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August 11, 2010 - 4:00pm
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PSB Image B25 + what amplifier?
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Consider the; Music Hall A25.2, NAD 326 or Marantz 5003. I'm sure you'll be getting many more recommendations.
The NAD electronics are well matched with the PSB speakers and I believe they now have the same parent company. The NAD C315BEE would be a good match if you are on a budget, otherwise you could also look at the C326BEE. I second looking at the Music Hall A25.2. The Cambridge Audio Azur 350A is another possibility. The Jolida JD1301 and JD1501 also have a sound some people really like. The Marantz PM5003 has also been well received.
A used Krell or Creek might be interesting as well.
I know much less than the other posters, but I'm running my B25s with a cheap tripath amp at 15 watts per channel and couldn't be happier.
Scott A.
Watertown NY
I have no doubt that those amplifiers are the way to go when looking at sound quality, but new, they are expensive for me. Also, I don't feel it is too convenient to make a considerable investment without auditioning them, since reviews are too contradictory. That's what scares me, specially for someone like me without much or any knowledge in audio.
Anyways, as I've already bought the speakers I'm gonna be needing a budget not-so-bad receiver or integrated amp in the meantime until I get a better one (NAD, Marantz, Cambridge, etc) later on. What do you think of these?
Onkyo TX-8255 50WPC $180 new / $150 factory reconditioned
Onkyo TX-8555 100WPC $190 factory reconditioned
There are some factory refurbished Marantz SR4021 and SR4023 at $250 and $280 respectively. But they seem to be near the price of a used NAD, Cambridge, Rotel, etc like the ones you previously mentioned.
All of the above are at www.accessories4less.com
Harman Kardon 3490 / 120WPC $230 (FACTORY REMANUFACTURED) on Craiglist. How do you think the PSB B25s would handle 120 watts?
Harman Kardon 3390 / 80WPC $140 @ Craiglist
Or any other option you might recommend me. What do you think?
I appreciated all the help. Thank you!
If that is the route you are going to take I'd just get a Sherwood RX-4105 stereo receiver for $100 and then start saving up for an entry level audiophile integrated amplifier. No sense in spending more than necessary for a temporary solution when the Sherwood will be very servicable in the mean time. The amplifier section is surpisingly good for a cheap unit.
http://www.buy.com/prod/sherwood-rx-4105.../202106735.html
I won a Harman Kardon 3390 at ebay, refurbished, for $130 from the HK store. I went with this one because it is better (I think) than the Sherwoods, based on the specs and reviews. Also, I'll be using it for a second 2.1 system in the future (5.1 and above are not convenient for me), since it has subwoofer outputs.
So, now that I have the speakers and the receiver, what's next? Cables?
What can you recommend here? Do I need banana plugs or anything else?
Thanks again!
I'm of the opinion that any good quality flexible, shielded RCA cable and appropriate gauge speaker wire will do. I particularly like the Acoustic Research Professional Series (AP031 for a 6 footer) for entry level equipment, $12 at ProCablesDiect.
If you want to save a lot of money I haven't been able to tell much difference between them and the Steren Python cables (254-215BL). I know it sounds ridiculous to use a $5 cable, but hey, prove to me in double-blind testng they sound any worse than a $40 Blues Jeans cable.
An interesting read on speaker wire - http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#thetruth
You mean these?
http://www.procablesdirect.com/p-13-acou...le-6ft-18m.aspx
Why the 6fts are more expensive than the 12fts?
Yup, those are them. They probably have an overabundance of the 12 footers and have discounted them.
Hello again!
I finally got my speakers and amp and set all up.
Metal doesn't sound as vivid as expected. I feel like it doesn't sound so penetrating as I would like to hear it. The drums sound weak, the guitars sound weak. When there are passages they sound nice, but when the music goes up, it doesn't sound so nice. Sometimes they sound a little harsh. The bass is there, tight, but sometimes I think there's too much resonance on metal, just like I read on a review. However, the house music I have does sounds nice.
It's worth saying that there is no distortion--first time I own something that doesn't.
So what do you think this could be? Was I expecting too much? Is it the placement? The amp? Me?
Note that I'm using a Harman Kardon 3390 / 80WPC receiver, cheap regular 18 gauge wire, the placement it's a mess because I don't have stands yet. The L speaker is on a drawer next to me, and the R is on the high shelf on my desk, like 2.5ft higher than the L (yes, I know it's a mess, but I don't have any other option until I get the stands).
I hope you understood me. Remember that I don't have a technical language/knowledge.
Thank you so much.
Speakers do take time to break in and sound their best, depending on the speakers 100-300 hours. Leave them play at low to moderate levels using the radio for a week or two all day while you are at work.
