Upgrading mains in living room. Would like to use studio monitors.

[Yakapo7]

I would like to upgrade my JBL Studio 530 bookshelf speakers in my living room. I have a HSU sub with a dedicated amp (the built in amp failed) that I plan to keep using. The living room is 20’x20’x10’ and it’s open to the rest of the home, so it’s a large area. If possible. I’d rather avoid large speakers. Budget is not determined as of yet. I’m definitely looking for value. I’m willing to look at speaker kits.

1. Help me understand the speaker reviews posted here. Plenty of speakers have a high score and a low “rating”. Is the rating factoring the cost of the speaker? Should I ignore the rating and just look at the “score with subwoofer”?

2. I was looking at midfield monitors similar to the Adam A77x. I like that they can be used horizontally. Wide speakers would work well on my entertainment center, but tall is not ideal. Is it ok to use nearfield monitors? I’ll be seated roughly 10’-12’ away from the speakers.

 

[dfuller]

1. Help me understand the speaker reviews posted here. Plenty of speakers have a high score and a low “rating”. Is the rating factoring the cost of the speaker? Should I ignore the rating and just look at the “score with subwoofer”?

The preference score should be largely ignored - figure +/-1.5 points will maybe matter. It's overly weighted towards PIR versus more important results (listening window linearity for example).

Understanding the measurements and what they are actually measuring will help explain this.

The directivity measurements are basically a measure of whether or not you can apply EQ above the transition region in a normal reflective room, or whether you'll need to add some first reflection absorption.

2. I was looking at midfield monitors similar to the Adam A77x. I like that they can be used horizontally. Wide speakers would work well on my entertainment center, but tall is not ideal. Is it ok to use nearfield monitors? I’ll be seated roughly 10’-12’ away from the speakers.

How loud do you plan on listening? 10' is pretty near to 3 meters distant so you'll need to factor that in - 2 speakers working at 86dB will make a hair under 80dB where you're listening.

Usually those horizontal speakers have some downsides - their in room response can be a bit funky because of horizontal off axis cancellations between the drivers.

Also, how much are you planning on spending? An upper limit is useful to determine this.

 

[Yakapo7]

I apologize in advance for these newbie questions…

“Preference score” refers to Amir’s rating, correct?

What does PIR stand for?

What is listening window linearity?

There’s no way I could add sound absorption to the walls.

Most of the time, I don’t have it really loud. No where near what you’d hear at a concert, I like to be able to have a conversation while it’s playing.

I can go with vertical speakers, as long as they aren’t too tall. I will just have to raise my projector screen a few inches.

Ideal budget is $1,000 for a pair of bookshelf speakers. I like to bargain hunt for used equipment. Passive or active is ok.

 

[DEF]

I can recommend APS Klasik 2020. idk about using them horizontal.

 

[GXAlan]

“Preference score” refers to Amir’s rating, correct?

No, it is a computed analysis. As @dfuller said, there may not be a difference between a 6.7 and 7.2 speaker, but ON AVERAGE, people will prefer the 6.7 speaker over a 3.7 speaker. There MAY be those who prefer the 3.7 scoring speaker.

What does PIR stand for?

Predicted in room response (based upon math and modeling of an average room imagined by Harman)

What is listening window linearity?

How good is the direct on axis sound?

Ideal budget is $1,000 for a pair of bookshelf speakers. I like to bargain hunt for used equipment. Passive or active is ok.

Try the JBL 3 series from a place that allows you to return it. That’s one of the best values in hifi right now.

 

[Avp1]

I would like to upgrade my JBL Studio 530 bookshelf speakers in my living room. I have a HSU sub with a dedicated amp (the built in amp failed) that I plan to keep using. The living room is 20’x20’x10’ and it’s open to the rest of the home, so it’s a large area. If possible. I’d rather avoid large speakers. Budget is not determined as of yet. I’m definitely looking for value. I’m willing to look at speaker kits.

1. Help me understand the speaker reviews posted here. Plenty of speakers have a high score and a low “rating”. Is the rating factoring the cost of the speaker? Should I ignore the rating and just look at the “score with subwoofer”?

2. I was looking at midfield monitors similar to the Adam A77x. I like that they can be used horizontally. Wide speakers would work well on my entertainment center, but tall is not ideal. Is it ok to use nearfield monitors? I’ll be seated roughly 10’-12’ away from the speakers.

You will need large floor standing speakers for the room of that size. Do not forget about a sub too - it is a must for movie watching. When watching BD or high quality stream, allocate 15dB overhead on top of average sound level. If your average is 85dB, then speakers should be able to deliver 100dB at listener position without distortion. If you want to use studio speakers look at least at mid-filed monitors, or even mains. Obviously you won't fit it into $1000, budget should be at least 5, if not 10 times higher.

 

[JustJones]

I've seen the Adam A77x on Reverb for about $1200 - $1500 a pair. These are going to be 10 - 12 years old. The newer A77h is about 2x that. They would work at about 10 feet since you say you're not looking for high SPL. They're mid field monitors with dual 7 inch woofers and you have a subwoofer.

