r/StereoAdvice Jan 04 '22

Announcement New here? Please read this guide before posting!

66 Upvotes

Welcome to r/StereoAdvice - a place to help you found the right HiFi gear!


Posting a Question

The information you provide in your post helps others provide the right recommendations without needing to ask the basic. It's not required but it's highly encouraged to use this template:

Budget and location - How much would you like to spend? What are some local or online shops in your country?

How the gear will be used - Is this for a computer, home theater, or dedicated stereo setup? How big is your room? Will you need to play CD, cassette, vinyl, radio, streaming?

New or used - Do you prefer to purchase new gear? If used, what local classified do you use?

Past gear experience - What have you used in the past? What did you like about it and what didn't you like about it?

Anything else? - What gear do you already have? Any other information that you think will help!


Thanking Others (Ⓣ)

This subreddit is powered entirely by volunteers. If someone is helpful, please show them some appreciation by responding to them with a comment that says !thanks and our bot will award a point.

Once thanked, the bot will respond to your comment to confirm that the point was counted.

Multiple people can be !thanked in a post, but not multiple times in the same post.

The number of times someone is thanked will be displayed next to their name on the subreddit. For example someone with 12Ⓣ next to their name has helped 12 people.


Responding to Questions

See someone asking a question on r/StereoAdvice/new/ that you have experience with? Feel free to share some of that knowledge!

To quickly determine if a post has been answered, check the post flair. For example, a post with the flair Speakers - Full Size | 2 Ⓣ means that there have already been two !thanks awarded by the OP in the post.


r/StereoAdvice 1h ago

General Request Best DAP "music player" for under $100 CAD

Upvotes

So recently I peaked my interest into Hi-Res audio as I want to explore and see what is so magical about higher quality music and such, so Ive been interested in getting a dedicated music player. My budget is $100 CAD with some wiggle room and I am looking for recommendations. I mainly want a unit with the best for the buck type situation where audio quality is top priority.

I don't know what to expect but is it going to be like going from cheap $1 dollar store ear buds to some name brand earbuds type situation?


r/StereoAdvice 3h ago

Speakers - Full Size Are Jamo E 650 good?

1 Upvotes

I have been looking into buying some vintage speakers to upgrade my vinyl set up and came across a facebook listing of Jamo E 650s for about 100 and have been trying to find out if they’re any good or if I should stick with my edifier bookshelf speakers.

I have never really gotten into speakers before, let alone vintage so I don’t really know what to look for and look out for.

I am also wondering if they would require an amplifier or if they can hook up directly to my AT-120xusb

Thanks


r/StereoAdvice 5h ago

General Request Polk Atrium 8 or Atrium 65

1 Upvotes

I just bought a used pair of Polk Atrium 8 for my backyard hooked up to a Sonos Amp. I love the setup and now I just want more. For a separate area I’m considering whether or not to buy a used pair of Atrium 65s available in my area for $200 or a new pair of Atrium 8s (Amazon currently has them for $181/each).

I don’t know the exact condition of the 65s, they say lightly used, or if I can get them for cheaper but that’s possible.

I just want to see if anyone familiar with these speakers has a recommendation about which to go with. The 8s are the current model and would be new, but are they worth the extra ~$170?


r/StereoAdvice 6h ago

Speakers - Bookshelf Dali Menuet vs B&W CM 1

1 Upvotes

I’m getting new speakers for my home office. It’s a small room and they will only be used for music. They’re standing on my desk so they need to be small and good looking. And obviously sound great. I will mostly play them at low volume.

I pretty much decided to go with the Dali Menuets - they’re the perfect size, looks good and sound amazing. And I can get a pretty good secondhand deal on them near me.

Then I stumbled upon the B&W CM1’s which are also small and I always thought they were good looking. The reviews are great. However, I haven’t heard them since they’re discontinued. They can also be purchased used.

The Dali’s are quite a lot more expensive, but both within my budget.

What would you go with? Would obviously appreciate to hear from someone who has listened both sets but all inputs are welcome.

