Nearfields for audiophile listening?

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by sashafuckinggrey, Feb 27, 2016.

  1. Dzerh

    Dzerh Friend

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    May be somebody finds it helpful:
    I'm using nearfieldfs as "computer speakers" at home but I don't have space on the table or around it for proper positioning.
    So I bought two cheap adjustable gas spring desk mount arms for computer displays with appropriate load specifications and put speakers on them.
    [​IMG]
    As my nearfields doesn't have any mounting hardware on them and really inexpensive I've chosen arms where VESA plate can be turned up and just attached VESA plates directly to bottom of monitors with 8 small screws each. I haven't used any dumpening between the plates and bottoms. Possible it would be better to turn monitors upside down to have better down range for positioning as "down" is more limited with this way of attachment.
     
  2. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    It looks very good, pro alike for sure. Reliable contraption, isn't it?
     
  3. Dzerh

    Dzerh Friend

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    reliable enough. But, IMHO, for pro-work one probably needs to add some positioning marking for fast returning to set position. As very easy and smooth repositioning became minus instead of plus in case you are monitoring instead of just listening.
     
  4. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    I’ve been searching the forums for discussion on monitor / speaker stands but there doesn’t seem to be a coherent narrative on this topic.

    I have a pair of KH310 monitors which are fairly large (10”x15”x11.5”; 29 lb) and I’ve been using some inexpensive metal telescoping rod type stands that I’m worried are not stiff enough to do these monitors justice. They wobble a little bit sometimes with heavy bass notes.

    I need a fair amount of height, maybe 42”.

    What can I get for <$400 that would improve my listening experience? Any default go-to recommendations?
     
  5. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    What i did was find a local metal fabricator and have them custom made. I paid €250 including powder coating them to a matching color. Lots of guys willing to do it in their spare time, should be easy enough to find someone.
     
  6. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Definitely cool but I’m in NYC and not going to do that. No car. I need something delivered. No problem with assembling it or adding sand, but I’d like an out of the box solution.
     
  7. direstraitsfan98

    direstraitsfan98 D2Girls v2.0

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    40 inches high seems quite up there the only thing that comes to mind is Reference 3a speaker stands: http://www.reference3a.com/stands.html

    They are adjustable up to 30 inches and I'm thinking if your tweeter is high enough it could be enough height? I think these stands blow your budget by about a factor or two, though. For your price you'd have to either get cheaper stands, and mount them on top of something, maybe concrete and a piece of wood, or build yourself a pair to your specifications.
     
  8. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Why are they so expensive? I’m not sure what the benefits are. Do you mind explaining the trade offs and what I should be focusing on when it comes to stands?

    https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/argosy-420xi-stand-with-isoacoustics-technology-ea

    What about something like this? It’s nearly in my price range and at least looks structurally solid. I’m just not informed enough to know which stands are worth the money and which are gimmicky or just wont help enough. Ever heard of this brand? Argosy?
     
  9. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    Right well then maybe something from these guys?
    http://www.ultimatesupport.com/ms-90-45b.html
    Sand fillable and not too expensive. Built in decoupling. I considered these but for me custom was cheaper.
     
  10. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    @44100Hz

    30 inches with the spikes, but solid, they don't ring like metal and sand fillable (I would empty for shipping). I have original box and can disassemble for shipping to NYC.

    $275 shipped. List was $650 which was way more than I should have spent.

    timepiece speakers.jpg
     
  11. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Thanks but I really do need more height than that. I have my eyes on something. Thanks for the help guys.
     
  12. Blake

    Blake Acquaintance

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    I've got Gallo Strada 2 I use as my desktop speakers at work. I am pretty happy with them overall. I have been interested in comparing them to the Audience ClairAudient 1+1 for desktop use, but since there is only 2 feet from the speakers to the wall, I am not sure the ClairAudient would work, as they are said to need 5 feet.
     
  13. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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  14. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    Regarding those Kali speakers - their waveguide implementation is much simpler than JBL’s. It’s also an interesting business decision to enter the sub-200$ monitor meelee. Really hard to differentiate yourself and margins are razor thin, whoever can shave tenths of a cent from the BOM and plan good manufacturing/logistics wins.

    When I worked for Sonarworks, we toyed with the idea of selling our own monitors. There are chinese OEM companies who provide catalogs of monitors which look like almost every cheap two way there has ever been. We actually got a sample and it measured incredibly bad, one of the few speakers where calibration didn’t do much.
     
  15. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I was thinking the same thing; the budget monitor market is super super crowded. So I went through a little thought experiment: For every bedroom wannabe mixmaster upgrading from an M50x scraping together a spreadsheet to decide what monitors he can't afford, at $150 they are equipping a 6.5" woofer where most of the competition is ~5". If he's going by pure numbers, that narrows the choices considerably. Looking briefly at Sweetwater, there's the Behringer 2030A and Mackie MR624 that remain. If they're looking for front port rather than rear (because some dude on gearslutz said get front ported if you're in a small bedroom by the wall), then that just leaves the Behringer. So now despite the 2030A actually being a decent monitor since they ripped off Genelec, you're still dealing with Behringer. Meh. Plus the Kali has a few extra room modes. Sold!
     
  16. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Kali engineers certainly went with what they know. They know how to build active speakers with off the shelf components and that is what they did - from design, manufacturing, and even marketing and distribution. The only thing is they can't use the waveguide that JBL has because it is propriatary and copyrighted.

    The all around question is "are they better?" I don't really care, but like you guys, it is just rather interesting why they decided to just stick to what they know and go after an already crowded low-budget market.
     
  17. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    It's a fairly standard business model. Start with the small affordable stuff, build reputation/loyalty, and your customer base will eventually upgrade to your bigger toys. Starting small also generates the income stream necessary to fund future development and manufacturing unless you're letting someone else bankroll you.
     
  18. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Fixed.

    I loved the form factor and tone of 305 but the hiss in a nearfield listening environment sucked donkey balls.
     
  19. Pogo

    Pogo Friend

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    Www.noaudiophile.com

    Opinionated,good measurements and commentary, funny as schiit on reviews of near field budget speakers.
     
  20. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Yeah, he kind of dogged the KEF Q300 and his measurements are all over the place and don't quite match some of the other measurements I have seen.

    Either way, he does say the LSR305's were about the best pair he has tested (as a subjective review, and after his own corrections).
     

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