Before you buy your next speaker watch this video!

Think before you buy, that's key! Steve lays out some ideas that might steer you to a wiser outcome.
------------SUPPORT--------------
Thanks for watching, this channel can be supported through Patreon
/ audiophiliac
-----SUBSCRIBE--------
And ring the bell to be notified when each new episode posts!
/ @steveguttenbergaudiop...
----MERCH-------
Audiophiliac T-Shirts and Mugs! teespring.com/...
Twitter: @AudiophiliacMan
Instagram and IGTV: / steve.guttenberg
#audiophile #speakerreviews #bestspeakers
Looking for great sounding FREE, not compressed or processed music? Check out these videos! about the two MA Recordings samplers:
• FREE Dynamically Uncom...
• FREE Hi-Resolution, Dy...

[@woohunter1]

I really miss the days of having a couple of hi-if shops in every town, now I have to rely on online reviews.

[@larrywe3320]

That is one reason I'm glad I am old :) I was a young teen in the good old days - late 60s

[@HareDeLune]

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay > E R E H P S S P H E R E

[@clasvirhodes4969]

@@larrywe3320 music was exciting from 1964-1980. Started going downhill after that.

[@tomhound273]

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay i don't know - A lot of the guys here on the street do have music or radio. If you keep changing your partners then you will have memories over your entire musical history. lol

[@LLNYRN]

@Dan Wipper I feel that this is what online retailers rely on these days. They know that most consumers would rather eat paint, than go through the ASS-Pain inconvenience of shipping larger items such as a speaker, TV, etc back and forth. Until said consumer has something that they are actually happy with. It's like being trapped in a forced Buyer's Remorse.

[@jhess77]

“The speaker plays the room”. Damn that’s deep. Very true.

[@sylaw16]

unless you have a open baffle speaker. :3

[@jhess77]

@@sylaw16 Are you trying to say that open baffle speakers aren’t affected by room acoustics???

[@charlesjefferis8812]

OMG, I just got two thumbs up from Steve, validating my two recent purchases. . . Ohm Walsh Tall 2000 speakers and Yamaha AS801 integrated amp. . WOOHOO, my life is fulfilled!! :)

[@deeplyclosetedindividual]

I bet those Ohms sound fantastic. I've heard quite a few different Ohms, and all of them were great.

[@scottlewis815]

@@deeplyclosetedindividual me two. Added a Topping D90 dac and couldn’t be happier!

[@almcgowan5289]

totally agree! I got a pair of Walsh 3000's last year and love them!!! Paired with NAD M33 very, very happy with the combo!

[@christinearmington]

Did you consider whether an integrated tube amp could drive them well?

[@derekschutte9734]

Ohm speakers. Thank you. Love this speaker since1982. My first true hi -fi

[@stimpy1226]

Hit the nail on the head. I just posted that line to a a reply to another viewer’s comment.

[@quantumdave1592]

Truer words were never spoken...just went through this scenario! Think hard about what will work best in your room.

[@l.b.stringfellow2413]

Thank you for another wonderful and VERY relevant review.. You absolutely addressed an issue many of us wrestle with. You have a very special way of delivering a message. Another fantastic educational video

[@jeffreymilam8335]

Thank you Steve for continuing to share you knowledge and wisdom. Thanks to your information , I have a great system. Thank you.

[@DGA2000]

This video was timed perfectly with my search for speakers and I learned a LOT from it. I never realized what a Pandora's box is opened when searching out speakers and I've felt overwhelmed by the number of manufacturers and models. Thanks for your guidance in my quest.

[@streamnoremorse]

Me too.

[@garypalmer5031]

Hi Steve, your video's are so educational. I am new in the audio world and your video's helped me a lot. Thanks Steve

[@Sunshine_Superman]

Nothing this year has made me feel more nervous or sick to the pit of my stomach than waiting for a pair of Dali Epicon 2's to be delivered. I couldn't demo but had done as much homework as possible and already run through most of the thought processes mentioned. Still, the doubt...oh the doubt. Fortunately, they're working out just as I hoped they would and are giving me some genuine jaw dropping moments.

