Just moved into a small apartment, need new cheap speakers~~

cokewithvanilla

Alright, I just moved again to get close to my school (now I'm 2 minutes away ) the down side is the way the apartment is shaped leaves little room for my speakers.

I am getting rid of my B&K7270SII, Emotiva DMC-1, and LSi25's ((putting them into storage more than likely) and I want to buy a cheap 2 channel preamp to work with my Adcom GFA-5800.

I wanted to try something different, I've never been satisfied with my polks, and I doubt i'll be satisfied with something cheap, but hey, change is always fun.

Anyone wanna recommend some speakers for a small enviornment that will sound good on my Adcom and cost me little (I plan to buy used)?

I was looking at some Magnepan MMG's... but they might be too big

VSchneider

I guess, define "cheap" and "small"

LSi7 is my favorite small speaker, but if you were not happy with LSi25's...

More senior members will surely have some ideas, but I think budget comes 1st.

steveinaz

Keep in mind, after you stand mount a bookshelf--you probably could have placed a modern floor stander....just an FYI

There's tons of good, expensive bookshelf models, how much you want to spend?

cokewithvanilla

definitely, I am considering floor standing. I guess mainly what I want is something a little less.... eh... 10 inch wooferish.... it can be bigish,,,, as long as it doesn't produce too much sound for the room...

I'm still looking at the MMG's... something about the fact that they are so easy to pick up and move around (versus my near 100lb 25's) makes me want to give them a try... also because I hear good things.

Well, Small, scratch that. I just don't want something obnoxiously loud... something I can enjoy quietly, unlike the 25's.

Cheap, lower than 400... and the cheaper the better, I have to pay double rent for a while!

cokewithvanilla

they have 10 inch woofers. In my old apartment I got a million and one noise complaints and I only ever had one neighbor at a time... now I have like.. 3. and also I am worried about them getting damaged with the layout of this apartment. I want something that I really don't have to worry about... nothing piano gloss, thats for sure.

rallyshark

Have you considered the vintage polks? They have a nice mellow sound at low volumes, but can belt out the tunes when the neighbors are away. Maybe a nice set of monitor 10s or 7s with the stands, or maybe the even the 11s? Just a thought...

cokewithvanilla

I don't know if I want to go vintage... I guess I could, but if I were to do that, wouldn't I want to look at some higher end speakers?

-.- ok, lets forget I have the LSi25's... lets say I've thrown them out the second floor window.

I've heard good things of the Epos Els-3, Magnepan MMG, Paradigm Studio 20, and the Wharfedale Diamond 9's

What really interests me is the MMG, since I am afraid of running into the same things I don't like about my LSi's if I get a conventional speaker. I really, really want a HUGE sound stage...

buymesome

Look no further than a new set of polk rti4 for $150 on amazon or even new $250 rti6 also from amazon

kawizx9r

Hey coke, in regards to Magnepan's....don't expect a huge soundstage. They have excellent imaging/detail/clarity and are extremely revealing, but I've also owned a pair of mint-condition Polk SDA 1C's and the soundstage does NOT compare. Go with SDA's if you want a huge/wide soundstage and some quality music, alot of LSi owners have SDA's as well. As for Maggies, they're pretty damn addictive but they're a different breed of animal. Because of them, I don't think I'd want to own another pair of box speakers anymore.

Oh and another thing, MMG's are pretty small for Maggies. You can go ahead and check out the 1.6 and higher, or even the older Tympani series. My pair is pretty old but they're in damn mint condition, but come at 5' tall.

cnh

Something with a HUGE sound stage that's small? What does that mean? And what does that...

Buy a pair of the Rti bookshelves mentioned above...or at least go listen to them...it would also HELP if you would tell us WHAT you don't like about your LSI's....

They don't produce a wide soundstage...I doubt that...with enough amplification they image well!

Too much bass from the powered sub...as mentioned above turn it down...

Just sounds like you want to buy some 'new' speakers....that's fair enough. Now tell us what kind of 'sound' you want more specifically? Because I have yet to hear something that the LSIs cannnot provide.

cnh

CRESCENDOPOWER

Personally, if you don’t like the Polks you should just sell them, and move on. Take the money and put it towards smaller speakers that will fit better into your environment. Floor standers from Thiel, or Totem usually have small footprints, and if placement is a problem maybe a pair of Decware ERR’s could be an option.

danz1906

B&W LM1s.....small speaker-Big sound.

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=1503&sc=hf

cokewithvanilla

Thanks for the replies! I am going to look into all the speakers suggested, but as for what I hate about the lsi's.... well, I have them hooked up to 385 watts at 4ohms...and they ... well, they suck... in every respect.

They image poorly, the midrange is crap, the bass is loud, but not precise, there is no sound stage whatsoever.... I could go on and on. I had someone from polk forums come over and listen to them, he pretty much felt the same.... either I have some broken **** speakers, or they just aren't very good.

