Budget Hifi system for small room

[mhailo]

Hi guys,

First post, and I don't really have any idea on Hifis.. but i'd like a budget system for a small bedroom, to go on a shelf. Budget is no more than 300 really, which i realise now isn't much! :shifty: I'd like something with decent clarity, but also some nice bass. Not expecting the world but I do want something I can crank up loud. (to be connected to ipod/laptop etc, cd not necessary, bluetooth would be nice but again not necesarry) Do I need a sub or will some good standalone speakers do the job?

One i've found is the 'Denon DM39DAB with the Whaferdale 9.1 speakers' - those speakers keep popping up in various forms

Cheers in advance!

 

[Anonymous]

How about this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Micro-System-Bundle-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00D5UPK70/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1372884450&sr=8-4&keywords=denon+dra+n5

 

[mhailo]

Budget is really 300£

 

[mhailo]

Double post

 

[davedotco]

If you are using a laptop, I would like recommend that you buy the Behringer UCA202 usb dac and a pair of active monitors from you local music store.

A favoured model is the Yamaha HS 5 at around £270 but I recently heard the Presonus Eris E5, which were great for less than £250 a pair.

Although these speakers have decent bass output and excellent control, perfect for less than ideal placement in a small room, they do not fit the usual profile for equipment recommended on this site, shame but there it is.

 

[ID.]

If you are using a laptop, I would like recommend that you buy the Behringer UCA202 usb dac and a pair of active monitors from you local music store.

A favoured model is the Yamaha HS 5 at around £270 but I recently heard the Presonus Eris E5, which were great for less than £250 a pair.

Although these speakers have decent bass output and excellent control, perfect for less than ideal placement in a small room, they do not fit the usual profile for equipment recommended on this site, shame but there it is.

Exactly the kind of setup I'm considering for a small, 2nd room system (will probably get Fostex PM0.5n rather than the Yamahas because I think they are bassier, but they kind of fall between computer speakers and home studio monitors, so probably aren't as accurate the the Yamahas).

 

[John Duncan]

I recently heard the Presonus Eris E5, which were great for less than £250 a pair.

They look nice.

 

[plastic penguin]

I recently heard the Presonus Eris E5, which were great for less than £250 a pair.

They look nice.

Do look quite nice. They also come with their own letter box. ray:

 

[mhailo]

Could I ask what the benefit with a pair of monitors is over the tradition amp + speaker set up is? I always thought monitors were for the perfect sound reproduction but not the 'nicest' listening sound, am i wrong?

Opinions on these?

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11023-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-wharfedale-diamond-91-speakers-sizzler.aspx

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11056-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-tannoy-mercury-v1-speakers-sizzler.aspx

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11045-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-q-acoustics-q2010i-speakers-sizzler.aspx

 

[davedotco]

Could I ask what the benefit with a pair of monitors is over the tradition amp + speaker set up is? I always thought monitors were for the perfect sound reproduction but not the 'nicest' listening sound, am i wrong?

Opinions on these?

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11023-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-wharfedale-diamond-91-speakers-sizzler.aspx

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11056-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-tannoy-mercury-v1-speakers-sizzler.aspx

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11045-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-q-acoustics-q2010i-speakers-sizzler.aspx

Using active speakers is a different approach, that is all. Some people are comfartable with it, some are not.

It is my personal view that a small active speaker such as the Presonus Eris 5 offers significant advantages over conventional products at this sort of price level.

The origonal post suggested that the speakers were for a bedroom, shelf mounted and therefore likely to be close to a wall, in addition the requirement was for the system to be able to play quite loud and deliver decent bass.

While all the passive speakers mentioned above are capable of delivering good sound in optimal conditions, shelf mounted, close to a wall in a smallish room they are likely to lack control, quite frankly they are going to boom.

Now some people appear to like that, but I don't, for me the bass needs to be clear and controlled and the easiest and best way to do that at this price level is with active speakers.

The Eris 5 can be found for around £230, which does not leave a lot of funds for the source but a usb dac for a laptop, a decent dock or even an AEX can be had without going much over budget.

To me the difference in results is night and day but others think differently, your Denon based systems are probably a good as anything if you go down the traditional route but in my view would not come close to the active setup for shear performance.

Depends what is important to you I guess.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Could I ask what the benefit with a pair of monitors is over the tradition amp + speaker set up is? I always thought monitors were for the perfect sound reproduction but not the 'nicest' listening sound, am i wrong?

Opinions on these?