[@colanitower]

Same here, with in my case Wharfedale Lintons. The doubt, then the joy playing the first tracks after installing them at home, then the jaw-dropping moments after optimizing placement. Enjoy your Epicon 2's 😊

[@Sunshine_Superman]

@@colanitower thank you. Massive moment of relief isn't it. Enjoy your Lintons too.

[@Gnofg]

@@colanitower Linton's are old school. It is pure 1970's size. I had smaller Wharfdales and andrew jones Pioneer towers. Neither had the bass or presence. I went back to a speaker I bought new in 1977. Electrovoice interface series 2. I also have a Van Alstine tube preamp and a systemdek turntatble. these speakers are 2 cubic feet and the bass they produce is deep and defined. and play with ease. I am thinking of getting the schitt aegir. Nothing replaces size and a good TT provides great reproduction. I think audiophile vinyl is better than streaming. I think amazon is better than tidal..

[@colanitower]

@@Gnofg The new Lintons look old school indeed but they are not. They are heavy midsize boxes, somewhere between standmounters and floorstanders. Their biggest surprise: they deliver bass as much as you like, or more. To avoid too much bass they need precise placement and for that they need room around them. More expensive speakers are probably easier in this regard. I planned to add a subwoofer but that appeared not to be necessary at all.

[@homerwinslow9047]

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay You seem to have an obsession with winners and losers. You obviously feel you are a winner.

[@VisciousHippo]

I have a small room (14x11) and I made a rash decision to buy kef reference 3s. Best decision I ever made... Maybe lots of room treatment is helping.

[@jamesspahr7534]

What a great informative video on a subject that could get missed by an excited purchaser. It would be great if speaker manufacturers would include as part of their speaker specifications a recommended room size range and placement for optimal listening. Thanks again... I will review this video again before I make my purchase.

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Another video packed full of wisdom.

[@norrieclark5217]

Bought a new set of speakers a few weeks ago and my main concern was the size of my music room which is a small 10ft by 12ft space. One of the things I'm glad I did was look at the user manual of the speakers on my shortlist as even some unimposing standmounts needed to be 1 meter away from sidewall and at least 2 meters apart which I couldn't even get close to. After much research got a pair of Quad S2's that don't require too much breathing room and are excellent sounding in my small room. I know you can maybe get away with a small amount of give and take in the recommended placement but if you can't get close its unlikely going to work satisfactorily. Check those user manuals.....

[@petekutheis3822]

My room is around that size--maybe closer to 11X12 and Sonus Faber Oly 1s do great. I manage to get them 5 feet apart or so, sit 5 feet or so away.. and still they are pulled almost 3 feet into the room, and I have 2 feet behind me. BUT they are sort of close to the side walls.

[@Wacoal34d]

If I was lucky enough to have direct advice from Steve, I would take it!

[@carlitomelon4610]

Thanks Steve. Good summary. The room is a huge influence on the sound. Treat it nice;-)

[@HPLeft]

Good advice. I have owned large ribbon speakers for more than 30 years - and whenever I move, I tell the realtor that I looking for a space for the speakers.

[@halmetzger8429]

I’ve gone through the same thing more than once’s, lol But worth the time and expense at least for me. I have three systems and wouldn’t part with any of them and finding a home that fits is a job but very much worth it. Infinity’s, Klipsch K-horns, and Lascalas. All for the love of good sound and the music of course !!!

[@jctai100]

180K Steve! On your way to 200K!

[@hastingsbnsfnscalemodeler8594]

Hi Steve. Thanks for all your great advice.

[@photobriangray]

I was toying with the idea of new speakers, but instead started with repositioning, wider, more toe-in further from the wall, new rug, re-running room correction, adding some treatments, moving the sub, re-running room correction and now I have a new system.

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

I picked up a set of Yamaha house speakers at a garage sale for five dollars each fifteen years ago, they are 300watts each and it was the last set I've purchased

[@johnruppert5630]

Very very true! Room size , dimensions, reflective surfaces etc. can make or break a good speaker.

[@ttrrs_o3498]

Oh the tangled webs we weave-knocking on the ceiling-plus I had a 26 inch bass drum in my set-can’t substitute sub bass for honest bass-ala. upright tight!