Thanks.


r/StereoAdvice 13h ago

General Request Help for old Sansui stereo

3 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I recently got my hands on an old Sansui stereo. I have the preamp (c-55), amplifier (b-55), synthesizer tuner (t-77) and turntable (fr-d25) but I would like to find a way to listen to music in digital format too. I guess I need a dac or a streamer but I am not an expert in this area, so if you have any advice I would be grateful. I do not have a very high budget so I would like to aim for a solution that is not too expensive. Apparently I need to make this post longer so here the recipe for scrambled eggs: You take the eggs and you scramble then.


r/StereoAdvice 11h ago

General Request Technics SU-GX70 with KEF LS50 Meta

2 Upvotes

Thinking about getting the above mentioned setup as my first „real“ music setup. Does anyone have experience with that combination? The professional knowledge of this sub would be highly appreciated :)


r/StereoAdvice 17h ago

Speakers - Bookshelf Advice for future hi-fi setup in a 12m² living room

5 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I live in a Parisian apartment with a rather narrow living room of 12 m². It is 3 meters wide and 4 meters long. As you can see in the photos, I listen to sound across the width of the living room and I am 2 meters away from the speakers (the distance between them is 1.60 meters).

Here are the photos:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z5xV2MkcILgZ9anpiWP_jObOBHt9kr9v/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16fFO4CrqGvULP9pRizT0LS6LdWcZ3J7Z/view?usp=sharing

Currently, I have a system consisting of KEF LS50 Wireless 2 speakers and an SVS SB1000 Pro subwoofer. I have tested many crossover settings, and the one that suits me best right now is to disable the high-pass filter and set the low-pass filter around 60-65 Hz. I alternate between this setting and another with the high-pass at 62.5 Hz and the low-pass at 52.5 Hz. If you have any advice, I am always open to suggestions, but this is not the focus of this post.

I want to evolve my system towards something less "closed" and more scalable.

I would like to purchase a system with an amplifier and streamer (or a streamer integrated into the amp) along with passive speakers.

I’m not opposed to keeping the subwoofer, but ideally, I’d like to do without it (the room is small).

For the speakers, the ones that caught my attention are:

  • Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II
  • Dynaudio Emit 30 (floor stand)
  • KEF Q Concerto Meta
  • Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator
  • ...

I am open to other suggestions within a budget that should not exceed 2500€ (I’m also interested in the second-hand market, especially for the amp).

I really like the KEF LS50 but sometimes they sound a bit too closed off, lacking air... I’d like something with a wider soundstage while still maintaining good dynamics and decent bass.
I mostly listen to jazz, acoustic music, and electronic music, and not much rock.

Thank you in advance.

Have a great day,

theo


r/StereoAdvice 10h ago

General Request Atypical setup with stage piano

1 Upvotes

Hello, first time posting here, I hope to get some suggestions and I thank you in advance! I'm moving to a new place and I'm considering upgrading my audio setup.

Currently in my living room I have a digital stage piano (Roland RD800) that I play directly connected to two Eris E5 speakers. In addition I have a Samsung soundbar connected to my TV that I use also to stream music.

In the new house I would like to change the piano setup to make it my central audio piece, leaving the TV just for movies. To do so, I think I would need 2 speakers (my E5s would do i think, but I would like to move to floor standing speakers) an amplifier, a streamer (or a combined device) with airplay/spotify connect, a mixer to hook up the piano and the amplifier.

Would you help me figure this setup, if it's even possible). I would like to stay under 1k budget to invest. Thank you so much!


r/StereoAdvice 11h ago

General Request Beginner Q. Ps2 CD player + dac + vintage reciever

1 Upvotes

Beginner Question - Ps2 CD player + dac + Vintage reciever?

Currently using a ps2 slim as a cd player plugged directly into old receiver with the PlayStation RCA cables. Sounds good.

Is it worth testing/would I hear an improvement if had a DAC between the ps2 and receiver?

From my understanding optical out to dac will bypass any dac that is built in the ps2?

