Suggestion for Monitors/Speakers

[TheMarshal]

Hello Everyone,

I have recently joined this hobby, it seems my wallet is starting to get mad at me.

It has been a really tough choice for me to decide which active speakers or monitors to get. Honestly, I am leaning toward active nearfield monitors as they seem a better bang for the buck at the moment.

In the past couple of weeks, I have auditioned tons of speakers and monitors.
- Yamaha HS7
- Adam T7V
- Kali Audio LP6
- Yamaha HS5
- Dynaudio Xeo 2 (the only active "hi-fi" speaker I auditioned)
- JBL 305P (however, it's 2X the MSRP here in my country and it is not an option).

Personally, I liked the HS7 and Xeo 2 the most.

Interestingly, Kali has very nice reviews, but to me, they sounded like a louder generic computer speaker. Perhaps, the presets on the back were not set properly or the units were faulty. Or just people jump on the hype train influencers set for them.

I really like the Dynaudio BM5 MK3, however, I don't have the option to audition them as they are an order only product in my local music shop. It is similarly priced as on Thomann.

I am not exactly in the hunt for an entry-level speaker. My budget is around 800-ish euros ($1000) for a pair. I would appreciate your $0.02 and suggestions. Thank you, guys!

 

[majingotan]

I have the HS7 myself and to my subjective ears they’re very accurate out of the box without needing EQ outside of room correction and High Trim when listening 2 feet away from tweeters. I add the HS8S at 80dB high pass filter to HS7 and 80 dB cut off for the HS8S. This significantly improve woofer distortion that is only the achilles heel of the HS7 since it’s only the HS8S reproducing below those frequencies.

 

[Fluffy]

You might as well get the HS8. They are even more accurate than the HS7 and goes a bit lower in hz. I have them and don't feel a need to add a subwoofer, really (ths HS8S also has and 8 inch woofer, just like the HS8, so what's the point?).

 

[Ron Texas]

The Adam T7V has bunches of good reviews and awards. What did you think of it? In the US the T7V is $750 each plus sales tax which is 8.25% where I live. Adam, JBL and Yahama are widely available here as they are sold by the Guitar Center chain.

 

[majingotan]

You might as well get the HS8. They are even more accurate than the HS7 and goes a bit lower in hz. I have them and don't feel a need to add a subwoofer, really (ths HS8S also has and 8 inch woofer, just like the HS8, so what's the point?).

It would be absurd to have the HS8S paired with the HS8. Don’t know where you got that HS8 is more accurate than HS7 but HS8 is more of a room filling speakers than near field speakers to me hence me opting for the HS7 with HS8S for low end extension

 

[Fluffy]

@majingotan From Yamaha's own measurements (page 16). I've already compared between Amir's measurements of the HS5 and found that they agree very well with Yamaha's measurements, so I can conclude that the HS8 are probably as flat as they claim.
I don't see why you can't use the HS8 in nearfield. They're not that much bigger than the HS7, and pretty much the same build. And Yamaha themselves designate these as nearfield. Basically the HS8 are the flagship of this series, and the smaller ones are cheaper variations.

 

[maty]

http://averagejoeaudiophile.blogspot.com/2017/01/im-back-yamaha-hs8-studio-monitor.html

To solve the HF peak of the KEF Q100 you just have to listen to them off-axis, about 30-40-50 degrees to enjoy very good recordings. In the rest of the frequencies it is flatter than the HS8 and many other active monitors but it is passive. New model: KEF Q150.

* https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...phase-vs-linear-phase.8762/page-7#post-225351

* https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...inimum-phase-vs-linear-phase.8762/post-253826

 

[maty]

More info:

KEF Q100 for $300
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=150792.0

KEF Q150 for $300 - Kefdirect.com, Amazon.com and Crutchfield.com
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=161371.0

https://www.google.com/search?q=diyaudio.com+kef+q100

https://www.google.com/search?q=diyaudio.com+kef+q150

-> https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/334614-markaudio-fare-kef-ls50-post5718555.html

KEF Q100

KEF LS50

and, very important,

* KEF Q100 only 5.9 Kg -> with more mass + dampening they sound much better, like my modded, which weigh now more than the LS50. Viscoelastic material is the key. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscoelasticity In old times, bitumen as BBC LS loudspeakers series. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt

* KEF LS50: 7.2 Kg.

* https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/345074-mdf-plywood-speaker-cabinets-post5975306.html

* https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/345074-mdf-plywood-speaker-cabinets-post5976867.html

 

[TheMarshal]

I have the HS7 myself and to my subjective ears they’re very accurate out of the box without needing EQ

I agree. I find the HS7 the best for my taste. The only drawback is the price, they cost around 500 euros a pair. Honestly, I find them a bit expensive at my local dealers (considering that if I add 100-150 extra I can get a lot better speakers when I claim VAT refund). The Yamaha store sells everything for 20-30% higher than the European MSRP.

