Nearfields for audiophile listening?

Why would anyone pay $30 more than Amazon?

As for the measured response graph included for the two speakers, similar to what was done in the old days. Large retailer buys hundreds of open "B" stock re-conditioned cassette decks from the manufacturer and then tell the customers these decks are "special", they have been biased for TDK SA tape.

 

Shiny.

And I guess that Massdrop has, at least for USAians, a certain thing that probably becomes a bit addictive to its member-buyers.

(Disclosure: I've bought once, and the overseas delivery/cost experience was decidedly sub Amazon.USA (as in ".com") I also, even as a gadget-loving shopoholic, find that, somehow the site doesn't work for me as well as I might expect.)

 

Because people want to pay more and have to wait a month for delivery to get shiny stuff! Haha...

I am planning on getting LSR308's anyway...that or Yamaha HS8's....haven't decided which way to go yet for pairing with Gungnir Multibit/Freya... anyone have suggestions / comments / opinions?

 

A follow up question to room acoustics:

If I pull the speakers on stands into the nearfield, I will hear less room and desk reflections, but room modes/standing waves won't be affected, right? If the bass booms at 70 Hz, it will stay that way, I guess?


Some people here are connecting their active speakers directly to Gungnir Multibit/Yggdrasil:

1. What about volume control? I thought volume control via software may take away dynamics?

2. Is there any (sound) benefit when using a Freya in between except for remote volume control?

 

1. Passive monitor controllers / passive volume knobs.

2. If using the tube stage, it will add "tube sound" which will likely manifest as more holographic staging and maybe a touch of sweetness depending on the tube, but it's not meant to be "tubey" as it's a pre-amp.

 

Read this before you do your placement or buy into any theories. For years I have kept speakers away from front wall, and you had to be in the right spot, not peak or null to enjoy. Since adopting placement as discussed in part 2 of the linked paper, I have much more linear bass. Of course I had to do some beer budget treatment of the front center of the wall and first reflections on the sides, but this nearfield setup is excellent. I keep learning!


Click here for good paper on placement

 

It's been mentioned a few times before... there is already very little margin on the 305, so massdrop looked at what they could do as value-add and still keep it competitive.
1) better driver matching
2) the shiny paint
3) custom made isolation feet
These all take considerable time and incur extra costs. I think a lot of people would certainly consider the extra $30 alone worth it to have guaranteed matching speakers.

 

Handy calculator for this (you can move speakers around in the intensity simulation box with mouse cursor).
I have found that when possible about 1/4 to 1/3 position room length wise is best. Distance from speaker to ceiling, floor, nearest walls should all differ.
That is, equal distances will enforce room modes.
Room modes are constant in frequency, but not in geometry wrt speakers in listening position.
You can move around your speaker and listening position to find out best compromise between bass and mids performance.
In my experience in difficult rooms symmetric placement is not always best solution, but more often than not, desirable.

 

If I pull the speakers on stands into the nearfield, I will hear less room and desk reflections, but room modes/standing waves won't be affected, right? If the bass booms at 70 Hz, it will stay that way, I guess?
when you move speakers around in the room, it will excite different room modes. you may get rid of a peak at 70hz but now excite a peak at 100hz.
only way is to measure at the Listening Position

 

Anyone had a chance to hear some Quested's yet? I'm liking these more and more each day, so addictive to listen to definately well past new toy syndrome. Engaging regardless of volume and so effortless, smooth, punchy and revealing.
Spooky imaging and soundstage, though that might well be Yggdrasil showing it's colors, whatever the case i can't wait to put Freya into the mix to take it further. Glad i sold my HD800/T3 combo to get S7R's, still have the 650 which is waiting on T4 or T5, might want to build something again after summer.

 

your lucky!!! I never heard Quested but I from the reports I heard, but the quested s8r would be at the top of my list for active affordable 2 way nearfield speakers.

enjoy!!

 

Does anyone understand the difference between the "Professional" and "Hi-Fi" versions of the Unity Audio speakers?

To me it only seems the change in color?

http://unityaudioproducts.co.uk/

 

Yep i feel lucky
I considered the S8R too but i was concerned it might cause problems with low end in my room. So i'm going dual subs in the future so i have more options for tuning the low end. Also from what i read the 7's are a bit better for vocals and the 8's sound a bit more rough comparatively.

In any case i'm curious about the V series...

 

If I manage to sell off my Q12's, I might hold off the KH310 purchase and go for V3110 instead. My GF would strangle me in sleep then, tho...

 

If you are already in progress of doing those 12x2 subs, why not do smth 3 way?
It probably won't make a difference from your gf pov though.

 

It's easier to ask for forgiveness then for permission

Better sleep with one eye open though...

 

v3110.... a dream speaker!!! why go with those rather then atc scm45a? truth is, if I had 10k for active 3 way, id really lose sleep as there's a lot of very good choice from ATC, neumann, used genelec (my dad 1037b are f'ing amazing), ATC, Geithain rl944k, v3110, ECT

 

Like many people my monitor speaker positioning is basically forced by extra-musical considerations. But I did take one thing away from that article: point the tweeters directly at your head. After measuring it seems that they were previously firing about 10cm below and 20cm outside my ears. I did the basic trig to figure out the toe-in angle and the upwards tilt needed to get them pointing right at my head (rather than just guessing as I have done before). The result is much more coherent between the top and the rest of the frequency spectrum. Although there is more treble, it somehow sounds less U-shaped.

 

Most people don't realize that the acoustic axis of the speaker does not necessarily point straight forward. On typical 2 or 3-way speakers, it points anywhere from 5-15° downwards unless there has been compensation in the baffle or crossover etc.

 

I've found a used deal for a considerably lower price. Many studios closing down these days and sometimes the wary audiophile can profit from that!

For the price I'm able to have the V3110's, I won't be able to outbuild, not to mention out-design them.

I'm already gripping my pillow tight!