Advice regarding speaker size

[John1528]

Hello everyone,
I'm rather elderly and a complete novice, and I'm hoping for some advice. I have a smallish room 3.5m x 3.5m and I'm wanting to buy a budget hifi system for around 1,500 pound - I've never had one before. I like the look and sound of the Dali Oberon 5s, but when they demonstrated them to me in the shop, the setting was nothing like my room - or how I listen to music. I only listen to music rather quietly (mellow blues mainly) and never loud. The sales lady said I would be better off with some stand speakers - but I like the look of the floorstanding ones. Would they be terrible if I only play the music softly? I'm also hoping to add a digital equalizer to see if it can compensate for some of my hearing loss. Any advice will be very gratefully received.

 

[Gray]

Ask about the possibility of a home loan John.
It's the best (some would say the only) way to decide.

True, most home loaners would be borrowing either an amp or speakers, you need both to make a meaningful decision.
But if they value your custom.....

 

[daytona600]

£1599 hifi system in a box , compact and ideal for a small room

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lJNWzGK8ee4

 

[John1528]

Ask about the possibility of a home loan John.
It's the best (some would say the only) way to decide.

True, most home loaners would be borrowing either an amp or speakers, you need both to make a meaningful decision.
But if they value your custom.....

Thanks for the suggestion, Gray. I didn't know you could ask about a home test. I'll follow it up. (Much appreciated).

 

[skinnypuppy71]

For £1500..I don't think you can better Acoustic Energy ae1 active speakers and a wiim ultra....stands for the speakers need to be considered though....floor standing speakers on a tight budget are so compromised......it's usually detail and refinement that suffers....cos most newbies are so impressed by the bass performance that the floor standing speakers can achieve....but it's flabby and uncontrolled, you really should consider standmounts..at said budget ..and it's probably what your room would react better to considering it's dimensions.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hello everyone,
I'm rather elderly and a complete novice, and I'm hoping for some advice. I have a smallish room 3.5m x 3.5m and I'm wanting to buy a budget hifi system for around 1,500 pound - I've never had one before. I like the look and sound of the Dali Oberon 5s, but when they demonstrated them to me in the shop, the setting was nothing like my room - or how I listen to music. I only listen to music rather quietly (mellow blues mainly) and never loud. The sales lady said I would be better off with some stand speakers - but I like the look of the floorstanding ones. Would they be terrible if I only play the music softly? I'm also hoping to add a digital equalizer to see if it can compensate for some of my hearing loss. Any advice will be very gratefully received.

The room isn't that small, from the dimensions it sounds like typical Victorian semi or terrace.

The most important thing about any speakers is their placement. The Dali's are quite forgiving. They only need to be about 30-40cm from the wall, and a couple on meters apart.

Everything I am about to say is caveated by the fact you have already been given the best advice, a home trial is the best way forward. See how it sounds to your ears in your home.

Having said that, they are a good choice on paper for a few reasons. As floorstanders, they are relatively small. As mentioned above they aren't too big, and are quite forgiving in how you place them.

What other components do you need for your £1,500?

 

[RoA]

I have floor standers which had relatively accurate bass in a small room. They are now in a bigger room and have far more bass, so much so that I have to EQ.

 

[John1528]

The room isn't that small, from the dimensions it sounds like typical Victorian semi or terrace.

The most important thing about any speakers is their placement. The Dali's are quite forgiving. They only need to be about 30-40cm from the wall, and a couple on meters apart.

Everything I am about to say is caveated by the fact you have already been given the best advice, a home trial is the best way forward. See how it sounds to your ears in your home.

Having said that, they are a good choice on paper for a few reasons. As floorstanders, they are relatively small. As mentioned above they aren't too big, and are quite forgiving in how you place them.

What other components do you need for your £1,500?

I would like a music streamer and an amplifier. I would also like to get a digital equaliser in the hope it might compensate for some of my hearing loss.

 

[nopiano]

I would like a music streamer and an amplifier. I would also like to get a digital equaliser in the hope it might compensate for some of my hearing loss.

Then anything from the Wiim range, mentioned above, would be an easy choice as they have a multiband digital equaliser, and basic room correction technology built in. They have various models, some including amplifiers.

Now available at Richer Sounds if you are UK based. https://www.richersounds.com/wiim-amp-space-grey/