[@kenkeil6144]

I’m lucky enough to still have a dealer in town.was able to audition Magi’s ,JBL, and Klipsch.They ket me hang for sometime listening to “my music” at high and low volume.Once again lucky.

[@christinearmington]

What did you get?

[@frostycanada6404]

Hello Steve, I’m not too sure what your saying. I think a decently made speaker that measure relatively flat (on and off axis) will play and sound great almost anywhere. I have a small normal room (14x14) and have tried many big speakers, the latest being the Wharfedale Diamond 250 and they sound gloriously good. As alway, I love what you do. Take care, and stay safe. Brian

[@dalechalfont112]

A speaker that plays flat, or close to iyin a 16x20x10 room could have extreme bass reinforcement in a small room, especially if it had low extension and is forced ti be placed close to a wall. A student who house shares is not going to have the same great time as an audio reviewer putting a floorstanding speaker with 2x10 inch woofers that plays down to 28hz when that same student puts it 1 foot from both the front and side walls of the room they live in, in their house share accomodation. FYI I a not a student. Just giving you an example. Placement determines bass response which is why room size and placement restrictions effect how a speaker can sound different in different rooms.

[@Pete.across.the.street]

I bought the Rp600m and the yamaha a couple months ago, I agree, they are a great combo 🙂

[@davidmiller1534]

This point is well made - when I look at photos posted by audiophiles of their listening room I often see enormous speakers shoehorned into tiny rooms. On the other hand, I'm starting to get the impression that Steve prefers stand mounted over floor standing speakers in general just based on the products he reviews and the recommendations he makes in videos like this one.

[@gregsturgess3876]

When I went shopping for my new speakers I could not go past the kliptch r7 series 2 selling cheap new series was realised but I questioned my room size small the salesman said you wanna live in a speaker box you live in a speaker box , Great advice love my speakers sooo good for music and them other things (movies) love your stuff Steve. cheers from oz

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Thanks for watching!

[@jamesgilgannon4164]

Always great advice Steve. Just the other day I emailed a very well known manufacturer to ask what the minimum sized room would their certain model require. My room is 181/2 ft x 13ft x 71/2ft. A prompt reply quoted" Yes this model would indeed dominate the room. But went later to finish to quote" Just go for it". What kind of answer is that? Needles to say,they won't be getting my money anytime soon.🙄

[@joeycastillo1496]

I agree with Steve, speaker size and room size do have definite relationship.

[@fletchermunson6225]

Thanks for all your audio advice Steve. Words of wisdom. I guess you could convert your garage to a listening room so when you open the garage door, your room size becomes infinite.

[@willmorgan365]

I totally agree. I have three set ups, two have 15" 4 way front speakers and both have 12" b speakers or rear, depending on amp combo. One of those sounds better, purely because of the room and I have swapped both systems around and no doubt, when you run 2 sets of 12s and 2 serts of 15s playing together, you need room for them to breathe, no doubt.

[@BicycleJoeTomasello]

I am an audiophile, and when the sound is not right I notice immediately and then go back to listening to the music. I do not need hyper high fidelity to enjoy the message of the performance. With me when it comes down to it, it's always the music never the medium. A live performance almost never has the quality of sound that I can replicate in my own living room but I sure enjoy being in that Live room more .

[@Mikexception]

I like music too much to accept that I am deliberately loosing any possible miracle impressions. My system is permanent but every day when I put it "on" and start after last day use with TV or PC I noticed with kind a surprise it that it takes me about 5 min to set conditions to that mentioned expectation It covers setting perfect volume levels which are three one by one with loudness option , closing room doors and adopting tone correction to source and chosen amplifier because I choose between solid and tube

[@BicycleJoeTomasello]

@@drsb26 NEEDS A MUTE BUTTON

[@markceci9896]

I believe the speaker to room interface that matches best with your preferred musical taste is the first step. When you're starting out and have a limited budget spend about half your money on the best speakers you can afford. After that, the future journey is about getting your electronics upgraded. Then, it is gradually going back and forth between speakers and electronics as you get hooked....lol. Seroiusly, Steve, you are right on point.