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11023-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-wharfedale-diamond-91-speakers-sizzler.aspx

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11056-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-tannoy-mercury-v1-speakers-sizzler.aspx

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11045-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-q-acoustics-q2010i-speakers-sizzler.aspx

I went listening with a friend who wants a system similar to yours. I came away not entirely convinced by the active speaker route, at this level anyway, partly because while two of the speakers we auditioned - the Adam Artist and the Dynaudios - produced good sound, they were not, in my view, noticeably better, if at all, than the classic amp/passive speaker systems. I was impressed particularly with the Adam Artist, but it was the base model with small drivers, so not really suitable for a large room.

The other problem, which decided the matter for my friend, is that you need some kind of volume control/preamp. The Behringer may be good, but it limits you to one source only, so if you wanted to run, say, a turntable, DVD player, TV and computer through it, you can't, as there aren't enough inputs. This means you need a proper preamp, and they don't come cheap.

You're probably, in terms of value for money, better off going for the type of system you suggest, and I have a feeling at these prices, for sound quality too.

 

[steve_1979]

If you are using a laptop, I would like recommend that you buy the Behringer UCA202 usb dac and a pair of active monitors from you local music store.

+1 for the Behringer UCA-202 DAC. It's very good value for money.

Behringer also have a good range of active speakers in the £200-300 price range. Some of them have 6.5" or 8" woofers and for the price they produce surprisingly good quality deep bass. They're not very pretty but are well worth a listen if you get the chance.

 

[BigH]

Could I ask what the benefit with a pair of monitors is over the tradition amp + speaker set up is? I always thought monitors were for the perfect sound reproduction but not the 'nicest' listening sound, am i wrong?

Opinions on these?

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11023-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-wharfedale-diamond-91-speakers-sizzler.aspx

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11056-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-tannoy-mercury-v1-speakers-sizzler.aspx

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11045-denon-dm39dab-micro-system-with-q-acoustics-q2010i-speakers-sizzler.aspx

I went listening with a friend who wants a system similar to yours. I came away not entirely convinced by the active speaker route, at this level anyway, partly because while two of the speakers we auditioned - the Adam Artist and the Dynaudios - produced good sound, they were not, in my view, noticeably better, if at all, than the classic amp/passive speaker systems. I was impressed particularly with the Adam Artist, but it was the base model with small drivers, so not really suitable for a large room.

The other problem, which decided the matter for my friend, is that you need some kind of volume control/preamp. The Behringer may be good, but it limits you to one source only, so if you wanted to run, say, a turntable, DVD player, TV and computer through it, you can't, as there aren't enough inputs. This means you need a proper preamp, and they don't come cheap.

You're probably, in terms of value for money, better off going for the type of system you suggest, and I have a feeling at these prices, for sound quality too.

All very well but he running a laptop/ipod in a small room.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Ah yes, you're right.

 

[davedotco]

If you are using a laptop, I would like recommend that you buy the Behringer UCA202 usb dac and a pair of active monitors from you local music store.

A favoured model is the Yamaha HS 5 at around £270 but I recently heard the Presonus Eris E5, which were great for less than £250 a pair.

Although these speakers have decent bass output and excellent control, perfect for less than ideal placement in a small room, they do not fit the usual profile for equipment recommended on this site, shame but there it is.

Exactly the kind of setup I'm considering for a small, 2nd room system (will probably get Fostex PM0.5n rather than the Yamahas because I think they are bassier, but they kind of fall between computer speakers and home studio monitors, so probably aren't as accurate the the Yamahas).

Fostex make some nice gear, I tried the baby 0.4 for my desktop system but in the end saved a bit of money and went for the Studiospares Seiwin SN4 at about £100.

For something with quite prodigious bass for the price look at the Studiospares Seiwin 6a, huge sound for a ridiculously low cost of about £140 pair.

Too big for the desktop, they really need proper stands if the are not to sound a bit unruly.

BTW, forget all about accuracy at this level, just try a few out and go for the air that sounds most 'in control', easier to boost bass a little rather than have to put up with looseness or boom.

My view anyway, others will no doubt differ.

 

[mhailo]

Hmm now I don't now. I was leaning towards the traditional route simply because that's what I know, and am comfortable with in the past..

Also once I move they will be in a larger room, very possibly on stands (current room is about 2.5x4m, about 20cm space behind the speakers. The most I will be running through them is laptop/ipod etc, and tv or console occasioanally).

I think i'll try and test various set ups if I can, including active monitors - at the end of the day i'm sure i'll be happy with whatever I get for a while.

Thanks for all the advice too (more is welcome)