 

[darakon]

I would like to upgrade my JBL Studio 530 bookshelf speakers in my living room. I have a HSU sub with a dedicated amp (the built in amp failed) that I plan to keep using. The living room is 20’x20’x10’ and it’s open to the rest of the home, so it’s a large area. If possible. I’d rather avoid large speakers. Budget is not determined as of yet. I’m definitely looking for value. I’m willing to look at speaker kits.

1. Help me understand the speaker reviews posted here. Plenty of speakers have a high score and a low “rating”. Is the rating factoring the cost of the speaker? Should I ignore the rating and just look at the “score with subwoofer”?

2. I was looking at midfield monitors similar to the Adam A77x. I like that they can be used horizontally. Wide speakers would work well on my entertainment center, but tall is not ideal. Is it ok to use nearfield monitors? I’ll be seated roughly 10’-12’ away from the speakers.

The measurements and scores are jut an indicator.
For sure the JBL Studio 530 are flawless from technical point of view. so are many other speakers.

But in the end YOU have to like the sound of the speakers with your music in your room.
So, you need to test it. Scores and measurements are just indicators for a pre-selection (and even speakers with a lower score could sound better to yu than speakers with a high score).

Good luck and don't get lost.

 

[Yakapo7]

I saw this elsewhere…

Always wondering if the problem using active speakers (the low priced ones) is strictly the SPL restriction or are there other reasons too (soundstage e.t.c.)? For example, lets say you buy something like Genelec 8320a and try to use it farfield, lets say 4m (13 foot), with a sub. Lets also assume that one doesn't need more then 70-75db at that distance (peaks on music can be a problem I guess) . How will all that play out, will it be a total disaster?

They will sound good in the midfield and farfield as well. If you like their sound in the nearfield you will like it in the midfield and farfield. There is two criteria for nearfield, midfield, etc. One is SPL level, depending on your desired volume a nearfield will play in the midfield or farfield just fine, but not as loud. The other criteria for nearfield is that the sound from all the drivers (woofers, tweeters, etc) is combined at that listening distance. If you were to have a very large speaker and only sit 1 meter away you would predominantly hear the driver that is closer to your ears. Picture a tower speaker sitting on a desk.

I've had the 8020 in my home and my seating is about that distance depending where you are sitting. They sound great as long as I am not trying to crank it. I have the Kef LSX II in that spot right now and they sound good as well. I do recommend a sub with the 8320, it doesn't go that low so adding a sub will give a fuller, richer sound and take some work off the 8320 woofer. There is nothing that makes a speaker sound bad once it reaches a certain distance.

 

[AnalogSteph]

I've seen the Adam A77x on Reverb for about $1200 - $1500 a pair.

There is probably something to be aware of though...

Distortion/rattle on Adam a77x

Good morning, first post here, I hope I posted in the right section :) I'm asking for help because I feel I'm losing my mind. I recently bought a pair of Adam A77x and there is an unmistakable midrange distortion/rattle on pretty much every solo piano piece I listen to or mix, even with virtual...

www.audiosciencereview.com

In terms of new speakers there's not that much available in the desired price range that would fit the bill... KRK 10-3s, Kali IN-8v2, and that's more or less it. (Maybe some bigger 2-way coaxes like Presonus Eris Pro 8, too.) So I'd keep my eyes open on the used market as well.

In any case the speakers also need to be integrated into the existing system. You need to be a bit careful when combining unbalanced consumer and balanced pro audio gear, the right cable will be needed at the very minimum to stay out of trouble with ground loops.

 

[Yakapo7]

There is probably something to be aware of though...

Distortion/rattle on Adam a77x

Good morning, first post here, I hope I posted in the right section :) I'm asking for help because I feel I'm losing my mind. I recently bought a pair of Adam A77x and there is an unmistakable midrange distortion/rattle on pretty much every solo piano piece I listen to or mix, even with virtual...

www.audiosciencereview.com

In terms of new speakers there's not that much available in the desired price range that would fit the bill... KRK 10-3s, Kali IN-8v2, and that's more or less it. (Maybe some bigger 2-way coaxes like Presonus Eris Pro 8, too.) So I'd keep my eyes open on the used market as well.

In any case the speakers also need to be integrated into the existing system. You need to be a bit careful when combining unbalanced consumer and balanced pro audio gear, the right cable will be needed at the very minimum to stay out of trouble with ground loops.

Focal Alpha Twin Evo are $1200 a pair on Amazon. I found a used pair of Dynaudio LYD 48 for around that price. The KRK 10 is too big.

I like the idea of buying used. I can try it out for a while, and if I don’t like it, I can sell and break even. I’m happy to stretch the budget higher if I find a great deal on some used A77h’s.

Part of me is thinking that I won’t really notice much difference between my studio 530’s and some new midfield studio monitors. Diminishing returns and all that.

 

[MarkS]

budget should be at least 5, if not 10 times higher.