Sound system under 2 lakh

[aludum]

I want to buy a sound system under 2 lakh.
However I can't audition them due to my health problems.
I want to use it for both music and movies.
I really liked the Kef Ls50 wireless by reading the reviews.
I want those speaker names whose sound signature is liked by most people.
My brother is telling me to buy Bose not Kef since we have not heard any HiFi premium speakers.
I am paralyzed so I can't audition. I really want to hear good sound. So what should I do? Please suggest.

 

[sreekrishna.com]

I want to buy a sound system under 2 lakh.
However I can't audition them due to my health problems.
I want to use it for both music and movies.
I really liked the Kef Ls50 wireless by reading the reviews.
I want those speaker names whose sound signature is liked by most people.
My brother is telling me to buy Bose not Kef since we have not heard any HiFi premium speakers.
I am paralyzed so I can't audition. I really want to hear good sound. So what should I do? Please suggest.

Go for q acoustics, its good for both movies and music. Good clarity. Its reasonably priced.

Sent from my H60-L04 using Tapatalk

 

[alphacentury100]

If you are looking in the LS50's league the the Kef R300 will be a better choice in my option. A true 3 way bookshelf.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[tuff]

I want to buy a sound system under 2 lakh.
However I can't audition them due to my health problems.
I want to use it for both music and movies.
I really liked the Kef Ls50 wireless by reading the reviews.
I want those speaker names whose sound signature is liked by most people.
My brother is telling me to buy Bose not Kef since we have not heard any HiFi premium speakers.
I am paralyzed so I can't audition. I really want to hear good sound. So what should I do? Please suggest.

If you are spending 2 lakhs, you might want to mention your room size, your general genre of music, what your playback source would be. This usually helps forum members to guide better.

Sent from my SM-A910F using Tapatalk

 

[tuff]

Also if you go for powered speakers, make sure it comes with a remote.

Sent from my SM-A910F using Tapatalk

 

[drkrack]

I want to buy a sound system under 2 lakh.

However I can't audition them due to my health problems.

I want to use it for both music and movies.

I really liked the Kef Ls50 wireless by reading the reviews.

I want those speaker names whose sound signature is liked by most people.

My brother is telling me to buy Bose not Kef since we have not heard any HiFi premium speakers.

I am paralyzed so I can't audition. I really want to hear good sound. So what should I do? Please suggest.

Some people might provide a home audition, do talk to the local dealers and explain your situation and budget many would oblige...

Polk, Kef Reference series, Monitor Audio Silver, Wharfedale Revel, Klipsch reference, B&W 683, Tannoy revolution are popular brands here.

 

[Rajeshh]

I want to buy a sound system under 2 lakh.
However I can't audition them due to my health problems.
I want to use it for both music and movies.
I really liked the Kef Ls50 wireless by reading the reviews.
I want those speaker names whose sound signature is liked by most people.
My brother is telling me to buy Bose not Kef since we have not heard any HiFi premium speakers.
I am paralyzed so I can't audition. I really want to hear good sound. So what should I do? Please suggest.

Aludum, it really depends on your needs.
For primarily music & stereo go for the LS50 W or any other similar speakers, they can also double up for movies, provided you are content with a 2 or 2.1 setup.
If your need is primary movies go for the Bose, i think they do a fine job with 5.1.

I use the LS50 Wireless for both Music & movies, my listening is primarily music though.
Do try to arrange for a home audition as there is no substitute for it, I've done a complete U turn on speakers & amp i was intent on buying after a audition.

On the LS50 W, the plus side is that they are truly a fantastic package with great speaker, properly matched amplifier & DAC built in.
The imaging, resolution & midrange for vocals are fantastic, you do get that 3D music effect with precise imaging, where you can place where the vocalist & the instruments are. The bass response from these have to be experienced to be believed, it is better than the ELAC UB5, another speaker I've used.

The negatives are that,
1. Considering they are highly transparent speakers, you need a very good music source, I've used and switched out a mac mini & Bluesound N2, before finally settling on a ELAC discovery music server. This will add to the cost.
2. You will have bass weight as I've mentioned above, but not extension, they will not do what a bigger stand mounter or a tower can do.
3. They need good & heavy stands, do not even use it without one.
4. They need a long break-in of 200 hours or more, i was blown away by the demo at the showroom & utterly disappointed when i plugged them in at home.
5. They do not integrate well with a Sub for music (maybe a sin of the Active versions.) But for Movies it is perfectly fine.

