speaker upgrading time!!!

[blackraven]

Good idea, better to wait and get what you really want.

[audio_dude]

Yeah, i think thats what i'm going to do...

any suggestions for good speakers that go for around $700 used?

[jrhymeammo]

How about saving a bit more and getting a used pair of Von Schw.....
VR-2? They dont looks as cool as others, but I considered them for a little while. Maybe someone here can tell you about their sound.

[audio_dude]

maybe...maybe... but, you guys do still realize i have a budget, eh?

[blackraven]

MG 12's

[PeruvianSkies]

Canadian speakers...hmm PSB you can check out DMC-electronics prices...your range you are looking at the Image line or perhaps the Stratus line used. Can't go wrong!

[audio_dude]

flo was talking about the MG12's before, depends on what i can find, but for the MG12's i'd have to probably get new electronics first.

I'll have to check out PSB too.

[blackraven]

95 wpc from a good high current receiver would do just fine. My local HiFi store has them hooked up to a 100wpc NAD and they sound great. You just want to make sure you have large gauge speaker wire because it really does make a difference with Maggies. Poor wires will clip or shut down your amp in no time at moderate to high volume with these speakers unless you have a high quality high powered amp. And they your wires will heat up and burn the insulation. Trust me on this because I've seen it personally with some one using zip cord with maggies.

[audio_dude]

thanks blackraven!

Yes, well, right now i'm using a heavy duty extension cord with the ends lopped of and cut in 2, bare wire to the speakers... its all copper, and i think its like 14guage or so.

[Carl Reid]

thanks for that, but right now i'm considering waiting 'til after summer to buy some speakers, because that will probably bring my budget to around $800-$1000

That's a really good move.

In that price range, apart from checking out maggies... I'd strongly suggest looking for a pair of Monitor Audio RS6s or even RS5s... I finally got what all the hype was about with the Silver series today... when I compared the RS8s directly against my favourite speakers the Monitor Audio Gold GS20s... once I started listening with my ears instead of my eyes, I was seriously impressed with the performance of the Silver Series...

Anyway, take your time and listen to as many different speakers as you can before purchasing...

Good Hunting...

[audio_dude]

i will, and the summer will give me plenty of time to go around and audition things

[Feanor]

ok guys, lets do this!

Budget: $400-$600 CDN aka monopoly money (approx. $325-$525 for you lazy americans)
style: bookshelf (save $50 for stand building materials), or floorstanding (no need for stands :P)
Music tastes: classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock (my madeup term for bands like pearl jam and such), rock, Jazz, Funk, Classical (piano, orchestral)
oh yes...a HUGE range there :P (they're listed in order of quantity listened to of each genre)

Right now I have my eyes on the new Paradigm Mini-Monitor V.5 ($400CDN from my local hifi shop that really loves me :P)

I will have $200 coming from the sale/trade in of my old Atoms, $200-$300 from my dad, and as much as I can afford to put in (we'll say about $100)

Any and all suggestions welcome, if you can, list possible audition places for the speakers in or near the Ottawa, ontario area if possible...

Cheers!

Dude, I'm late into this discussion, but I happen to notice an Audiogon ad that I think is worth mentioning. Let me start by saying that if you want to get into the better equipment, you have to expect to buy used; a lesson I learned late myself, I must admit.

The older model Studio 20 V.2 will certainly beat any Atom by a wide margin, and is probably better than ever latest Mini-Monitor too.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....oni&1178093771

[Carl Reid]

ok guys, lets do this!

Budget: $400-$600 CDN aka monopoly money (approx. $325-$525 for you lazy americans)
style: bookshelf (save $50 for stand building materials), or floorstanding (no need for stands :P)
Music tastes: classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock (my madeup term for bands like pearl jam and such), rock, Jazz, Funk, Classical (piano, orchestral)
oh yes...a HUGE range there :P (they're listed in order of quantity listened to of each genre)

Right now I have my eyes on the new Paradigm Mini-Monitor V.5 ($400CDN from my local hifi shop that really loves me :P)

I will have $200 coming from the sale/trade in of my old Atoms, $200-$300 from my dad, and as much as I can afford to put in (we'll say about $100)

Any and all suggestions welcome, if you can, list possible audition places for the speakers in or near the Ottawa, ontario area if possible...

Cheers!

How did this thread reach to Page 3 without one of us asking one of the most fundamental questions:

What size room are you plannning to use these speakers in????

Since, you're a teen I'm assuming (could be wrong though) that you will be setting up this system in your bedroom. So unless you have a really large master bedroom, some of the floorstanding speaker options we've been suggesting may be totally impractical.