As for selling, no thanks. I have 5 channels of polk lsi, 7 channel amp, 7 channel receiver... I am giving them to my parents who are just about finished with finishing their basement so they can sell their house with a theater room. The lsi25's show some marks on them (like three between the two speakers), they won't sell for enough for me to bother selling them. Besides, I wouldn't want to sell them to someone when I think there is something seriously wrong with them.

so, yeah... I am ready for a change... but for all those who mentioned polks... I think I am more than finished with polks for a while I just need something cheap to get me through college at this point... something that would pair fine with the gfa5800

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Thanks for the replies! I am going to look into all the speakers suggested, but as for what I hate about the lsi's.... well, I have them hooked up to 385 watts at 4ohms...and they ... well, they suck... in every respect.

They image poorly, the midrange is crap, the bass is loud, but not precise, there is no sound stage whatsoever.... I could go on and on. I had someone from polk forums come over and listen to them, he pretty much felt the same.... either I have some broken **** speakers, or they just aren't very good.

As for selling, no thanks. I have 5 channels of polk lsi, 7 channel amp, 7 channel receiver... I am giving them to my parents who are just about finished with finishing their basement so they can sell their house with a theater room. The lsi25's show some marks on them (like three between the two speakers), they won't sell for enough for me to bother selling them. Besides, I wouldn't want to sell them to someone when I think there is something seriously wrong with them.

so, yeah... I am ready for a change... but for all those who mentioned polks... I think I am more than finished with polks for a while I just need something cheap to get me through college at this point... something that would pair fine with the gfa5800

Take some pictures of how they were/are set up.... something is horribly wrong. None of your description has anything to do with how i would describe LSis even on an entry level cheapo Adcom amp.

cokewithvanilla

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lol

This *always* happens!! every time I try to get advice on getting rid of these stupid things, someone tries to stop me... and in the end I get so frustrated that I just turn them off for 3 months. Good thing is I just got a deal on a DSLR, so I finally have a camera!

I will show pictures... but please, please let me get rid of this stupid, annoying speakers!

I just set them up in their final position, they have yet to be moved to my new apartment and are still in my old one. They are both exactly 8 feet apart, 27 inches from each side wall, 17 inches from the back wall, toed in ever so slightly.

http://www.illogicality.net/lsi25.jpg its big, so I'm not putting it up here

concealer404

That couch isn't helping things at all.... And i'd get them farther from the back wall. As a matter of fact, that room just may be too small for them, which would definitely cause some of your issues.

I have my Paradigms 9 feet apart, and they could stand to go a LOT farther apart, and they aren't even half the speaker those LSi25s are.

And you're driving them with a B&K amp, and an Emo DMC-1, which isn't a dedicated 2-channel. It's probably not horrible, but... meh.

I guess my biggest question is:

What and how are you feeding that rig in terms of source? All stuff from your computer?


Anyways... respond to the PM i sent you the other day... You mentioned you were looking for a cheap decent preamp. I've got that for you.

kawizx9r

"stupid speakers"....I didn't read this thread up but you've got a pair of LSi's you don't like?

I'd love to get my ears on a pair, should let me borrow them

concealer404

kawizx9r wrote: »

"stupid speakers"....I didn't read this thread up but you've got a pair of LSi's you don't like?

I'd love to get my ears on a pair, should let me borrow them

I'd trade him my Adcom GTP-400 and Paradigm Titans for the LSis.

kawizx9r

concealer404 wrote: »

I'd trade him my Adcom GTP-400 and Paradigm Titans for the LSis.

I'd trade him a pair of shotguns.....the pair you're getting me

I'd even throw in the Maggies, but only because I wouldn't have space for both the LSi's and the Magnepans lol

cokewithvanilla

ok, I'll get rid of the couch, it has to go in the moving van lol...

how far apart do these things have to be? Ok, yeah its a 7 channel amp... but it makes no difference when I put them on my gfa-5800, which is two channel. The 7 channel amp is to power the other lsi's I have though...

yeah, all from the computer. I admit, this isn't ideal. I've tested it on many different sources and was not satisfied...

now, I said I was going to be living in a small apartment, so if these speakers are too big for the area... why is everyone telling me to keep them!?>?!?!?!?

I need something that will sound good in a small area, not something that needs to be at least 9 feet apart.. .cause in my new place, I'll be lucky to get 6 feet....hell, I'll be lucky to be able to place them the same distance from the listening area.

about your preamp.. just wait a second lol. I might end up getting it... its too bad I didn't pick up the same preamp when it was selling for 55 on craigslist :P

cokewithvanilla

in any event, what I am trying to say is i WILL NOT HAVE GOOD PLACEMENT ... i need a speaker that can deal with this.