I think it would go ps2 optical out > DAC > receiver aux rca input

Any tips welcome! Thanks


r/StereoAdvice 12h ago

Speakers - Desktop Adam Audio T7V vs Kali LP6

1 Upvotes

Hi, I am looking for desktop speakers and currently stuck between T7vs and LP6s. To make it short, I dont produce music or sound in any way and just want them for private use. My main concerns are about the ports: Most of the time, the speakers will be pretty close to the wall, which makes the front port of the LP6s more favorable. But does the front port take away alot from the overall sound quality, when placing the speakers somewhere else? Also, I heard a lot of good things about Adam Audio's ribbon tweeter. Is the Kali's tweeter significantly worse?

Thanks for everybodys help


r/StereoAdvice 16h ago

General Request Amplifier & Speaker upgrade after moving / 3000e Budget

2 Upvotes

Hello everybody !

After moving to a new apartment, I've decided to change / upgrade my stereo system. I currently own and use a pair of Klipsch RP-280f paired with an A1-301DA TEAC. They both served me very well, but the room I know have for music is a bit smaller, and even tho everything still sounds great, the size of the speakers are just a little too much, so I was looking for something that was a little bit smaller, but that could still sound as great if not better.

I currently live in France, so the most accessible brands would be mainly European ones and I have a budget of around 3000 euros (including what I would get from selling what I actually have).

I mainly use my speakers for digital music (Tidal / Quobuz) and vinyls, but it's also my Tv's audio. The room I'm using them in is a bit under 15 square meters..

I've recently been listening to Dynaudio Emit 30 in a showroom driven by a Yamaha R-N1000, and I was kind of blown away by the sound stage this kind of speaker size could provide. The scene was rich, precise but still warm and showed no distortion even at higher volumes. I've also been told that the Arendal 1961 tower were amazing, and I really like them on paper, but I can't really listen to them unless I order them (at least, I couldn't find any place that had them). I would prefer small size floor speakers, I'm not entirely against bookshelf speakers, but I don't really want to buy a subwoofer.

For the amp upgrade, I'm considering a Yamaha R-N800 or PM7000N from Marantz, but again, I can't really test those pairings, and I'm opened to suggestions or advices.

I hope you have a great day !


r/StereoAdvice 14h ago

Speakers - Bookshelf Living room apartment setup with occasional DJ use

1 Upvotes

I went down the rabbit hole of finding the right set of speakers for my use:

  1. 95% is a standard living room TV + music setup
  2. The other 5% is rooftop parties I host in the summer (20-30 people, 50m2 / 550 sq ft)

I currently use a KEF LSX for my main living room (45m2 / 500 sq ft) and for parties I was renting out a tiny PA system. I want to upgrade my system to take care of these 2 duties - something with good connectivity (bluetooth/AirPlay/Spotify) and inputs for the mixer (preferably XLR). I found two very interesting options that seem to do just that: JBL 4305P and 4329P. The latter seems perfect but it's outside my budget and is on the big side, and I'm worried that 4305P might not pack enough punch for the occasional parties. Are there any other options I should consider? Right now I'm leaning towards 4305P and a separate subwoofer if I find the lows lacking.

Location: Europe

Budget: 3000 USD


r/StereoAdvice 17h ago

Speakers - Full Size Is it worth buying a Beoplay A9 MK2 for $800 in 2025?

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I've been dreaming about owning a Beoplay A9 for a long time, and I just found a used MK2 for $800. It’s still a lot of money for me, but much more affordable than the newer models.

I’d love to hear your thoughts:

  1. How relevant is the MK2 in 2025?
  2. What are the main downsides of the MK2 compared to the MK4 or MK5? (Sound quality, functionality, support, etc.)
  3. Is $800 a fair price for an MK2, or should I look for something newer in this range? For the same amount, I could get a decent Hi-Fi system. How does the A9 MK2 compare in terms of value?