Do give the KEFs a shot, i think they are very well priced in India, unlike other brands.

If you are looking at towers, id recommend the Focal Aria 926, very easy speakers to drive. A friend is driving it with a Cambridge audio CX80. The combo's pricing worked out to be about 1000 SGD more than the LS50's price, as the Focals can be had for a big discount (i think they are refreshing their range, New Electra's for sure next year)

 

[krell]

if you really more in to music buy a system good floor standers with good stereo amp, as many advises, invest on a system where you can control everything from your smart phone or remote.

 

[humblebee]

Yamaha A-S801 + Revel Concerta2 M16

 

[Naturelover]

If you are okay with used gear, this is an excellent combination.

http://www.hifivision.com/showthread.php?t=67258

 

[gb123]

Have you purchased or are still looking ? (I could arrange for a demo of LS50 Wireless if you are interested) PM me for details.

 

[newlash09]

Hi...Good day,

What is your room size and listening distance. Are you someone mostly into back ground listening or are you a critical listener. What genre of tracks do you mostly listen to. And do you consider yourself a bass head

I would strongly recommend going for a streamer with a good app eco system. My recommendation would be :

1) Yamaha WXC-50 - INR 25k + Any stereo amp

2) Bluesound Node 2 - INR 55k + Any stereo amp

The stereo amp you go for will depend on speakers you go for. So once we know your room size and listening habits. Then speakers and amps can be suggested.

I use both the Yamaha musicast & bluesound eco system. And Iam extremely happy with both. Excellent and stable control apps. The Bluesound has a slight sonic advantage as reflected in its price.

However, if you are looking for future proofing and need Tidal master's / MQA decoding, then Bluesound Node 2 is the only one that has it among the two.

 

[Naturelover]

Yet another thread where the OP doesn't bother to respond or update.
Very unfortunate.

 

[ravindrads]

I own q acoustics its excellent and comes within 2laks

 

[newlash09]

Hi ravindads....good evening

Which qacoustics speakers or setup are you referring to. They have quiet a few speakers available within 2L at different price points.

 

[BLASTO]

Hi...Good day,

What is your room size and listening distance. Are you someone mostly into back ground listening or are you a critical listener. What genre of tracks do you mostly listen to. And do you consider yourself a bass head

I would strongly recommend going for a streamer with a good app eco system. My recommendation would be :

1) Yamaha WXC-50 - INR 25k + Any stereo amp

2) Bluesound Node 2 - INR 55k + Any stereo amp

The stereo amp you go for will depend on speakers you go for. So once we know your room size and listening habits. Then speakers and amps can be suggested.

I use both the Yamaha musicast & bluesound eco system. And Iam extremely happy with both. Excellent and stable control apps. The Bluesound has a slight sonic advantage as reflected in its price.

However, if you are looking for future proofing and need Tidal master's / MQA decoding, then Bluesound Node 2 is the only one that has it among the two.

Hi Sir,

I am in lookout for a streamer and will only use the digital outputs since I have a better DAC.

Which amoung the bluesound and Yamaha serves as good digital transport? Is there any difference trying to use either for purely digital purpose? Is the sound quality difference reflected in the digital output as well?


Thanks,

 

[vijwilso]

If you are looking in the LS50's league the the Kef R300 will be a better choice in my option. A true 3 way bookshelf.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

+1 for KEF R-Series Speakers

 

[newlash09]

Hi Blasto.....

I use the Yamaha wxc-50 as a pure digital streamer into the external Dac. To my wooden ears, there is not much of a difference streaming the same track via usb from pc, or via optical from the Yamaha. I have been working in a heavily mechanised environment for a very long time, and the excessive sound and vibration levels have taken a toll on my hearing. And I honestly cant make out subtle differences anymore. And iam actually glad I find less to complain about

However, Yamaha has gone to great length to make the wxc-50 as pure a digital streamer as is possible at this price. Let me mention the options below :

1) the wxc-50 has a toggle switch in the back, to choose between ' pre-amp' & ' player' functionality. In 'pre-amp' mode, the Yamaha uses its inbuilt dac and outputs via rca. In the 'player' mode, the pre-amp & inbuilt dac are switched off, to keep the digital signal pure from interference from the pre-amp circuit.

2) In addition to the above option, the wxc-50 also has a toggle switch to select 'wifi' , 'bluetooth' or to switch off both. So both these wireless options can again be disabled to avoid any interference to the digital signal.

