Tech: Speakers-advice

Subject: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: toadfrog
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 06:26 PM

I can't ever recall how old my speakers are. Does anyone have any advice on:
1. Medium price-range stereo speakers. (If reasonable, less than $400- is that reasonable?) Better than shlock, but not "audiophile."
2. For a small apartment. As small as possible without major quality and price trade-offs.
3. There used to be a distinction between rock speakers and classical speakers. If it still exists, my choice would be classical.

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: pdq
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 07:10 PM

You can't go wrong with B & W, especially if you live in the UK. They also have a huge dealer network on this side of the pond. Even though many small companies produce speakers of good quality, many will be out of business in a few years and genuine replacement parts will be non-existant. Pick a price range within the threshold of pain, usually a little more than you really wanted to pay.

here is their website:            http://www.loudspeakers.glo.cc/

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 10:15 PM

Sorry - are you talking HI Fi or P A speakers ? IF Hi Fi most of what you will be presented with is hype. Does it sound OK to you ??
Then why pay ten times as much because some clown thinks that ANYONE can hear below twenty cycles or above fifteen Kilocycles. If P A is it working and can you transport it? I am seriously considering swopping a pair of 350 watt Peaveys for four Torque 150 watt speakers simply because I am doing my back in lugging the Peaveys out to the car.And the Torques are a quarter the weight.

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 10:29 PM

I have the same two speakers I bought in 1969. When I wanted music in the kitchen, I picked one up at Radio Shack for $19. (It was on special.) Though I am a very fussy person when it comes to music, these seem fine. So I can't see spending a lot of money on speakers.

Two things to know about speakers: 1. in your home, set the speakers at ear level. 2. Keep them one foot from the wall, and the sound will be better in your place and will carry less into neighboring places.

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: toadfrog
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:43 PM

Thanks all. I am talking about home speakers, not public address. Thanks GUEST leeneia, but I can hear these speakers I have, & they don't sound so good. They make crashing noises when the bass plays, and I'm not into CD's with a lot of heavy bass. So I think there is a problem.

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: NicoleC
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 01:43 AM

For a small space, "bookshelf" speakers provide tons of bang for the buck. However, they need to be placed in front of a hard reflective surface (like the back of a bookshelf) to sound better than medicore.

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: s&r
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 08:07 AM

Seems odd that two speakers (suddenly?) go faulty together. Is there some other common factor - have you changed anything in your setup? Could be faulty power amp (often use common power supply).

Are the existing ones good quality - new drive units may be a possibility.

If in doubt, try them on another setup.

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: Willie-O
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 09:31 AM

Crashing noises? Sounds like a blown speaker (one or both? have you isolated the channels to check?)--when you replace them, make sure you're not overpowering the new ones with rated wattage.

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: treewind
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 05:05 PM

My HHB Circle 5's are very nice.
The BBC like them too...

Looking at US prices, the circle 3 is almost in your price range. Smaller, less bass, but it sounds like you won't be bothered by that. I have a pair of those too, hooked up to my computer for mastering or just listening to music when sitting at the keyboard.

They are studio monitoring speakers, but sound very sweet - some monitors are a bit harsh but these aren't. I'd certainly call them classical music speakers.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: Amos
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 05:20 PM

I have been very happy with my Harmon Kardon Soundsticks -- good response, excellent bass, fine range. They hook up to my G4-Mac, though. Dunno if they make 'em for stereo systems or not.

A

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: Peg
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 05:25 PM

Harmon Kardon stereo equipment is very fine and has been one of the most respected names for decades. I have an old amp from them which still has PHONO but not CD...

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: pdq
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 05:47 PM

Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, Madrigal Imaging, Revel, Proceed, Audioaccess, Lexicon, Infinity, and the much more famous JBL brands are all part of Harman Consumer Group, a susidiary of Harman International.
It trades on the NYSE as "HAR".
                                  web site:            www.harman.com/

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: toadfrog
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 12:04 AM

Thanks for the advice; I'm something of a tech-idiot. Indeed it is only one speaker that's bad, and when I pull off the cover, it appears that the rim of the woofer, made of fragile and flimsy material, has begun to crumble away. The other one is more resilient Assuming old speakers can be repaired, I would try to get these repaired. But that seems very unlikely. Am I mistaken?

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: NicoleC
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 01:17 AM

If the paper is disintegrating instead of just loose, it's probably not worth repairing if you have to pay someone to do it. If it's just loose, you could try your hand and regluing the cone -- it's not hard but it does take a steady, meticulous hand.

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: s&r
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 08:07 AM

Speakes can be re-coned. Try a search under the maker of the speaker; alternativelyfrom a goos spares department you should be able to replace the bass drivers with something close for a lot less

Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers-advice
From: s&r
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 08:27 AM

In the UK our local wholesaler stocks a range of HIFI woofers from abour £15-£40 according to size. Changing the speaker unit is a half hour job max involving (usually) four screws and sometimes two soldered joints (sometimes push on connectors).

Any electronics buff would do the job if you didn't fancy it. My experience with repaired cones (as against replaced cones) hasn't been good - OK as a temporary measure.

Again in my experience the speakers work well even if different from the original, though others may argue.

Depends if you like the cabinets as much as anything

stu