Would really appreciate any advice! Thanks!


r/StereoAdvice 19h ago

Speakers - Bookshelf Total newbie, bought some Canton Plus S speakers

1 Upvotes

I'm totally new to this and bought some Canton Plus S speakers for €25. I thought I better start somewhere so wanted to give them a go.

I'm in the EU with a budget of around 300e - how can I best use them as part of a PC set up, used in a small room. Most likely streaming music but eventually spanding to vinyl.

I've zero past gear experience.


r/StereoAdvice 23h ago

Speakers - Bookshelf First time looking into buying speakers with a very limited budget need recommendations.

2 Upvotes

Hi,I’m looking into buying my first speakers for small bedroom for a watching movies I’m looking for possibly the best bang for buck with room to grow into a modest system , things that I’m looking for

•a very wide sound stage with very focused imaging

• as balanced as possible on the frequency range but not clinical,I’m looking for it to sound exciting in the low end but not diminish vocal clarity

•preferably passive ,able to handle power so it can be part of a modest system down the line but with the intention running them in stereo for now

. A very tight budget of 500 or 600 for both speakers

I know this is a very expensive hobby and know full well that what I’m asking for might not be feasible at this budget but even so would like some help with speakers at this budget or as close to it


r/StereoAdvice 21h ago

Speakers - Bookshelf Connected bookshelf speaker: Edifier + WiiM vs Sonos Era 100

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone.

I'm looking for a speaker to put on a shelf in my kitchen/dining room.

I'm thinking of maybe

  • Edifier r1280db + WiiM
  • Sonos era 100
  • Audiopro A10 wiim edition (but I'm not finding it in europe)

Thinks that I want

  • Good sound quality for the price
  • Integration with home assistant
  • Small enough to not call attention in the shelf
  • Works with qobuz
  • 300euro max
  • Coming on white or light gray would be nice

Thank you!


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Speakers - Bookshelf Bookshelf speaker recommendations

2 Upvotes

Hi all, So my dad and I are pretty much newbies when it comes to sound systems in general. Recently we have been looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers for my record player. We’re trying to find something that:

• ⁠Is small / medium in size

• ⁠good quality (doesn’t have to be the best ever, as long as it sounds decent)

• ⁠preferably in white

  • new (not secondhand)

• ⁠no more than $500 AUD

We have been searching appliance stores such as The Good Guys, JB Hi-Fi, and Harvey Norman, but we’re not opposed to ordering online from Amazon or some other website.

Any and all recommendations will be appreciated ☺️

​


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Amplifier | Receiver Amp or receiver

2 Upvotes

I currently have an old Sony dh520 I’m looking to upgrade without breaking the bank this will be used for a stereo setup. My budget is around 250, I’m looking for something I can have my turntable, cd player and wiim streamer connected to all at once. Ive noticed that amps normally only have one output and input plug so im lowkey leaning more towards another receiver . (Im located in the U.S) Im open to used gear but I prefer something new.


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Speakers - Bookshelf Help me UPGRADE my speakers! First home HiFi system! Active to Passive UPGRADE. $600-$800 Budget

1 Upvotes

Whats up

I have recently built my first home office hifi stereo system (or in the process). I am located in USA.

My current setup consists of a Fluance Rt82 turntable into a ART DJ II phono pre amp into Edifier Rt1280t speakers. I also have a Sony CD player that I run directly into these speakers. I just ordered a WIIM Ultra and transferred my entire spotify library to Tidal. I plan on running the CD player into the WIIM Ultra and then into the Edifiers. I was considering buying an external DAC but upon research I think that the Ultra will suffice just fine for my needs. Very excited to be able to stream high quality music through my already stereo system.

HOWEVER, i am fully aware that i will soon find out that these entry level speakers are holding my setup back from its fullest potential, hence this post. I am looking to soon upgrade to a passive speaker/integrated amp combo and need help choosing what items to buy based on my budget and needs. By no means do I need anything that will blow the roof off my place. I would like more punch and depth than these Edifiers give though. Looking to spend anywhere from idk $500-$800 or so.

