Small actives for a second system...

acalex

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Sep 13, 2011
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Hello,

I finally took the Akurate DS home but for no reason I want to sell the SBT as I think is so much value for the money.

Though that using it as a source for a second small system for the bedroom. SBT driving two small active speakers (monitors), not too expensive, wood finishes. I have not clue about active speakers.

Thanks a lot
 
A

Anonymous

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I can highly recommend the Audioengine A2's

Had them as my iMAC system in my home office and they're superb! Sound fantastic and arent that big at all :)
 

acalex

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Sep 13, 2011
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therecruiter said:
I can highly recommend the Audioengine A2's

Had them as my iMAC system in my home office and they're superb! Sound fantastic and arent that big at all :)

Very nice indeed, pity there is not wood finish :(

But indeed they might be perfect for an office iMac system

I am going to have hard time to let those into the bedroom where everything is wood finished :wall:
 
Check this (a bit larger but available in wood finish):

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/Audioengine-A5+-Active-Speakers-Pair/product_2394?ref=gmc

This is a bit expensive:

http://www.adam-audio.com/en/home-audio/products/sw260-mk3/description
 

AlmaataKZ

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Jan 7, 2009
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wood finish and active a rare combination, especially so in small size, so very difficult to recommned here.

I recently got a pair of small active genelecs for my third system (kitchen). I have long and firmly kept genelecs in the 'ugly' category, but when I got these I though they look absolutely wondeful - kitchen or living room!

8271961289_e8f0778ffc_d.jpg


8273027176_3912bcc7c6_d.jpg


These are Genelec 6010A, the smallest model (see ipod touch for scale). There is also 8020A which is only slightly bigger, still quite small. They can be white, silver, grey or black, so can fit the SBT well in terms of styling.

I can also recommend Adam Audio Artist 3 or Artist 5. Will also fit SBT nicely.
 

Overdose

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Feb 8, 2008
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acalex said:
Hello,

I finally took the Akurate DS home but for no reason I want to sell the SBT as I think is so much value for the money.

Though that using it as a source for a second small system for the bedroom. SBT driving two small active speakers (monitors), not too expensive, wood finishes. I have not clue about active speakers.

Thanks a lot

A lot to look through, but HEREs a good source
 

steve_1979

Well-known member
Jul 14, 2010
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I recommend AVI, Dynaudio, Genelec, ADAM Audio and the Acoustic Energy 2.1 ProSat / ProSub combination.

But as always have a listen yourself and see what suits you best. I've found that the people in pro-audio shops are always very friendly and helpful.
 

CnoEvil

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Possibly these - http://www.whathifi.com/news/kef-x300a-digital-hi-fi-speaker-available-for-pre-order-now
 

steve_1979

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Jul 14, 2010
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I don't mean to sound pedantic here :oops: but the Audioengine speakers that were mentioned earlier in this thread are actually powered passive speakers and not proper actives.

In my experience powered passive speakers don't sound as good as proper active speakers (you can tell if it's a proper active speaker because there will be two amplifiers in each enclosure).
 

acalex

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Sep 13, 2011
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Wow, how many suggestions thanks a lot. There are some amazing speakers out there you suggested...I need to check them carefully. Most of them are unfortunately quite expensive as this should be a real inexpensive system. Would be nice to spend around 200/300 euro, up to 400 if I can really find amazing stuff.

Steve, thanks a lot for the website they really have a lot of products
 

steve_1979

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acalex said:
Would be nice to spend around 200/300 euro, up to 400 if I can really find amazing stuff.

Ahhh, a slightly lower budget than I was expecting.

For exactly 300 Euros (£244) you can pick up a pair of Yamaha HS50M speakers. Don't be put off by the low price as these are very fine sounding monitors with loads of detail and clarity. They have a neutral and clear sound so will be pleasant to listen to for long periods without becoming fatigued.

At this price these are probably the best speakers that I've heard and IMO are better than most £1000 passive hifi speaker/amp combinations.

http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/yamaha-hs50m-active-studio-monitors-pair--68041
 
T

the record spot

Guest
I've heard the Yammies too and they're a nice speaker, which followed on the tradition of the NS10 I think. They are very neutral, so if you want some bass you'll need to either move up to the bigger boxed HS80M or look elsewhere.
 

steve_1979

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Also don't forget that with active speakers you'll need something to control the volume too. Something like this will do the job for just 85 Euros (£69): http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/tc-electronic-level-pilot-monitor-volume-controller--60711

And for even higher sound quality you could use your Squeezebox Touch as a DAC allowing you to use the digital output from your computer which would make a huge improvement the sound. You would conect them like this:

Mac > Squeezebox Touch (via digital optical cable) > TC Electronics volume controller > Yamaha HS50M speakers
 

steve_1979

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The Yamaha HS50M have plenty of bass for their size. If you wanted deeper bass you also have the option of adding the matching HS10W subwoofer later on.

The HS50M sound much better and are more neutral than the old NS10. Though they do have a switch on the back which makes them sound similar to the NS10's if you wanted (but they sound better with it left switched off).

The NS10's are useful for mixing with because they boost certain frequenies but this also makes them sound awful if you just want to enjoy the music.
 
T

the record spot

Guest
I've heard both on two different occasions Steve and while the HS50 has bass, the 80 delivers more, simple as that. If that's important to the OP, then the 80 might be the one to consider. And if it's for a second system, I'm assuming that there might be less consideration/space for subwoofers.
 

steve_1979

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Jul 14, 2010
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That's a fair point. :)

When I heard them I thought that the HS50M had a better midrange while the bigger HS80M had deeper bass. Personally I prefered the sound of the HS50M overall although I expect that some people would prefer the extra bass that the HS80M offers. Either way at 502 Euros (£408 ) the HS80M are well over budget (especially when you include the extra cost of a volume controller).

Acalex has a maximum budget of 400 Euros. The Yamaha HS50M speakers together with the TC Electronics volume controller comes to 385 Euros.
 

acalex

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Sep 13, 2011
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steve_1979 said:
Also don't forget that with active speakers you'll need something to control the volume too. Something like this will do the job for just 85 Euros (£69): http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/tc-electronic-level-pilot-monitor-volume-controller--60711

And for even higher sound quality you could use your Squeezebox Touch as a DAC allowing you to use the digital output from your computer which would make a huge improvement the sound. You would conect them like this:

Mac > Squeezebox Touch (via digital optical cable) > TC Electronics volume controller > Yamaha HS50M speakers

Steve, thanks for the suggestion, I think the Yamaha fit nice the plan. They are black but indeed I realised a wood finish for actives is quite difficult to achieve at this budget. Question, why I need a volume controller? I am planning to connect the SBT to the nas using an Ethernet connection and share the same library of the main system. The SBT has volume control already, wouldn't that be enough?

Thanks
 
A

Anonymous

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No one mentioned Elac AM 150 .Should be available under 400 euros and has digital in,which is not common in low price actives.
 

acalex

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Sep 13, 2011
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Yamaha HS50M are also very nice...found a pair n Italy for 260 euro brand new and in black. I saw pictures of the speaker's back, how do you connect the two speakers and with the SB? Sorry for dumb question but have no idea about actives :wall:
 

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