@BoxingRobes full room listening and I would say a small - medium room. While I will be playing files off my computer, these will not be desk speakers.
If you’re going with the Wharfdales…you can’t go wrong with Cambridge, IMO. I’ve not matched them up personally, although I have listened to numerous models from each brand and feel - in theory - you’ll have some good synergy.
Also, if you can stretch the budget another $150 or willing to buy OPEN BOX or USED…Rega IO integrated amp is very nice.
Some might say those $500-ish integrateds don’t give you enough juice for the Wharfs…but for a small room you should be just fine.
if you - personally - are worried about power…the IOTAVX SA3 or an EMOTIVA option (TA-100??) would give you more juice than you need.
You got a ton of options. Just don’t be afraid to send something back if you aren’t happy and try something else…try buying from a company that won’t F you on returns…
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$1500 is a great starting point on your HIFI journey. Still think the subwoofer route is the way when running books or towers with 6in drivers or less. A sub or dual subs provide the sense of scale to the recording, 2.2 is awesome. Also collecting books are fun its like collecting headphones.
Going the subwoofer like emotiva 12in $399 and choice of intagreted amp with remote route will leave you with around $600 for speakers though.
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any speakers will disappear if you position them right. some are just easier then others. i wouldnt let that be much of a determining factor.
what kind of music do you listen to? what kind of sound do you like? there have been lots of good rec’s so far…but with little input from you. no offense to anyone suggesting anything.
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I realize I haven’t been great with input. I am a little overwhelmed lol, I like classic rock, popular 70’s 80’s and 90’s pop, grunge, rock. specifically I like the Eagles, Styx, Rush, Red hot chili, cake, nirvana, Dire straits, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Michael Jackson, Weather Girls, Tears for Fears, YES and I love wilco but I don’t know their genre. I also like metal (Iron Maiden, MegaDeath) classical music (Bach, Vivaldi, Haendel) movie and video game osts. I really like and listen to a lot of genres and I do my best to listen to well recorded dynamic music and I have a lot of fun tracking down original masters that have not been ruined by compression. I am back to leaning away from spending over 700 on the speakers because I do think I want a sub on the first go. Currently I listen on a zen dac or tone 2 pro (dac/amp combo) to Philips fidelio x2hr and I love the soundstage and clarity, so I want something that will at least sound as good as those. as for the type of sound I like, I really am not sure, as I have not spent much time listening to different systems, I think I like a more flat sound where I can hear all the parts clearly; maybe a little warm?
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excellent reply! the zen dac has you covered on the touch of warmth. do you live in the states?
triangle bro’s on sale for 349$
emotiva amp for neutral. parasound for a touch more warmth.
edit: rel sub to rythmik, my bad. meant rythmik. the base model is 589$ and all the sub you need for small to medium.
edit: safeandsoundhq.com has b stock and open box parasound amps. the 2125v2 is a good one with all the juice you would need(150wpc into 8ohms) for 600$ with a 40hz high pass option built in.
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I do live in the states
I do like sales and I think the Bro3 look good but, until I develop my personal opinion, I hold Zeos’s opinion highly and he does not seem to be a fan. He is saying that the treble is painful; while I do appreciate good treble, I don’t want my system to be fatiguing. I am seeing in the comments that people think he is testing them in a bad room, and they are better suited in a smaller room. I will have them in a basement till I move out of my parents but my basement is not that big.
DMS likes them though
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elac dbr62’s, parasound 275v2, emotiva airmotive se12
edit: changed amps to an amp only
edit2: just remembered cambridge audio(been distracted a lot today) they have fine offerings below 500$ range for amps
edit3: this one is nice and 120$ cheaper then the parasound.
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that setup will be 1520ish$ + tax. plenty of juice for any bookshelf speakers and most floor standers. the se12 has a nice interface and lots of tweak ability. the elacs are very neutral with good dynamics and a very fast woofer.
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@joshua_g, I was looking at the dbr62 but I had decided against them for now because of Andrew Robinson’s review. he talks about sibilance when the volume is high and that is something I am looking to avoid, what do you think about that assessment? I like the amp but it a little pricey compared to the Cambridge axr85 (I like what I have heard about this line for budget integrated amps) what do you think about the comparison? as for the sub, I think a 12" sub is a little larger than what I need, I was thinking an 8". I appreciate the advice, I would be dead in the water if it wasn’t for this forums
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all good. the 8" is also a great unit, and 100$ cheaper! what amps did he pair with them? just curious. haven’t seen his review. i don’t find mine sibilant, but i don’t really listen loud.
i would then suggest a ribbon tweeter. wharfdale 4.1 with the axr85 and airmotiv se8.
edit: one of the reasons i don’t listen loud is i have very sensitive ears. to treble and to sound in general. and to me, just about all things that produce sound are sibilant when loud.
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beautiful setup, I am tempted to buy it right now but I am worried about the return policy on the wharfdale 4.1 if I buy through amazon. I feel like the chances I don’t like it are low but I want my options to be covered. I like the sub and I think I definitely end up with that one or maybe get the 12" $100 to future proof room changes does not seem bad.
yeah, I think I changed my mind, I want the 12 hahaha
I really feel the 4.1 calling me, but with my lack of experience I am not sure if it is something to fully listen to and it seems like something that would cost a lot to return if I don’t like them. I am looking at the Elac uni-fi ub52, I like the measurements compared to the dbr62 which has louder treble and the free returns on amazon is a strong plus
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If you can fit and afford the bigger sub always always get the bigger sub. It’s way easier to turn them down to make them sound good than running a smaller sub on the ragged edge to get the volume you want.
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My go to bass test track for speakers is daft punk “doing it right”. Went with twin 10in subs for the front speakers, regret not going with 12s. so now its mixed setup 2x10s 2x12s for now.
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bro same, great song
I dont have a bookself that can handle the bass notes of that track, 10in subs struggle to make the boom.
More importantly again the subs add scale to music/movies.