[@drummerkev1627]

So I’ll admit, I have a pair of Klipsch RF-7II’s because I have a 20’ x 10’ x 8’ for 2 channel but I also have to use the same room for HT. When watching a movie my RF-7II’s are part of a 9.2.4 system with dual SVS SB16 Ultra’s. I’m in the process of working on my room acoustics so I can enjoy 2 channel listening more so first and foremost. But overall I really like my RF-7II’s sitting about 12’ back dead center in the sweet spot.

[@higurashinerd]

So if you can opt for the bigger of both, being rooms and speakers, the answer is yes ❤️

[@offason]

@@davidfromamerica1871 Steve is a reviewer helping Us. He's not only talking about what works for him personally. And that's not easy.

[@higurashinerd]

@@davidfromamerica1871 Who shit in your cornflakes? hahahahahaha

[@ricknelson3201]

Thank you Steve for your great knowledge and delivery

[@bryanglassglass8971]

Hi Steve I bought the Graham Chartwell ls6 right after you reviewed them got them in light oak i own 4 pair but these are my favorites they look as beautiful as they sound i bought them from Andy singer along with an octave intgd tube amp thank you so much for your reviews your the best!

[@walterpen371]

I agree with your comments. However a very reputable stereo shop/ salesman/ owner who are extremely knowledgeable will know what will sound best for your listening needs. Hence I've experienced this back in 1979 where I purchased my first stereo system that I STILL OWN. NO BS OF SELLING WHAT YOU DON'T WANT OR NEED. Full communication results in RESPECT AND INTEGRARATY.

[@earlivey2420]

it all boils down to what sounds good to you.i have a set of infinity speakers i bought at the px when i was stationed in germany in78.they had the emt tweeters.i wouldnt sell or trade them for anything.

[@acmuscravageur3627]

I bought the Klipsh 600 and use them with the Yamaha 801.........one word......harsh.....bright.....when pushed hard fatigue after a while and harden the sound.......i was ready to replace them with 12.2 Wharefedale or q350....or elac dr62 when my brother brought me his Rotel 1520 amp to check them.......so magic!!!!!! Sounds like class A and the sound from Klipsh is sweet(!)....fast deep bass full bodied with excellent mids!!!!......80’s rock even 90’s brit pop rock and awfully sound produced albums like Oasis sounded great!! Well produced lp’s or cd’s came to life again....i spent thousands of euros for speakers and the trick was that Rotel amp......clear dynamic punchy exciting sound......i thought for a while that my Klipsh were Harbeths!!!!!!!!! Now i’m into buying a new amp targeting Rotel or something in the same category (British??!) sound kind of!

[@mdr4670]

Rotel is made in China. If you want British sound with punch get Naim integrated amps or all in one's like the Uniti Nova. They're really made in England too.

[@acmuscravageur3627]

@@mdr4670 Rotel and most of gear nowdays are made in China....Rotel i think has that British tuned sound like the Arcam, Audiolab, Cambridge audio and of course Naim is an excellent manufacturer.....especially the Supernait 3 amp is unbelievable but out of budget.....i ‘ll try their entry level amps though i think they are a bit on the bright side of neutral......someone also recommended me the Quad amp

[@mdr4670]

@@acmuscravageur3627 If you experience brightness in your system try Steve's review of the Schiit new Loki mini +

[@brianw3822]

I have a bad room. I now have a NAD streamer with room correction. It made all the difference.

[@archiemacdonald553]

yes steve this is the dilemma .when you cant get to bring them home for a test run .its like throwing the dices .all best from scotland 😊😊😊

[@robertburek1345]

Hi Steve, I've been following your channel for some time now, and I enjoy every episode and find them very informative. If I'm not mistaken, in one of your episodes, you talked about Elac bookshelf speakers. Elac has come out with a new Elac Carina bookshelf speakers and I wonder if you're planning on covering them in your channel? I have a pair of Totem Sttafs, that is connected to my new Cambridge CXA81, and I'm looking on replacing them with either the KEF LS50 Meta or the Elac Carina and would like to hear your opinion on both of those. My room is about 13' x 25' and I'm forced to have to place the speakers across the room(unfortunately).