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

ok, I'll get rid of the couch, it has to go in the moving van lol...

how far apart do these things have to be? Ok, yeah its a 7 channel amp... but it makes no difference when I put them on my gfa-5800, which is two channel. The 7 channel amp is to power the other lsi's I have though...

yeah, all from the computer. I admit, this isn't ideal. I've tested it on many different sources and was not satisfied...

now, I said I was going to be living in a small apartment, so if these speakers are too big for the area... why is everyone telling me to keep them!?>?!?!?!?

I need something that will sound good in a small area, not something that needs to be at least 9 feet apart.. .cause in my new place, I'll be lucky to get 6 feet....hell, I'll be lucky to be able to place them the same distance from the listening area.

about your preamp.. just wait a second lol. I might end up getting it... its too bad I didn't pick up the same preamp when it was selling for 55 on craigslist :P

Well, if they're too big for the room, then go ahead and move them. It does sound like you don't really have the room, which is a bummer that you can't hear what they can really do.

Feeding them from the computer, depending on how you're doing it and what files you're feeding it definitely isn't helping you.

I wasn't worried about the amp, that's a decent amp... more worried about the preamp. There's so much money sunk into that preamp in the video processing area that i don't expect the 2-channel performance to be anything special.

What's your budget for a new set of speakers?

I'll guarantee that the pre you found on your CL isn't in the same condition as mine. This thing looks like it's been in a time capsule, and the FM tuner even works! (most don't because people have put gear on top of them.)

Give us a budget, and measure the space you'll be working with if you don't mind, and let's see what we can recommend.

PS: Get a real CDP for pete's sake.

cokewithvanilla

Nevor!! i don't own a single cd.. everything is lossless. I can try to get ASIO out of windows 7 when I have time, but its a ****. And I have a card that onl operates in 48kz and 96... meaning to get 44.1 I use the onboard... now trying to get ASIO from that is... well, interesting.

I just got rid of the couch... no difference... moved them farther apart,, no difference... (9.3 feet apart, 2 feet from back walls, 20 inches from side walls)

preamp... err.. screw you lol... I shoulda got the b&k... damn... me and my saving $200.


As for your preamp... ugh... condition... you should see my laptop... its missing entire corners

Well, the room they are going to be in is....tiny... lets assume 10x12, being the smallest.

budget... cheap... I've got too many expenses right now to deal with expensive audio equipment. lets say 400 max, I'll buy used.

cokewithvanilla

http://www.illogicality.net/lsi252.jpg

thats the new setup...

concealer404

What are you using to move the files from the computer to the DCM-1? Optical? If you tell me that you're using a 1/8th inch to RCA "Y" adapter, i'm going to e-slap you.

How far away are you from the LSis when you're listening to them?

10x12 is going to be rough.... a nice set of bookshelves would probably do the trick. Is there going to be a lot of other stuff in the room?

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

http://www.illogicality.net/lsi252.jpg

thats the new setup...

That looks a little better. Typically you won't want anything between the speakers ahead of them, though. So whatever that thing in front of the computer monitor is, should go.

This will sound dumb, but humor me...

What happens if you move the computer tower away from the amp? Put it behind your monitor stand if you can, and see what happens.

cokewithvanilla

put it this way, I'm moving from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom.... there will be a lot of stuff.

I am using Coax to connect the computer to the preamp

if you measure diagonal to the seat from the speaker its 8 feet.. to my ears... its about 9.

cant move the computer... 3 foot coax.

cokewithvanilla

could connect the iphone... through a y adapter


you know... when I demoed a 20k setup... they used an ipod through a y adapter... hmmmmmmmmm now where are those y adapters -.-

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

put it this way, I'm moving from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom.... there will be a lot of stuff.

I am using Coax to connect the computer to the preamp

if you measure diagonal to the seat from the speaker its 8 feet.. to my ears... its about 9.

cant move the computer... 3 foot coax.

Can you put it sideways against the wall, and have the back of it facing the right wall, and get it 3 feet away from the amp and stuff?

I think you should look at some Paradigm bookshelves, or (i know you won't like this) some LSi7s.

Or just grab some head-bangers for cheap. I don't know if you're going to get what you're looking for with such small area and all the stuff that'll be in there.

I just moved my stuff OUT of a 10x12 space almost 3 months ago, and even my Titan bookshelves had no problems annihilating my room.

cokewithvanilla

yeah, i'll move it. dunno about paradigms... i was demoing some revels... they were ok... then he put on paradigms and the metal tweeters KILLED my ears. although the sound just washed over me (felt like I was swimming in sound).. which I loved... dunno how it did that

---edit: moved it... dunno... something changed... but nothing that did much for the speakers :P

concealer404

Hrmm... i don't have metal tweets in my paradigms.... they've got a VERY sweet warm tweeter.

How far do you have the built in subs turned up? Turn them completely OFF and see what that does for you. You'll lose bass, just trying to get the rest sorted out first.