We have not yet moved in to our new house yet, so I Cant say If they are to big.
 
A few more suggestions: :)

Magnate Signature 707


View attachment 411902

BRL has an offer on them right now:


Daniboun thought about buying them:


However, it seems that daniboun has bought a pair of Elac FS 247.4 at a good price. They also seem good: :)
View attachment 411903
Are Magnat good speakers? Ive watch a few of Fidelity Hamburg videos on yt and they look good and seems to hold up against competition. Dont seem like they push marketing as much as others.
 
What can you demo then? Genelecs probably.

BMR is unmatched for the price.
Can demo most of the usual suspects. Live close to both Stockholm and Uppsala which has quite a bunch of dealers.

See @DanielT awnser above about import.
 
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I hope to demo Aurora soon! Heard much good about them and they look great (from pictures and videos).
They seem good and considering their 91dB sensitivity and you who want to play loud sometimes: :D

...90.9 (let's call it 91 dB) makes the Aurora 1000s a bit above average in sensitivity, and you don't need a monster amp to get these things loud. A hundred watts should be capable of pushing it to pretty darn loud levels, 110dB at one meter anechoically, and that is quite a bit louder than most people would ever listen to.


Plus the manufacturer states:

POWER HANDLING (RMS/MAX):
230 / 380 watts



So with the Heco 1000 you can play at high volume when you feel like it. ;):)

In fact, all the speakers suggested in the thread, except perhaps the Dynaudio Emit 50 that I mentioned, seem to be good in their own way. Good = good FR, that is. Then it's mostly a question of what kind of speakers you're looking for in terms of, for example, looks, power handling (play at high volume without audible annoying distortion) and their dispersion.

Dynaudio Emit 50 seem to have a dip around 2 kHz and ... , well maybe not top notch but not too bad. :)

For those interested in the measurements here they are:

Edit:
Speaking of Magnat, , in Audioholic's test of the Heco 1000 they wrote: The brand is now owned by the German loudspeaker manufacturer Magnat.

____

Here's a tip on a thread, considering playing at a higher volume with enjoyable sound quality. Someone who is thinking about speakers that can handle:

 
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Are Magnat good speakers? Ive watch a few of Fidelity Hamburg videos on yt and they look good and seems to hold up against competition. Dont seem like they push marketing as much as others.
It seems that they certainly are or likely to be good. I don't know much about the speakers or the manufacturer. German?

In that case, if you are curious, see if anyone from Germany knows anything about them. You can ask in this thread::)


Edit:
German manufacturer:
Screenshot_2024-12-07_220551.jpg
https://www.magnat.de/en/
 
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My current modest setup (Dali Oberon 1, SVS SB-1000 Pro, Bluesound Powernode Edge) will be used in a smaller space upstairs. For the living room, I’d like to build a new HiFi system.
As you're keeping this, isn't it "good enough"?

Why not just get the same system for the living room? Then you don't have to retrain your brain/ears for a new system, or tax it by having to learn two systems!

If the speakers are too small for your "barn" then why not buy bigger Oberon speakers?

 
As you're keeping this, isn't it "good enough"?

Why not just get the same system for the living room? Then you don't have to retrain your brain/ears for a new system, or tax it by having to learn two systems!

If the speakers are too small for your "barn" then why not buy bigger Oberon speakers?


I plan to go to hifiklubben and compare the Oberon series with Opticon (and even Rubicon). Better is better (subjectivley) but if I cant justify the higher price of opticon and rubicon I dont rule out that I will home demo Oberon. I want to listen to a few more before I decide like Heco, Q Acoustic etc.
 
After being through a dozen of different stereo setups at my home in the last 20 years, personally for me home audio is a problem solved. There is no way back to separates, unless I inherit a few million dollars out of the blue. Studio monitors (preferably coaxials) + Room EQ is the only way, and I am utterly happy about it. The only variable is speaker size/power which will be down to the room size.
 
After being through a dozen of different stereo setups at my home in the last 20 years, personally for me home audio is a problem solved. There is no way back to separates, unless I inherit a few million dollars out of the blue. Studio monitors (preferably coaxials) + Room EQ is the only way, and I am utterly happy about it. The only variable is speaker size/power which will be down to the room size.
Speaking of coax. Right now vintage bonanza. I have plugged in my Tannoy T 225 Mayfair coax speakers, Yamaha YST-SW300 sub and HK 330C receiver. Modern part with streaming and Topping E30 DAC. That in itself has nothing to do with what Stefan is looking for other than a general way about different types of speaker designs.