[@abhimawa1]

Spot on, Steve 👍

[@Harald-MacGerhard]

I have small room with somewhat large speakers with 8 active woofers (Audio Physic Avanti III) .... just gotta love it Working towards 4, maybe even possibly 6 subwoofers (Audio Physic Rhea II) I really tend to think small rooms can be happy with pretty large speakers (correct for the room, though)

[@davidbee8178]

100% STEVE!! Just THINK - most R&D on box speakers goes to the SIZE of the box and WHERE to place the driver IN the box. MOST rooms are essentially boxes - ergo, WHERE you place your speakers in your "box" is paramount if good sound from your speakers is the priority. That is why I'm a fan of GOOD stand mount speakers backed up with (preferably) two small QUALITY subs (like REL) because OFTEN, the best bass in your room is not necessarily the place where you will get the optimum mids and highs from your stand mounts.

[@dm1787]

Steve, visited a brick & mortar AV shop in SF this week in the longest time in years. Last time i have been to a few were in Boston like 25/30 years ago when i bought my NHTs. It was nice, very nice to be able to hear some nice gear. Ended up ordering a Maggie 1.7i. Hope it is not too big for my 17x13 room. Going through that stage in life where it feels like time is running out :)

[@Old_Sailor85]

My 1.7i are in a 12' X 14' open-ended room (three-sided room) and they work very well. Sub-woofers are optional.

[@dm1787]

@@Old_Sailor85 Thank you very much for the assurance

[@edthefirst2859]

I’m seeing the end getting real close, too. Time is running out my friend! Enjoy today as much as possible.

[@BrentLeVasseur]

I had to do a lot of mental calculus before buying my most recent pair of speakers. Basically I had to simulate the sound of the speaker and visualize how the sound-waves, especially in the lower bass frequencies would interact with my room in my head before buying them. Based on my inner ear listening my new speakers should work great provided that I position them correctly. Good news is I think there is a 30 day return policy if I am wrong. lol

[@danielgeiger7739]

Am awaiting a pair of Pearl Acoustics Sibelius SG speakers to likely replace B&W CM6 S2s plus REL T9/I in 18x18' room (diagonal set-up;

[@byronb.]

Another good video. Have to disagree with your stance on stand mount speakers. If a bookshelf speaker isn't on a desk or shelf, it takes up just as much space as a floorstander once on a stand. Might as well get a small to medium floorstander with more drivers and more bass.

[@stuartgreenaway8999]

A great ability Steve to get what the ears hear to match the words that come out of the mouth. Simply put, if you imagine a naked room devoid of carpet or furnishings any speaker of any standard is not going to sound good. What in essence may be marketed as the best engineered sound available, in the form of a tower speaker may be of no use in a chosen listening room. Nor with duff low grade components. Crap in, crap out. What is really helpful here is how you can craft your descriptions of what you hear based on what you play and on what you play it. For example, a thin sounding speaker lacking bass is no good for a fan of house or electronic music. Always worth remembering the music genre and its content. One thing for viewers to consider is their music mixed and mastered on tower speakers?

[@lmstefanini1]

Steve, bring the speaker to test at home, hum, looks like a dream, at least for the regular audiophile

[@peterdesmidt8742]

Recently, I added a Minidsp SHD to my system. It includes Dirac 3. Using Dirac had a very positive effect on my system. Magnepan LRS, Minidsp SHD, Adcom 535II.

[@mf2652]

My Cornwall's are arriving this week ...into my apartment LOL

[@TheJohnnyNormal]

Ordering mine this week. Let there be rock!

[@JazzInvaders66]

12x18x8, wall to wall carpet and acoustic ceiling tile, dry wall/rough sawn lumber walls, art work and books ..... quite dead .... and the perfect speaker for jazz/classical with a little alt rock paired with Schiit Mani/Freya+/Aegir is ?????? Currently running KEF 104/2.