So, I keep the Yamaha wxc-50 in player mode with both wifi & Bluetooth switched off. I connect it via a hardwired Ethernet cable, and stream either from my Nas or online Tidal. I used to use Bluetooth before for streaming from 'gaana'. But have subsequently got a chromecast audio to stream digitally into the external dac.

All in all, Iam very happy with the Yamaha wxc-50. A superb and flexible piece of kit, that can be the hub of any hifi setup, and everything can be controlled from the app. And it helps that it is much cheaper than the bluesound node2.

The only thing in favour of the node-2 is that it has tidal masters / mqa decoding. And even to my wooden ears it sounds remarkably better than normal tidal streams. I have tried it through my bluesound powernode, and loved the sound quality. Though most of the tracks are way too classical for me. So I can live without it for now.

So, if you value tidal masters /mqa, then bluesound node 2 is the only way forward. But for everything else it is the Yamaha wxc-50 all the way for me. All the best

 

[BLASTO]

Hi Blasto.....

I use the Yamaha wxc-50 as a pure digital streamer into the external Dac. To my wooden ears, there is not much of a difference streaming the same track via usb from pc, or via optical from the Yamaha. I have been working in a heavily mechanised environment for a very long time, and the excessive sound and vibration levels have taken a toll on my hearing. And I honestly cant make out subtle differences anymore. And iam actually glad I find less to complain about

That is a great position to be in sir, To me, every analog, digital, source, cable etc makes difference and it is becomming quite annoying.
Currently got a Apple Airport express and the difference between chromecast audio is clearly audible even as a digital transport.

However, Yamaha has gone to great length to make the wxc-50 as pure a digital streamer as is possible at this price. Let me mention the options below :

1) the wxc-50 has a toggle switch in the back, to choose between ' pre-amp' & ' player' functionality. In 'pre-amp' mode, the Yamaha uses its inbuilt dac and outputs via rca. In the 'player' mode, the pre-amp & inbuilt dac are switched off, to keep the digital signal pure from interference from the pre-amp circuit.

I read more about it in the yamaha site and looks like preamp and volume control are disabled and fixed analog still works in plyer mode. But since they have thought about this scenaro says a lot.

2) In addition to the above option, the wxc-50 also has a toggle switch to select 'wifi' , 'bluetooth' or to switch off both. So both these wireless options can again be disabled to avoid any interference to the digital signal.

So, I keep the Yamaha wxc-50 in player mode with both wifi & Bluetooth switched off. I connect it via a hardwired Ethernet cable, and stream either from my Nas or online Tidal. I used to use Bluetooth before for streaming from 'gaana'. But have subsequently got a chromecast audio to stream digitally into the external dac.

All in all, Iam very happy with the Yamaha wxc-50. A superb and flexible piece of kit, that can be the hub of any hifi setup, and everything can be controlled from the app. And it helps that it is much cheaper than the bluesound node2.

The only thing in favour of the node-2 is that it has tidal masters / mqa decoding. And even to my wooden ears it sounds remarkably better than normal tidal streams. I have tried it through my bluesound powernode, and loved the sound quality. Though most of the tracks are way too classical for me. So I can live without it for now.

So, if you value tidal masters /mqa, then bluesound node 2 is the only way forward. But for everything else it is the Yamaha wxc-50 all the way for me. All the best

I am locked with apple unfortunately and primary usecase is itunes playback and streaming from NAS in addition to google music.
CC-audio serves well for google play music but has no easy way of streaming itunes or apple music hence looking for Airplay enabled streamers.
The Airport express I acquired recently does not lock signal with my DAC and skips a lot annoyingly hence planning to replace it with a 'proper' streamer.



Just noticed that you are from hyderabad too and have an awesome setup. Will sync and drop by for a listen sometime.

 

[newlash09]

Hi Blasto....

Good morning and thanks again. You are most welcome to drop in anytime for a listen. I will be moving to a new place by December, and hopefully with better acoustics. In my present nightmarish room, everything sounds the same to me, too muddy and too much of bass boom. Will surely let you know once I've setup everything in the new place.

Feel free to ask anything further you'd like to know about the wxc-50. And actually you can always take it for a few days and try out in your setup, before you decide on spending some hard earned cash on it. And if you are interested, you can take the bluesound powernode too, to compare tidal vs tidal mqa, and see if it is worth the extra money for a node 2. All the best...