Stefan might prefer coax or, what do I know, omni speakers? You can read about how speakers disperse sound and how omnis give a big but not a precise pinpoint sound. But what does that actually mean? How do you weigh the "big" one wins at the expense of, to some externt, the "precise pinpoint"?
It's just a matter of listening and testing.:)
Then we have dipoles, same thing there, electrostats...and so on.

My Christmas rig with HiFi Mother and Father Santa in place::) ;)
IMG_20241209_161455.jpg
 
Hi everyone,

I recently asked questions in another thread but felt it would be better to start my own, so that's what I'm doing now.


I’ve always enjoyed good sound but never enough to dive deep into the technical aspects of HiFi. The more I read, the more I learn—but I’m also finding myself stuck in a cycle of “paralysis by analysis.” It’s consuming a lot of time that I’d rather spend on my job and family.

With this thread, I’m hoping to tap into the experience of those who’ve already walked this path and get some guidance on building a “good enough” system. My goal is to find a setup, buy it, and then leave all the forums, YouTube channels, and Reddit threads behind—just to focus on enjoying music and living my life.

The Context:​

We’ve recently moved into a house with a living room of about 430 sq ft (40 m²) in an open-plan layout. One side of the room is covered with windows, and it’s a typical living room with furniture (no acoustic treatments like panels or diffusers). Speakers will have to be placed close to the wall behind them, as there’s no space to bring them further into the room.

My current modest setup (Dali Oberon 1, SVS SB-1000 Pro, Bluesound Powernode Edge) will be used in a smaller space upstairs. For the living room, I’d like to build a new HiFi system.

  • Budget: $3,000–$4,000
  • Usage: Streaming only
  • Listening Habits: I listen at moderate volumes (~60dB) most of the time but love cranking it up to ~100dB occasionally.
  • Future Additions: Planning to add a subwoofer later, and this is very important for me. The system should allow easy subwoofer integration with proper bass management and crossovers.
  • Requirements:
    • Power amp + streamer (I’d prefer to separate these for flexibility).
    • Room correction and subwoofer integration (Dirac or similar).
    • Must have an app for easy use, as my wife will also use the system.
I’ve been considering a Hypex Ncore 252 power amp paired with a streamer like the Wiim Pro Plus or Bluesound Node. This combination seems to check my boxes: compact, powerful, room correction (Dirac with Node or PEQ with Wiim), and future-proofed.

Speaker Choice:​

I’m allocating ~$3,000 for speakers. I’ve been auditioning various options at HiFi stores to understand what sound signature I prefer. I mainly listen to rock music but enjoy a wide range of genres.

I’m torn between standmount and floorstanding speakers:

  • Floorstanding speakers: Likely better for hitting ~100dB without strain.
  • Standmount speakers: May pair well with a sub in the future but might struggle with higher volumes.
Since speakers will need to sit close to the wall, I’d appreciate recommendations for models that perform well in this position. Design and footprint are important, too—speakers in light wood, white finishes, or generally discreet designs that blend into the living room would be ideal.

Constraints:​

The system must be simple enough for the whole family to use, capable of high volumes, and work in a living room without acoustic treatments (no panels, diffusers, etc.). Also, as I mentioned earlier, my technical knowledge is limited, so I’d appreciate it if recommendations and discussions could keep that in mind and align with my perspective.


I’d greatly appreciate recommendations or thoughts on the setup I’m considering. Keep in mind my technical expertise is limited, and I want a setup that allows me to focus on the music and not the gear. I hope this is the last system I buy or at least for 20-30 years.

Thank you!
Hi Stefan,

When I read your requirements:
a fit and forget system
that's easy to use
with speakers that can be close to walls
with eq

Two solutions spring to mind:
1 KEF R3 close to walls + an avr to take care of equalisation and subs integration.
2 Lyngdorf speakers + Lyngdorf streamer/amp/eq.

Many Kef speakers have a bass response that is made to accomodate the speakers to be placed close to walls. Kef R3 look beautiful too and are available in white.

An avr might not seem an obvious choice but ime one of the most impressive sound quality I heard was with an average priced avr and elac dbr62 speakers. Equalisation is included and easy. I would recommend Denon x3800h. It should have enough power but demo to see if it fits your needs.

Lyngdorf is a Scandinavian brand known for speakers that are required to be placed close to walls. The streamer/amp is easy to operate with 1 remote and from what I heard equalisation and sound quality is really good.

You could always add bluesound streamer or wiim if that is more easy to operate for your family.

Please do demo to see if you like the sound and way to operate the system. I suspect 100 wpc with the denon avr driving kef r3 is plenty to fill a space of 40 m2, but I would still recommend you listen and have a first hand experience.