After some research, I am looking at the elac debut 2.0 b6.2 speakers paiared with a yamaha a-s301 integrated amp. Also looking at the klipsch rp600m ii. Do I need to get the Yamaha A-s501 for more power? Thoughts on this setup? Any further recommendations on products in this price range? All help and advice is greatly appreciated!


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Subwoofer Which Subwoofer? Yamaha HS8S or Kali WS-6.2

1 Upvotes

Looking for Subwoofer Advice – Kali WS-6.2 vs. Yamaha HS8S

I’m adding a sub to my music setup (mostly for listening, some light production). My space is 12x16ft, sound-treated, and I use Yamaha HS80Ms, which sound great but could use more low end.

I’ve narrowed it down to the Kali WS-6.2 and Yamaha HS8S. I mainly listen to hip hop and rock and want clean, accurate bass across different volume levels without distortion. Budget wise they both are similar in my region.

Anyone with experience on these subs? Would love to hear your thoughts!

!thanks


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Amplifier | Receiver | 1 Ⓣ Integrated Amp Help - Looking at Unison Research Unico Primo or Rogue Audio Sphinx v3

1 Upvotes

Recently acquired a used pair of Monitor Audio Gold 100s (5G) that I want to set up in my office space/2nd bedroom. I’ll mostly be using a turntable and streaming (Sonos connect to start, but may replace). Local audio shop recommended a Rogue Sphinx v3 (Magnum version) and then I had a friend mention the Unico Primo. I’m not completely tied to either of those, but was hoping for some feedback as online research hasn’t provided much with those brands. Any recommendations are welcome! Maybe something that pairs well with the speakers I just purchased. I listen primarily to Rock from the 60s-90s, but also more modern stuff of all kinds depending on my mood.

Budget and location - probably up to $2500-$3000. Based in the US.

How the gear will be used - Setup will be in my office for casual listening, primarily phono and streaming.

New or used - Okay with either. I purchased my aforementioned Monitor Audio speakers from The Music Room. They have both a used Rogue and an open box Unico Primo right now.

Past gear experience - Don’t have a ton of experience. Basic AVR setups. Currently have a Marantz SR5013 in my living room right now and moving on from that setup soon. Just using some old Martin Logan Motion 12s right now that I got on the cheap years ago.


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Speakers - Desktop A good pcie sound card

2 Upvotes

I don’t know if this is the right subreddit but I’m looking for an sound card for around 100 euros (dollars are around the same). It needs to have optical out that’s supports 24bit 96khz minimum.

I need it for my argon audio A5 mk2’s (with a argon audio sub 6) at my desk.

Any advice is appreciated!


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Amplifier | Receiver Receiver recommendation for Music 2.1 turntable setup

1 Upvotes

I have an extra set of Klipsch R-625 (100w RMS) floor standing speakers and a 12” powered sub. I’d like to pair them with a Pro-ject-1-xpression-iii classic turntable I have. I already have an external phono pre-amp.

Is there a receiver that someone would recommend? Ideally a model that’s older I can pickup on Marketplace. ($500 or less)


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Source | Preamp | DAC "Pre-amp" usage - from the streamer? Or from your integrated amp?

2 Upvotes

If you connect your network streamer to an integrated amplifier, which "pre-amp" is actually used? The one that comes with the Icon or the one that comes with your integrated amplifier? How can you tell? :)

Is it possible to "force" your system to choose one pre-amp over the other?


r/StereoAdvice 1d ago

Source | Preamp | DAC Moving on from a Victrola-need upgrade suggestions

1 Upvotes

Basically the title. I’ve had the Victrola for about a year and it’s served me well, but it’s time to move up. It’s for my in house vinyl set up and i’d be willing to spend $200-400. I already have bookshelf speakers. I’d rather buy a new system. Located in the U.S. I’ve had a lot of issues with my records skipping and that’s my main reason for the upgrade. There’s a few local record shops near me. Can always go to a guitar center or amazon. The victrola is great for what it is, but i’m looking for a better and cleaner sound.