4 ms·

Are there any of those compact speaker systems that actually sound good, though?

by Gordonjcp 4y ago

gog 4y ago
Sony HT-A9 (+ a sub) has been praised, but it is not cheap.
- KerrAvon 4y ago
  Sony’s speaker quality isn’t great. Had to replace an HT-5000 sound bar last year because the center began distorting.
msh 4y ago
Most people think so. Audio nerds don't.
philjohn 4y ago
Yes - the Sonos Arc + sub + 2 rear channels sounds amazing after using the built in sound tuning, and got a pretty damn good review in What HiFi.
- Gordonjcp 4y ago
  That's one I've already listened to, and it's atrocious. It sounds like 1990s car speakers.
  - philjohn 4y ago
    I feel this may be hyperbole.
- nsteel 4y ago
  Doesn't everything get a good review in What HiFi? I gave up with it.
aurora72 4y ago
Even the USB powered Logitech z120 which costs a few dollars sounds good enough even for movies.
- Gordonjcp 4y ago
  I guess you watch movies where all the dialogue takes place over a telephone and there's no music?
dagw 4y ago
Are there any $15 wines that taste good or $500 DSLRs that can shoot good video footage or $50 dress shirts that look good? For most people the answer is obviously yes, and for some the answer is obviously no. And the one group will never convince the other group that they are wrong.
overcast 4y ago
No. You can't change physics. What usually suffers is the midrange(woofer) because everything is tiny. So you get high frequencies, and then usually some paltry subwoofer. There is no replacement for displacement.
- jay_kyburz 4y ago
  This!. I've been searching for a set of speakers for my lounge room with a nice big cone in them, but I just cant find that is not priced for audiofiles. I have been looking second hand, but everything I can find is over 40 years old and the cones have all started disintegrating.
  - overcast 4y ago
    Yeh, unfortunately you're going to have to spend some bucks for quality. I'm still using my fathers 50 year old ESS Model 5's in my upstairs office and they sound amazing. Original woofers too! I just refoamed them, easy. I love the sound of the HEIL air motion transformers. Downstairs is all Totem I bought 20 years ago.
    - jay_kyburz 4y ago
      I would love some JBL L100 with the 12 inch cones, but I just can't justify the $8K they are here in Australia.
      - overcast 4y ago
        Love the look of those, I'll have to listen to them. $5000 here in the states.
      - nl 4y ago
        I'm in Australia, and there are still plenty of good options around. I got a pair of Dali floorstanders for around AU$1000 a few years back on sale. The Dali Oberon (which I think is the replacement) is $1500 when not on sale right now. You can get B&W 603s for under AU$3000. Sure, you aren't getting a 12" woofer - but these are lovely speakers.
unfocused 4y ago
I have a pair of ($30) Yamaha NS-BP200 and a 48 year old Sony STR-7045 ($50) and an Onko CP1200A (free). They sound really good to me as the amp is really good at driving these speakers, and my Onkyo turntable benefits from excellent phono from the amp. Of course, I can help you drop $50,000 easily on a system and you may still be unsatisfied. I recommend setting a budget and just getting what you can. Also, the used market has amazing stuff. Have a look as well at NAD as they have some very small amps with phono and even subwoofer like D 3020 v2 or D 3045. Those are are very compact. I also have an Onkyo TX-18 from 1990 that still works great.

Are there any of those compact speaker systems that actually sound good, though?

gog 4y ago

Sony HT-A9 (+ a sub) has been praised, but it is not cheap.

KerrAvon 4y ago
Sony’s speaker quality isn’t great. Had to replace an HT-5000 sound bar last year because the center began distorting.

msh 4y ago

Most people think so. Audio nerds don't.

philjohn 4y ago

Yes - the Sonos Arc + sub + 2 rear channels sounds amazing after using the built in sound tuning, and got a pretty damn good review in What HiFi.

Gordonjcp 4y ago
That's one I've already listened to, and it's atrocious. It sounds like 1990s car speakers.
- philjohn 4y ago
  I feel this may be hyperbole.
nsteel 4y ago
Doesn't everything get a good review in What HiFi? I gave up with it.

aurora72 4y ago

Even the USB powered Logitech z120 which costs a few dollars sounds good enough even for movies.

Gordonjcp 4y ago
I guess you watch movies where all the dialogue takes place over a telephone and there's no music?

dagw 4y ago

Are there any $15 wines that taste good or $500 DSLRs that can shoot good video footage or $50 dress shirts that look good? For most people the answer is obviously yes, and for some the answer is obviously no. And the one group will never convince the other group that they are wrong.

overcast 4y ago

No. You can't change physics. What usually suffers is the midrange(woofer) because everything is tiny. So you get high frequencies, and then usually some paltry subwoofer. There is no replacement for displacement.

jay_kyburz 4y ago
This!. I've been searching for a set of speakers for my lounge room with a nice big cone in them, but I just cant find that is not priced for audiofiles. I have been looking second hand, but everything I can find is over 40 years old and the cones have all started disintegrating.
- overcast 4y ago
  Yeh, unfortunately you're going to have to spend some bucks for quality. I'm still using my fathers 50 year old ESS Model 5's in my upstairs office and they sound amazing. Original woofers too! I just refoamed them, easy. I love the sound of the HEIL air motion transformers. Downstairs is all Totem I bought 20 years ago.
  - jay_kyburz 4y ago
    I would love some JBL L100 with the 12 inch cones, but I just can't justify the $8K they are here in Australia.
    - overcast 4y ago
      Love the look of those, I'll have to listen to them. $5000 here in the states.
    - nl 4y ago
      I'm in Australia, and there are still plenty of good options around. I got a pair of Dali floorstanders for around AU$1000 a few years back on sale. The Dali Oberon (which I think is the replacement) is $1500 when not on sale right now. You can get B&W 603s for under AU$3000. Sure, you aren't getting a 12" woofer - but these are lovely speakers.

unfocused 4y ago

I have a pair of ($30) Yamaha NS-BP200 and a 48 year old Sony STR-7045 ($50) and an Onko CP1200A (free). They sound really good to me as the amp is really good at driving these speakers, and my Onkyo turntable benefits from excellent phono from the amp. Of course, I can help you drop $50,000 easily on a system and you may still be unsatisfied. I recommend setting a budget and just getting what you can. Also, the used market has amazing stuff. Have a look as well at NAD as they have some very small amps with phono and even subwoofer like D 3020 v2 or D 3045. Those are are very compact. I also have an Onkyo TX-18 from 1990 that still works great.