Topic: Speaker Recomendations

[Brian Skalinder]

FWIW, I really like my VR-1's paired with my Sony STR-DA3000ES.  I'm regularly surprised at the sound, imaging, etc. coming out of these smaller-than-I-expected speakers.  I also picked up a pair of inexpensive stands.  As with all speakers, placement is key to achieving the best sound.  Given our very small / narrow room, I pull mine out from the rear wall for critical listening vs. leaving them in a less-than-ideal place for TV and such.  Still working towards a surround sound setup.

[morningdew]

Thanks guys for all the great info.

I ended up with the B & W DM602 S3's.  I was just too impatient to wait for used.  I was without my open system and it was driving me crazy.  But now that I'm back to listening I plan to take my time and start auditioning more speakers.  If I find something I fall in love with I'll just have these be my surround speakers. 

Oh and by the way, I now have a Bose Acoustimass AM-15 system that will soon be up for sale.  I first have to send in the sub/power unit to Bose for repair and then I'll be selling it, probably e-bay.  But, if you know anyone who might be interested in the system I can let it go for less than they are selling on e-bay (used) and the sub/base unit will be redone and Bose gives it a complete checkup along with a one-year warranty (I'm unsure if this is transferable).  I have two Bose stands as well.  In all honesty going from this to the B & W's is like night and day as far as the two channel listening is concerned.  The Bose is definately listenable, as I'm sure you're all aware, but in 2-channel mode it is nothing compared to the B & W's and I'm sure the other speakers that were suggested.  However, it makes a nice quick and economically surround system.

The salesman told me that the B & W's would take about a month to break in and would start sounding better and bring out more bass.  When I first heard them I thought "if they only sound better over the next month, I'm in good shape."  At first I thought the bass was a little too lacking but now after three days of quite a bit of listening they do seem like the bass is getting better.  Maybe it's all in my head though.  Plus, I'm still messing with placement.

One last thing.  For Sony STR-DA300ES owners.  I haven't pushed the volume level past -20dB, per the salesman rec. and they don't seem as loud as I expected.  Is this normal?  I thought at a 150W per channel it would be shaking the walls.  I haven't given them full power but it doesn't seem like they will be as loud as I expected.  I was planning on adding a power-amp but wanted to wait on that purchase for awhile.  Don't get wrong, they get loud (with a very clear sound) but it just doesn't seem like they will get REAL loud.
 

[Brian Skalinder]

One last thing.  For Sony STR-DA300ES owners.  I haven't pushed the volume level past -20dB, per the salesman rec. and they don't seem as loud as I expected.  Is this normal?

I push mine past -20 dB regularly for listening.  Not sure why the salesman recommended not to do so.  I get plenty of volume out of mine, but I definitely have to crank the volume knob further around the dial than a traditional pre/amp combo to get the loud out.

[pfife]

+T for toys

[newscane]

Thanks guys for all the great info.

I ended up with the B & W DM602 S3's. 

Congrats on the purchase!  I think you'll enjoy them!

[Tim]

I own the 602.5 s3



+T

I have a 30w per channel tube amp and my speakers get LOUD at 11 o'clock on the volume dial.

[poorlyconditioned]

Thanks, found a local dealer.

Now what about speaker wire.  The Bose always had the included wire.  You're not going to talk me into needing some high dollar wire (at least not yet).  I only need 10' per speaker.  I've read briefly that some people who don't buy into the high dollar wire even use Cat-5 wire.  I've actually got a ton of that stuff laying around.  How do they wire it?

Edit:  I also have a spool of Belden 1804a mini-quad wire that I was going to make some mic cables with but ended up going a different route, could use this?

For now I'd like to get something quick and easy.  Would like to use them in the near future.

Both sets of speakers I'm looking at are 8 ohms 90dB sensitivity driven by a Sony DA3000ES receiver.

Thanks.

Just use lampcord.  Save the 1804a for mic cables!

 Richard

[cshepherd]

I would urn the sony up until it

A.  Gets loud enough
B.  Starts to distort

If the Sony's really 150w and the B&W's are 90 db, you should be melting faces before you hit 10 o'clock on the volume control.  If that's not happening, check to make sure your speaker cable is wired correctly (red>red / black>black).  Wiring your speakers out of phase (red>black) will reduce your system's bass response as well as overall volume. 

Chris

[Nick's Picks]

LOUD should be around 0db.
thats what I used to push my VR4's (also 90db) for "concert volume" w/my 3000es.

[nickgregory]

LOUD should be around 0db.
thats what I used to push my VR4's (also 90db) for "concert volume" w/my 3000es.

agreed...my regular listening level is somewhere around -12 to -6

[Evil Taper]

B&Ws are the shit

[sygdwm]

LOUD should be around 0db.
thats what I used to push my VR4's (also 90db) for "concert volume" w/my 3000es.

agreed...my regular listening level is somewhere around -12 to -6

B&Ws are the shit

i agree on both accounts.

[jhirte]

One last thing.  For Sony STR-DA300ES owners.  I haven't pushed the volume level past -20dB, per the salesman rec. and they don't seem as loud as I expected.  Is this normal?

I push mine past -20 dB regularly for listening.  Not sure why the salesman recommended not to do so.  I get plenty of volume out of mine, but I definitely have to crank the volume knob further around the dial than a traditional pre/amp combo to get the loud out.

Agreed. I run mine -12 more often than anything else. Def Tech 7004's for speakers. LOUD is the way everything should be played.

[F.O.Bean]

i am going thru the same thing as your bro, i have a bose surround setup w/ a JVC RX-6000V receiver that i bought many years ago as a combo deal and NEED nice speakers/amp, nuf said, the bose as a two-channel playback(the way i prefer them) is LACKING, bass is decent but the highs get brittle and i want a nice phat sound they uust dont have

the nicer gear i buy, thye more i want playback, i bought all of the gear first tho, and im content w/ my recording setup so its time to upgrade the playback setup

same boat as you

i am gonna get some speakers off of chris sheperd(csheperd on here) and spend about 1200 or so, and get an amp around the same time, then pay bills off for a year or so

[RebelRebel]

B&Ws are the shit

Yes, they are. I have a pair of 802s that I use for mixing/mastering. I went through two other pairs before falling in love with these. powered by a bryston at the moment.

Now I need some actual "listening/playback" speakers.  Nick, that stingray and the VRs are on my list...