That’s pretty normal to get some port noise when playing bassy tracks at higher volumes
1 Like
Yeah, that’s a better way to put it.
My 2nd set of RB42’s will be powered by the Sprout100. (just came in the mail an hour ago, will post results later) Can’t wait to see the difference between this and the Topping MX3 I am currently using on my set of RB42’s in my office.
1 Like
I’m happy to hear this as it’s what I just ordered on @ZeosPantera 's recommendation in his xduoo xd-05 plus review 
Here is my latest setup. RB42’s and Sprout100. I also have HD58X headphones. Need to do some listening before i comment on sound.
2 Likes
Aren’t they bit to close together?
I’d get some table arm’s to place speakers. would be more wider and higher, more on the ear level.
3 Likes
Yeah, I second that. Get some stands with some foam blocks to put them on at ear level, angle them towards you inward slightly, and they would probably sound much better. Just a suggestion, if you’re happy the way they are, no big deal.
1 Like
for sure if he’s happy for sure it’s fine. but to really maximize their potential seperating them just a little bit more and placing them higher would be nice. I love the creativity tho!
2 Likes
Believe me, not in this configuration because I like it… This room is very small and desk space is limited. I work in a remote location and do the best with what I have… But they still sound really good in what I call sound bar position… lol…
2 Likes
haha, alright it’s cool man. I’m sure they do still sound good
1 Like
At least they are much better than an actual soundbar.
1 Like
I feel like I’m going insane. I bought the LS50’s on black Friday for $800 and man…they are bass shy and bright as the sun. I messed with my miniDSP: frequency response, phase and they are just hard to listen to. They definitely need a Class A or A/B amp, because my class D amplifier can’t be helping.
I plugged in the RB42’s and was back to enjoying my music. I might be treble sensitive, but the silk dome tweeters on the RB42’s are so much sweeter to listen to than the aluminum tweeters on the LS50s. The RB42’s have depth and fill a room, while the LS50’s are thin by comparison.
Long story short, I don’t know where to go from here. The RB42’s are ridiculous. Maybe I’ll get a Schiit Aegir and hook it up to the RB42’s just for the heck of it.
3 Likes
Have both the ls50 and the rb42. Can say for certain the ls50 are not bass shy at all. The Amp/source may be holding you back. The ls has more of a holographic 3d sound but deliver bass with authority.
This is off a emotiva basx a100
1 Like
I believe you – I hear the LS50 is super revealing (garbage in, garbage out). I tried it with a Crown XLS 1502 and a SMSL SA-98E, both of which have plenty of power. But they are also Class D, and the Crown in particular is quite dirty (worse than the SMSL). If I had the cash to splurge on a Vidar or Aegir I’d consider it, but right now I’ll just return the LS50s. It’s also personal preference. If I get a whiff of treble/harshness I can’t enjoy my music.
Regarding bass, I also listen at low volumes <70dB(A), and I feel like the LS50’s don’t really take off until they hit ~80db.
I’d bet the RB42’s don’t have as much resolution as the LS50s and they are more forgiving of a lower quality amp. But they are very fun, especially when tuned via a DSP.
The crown isn’t that clean and is made for more decent power output and is not designed for use in a high end setup tbh, the ls50 would do better off of a higher end amp imo
Agreed. I can’t understand how I see people pair the Crown with the LS50s and not want to claw their ears out.
I heard the LS50 with a Cambridge Audio Edge A amp…
Still thought the bass was meh… or did not have any. No kick or punch in it as you get from powered speaker.
Space was pretty large sized room… might have got lost there.
Probably depends on one’s ears; I ran a pair of LS50s on an XLS1002 for years and never had a problem, although I did have the highs tweaked a little (to taste) with DSP. That said (for me at least), comparing a Crown next to, say, an nCore or IcePower amp you can hear a difference with a good DAC or preamp, but I didn’t feel it was as drastic as everyone makes it out to be. Certainly not $1000 worth of a difference, but again, that’s subjective.
Edit: forgot to mention, bass performance was largely a non-factor for me because my LS50 setup was always run in nearfield with a sub.
Also with nearfield you are putting less pressure on the amp because it doesn’t have to work as hard, so that’s something too
Also the ls50 isn’t known for thundering lows or anything lol
