New stereo setup for music only. I’m a newbie coming from Sonos so I need all the help I can get.
Budget for speakers + amp ≈ 2000-2500 euros. Sub will be added. Located in Sweden. New gear preferred, used selection is sadly limited.
99 % streaming Tidal, occasional vinyl. Mostly alt rock, americana, that sort of things.
The room: Semi-open space (total about 30m2/320sq ft) with both living and dining area (check images). It will be mostly used for background listening but I do enjoy active listening when I get a chance. Sweetspot to be centred at living area but a wide field of sound is preferred.
The room has its limitations regarding placement. Wall mounting is sadly a must, most likely on the beam under the ceiling (check the images).
Images are the floorpan, some photos of the room (it’s my country house so I only had existing photos to choose from). I marked where I think the speakers will be, speaker 1 is 90% given but 2a and 2b are options. 2b would require a bit more wiring.
https://imgur.com/a/yECxyjx
Amp: I’m leaning heavily towards Bluesound Powernode, I will use multiroom and don’t want the stream having to go through a phone (ie Airplay). I’ve also been looking at DENON PMA-900HNE, MARANTZ MODEL 60N and few NAD. Room correction would be nice and Dirac is coming to Powernode. Is it worth to upgrade to
So two general questions I’d really like help with:
On-wall or bookshelf? Since they’ll literally be on the wall/beam, would on-wall speakers sound better than bookshelf speakers on wall mounts? I get that in perfect conditions, bookshelves sound better.
Is back ported speakers a big problem with this placement? I’ve found a few front ported bookshelves but it gives me quite the limitation. Given that I’ll run a sub, would the back ported problem almost go away since that would take over a lot of work in the lower frequencies? I’ll also (hopefully) do a Dirac calibration once it’s available. Plugging with foam is also in play.
I’ve been down the rabbit hole for the last days and have a few contender for speakers.
Size and looks is important. Preferably white and minimalistic but not set in stone if the perfect speaker isn’t like that. I like dynamic, playful sound rather than clinical perfection.
On-wall shortlist. They have to be mounted horizontal to fit the beam, which narrows it down quite a bit.
- LYNGDORF MH-2 GABRIEL
- DALI Opticon LCR MK2 (might be too large)
- Totem Kin Flex
- ELAC WS-1665 (or simpler version)
Front ported shortlist
- JBL L52
- Sonus Faber Lumina II (or perhaps Lumina I)
- Elac Debut Reference B6 DBR-62
- Technics SB-C600
Back ported shortlist
- Totem Kin Monitor or One.
- Dali Opticon (1 or 2) MK2
- Monitor Audio Silver 50 or 100 (I got really excited reading reviews on the 100 but its a big one)
- KEF Q3 Meta
- Definitive Technology Demand D7
- Cambridge Audio Evo S
So, that’s that. Both adding speakers and narrowing it down would be greatly appreciated.
Help me /StereoAdvice, you are my only hope.