You might as well get the HS8.

I have space constraints for the HS8. As I am going to use them on my desktop.

The Adam T7V has bunches of good reviews and awards. What did you think of it? In the US the T7V is $750 each plus sales tax which is 8.25% where I live. Adam, JBL and Yahama are widely available here as they are sold by the Guitar Center chain.

I liked Adam T7V, except their treble can be a bit harsh at moments. Owning a DT 770 pro, I know how fatiguing that can be for prolonged listening sessions.

Did you mean the T7X, as they are $750 each? The T7V is 430/40 euros for a pair.

KEF Q100 for $300

KEF doesn't have a local dealer here in Macedonia.

 

[Ron Texas]

@TheMarshal you are correct. The T7V is only $250 plus sales tax in the US. The T7X is $750 + tax and has the big reputation.

 

[maty]

If I bought an active monitor in that price range I would avoid cheap class D amplification with the tweeter if you want to listen to or produce very good recordings with acoustic and / or electrified instruments and "natural" voices.

 

[Fluffy]

If I bought an active monitor in that price range I would avoid cheap class D amplification with the tweeter if you want to listen to or produce very good recordings with acoustic and / or electrified instruments and "natural" voices.

And why is that?

 

[majingotan]

If I bought an active monitor in that price range I would avoid cheap class D amplification with the tweeter if you want to listen to or produce very good recordings with acoustic and / or electrified instruments and "natural" voices.

Class D like any class can be implemented as cheap or SOTA. Even the $7K Adam S5V uses Class D amp, but it's not a cheap Class D for the price it's asking.

 

[TheMarshal]

Class D like any class can be implemented as cheap or SOTA. Even the $7K Adam S5V uses Class D amp, but it's not a cheap Class D for the price it's asking.

I agree. For example, the Yamaha HS7 has very little hiss, while the Kali LP-6 and the JBL 305P have an enormous amount of hiss. All three of them use Class D amplification.

The T7X is $750 + tax and has the big reputation.

T7X is also order-only here.

Maybe, I should consider some Genelecs and Neumans too.

 

[maxxevv]

Which part of Europe are you in ?

There are some decent offers for the JBP 305P and 306P on Amazon UK.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JBL-Active...ii&qid=1580225984&sprefix=306p,aps,466&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JBL-Profes...?keywords=jbl+305p+mkii&qid=1580226140&sr=8-1

 

[TheMarshal]

Which part of Europe are you in ?

There are some decent offers for the JBP 305P and 306P on Amazon UK.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JBL-Active-Studio-Reference-Monitors/dp/B07L697JZ9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ROCLVKL4TRB&keywords=jbl+306p+mkii&qid=1580225984&sprefix=306p,aps,466&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JBL-Profes...?keywords=jbl+305p+mkii&qid=1580226140&sr=8-1

I am from Macedonia.

Thomann has a great deal for the JBL 305P. It will cost me around 250 (Thomann is VAT free if you shop outside the EU) euros for a pair, with shipping and all fees included. However, I don't like the hiss, plus they will sit on my desk and I think that it will be very noticeable at that close.

 

[Rockfella]

Sad/confused owner of LP6 ... reading this thread lol

 

[LightninBoy]

Regarding the Yamaha HS, that high-mid spike shown in Amir's measurements is *very* evident whenever I hear them. Only the HS8 seems immune based on other measurements. To my ears the Kali LP-6 is the next best choice if the JBL LSR isn't an option (and many prefer the Kalis over JBL), but if I were you I'd wait until Amir measures them before pulling the trigger.

Hiss is a valid complaint and should be considered, but in the proper context. I have the JBL LSR306 mkii and the hiss is barely audible at my seating position (nearfield), completely inaudible once the computer is on, and a total non issue when listening to music critically. It does bug me that it is there at all, and it shouldn't be, but the actual impact to how I use them is so minor as to be inconsequential.

 

[TheMarshal]

Sad/confused owner of LP6 ... reading this thread lol

How do you like the Kalis? They seem great bang for the back. Personally, I think the odd position and the incorrect EQ corrections on the back panel, made them sound bad to me. Perhaps, I should test them again.

Whatever I purchase, I plan to pair it with the Focusrite Solo or the 2i2.

 

[maty]

Yamaha HS series work with two cheap chipamp LM3886, class AB -> without hiss like more cheap class D amps + tweeter.

https://www.google.com/search?q=yamaha+hs+lm3886

BTW, JBL and Kali better with balanced connections -> you can lower the gain -> less hiss.