General Speaker Advice and Recommendations

My new speakers arrived yesterday morning!!

The good news is that one speaker sounds great. The bad news is that the other one was damaged during shipping. What happened was that I was getting some crackling from both woofers when the music started, so Ty suggested to take out the woofers and check the crossovers for damage. Well sure enough, chips of glue were everywhere and the crossovers were damaged. Essentially, a huge drop from the kind a$$holes at UPS dislodged the crossover board and components, so some things snapped.

Ty was great to deal with on this, we FaceTimed for over an hour yesterday as he guided me through how to check things. He is expediting the crossover components to him and back again to rebuild the crossover and help me again should I be comfortable enough soldering a couple connects back together. Otherwise I'll have to find a speaker repair guy in Edmonton who can solder and glue the crossovers back in. Ty offered to pick up the tab, whatever is necessary to get them fixed. His remote location has no limits, he stands behind his stuff no matter what so I know despite the surprise and the wait, things will be end up right.

In the mean time, I get to look at their beautiful Tineo veneer and count down the days to getting the replacement parts.

 

Those look nice, sorry to hear about the damage! I can't wait to hear impressions when they're ready. What speakers are those exactly? They look extremely similar to the Seas Thor DIY kit.

 

It looks like a floorstanding version of Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature monitors.

 

Exactly. I've customized the crossover with parts of my choosing.

 

They look gorgeous!

 

Is this the place to ask for a recommendation on a solid entry-level subwoofer? If not, sorry!

I'm hoping for something to complement 4 Andrew Jones SP-FS52's in surround, with the matching center. It would be fed by an Onkyo TX-NR656.

Bonus points for being small/compact?

 

I'm sure it is! My desktop speakers are very bass-light, and my thoughts run in that direction too, sometimes. Trouble is, I think there is something about small, bass and physics? And if I have to spend money on audio upgrade I'd rather, at this time, spend it on headphones.

but yeah. Subwoofers... as small as physics will allow. Anyone?

 

Well, if you're looking for super small size and actual sub-30hz response try looking for a used Sunfire True, or True Jr.

 

Always interesting to meet a speaker I never heard of, but a quick google suggests that I wouldn't be able to afford it. Anyway, thanks, and maybe @Cryptosom might find that useful

It's certainly available here in India, though. Exchange rate makes the smallest of these about $1,000 --- and I guess I'd rather have a pair of HD800

 

What say SBAFers on Tekton Double Impacts? I know Winders has DIs and loves them, but wanted to get a few more opinions.

 

Not a subwoofer related thing, but since you're from India, please take a look at what Rethm does. Their Bhaava model is one of those products that I'd really like to audition one day and I was told it sounds phenomenal for the price ($2900).

 

I've said a fair amount about them in a thread in the Club Room. Happy to discuss via PM as well, but I'll simply state that you can get more for the money, particularly if willing to buy used and that they are overhyped.

 

Yes, I did come across them in my more audiophiliac days

I don't have a clear memory/impression of sound now, but... whilst they probably deserve a place in the Speaker Porn thread, I don't think they are what I would be spending $,$$$ on. If I had $,$$$!

 

Looking at constructing some DIY speaker cables. I have some Duelund DCA16GA kicking around but wondering about banana connectors. Narrowed a bunch down to the Furutech FT-212 but wondering what else people may suggest. Would prefer screw-type so I can try different speaker cables (maybe Neotech 3004?) in the future.

 

I love GLS audio connectors here. Yes they aren't a famous name brand, but they are high quality. Blue Jeans Cable also sells top notch DIY components, which in my experience are superior to any of the audiophile junk for sale right now mechanically, even if they aren't quite as pretty: https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

 

That's understandable. Though if someone asks me, if these speakers sound like I suspect they might, that's a value product. Quality widebanders augmented by separate bass usually work nicely.

 

EDIT: found what I was looking for searching OSMT instead..

 

People that have been experimenting with Duelund wire seem to feel that using bare wire at both the amp and the speakers is the only way to go. I have only used bare wire connections with my allegedly crappy speakers and Duelund DCA16GA wire. The sound I am getting is incredibly good. But what do I know?

 

Also the drivers are SEAS Excel, really good stuff.

 

This will do, though. Feedback like this is yet another confirmation that a good product for decent asking price is on. I'm far from saying that it's impossible for bare wire to sound better than finished with quality bananas or spades.

And thanks!