FS Speaker selection

[Arab]

I have a 70wpc Yamaha AVR connected to some basic BS in 5.1 setup(all Yamaha)

I am planning to replace all in the coming months in installments and need help with the front speakers

Budget started with 30K, read some posts in this forum, increased to 50k, read some more and now I am thinking 1 Lakh so decided to stop reading more and start writing now.

To understate my condition I am confused, I auditioned RTIA7 and KEFQ900 and the horror of horrors, could not tell the difference(sorry KEF), So came back and did a quick online ear test and discovered that in this middle age I am perhaps left with only the mid range:sad:

Ok now the questions, since there are a dozen brands readily available in Blr, I dont want to ask for which speakers to go for, while I welcome unsolicited suggestions gratefully, but I want advice on how to select one.

1) Any advice on what music one carries. Which songs/audio is good for LF(and how low does it test), which audio for HF. I listen to any kind of music and my tastes change with time.
2) Is there any "art of listening". What is the sound image, Will I really be able to tell where each instrument is playing.
3) How much time does one spend to be able to tell the difference considering a newbie.

Pardon me if such a thread already exists, but do point the link while you are
at your condescending best.

 

[Maxprocrj]

Look for a demo with your Yamaha avr only.....you may your forget FS

It must be a super match!!

Usher v 601

 

[elangoas]

I have a 70wpc Yamaha AVR connected to some basic BS in 5.1 setup(all Yamaha)

I am planning to replace all in the coming months in installments and need help with the front speakers

Budget started with 30K, read some posts in this forum, increased to 50k, read some more and now I am thinking 1 Lakh so decided to stop reading more and start writing now.

To understate my condition I am confused, I auditioned RTIA7 and KEFQ900 and the horror of horrors, could not tell the difference(sorry KEF), So came back and did a quick online ear test and discovered that in this middle age I am perhaps left with only the mid range:sad:

Ok now the questions, since there are a dozen brands readily available in Blr, I dont want to ask for which speakers to go for, while I welcome unsolicited suggestions gratefully, but I want advice on how to select one.

1) Any advice on what music one carries. Which songs/audio is good for LF(and how low does it test), which audio for HF. I listen to any kind of music and my tastes change with time.
2) Is there any "art of listening". What is the sound image, Will I really be able to tell where each instrument is playing.
3) How much time does one spend to be able to tell the difference considering a newbie.

Pardon me if such a thread already exists, but do point the link while you are
at your condescending best.

So tell us what your AVR model # is & we can suggest you speakers for the entire range....


One is always better than the other... There is no end to it.... So we understand that you can stretch you budget to a Max of 1 Lac :licklips:

Don't worry too much about how to judge a speaker....Just listen to as many speakers as possible.. Pick the one which makes you feel happy....

 

[Arab]

@elangoas

The Receiver model is HTR-5630, a decade old and doesn't support lot of new features which are required in my HT setup, hence I am planning to replace in a few months. But while I transition I wanted to start with new speakers, I dont want speakers to be limited by the current receiver I have( I can take the precaution not to overdrive the the receiver and clip, based on the theory I have been reading on this forum)

 

[elangoas]

@elangoas

The Receiver model is HTR-5630, a decade old and doesn't support lot of new features which are required in my HT setup, hence I am planning to replace in a few months. But while I transition I wanted to start with new speakers, I dont want speakers to be limited by the current receiver I have( I can take the precaution not to overdrive the the receiver and clip, based on the theory I have been reading on this forum)

Fine.. So your max budget of 100K is for the entire setup (AVR + speakers) right..

Keep 50K for AVR if you plan to buy them here... New receivers cost a bomb here :sad:

Keep 50K for speakers... Depending on you room size, we can recommend that..

 

[Arab]

I am ready to spend 100k(eg Q900) on speakers only if they are markedly better than 50-60K(eg RtiA7) for NON-audiophile ears.

Room is 13'x18'x11' dedicated HT room. Only has Seating and AV equipment.

I keep reading forums that people have heard sounds/instruments they havent heard before, I am wondering which audio tracks are these and if there are any test audio tracks out there.

 

[Shivam]

For mid range / Vocals, I am a big fan of Wharfedale offerings. Do audition them too.

 

[spirovious]

Look for a demo with your Yamaha avr only.....you may your forget FS

It must be a super match!!

Usher v 601

Something like this-
USHER V601 RX-V630RDS HDR-PJ740 - YouTube

 

[chengwan]

right,Room is 13'x18'x11' dedicated HT room. Only has Seating and AV equipment.

 

[Arab]

I managed to audition Tannoy Mercury V4 and some other speakers(Not mentioning names to avoid debates) and liked it for VFM and perhaps I still
havent developed sophisticated tastes in audio.

Now the confusion, when I checked for specs on the Tannoy website, it says the model V4 is discontinued and V4i has taken its place. Even if V4i is better as the reviews claim I think can I live with the sound of V4.

Question is, is it OK to buy discontinued models(fresh piece from dealer), how hard would it be to sell these. Is it normal for dealers in India to carry discontinued stock.I assume it to be so, considering the distance from production and low sales.