Marc
 
Hi Stefan,

When I read your requirements:
a fit and forget system
that's easy to use
with speakers that can be close to walls
with eq

Two solutions spring to mind:
1 KEF R3 close to walls + an avr to take care of equalisation and subs integration.
2 Lyngdorf speakers + Lyngdorf streamer/amp/eq.

Many Kef speakers have a bass response that is made to accomodate the speakers to be placed close to walls. Kef R3 look beautiful too and are available in white.

An avr might not seem an obvious choice but ime one of the most impressive sound quality I heard was with an average priced avr and elac dbr62 speakers. Equalisation is included and easy. I would recommend Denon x3800h. It should have enough power but demo to see if it fits your needs.

Lyngdorf is a Scandinavian brand known for speakers that are required to be placed close to walls. The streamer/amp is easy to operate with 1 remote and from what I heard equalisation and sound quality is really good.

You could always add bluesound streamer or wiim if that is more easy to operate for your family.

Please do demo to see if you like the sound and way to operate the system. I suspect 100 wpc with the denon avr driving kef r3 is plenty to fill a space of 40 m2, but I would still recommend you listen and have a first hand experience.

Marc

Thank you for your suggestions, Marc!

I have not yet listend to R3. Many people seem to like them. Its a big plus they (kef) can be placed realtively close to the wall.
Im not sure about an avr. seems like I would pay for many options which I dont use? But I caould be wrong.

Lyngdorf tdai 1120 can be found second hand in Sweden for about 1300$ amp/streamer with room correction. Rated at 60 wpc at 8 ohm and 120 wpc at 4 ohm. It might be enough?
 
Thank you for your suggestions, Marc!

I have not yet listend to R3. Many people seem to like them. Its a big plus they (kef) can be placed realtively close to the wall.
Im not sure about an avr. seems like I would pay for many options which I dont use? But I caould be wrong.

Lyngdorf tdai 1120 can be found second hand in Sweden for about 1300$ amp/streamer with room correction. Rated at 60 wpc at 8 ohm and 120 wpc at 4 ohm. It might be enough?
An avr is usually the same price or cheaper than an amp + dac with dsp. That is because they are produced in higher volume. It has the benefit of (multiple) sub and monitor integration by design. And an automated eq process.

Basically I think this is the best option regarding eq if you don't want active monitors with dsp. The avr should be easily serviceable and replaceable too, should something fail.

Most avrs have streaming and dac included, which makes integration with spotify or chromecast etc easy.

From experience I can say that eq is a godsend and having hdmi inputs makes your system very flexible for future additions like a tv. Or network input/wifi for a nas.
 
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An avr is usually the same price or cheaper than an amp + dac with dsp. That is because they are produced in higher volume. It has the benefit of (multiple) sub and monitor integration by design. And an automated eq process.

Basically I think this is the best option regarding eq if you don't want active monitors with dsp. The avr should be easily serviceable and replaceable too, should something fail.

Most avrs have streaming and dac included, which makes integration with spotify or chromecast etc easy.

From experience I can say that eq is a godsend and having hdmi inputs makes your system very flexible for future additions like a tv. Or network input/wifi for a nas.

Do you have any experience with Yamaha? Its RN-series has YPAO, decent in price (800-model). Could work with most speakers?
 
Life have been hectic, but we´ve have now seen our new house a second time. It´s abit smaller than I remember, so I would have go with standmounts and a sub or maybe a slim tower. Is either better or worse, objectivley?

Hopefully I can audiotion the R3 Meta och Sourcepoint 8 soon. Awaiting Erins video on Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 which looks really nice.
 
Hopefully I can audiotion the R3 Meta och Sourcepoint 8 soon. Awaiting Erins video on Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 which looks really nice.
You can consider the Q Concerto as an alternative to the R3 Meta. They also measure very well and and significantly less expensive.
 
....., so I would have go with standmounts and a sub or maybe a slim tower. Is either better or worse, objectivley?
Both solutions can be good if you choose good speakers but what I'm wondering is if you're going to have the bookshelf speakers on a stand? If so, they will take up about the same kind of physical space as a pair of floor standing speakers. IF that is the case, what do you gain from it? Other than that you can get a stand that gives the possibility of customized placement height of the speakers.

If you are going to place the speakers on stands and want them in metal, I can recommend you contact a local welding shop. They can create some custom ones for you.:)
 
You can consider the Q Concerto as an alternative to the R3 Meta. They also measure very well and and significantly less expensive.
Thank you for the heads up!
 
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