[audio_dude]

haha! well, my room is 10x11, but i've got the design really worked out so I will have an approx. 6x11 area to listen in, with the bed and furniture being off to the side. I can bring the speakers out from the wall (so planars are feasable)

I've been thinking about looking for a used pair of apogee Centaurs for you guys out there who are new to the thread. Maybe some von schweikert VR-2's? since i'm waiting 'till after summer, i'd probably be able to increase my budget to about $800-$1000 US

[Carl Reid]

haha! well, my room is 10x11, but i've got the design really worked out so I will have an approx. 6x11 area to listen in, with the bed and furniture being off to the side. I can bring the speakers out from the wall (so planars are feasable)

I currently have a similiar sized listening room and have been reluctant to take the plunge into planars for fear of side wall interactions. Pulling the speakers out from the walls 2-3 feet isn't difficult, but from what I've heard (guys like Flo need to jump in and correct me on this, if I'm wrong) Planars need a lot of space from the side walls as well...

So let's assume you get a pair of MG12s... which are 17 inches wide... so approximately 1.5 feet wide.... they should be at least 6 feet apart... plus 3 feet (1.5 per speaker)....that means that 9 of about 10/11 feet of room width is taken up... leaving clearance between the speakers and the side walls of only 6 inches to 1ft each....

@ Flo/any other Planar owner: Is 6 - 12 inches enough sidewall clearance for a planar?

[Feanor]

I currently have a similiar sized listening room and have been reluctant to take the plunge into planars for fear of side wall interactions. Pulling the speakers out from the walls 2-3 feet isn't difficult, but from what I've heard (guys like Flo need to jump in and correct me on this, if I'm wrong) Planars need a lot of space from the side walls as well...

@ Flo/any other Planar owner: Is 6 - 12 inches enough sidewall clearance for a planar?

The MMGs or MG12s are quasi-ribbons and rather directional, therefore a foot from the side wall is possible though not ideal. The wall behind the speakers is the bigger problem: 2 feet is possible with some wall treatment to reduce the relection of the back wave. Also, the listener is going to be pretty close to the rear wall, and some wall treatmentvis likely going to be necessary there too regardless of whether the speakers are planar or not.

I trick I've used is deflectors behind the planar speakers. I made some out of ceiling tile, (which is cheap). They were angled about 45 degree with respect to the speaker panel and ldeflect rear wave from returning back through the speaker itself which would cause the unpleasant effects. I do recommend this approach when the planars must be place close than 3 feet from the wall; the sound is resolved and the imaging precise.

[audio_dude]

thanks for the suggestions, but another thing... the design of my room is wierd... the way i want to lay it out, there would be about 7 or 8 feet width availible for speaker placement... but on the left side where the speakers would be is a doorway, 2 feet deep, three feet wide.
and on the other side there would be a dresser, but still 4 feet to the wall from the dresser.

[audio_dude]

oh, one more thing... my thread has managed to get mroe reply's than all of those SVI threads!!! w00!

[basite]

congrats on the number of posts in this thread!

could you make a quick drawing of your room (seen from above)? So we can have a visual interpretation of your room.

and you should definately check out monitor audio too!

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[blackraven]

If you place the maggies too close to the side walls the bass is accentuated and can become boomy. Placing some fabric or tapestries on the side walls would help this. Idealy the speakers should be placed 6' apart but you really have to move them around to see what sounds best.

[JohnMichael]

oh, one more thing... my thread has managed to get mroe reply's than all of those SVI threads!!! w00!

and you seem to be listening to the advice.

[audio_dude]

and you seem to be listening to the advice.

thank god no one started to compare me to him, if someone did, i'd have to shoot myself...




PS. I use an online program to design my room layout, so i'll print off a copy and scan it in and post it here ASAP

[audio_dude]

here is my room layout (its not like this now, but will be when i get new speakers.)

Any suggestions will be taken into appreciation.

[basite]

I've got a similar 'problem' it's called 'bed'
they are huge (well yeah, pretty big) and you can't just move them somewhere else.

the way you are planning to set it up now, is good for in your room.
But do you think your speakers can be placed further apart? maybe that could improve the sound too...


Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[Carl Reid]

here is my room layout (its not like this now, but will be when i get new speakers.)

Any suggestions will be taken into appreciation.

Have you considered turning the bed sideways, getting rid of the chair and using the bed as seating for listening to your music.... That's how I had my original audio setup when I was a teen... found it saved a lot of space since the bed became a 'useful' part of the audio enviroment....