Suggest Near Field Passive Speaker approx 30K ₹

[raj12345]

Due to my location, its near impossible to audition/borrow any component.

You made a simple topic too complicated and new audiophiles usually have this kind of conclusions.

You may adopt following points if u wish to listen your speakers at fullest.

1. Make sure you test your speakers with Audio CDs, better buy a dedicated audio CD player with a good dac inside.
2. Use Belden 8471 speakers cable which costs 80₹ per foot and shall open treble which u may be lacking till now.
3. Use high quality RCA cables. If u cannot buy high quality RCA cables, make one for yourself from Cat5 cables (one strand RCA only).
4. Keep tweeter height at ear levels.
5. Upgrade Crossover with high quality capacitors supplying tweeter circuit.
6. Use shortest length for RCA as well as Speaker cables. 1 foot RCA and 5 foot speaker cables is usually fine.
6. Your speakers are 4 ohms, you must use a high current amp to gain most out of your speakers.

 

[Knightrider]

1. Make sure you test your speakers with Audio CDs, better buy a dedicated audio CD player with a good dac inside.

I intend to do so, however unfortunately all Cds were cleaned out years ago, while I was away for many years. Only 5-6 CDs are left. Looking to buy CDs but online prices are so high per CDs that i won't be able to many. Still looking for source to buy if CDs at reasonable cost.

2. Use Belden 8471 speakers cable which costs 80₹ per foot and shall open treble which u may be lacking till now.

Major issue is source, all my songs collection on HDD is garbage quality, on some good recording on youtube, treble is sufficient.
My first priority is getting Cds or ripped files of real lossless quality, which has yielded net zero outcome.

3. Use high quality RCA cables. If u cannot buy high quality RCA cables, make one for yourself from Cat5 cables (one strand RCA only).

Will do once if and when i could solve source issue.

4. Keep tweeter height at ear levels.

Have done that.

5. Upgrade Crossover with high quality capacitors supplying tweeter circuit.

This is out of my technical expertise, at max i could do is soldering. How much would it cost ?

6. Use shortest length for RCA as well as Speaker cables. 1 foot RCA and 5 foot speaker cables is usually fine.

Will do this.

6. Your speakers are 4 ohms, you must use a high current amp to gain most out of your speakers.

Please suggest a few amps to consider that don't cost a lot. Are japanese vintage amps being sold on olx/youtube any good ?

Thanks for precise guidance.

Regards.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Earlier i used to think that i would like warm speakers (hunch based on past experince with 2.1 creative and F&D speakers which were treble heavy).
Now i know that i would prefer sound signature that leans towards neutral - slightly bright i.e dynamic + engaging + fast.

What you are looking for might be more open sound and not necessarily brighter sound. The said speakers aren’t know for their openness. Their strength is their bass weight.

 

[raj12345]

I intend to do so, however unfortunately all Cds were cleaned out years ago, while I was away for many years. Only 5-6 CDs are left. Looking to buy CDs but online prices are so high per CDs that i won't be able to many. Still looking for source to buy if CDs at reasonable cost.


Major issue is source, all my songs collection on HDD is garbage quality, on some good recording on youtube, treble is sufficient.
My first priority is getting Cds or ripped files of real lossless quality, which has yielded net zero outcome.

Will do once if and when i could solve source issue.

Have done that.

This is out of my technical expertise, at max i could do is soldering. How much would it cost ?

Will do this.

Please suggest a few amps to consider that don't cost a lot. Are japanese vintage amps being sold on olx/youtube any good ?

Thanks for precise guidance.

Regards.

It seems you already have answers to almost all suggestions. Pardon me I suggested you something to solve issues.

 

[Knightrider]

It seems you already have answers to almost all suggestions. Pardon me I suggested you something to solve issues.

I apologize if my replies conveyed otherwise than i intended.
I fully agree with all your suggestions. Its just a matter of avalability of funds, thats why i am postponing few things.
Please guide/ suggest regarding 1, 5 and 6.

.

 

[Knightrider]

Update 2

Have to keep Volume @ 80% and above on DAC+ Amp + Foobar/Spotify premium/youtube premium and speakers slightly toed in to get engaging sound - but it becomes too loud for home environment.

Please advise if it is possible to get engaging sound at low volumes and how ?

 

[DB1989]

Update 2

Have to keep Volume @ 80% and above on DAC+ Amp + Foobar/Spotify premium/youtube premium and speakers slightly toed in to get engaging sound - but it becomes too loud for home environment.

Please advise if it is possible to get engaging sound at low volumes and how ?

increase bass and treble to compensate for the Fletcher Munson curve at low volumes

 

[Knightrider]

Update 3
Replaced Amazon basics 14awg speaker cables with Finolex 2.5sq.mm multi strand copper cables.

Treble/highs - become a bit more prominent and clearer to my liking.
Dynamics - increased a bit.
Engaging Sound - Changed for bit better, earlier with amazon basics 14awg or 1.5 sq.mm copper cable sounded flat - not engaging at all.
Instrument Separation - increased a bit. Earlier whenever there was too many instruments playing at same time (complex music) - everything became jumbled and unclear i.e couldn't distinguish instruments separately.
Bass - Became a bit clearer.
Stereo image - expanded a bit for better, both horizontally and vertically.

Overall observation - 2.5 sq.mm copper cable changed sound signature better to my liking. Vocals are a bit too forward for my liking irrespective of the speaker cable used, Would have tried 4 sq.mm too but binding posts on Aiyima A07 could barely accommodate 2.5sq.mm.
Comparative observation based on music played through Apple music Lossless, Youtube premium, Spotify Premium.
Local files using Foobar2000 (with all possible components installed) and VLC - not much difference.


Whats missing/ looking to improve :-
1. Drums, tabla, etc any instruments that has beats - sounds mellow, soft as opposed to having slam and scale, and recessed. has improved with cable change but still need them to be better in slam/ volume as compared to vocals etc. Have tried multiple placements but no change.

2. Whenever there is complex songs - / movie scene i.e multiple instruments or explosion + fight + vehicles crashing - vocal stays clear but everything else becomes jumbled (unclear). Though everything is clear in slow paced instrumental music.

P.S. - Want to buy Belden Speaker cables but shipping for 4 meter is totalling as much as price of cables itself from mumbai, hence haven't got them yet.

Please what steps do i need to take to get improvements i want. Main aim is to have detailed SQ with every micro details of music/ instruments at low volume.

Queries - 1) Would SMSL SU-1 (8k ₹) or Topping E30 II (14k ₹) DAC with AKM AK4493S sound different in my setup than my existing DAC ifi Zen Air with Burr Brown chip i.e less warmth, more details with neutral and exciting SQ ?

2) Suggest any good and reliable amp if possible around 30k ₹, if it would help in improving details and dynamics I'm looking for. Has to be reliable and for long term.

3) Suggest RCA cable to use between DAC and amp, if changing it could improve SQ, current one is amazon basics. Online source for purchasing belden or other speaker cable other than mumbai.

Please guide.

Regards