[@Shuddersfield0303]

Thanks for this video. It's helping me get some perspective Steve. I came into some money recently and I was gonna blindly upgrade my amp and speakers but I've tried to do some research online but there are too many options for me and I'm more unsure than ever what to do. I thought upgrading would get simpler as I get older but nope! I suppose the best thing to do is visit a reliable hifi shop once they can open again next month (they have been closed due to covid since January here in the UK and can open again on 12th April) and get some advice.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Right, listen! Bring music you know well.

[@mikecoffee100]

I like what You do here and Always Great Advice wherather it applies to me or not.

[@ApogeeUser]

The point with no large speaker in smaller rooms only suits for DIRECT radiating speakers because they send alot of their sound to the sides. BUT a big linesource dipole like the mentioned Magnepan is very directional instead ! Because of the linesource dipole principle very few energy is send to the sides so that a large amount of direct, not reflected sound reaches the listener compared to cone speakers that are closed on the back ! But, of course you have to keep them away from the backwall, thats a must ! In my case I run a pair of Apogee Fullrange Ribbon Speakers in a room where they are only centimeters away from the sidewalls and it sounds great though I have to say that I have installed some acoustic elements to make this work. But to say that Maggies don´t work in smaller rooms is NOT correct Steve ! They work way better there than most other conventional speakers, even bookshelve ones because they have the same wide radiation as big floorstanders.........

[@flargosa]

You can use an equalizer to adjust the speakers to your room. Large speakers, turn the eq bass down. It’s not a problem really.

[@Mikexception]

All depends - as usual. With only bass range stiff membrane speaker the bigger it is the more geometry of membrane affects phases of low middle I wouldn't like to use big exclusive low toner to small room - it cannot be rectified. With big full range it is much less due to frequency sharing. but then membrane resonances of big surface may be sometime concern. Why to like problems?

[@BigDawgATL]

Great line, "The speakers play the room."

[@chefsteve8381]

Walsh ohm speakers on my end game wish list.

[@tomd5678]

I put black pepper on all my food. Some people put chilies. Other poeple put garlic, or ketchup, salt or mayonnaise. Why will everyone prefer the same sound?

[@cnhhnc]

I've had an interesting experience with vintage speakers. In particular an old set of Boston Acoustics A100s a largish floor standing two way 10" about 33" tall x 16" wide. Designed to be shoved up against a wall. In my basement room which is about 10' x 20' with a 7.5' opening on the long side to another space that is 15' x 7.5'. When the speakers are up against the long wall with the opening they just don't sound good. They are flat and the bass is not there. When moved to the short open wall. Now about 7' apart and very close to the wall, about a foot or less away. They sound like a completely DIFFERENT speaker. In other words they sound like what they should. Perhaps because the speaker now has 18-19' of space to propagate sound into. They REALLY open up and the bass is more present the highs more apparent, and there is more imaging. The same is true of a set of original LARGE Advents in the same positions. They sound much better on the long wall! Makes you THINK about the room. Now the room is very well damped. Wall to wall carpeting, curtains on two windows, couches on the long wall and other short wall, and acoustic ceiling tiles. So it's a pretty dead room, few resonances. There you go! Wish the room was just a bit bigger though! I have my eyes on some Tekton Pendragons or Double Impacts (I think I might prefer the Pendragons which are said to have more impactful bass with less etched highs, the Impacts are a tad brighter from what I can see in reviews. I like WARM, BASSY and powerful sound, nice highs but NOT audiophile highs which are FAR too distracting) which are a LARGE speaker. Will be investing in a retirement property soon. One of the priorities is to have ONE room that is at least 14' x 24' or so. Big enough to house the speakers. Real estate agents think I'm a bit loonie, though as I roam around with my tape measure, lol!

[@kloss213]

Dipoles are picky about room sizes and placing due to figure 8 radiation patterns but many front horn systems are not and due to controlled radiation patterns and ability to come alive at low output levels is why I use a large horn system in smaller spaces. A monitor on a stand needs to be away from the walls but a large front horn can use the walls as part of its horn mouth. So small room large speaker sure just use a front horn.

[@horrortackleharry]

Remember: The worlds best asparagus will NOT taste right on the wrong shirt.

[@DIY-valvular]

That shirt is perfect as a camouflage in a corn maze. ;-))

[@Harald-MacGerhard]

Remember the law of attraction: The nicer the shirt, the quicker food will be spoiled onto it 🤣

[@QoraxAudio]

@@Harald-MacGerhard So true!

