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

cokewithvanilla

you know what changed... i got no bass :P

they were like half the recommended volume... so 1/4

Hmm, maybe I can pick up a used paradigm and sell it if i don't like it...
I heard a Mirage Om-9 years ago and liked it.

concealer404

Where are you located?

I didn't think about that... some di-pole speakers might be good for you...

cokewithvanilla

knoxville

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

knoxville

Bummer. Little too far. I bet i could get those suckers to sing.

What kind of cables are you running?

cokewithvanilla

Signal Audio for the interconnects, monster something or other for the coax, axiom 12 gauge thin stranded copper for speaker wire.

kawizx9r

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Signal Audio for the interconnects, monster something or other for the coax, axiom 12 gauge thin stranded copper for speaker wire.

Ouch

Have you ever looked into upgrading your cables? ALOT of people here would consider them to be gear as well.

cokewithvanilla

what do you mean?

hey, i just plugged in that iphone... you'd cringe.. i used a $2.00 mini to rca cable :P

sounds the same

no, never considered upgrading the cables. Spent 130 something on the interconnects, 300 something on speaker wire ( bought a lot)... I don't think a system of this price requires any more money spent on cables.

concealer404

kawizx9r wrote: »

Ouch

Have you ever looked into upgrading your cables? ALOT of people here would consider them to be gear as well.

Yeah... but that stuff isn't so bad that it should be completely killing his listening experience. I was just making sure he wasn't using Rat Shack crap.

There's something seriously wrong going on, and it's not just the fact that the room is small.

concealer404

What settings do you have going on with the DMC-1?

cokewithvanilla

^^^^^^ yeah, now you're getting it!!! thats why I just want to get rid of these things and move on... I've had the crossovers replaced in the speakers... the drivers and tweeters are working properly... I']ve connected cd players directly to the ap[lifer... i've had these in 4 rooms and at least 10 positions... there is something terribly wrong and I don't know what it is...

settings... well, the coax offers stereo,, where it modifies very little... all settings should be factory.

Iphone, analog offers "Source Direct" which is supposed to bypass most of the preamp....

and the reason I belivee it not to be cables is that a $2.00 cable versus a $50 dollar cable makes no difference
and I don't think its the source cause i've tried everything: computer, iphone, dvd player, dvd player, dvd player....
I don't think its the amp cause I've tried gfa-5800 andnb&k7270
don't think its the preamp cause I've connected everything directly

kawizx9r

concealer404 wrote: »

Yeah... but that stuff isn't so bad that it should be completely killing his listening experience. I was just making sure he wasn't using Rat Shack crap.

There's something seriously wrong going on, and it's not just the fact that the room is small.

Yea figured that much, I haven't read up on this whole thread completely but what does it boil down to?

Your speakers dont image well? Lack of sound quality?

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

^^^^^^ yeah, now you're getting it!!! thats why I just want to get rid of these things and move on... I've had the crossovers replaced in the speakers... the drivers and tweeters are working properly... I']ve connected cd players directly to the ap[lifer... i've had these in 4 rooms and at least 10 positions... there is something terribly wrong and I don't know what it is...

settings... well, the coax offers stereo,, where it modifies very little... all settings should be factory.

Iphone, analog offers "Source Direct" which is supposed to bypass most of the preamp....

and the reason I belivee it not to be cables is that a $2.00 cable versus a $50 dollar cable makes no difference
and I don't think its the source cause i've tried everything: computer, iphone, dvd player, dvd player, dvd player....
I don't think its the amp cause I've tried gfa-5800 andnb&k7270
don't think its the preamp cause I've connected everything directly

I'm not sure where to go from here, either... without being there unfortunately.

You want bookshelves or floorstanders for your new speakers? And do something about that DMC-1. It's not helping your situation in a dedicated 2-channel setup.

cokewithvanilla

lack of EVERYTHING quality :P

I want to get something different that might work better

Setup will be: Adcom GFA-5800, Singal Interconnects, Axiom Cable, Random analog cables to connect things to the preamp, probably an old adcom preamp, some small speakers that will work in small rooms and sound good.

Its the speakers I need help deciding on... I don't want this **** to happen again.
I don't care. Tower will probably be cheaper, as stands are expensive... but if someone is selling bookshelf with the stands, then that is fine.

concealer404

kawizx9r wrote: »

Yea figured that much, I haven't read up on this whole thread completely but what does it boil down to?

Your speakers dont image well? Lack of sound quality?

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.

That.

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

lack of EVERYTHING quality :P

I want to get something different that might work better

Setup will be: Adcom GFA-5800, Singal Interconnects, Axiom Cable, Random analog cables to connect things to the preamp, probably an old adcom preamp, some small speakers that will work in small rooms and sound good.