But your placement certainly is having a negative impact on the sound quality. Nothing, and I mean noting beats good speaker placement.
While at work turn them facing each other and put one out of phase and let them play for about a week. When you are home play them normally and in a short while they will be fine.
The material under the speakers tend to "sing along". Try to put your hand on the desk while you play, and you will probably feel vibrations. Isolating the speakers from the desk and drawer may prove to be an improvement.
I have my speakers standing on box cabinets, but I have isolated them from each other with "Nano Pads" and marble slabs plus (under the marble slabs) bubble wrap. Not a single vibration goes to the cabinets, and the music sounds much better after I did this.
Ahh...the ole Iron Maiden tweak! That should fix em right up!
It's a relief to hear this, so now I'm just gonna wait.
Jim, what do you mean with "put one out of phase"? (sorry, english is not my first language).
What stands do you recommend? Something that does the trick, nothing expensive.
And what would be better, the tweak that Rubber said or simply the stands?
Thanks!
Good stands will no doubt be better than my tweak! Good luck.
Jim meant swichting the speaker cables to ONLY ONE of the speakers. This way this speaker will move inwards and the other will move outwards when given a signal. That is, they will move opposite of one another.
You would switch the red and black on ONE end of ONE speaker only then you would push the speakers face to face. That way when one speaker is making a particular sound by moving outward the other speaker would be making the same sound by moving inward. Since they are placed face to face the simultaneous motion of one set of drivers outward would cancel out the inward motion of the other set of drivers. Effectively it would allow you to play the speakers louder and yet produce less sound while breaking them in. It isn't necessary and if you don't fully understand the explanation just skip it because it won't save that much time. For listening you'd switch the leads back. If you forget to do so the music will sound lifeless, with a dramatic reduction in bass so if you do this make sure to switch them back when you aren't breaking them in any more.
Gox said: ...but when the music goes up, it doesn't sound so nice... This is typical for speakers that haven't been broken in. It may change drastically with time. Give them 2-300 hours and see what they can really do.
Placement , placement placement.
Actually acoustics first. If your room sucks, you need to get it treated so it doesnt suck. that should be the first order of business for any audiophool!
Thank you for the explanation.
Now I'd like you to give me some stands suggestions, nothing too expensive like I said.
I noticed my speakers don't have any holes on the bottom and I'm wondering if I have to forcibly screw in the stands to the speakers or if this works in another way.
Nope, nothing of that sort. You just use Blu Tak between the speaker and stand.
As a personal recommendation, Nano Pads will also do well. They are kind of sticky, small (black) rubber mats, when settled it is very hard to move anything on top of them. I bought mine in a bookstore. Good luck
What do you think of these stands?
http://www.standsandmounts.com/sanusbasicfoundationseries31inchwoodspeakerstandsbf31bblackash.aspx
They cost $40 at Amazon, but do you think the 5" x 5" top plate is wide enough for my speakers? My speakers base dimensions are 8 9/16W x 12D, but note that the base is not completely flat, it's slightly curved at the ends. Here is a picture:
Or if you have any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it. A least the 28" stands will put the tweeters approx. at my ears level.
Thanks!
I would spend more and get stands you can fill with sand or lead shot. You can get the 30" Studiotech SP stands for around $70/pair. Use Blu Tack to hold the speakers a little better.
Which store?
http://www.lightav.com/home/studio/speaker.html
I know I saw them earlier today for $67, but I can't find the website now. I'll check my history at my daytime computer tomorrow.
If you have a Garden Ridge near you they have those plaster columns, you know like the Roman Coliseum ones, usually about $15 each depending upon the height and style. You can fill them with cheap playground sand, but better yet you can paint them with cheap WalMart spray paind any color you want.
Use bluTak or yellow-tak to hold the speakers in place.
Plaster Column samples
They look like these only much cheaper at Garden Ridge. Hobby Lobby sometimes has them as well.
Jackfish, did you find the website?
Jim, that's a good idea, but I don't have a Garden Ridge near me (New Jersey) nor a Hobby Loby, so I'm gonna stick with regular stands even if it's a little bit more money.
Do you have any other stands suggestions?
Thanks again guys.
Killer price on sand fillable Lavon Affiniti 29"
Link
Found the site but, they were old pages that the outfit hadn't removed yet. The updated site no longer listed that model. So it looks like $76.69 at LightAV.com is about as cheap as you will find the Studiotech SP-30.
Jack, actually, it says $76.69 in the link you gave me, but when you click "BUY" it gives you a $139.95 price plus the shipping at $34.43. That's too much.
So, what do you think of the Plateau F Series 30", sand fillable, for $90. Or any other you guys recommend...
Plateau F Series 30"
The Lovan Affiniti 29" that Rgibran said, makes a total of $116.12 with tax/shipping.