Being n00b not sure if I can bump my thread back into action. Apologies if its a crime.

 

[elangoas]

I managed to audition Tannoy Mercury V4 and some other speakers(Not mentioning names to avoid debates) and liked it for VFM and perhaps I still
havent developed sophisticated tastes in audio.

Now the confusion, when I checked for specs on the Tannoy website, it says the model V4 is discontinued and V4i has taken its place. Even if V4i is better as the reviews claim I think can I live with the sound of V4.

Question is, is it OK to buy discontinued models(fresh piece from dealer), how hard would it be to sell these. Is it normal for dealers in India to carry discontinued stock.I assume it to be so, considering the distance from production and low sales.

Being n00b not sure if I can bump my thread back into action. Apologies if its a crime.

You can bump your thread any time to update & take inputs....No need for apologies.. Relax hyeah:

I have come across ppl who have bumped 3 yrs old thread to get responses hyeah:

You dont have to worry abt discontinued model.... You can easily sell them in the forum/Outside Forum in Olx....

If you have heard the speaker & you like it, grab it...Dont worry abt selling the speaker.... Itz time to enjoi..:cheers:

 

[Santy]

Budget started with 30K, read some posts in this forum, increased to 50k, read some more and now I am thinking 1 Lakh so decided to stop reading more

Welcome to HFV. We are committed to disrupt your financial buyoancy.

To understate my condition I am confused, I auditioned RTIA7 and KEFQ900 and the horror of horrors, could not tell the difference(sorry KEF), So came back and did a quick online ear test and discovered that in this middle age I am perhaps left with only the mid range:sad:

Don't worry, if that is true, there will be speakers made without tweeters for a targeted audience.
You can hear as much as your ears are trained to. At the same time, you will hear less as much as you enjoy music.

but I want advice on how to select one.

Ideally speaking, you must not worry as long as *you* are able to 'like' one over the other.

But as a beginner, these are four basic characteristics of speakers, according to me (a learner) you need to try to 'hear' or 'see' through a speaker system.

1. Frequency response (FR)
Capability to produce all frequencies - lows, mids and highs equally well.
Is the bass bloated? Does it boom?
Is the mid-range rich and full. Are they appearing dull and lost in other frequencies?
How natural and pleasing it is to hear the vocals.
Are the highs (treble) too sharp or harsh (called bright) or fatiguing on long listening.

2. Dynamics/ Dynamic range
It is the ability to produce intense music passages at a given volume without distortion at the same volume play the softest nuanes of the music audibly.
A simple analogy is how many shades of gray a printer can print visibly, from the lightest gray (not white) to the darkest gray (not black).
Play some tracks which have both soft and loud passages at above moderate volume, you should be able to hear out everything without missing any music bit and without distortion.


3. Soundstage
When you close your eyes, the sound should appear to come from a bigger space with good spacing between musicians and artists.
Also, the sound should come from beyond the envelope in which the speakers are placed. You must not be able to locate the speaker position, it should 'disappear' in the room.
Can be figured out by playing any good recorded piece of music.

4. Detail / Resolution
It simply means how less congested the music is played, by keeping all instruments separated and the subtle notes preserved.
If you hear the difference between a 96 kbps MP3 and 320 kbps MP3, then it means you are able to hear more detail.
This can be understood while playing any music with lot of instruments playing at a time.

There are a thousand other things which tells about quality of the speakers but these are primary for a beginner, IMO. Note that apart from speakers, these characteristics of sound is affected by other components of the system like source, DAC, amp etc as well.; so one has to keep them constant including content and listening room while auditioning different systems but that is always the biggest challenge for hifi buyers.

 

[Arab]

Finally took the plunge and bought Tannoy MV4. Other than the obvious improvement in sound quality over my existing Yamaha HTiB BS, Immediately noticed 2 things

1) The sub-woofer I was using for movies was now redundant, so switched that off. Is this normal or was my sub-woofer such an under performer.

2) When there is LF sound in the music, Once in a while Now I hear some more extras sounds which most certainly are not from any musical instruments. Its kind of a harsh and dispersed set of frequencies. What can this phenomenon be.

 

[Santy]

Congrats Arab! Good buy it is.

Yes, the FS have good low frequency extension, so if your sub is weak, you may find it redundant, especially when it is passive. But most certainly you don't need 'any' sub when you have FS for music. And you are right, some extra effects you hear from the sub is its capacity to go deeper and louder at that frequency (like below 55hz). But as you have rightly said, there are very few musical instruments that go that deep; so no harm in missing them. A sub which plays tight, crisp and fast are normally quite expensive. Many of them are typically fully sealed.

 

[vijwilso]

Congrats Arab , I liked this model paired with parasound pre-power against other similar priced FS when i Auditioned it . Hope this will be a keeper for you.

For the harshness in the LF , Can you check if you are setting any DSP special effect in the AVR or setting the BASS equalizer . Try playing the music in the 'direct' two channel mode with no equalizer/dsp effect set , to narrow down the issue

 

[olly42]

Congrats Arab.....Good Buy