Its the speakers I need help deciding on... I don't want this **** to happen again.

I'd look into those Mirages that you were talking about, maybe some Polk RTi bookshelves, RT55s would be nice as well. Ever thought about Vintage Polks? The monitor series? Maybe RTA11Ts?

I know you think there's something wrong with those speakers... but how much would you sell them to me for?


I have Paradigm Titans with stands. I'm unsure of how much to sell them for, or if i REALLY want to, but they aren't really in use at the moment. I had them in a 10x12 room, and they sounded great until they just became too much for the room when i really cranked the volume, but that's not the speaker's fault.

cokewithvanilla

haha. Like I said, I am not selling them.

And quit it with the polks... polk will be lucky if I ever touch another speaker they produced... their customer service certainly hasn't solved my problem... after buying 5 channel of their flagship series.

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

haha. Like I said, I am not selling them.

And quit it with the polks... polk will be lucky if I ever touch another speaker they produced... their customer service certainly hasn't solved my problem... after buying 5 channel of their flagship series.

I'm not convinced it's a problem with the speakers, honestly, but i can't change what you think. You're expecting them to perform with a hodgepodge of gear that's not meant to do what it's doing, in a room that's too small, with an inferior source, with improper placement. The saying "Garbage in, Garbage out" applies MUCH HARDER when you're using better speakers than the norm. And you are.

I CAN invite you to come up and visit and see what a $75 set of vintage Polks sound like, though.

I'm going to do more research and see what we can pull in your price range for you. I'm sure other people will chime in.

cokewithvanilla

thanks, that would be great. I am trying to make this decision quick, as school is out until monday. In that time, I hppe to have everything moved to the new apartment, and everything i don't need THROWN OUT :P... or taken to my parents house

cnh

This thread is a bit unusual...it almost sounds like we're playing a game?

Here is my final suggestion...UP your budget and buy a good pair of Focal Utopia bookshelves.....get your ears on them. If you don't like those there isn't really anything more to talk about here.

cnh

sk1939

As a fellow college student I can appreciate where he's coming from, especially about budget. Please don't tell people to up their budget, especially college students, as it's really hard to (remember, we ARE putting up the cost of a if not several, nice systems twice a year).

As for my suggestion, get a set with some bass, so you don't need a subwoofer (with alot of speakers you will want one for the lack of bass). My personal suggestion is the Epos ELS-3's ($300/pair), which I like very much, and in hindsight would have gotten, if it prevented me from having to getting a sub. Here's a review from Stereophile if your interested: http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/104epos/

cokewithvanilla

I spent over 10k on living expenses last year out of my savings, thats not including books and school. I am paying double rent for the next two months.... I did buy 2 amplifiers, preamp, wires, 5 speakers etc not long ago costing easily over 6 grand...

I don't really want to up the budget... i am in college!

cokewithvanilla

Alright, I haven't had internet lately due to the move. I checked out the EPOS els-3 and they look good, although I would havr to buy stands. SOme sold for $200 not to long ago on audiogon.

Upon entering my new apartment, I have decided that vintage may not be such a bad thing, as my apartment is quite "vintage". Anyone have suggestions for any other speakers that I might wait for to appear on audiogon? Someone has some monitor 10a's on my local craigslist for 200... .are these any good?

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Alright, I haven't had internet lately due to the move. I checked out the EPOS els-3 and they look good, although I would havr to buy stands. SOme sold for $200 not to long ago on audiogon.

Upon entering my new apartment, I have decided that vintage may not be such a bad thing, as my apartment is quite "vintage". Anyone have suggestions for any other speakers that I might wait for to appear on audiogon? Someone has some monitor 10a's on my local craigslist for 200... .are these any good?

Monitor 10s are very nice... are they in good shape?

cokewithvanilla

Someone also has def tech mythos 4's for 220

cokewithvanilla

Says ingood condition with "upgraded wiringing" by an engineer??

concealer404

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Says ingood condition with "upgraded wiringing" by an engineer??

Linky, please.

cokewithvanilla

On the eyefone it's Knox craigslist under Polk speakers

messiah

For smaller speakers Paradigms are the way to go. My old studio 20's amazed a lot of people.

woodsman10b

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

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...

Ummmmm....lets see, you say HUGE soundstage......MIRAGE!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mirage-OM-14-Beautiful-Speakers-Wife-Friendly_W0QQitemZ400088413963

Or take a lil road trip and get these for a great price!! The M-890i will do you well...

http://nashville.craigslist.org/ele/1482958775.html

cokewithvanilla

Hmm, in the craigslist ad, which ones are you talking about, the Mirage M-890i or the M 290's?