[@clasvirhodes4969]

I would love to audition a pair of Olm Walsh speakers and compare them to a pair of Aerial AcousticT7's but, there are no opportunities here in SC.

[@mikecees2230]

Bass waves are long waves that are felt at a greater distance than the rest of the spectrum. I used to get a kick out of running very low frequency rumbling sounds through my sub. My neighbor who, most of the time, was under the influence of a cocktail of pills, booze and other substances would come knocking, with his eyes popping out of his head, asking me if I had felt the ''earthquake''.

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

that loop of the beginning of dark side of the moon probably really got to him, over time.

[@rob_66]

I you want to play a song with earthmoving bass try Hyper-ballad by Björk. I'll bet the neighbors come knocking... 😉

[@tomhound273]

how do you know the word Jonesing? - I did blow for 15 yrs b-4 I knew what that word meant. Love your reviews and after the B&W 607 review I went out and within one hour I bought them from best buy. Now I think they may be a little bright. but I only listen to classical guitar in my bedroom so I plan on keeping them.You just mentioned the B&W 607-2 - and I kept my Klipsch 51m's in the back room. I have to rely on my ears but also on what the audiophiles say. keep up the great work.

[@jonboy9912]

Hear what you say - my wife made me put my Mordant Short 906 floor standers behind the TV on one side and the couch on the other!. I get them out when she disappears but its a pain in the ass!

[@thegumijagody]

Great episode Steve - everything you’ve told everyone should consider while buying a new speakers. Btw do you know European brand Xavian? I think you should definitely check them out - they are my last biggest discovery🤗 Cheers Stevie!

[@404010ful]

Good video Steve I'll keep that in mind what I get in the near future. My floor stands are small speakers I've had for a very long time there made by system audio bought them way back in 2002 . They still sound good to me . So I can see if I spent on expensive big speakers like big Horn ones for example and placed it in a room that was 10ft by 15 that room would be no match for that? They would need to breath. That's understandable. Question if a cabinet had more tweeters than one could you still get all the high notes from a orchestra ? Or would one tweeter do it? Just wondering.

[@mariocassar3117]

You hit the nail on its head! Try to choose a speaker that has the least interaction with the room. The room is an extension of the speaker, and you end up with an expensive mistake, to boast around with other audiophiles!

[@ML-rm3vk]

great video wonderful insight thank you.

[@sharunmathew4825]

I already sent my speaker system photo to your mailbox 🇮🇳

[@gtric1466]

Just ordered the DW's my room is 17x19 should be a good fit. Hope I like them...

[@leekumiega9268]

Ohm Acoustics offer a free 120 day free at home trial on their Walsh speakers and the whole room is the sweet spot due to their unique design.

[@7137271]

I have the Kilpsch RP-600M mated to the Marantz NR-1200. I know it's not high end, but it's what I can afford moneywise and spacewise, and the two fit together sonicly. My room is about 3 by 4 meters. I still have some acoustic work to do on the room. I have too many bare walls but my wife likes it like that, so we have to find a compromise. P.S. Steve, where'd you get the shirt? My wife wants to buy me one like that.

[@nathanbell6962]

Hey Steve, can you talk about speaker cables please?

[@marjconnelly8079]

I am currently looking for a new pair of speakers to replace my Canadian Energy 2.1e from the mid 1990's. The room they will live in is approx 10ft x 20ft and the ceiling is about 9ft tall. Over the last months I have watched hundreds of audiophile videos to "tweak" my current system and added with much success ( a Schiit Mani phono preamp, incorporated a Dayton Audio APA 150 as a preamp to an HK3250 av receiver to power the Energys-and moved the speakers around to find the best placement for the room) But while the speakers have never sounded so good - they still feel a bit limited throughout the midrange. From an aesthetic pov, I would prefer a small floor standing speaker like the JBL a170 or even the Zu Dirty weekend but I am intrigued by the Klipsch rp600m, although I really don't want speaker stands - Are there other smaller floor standing speakers I should consider under $800 - I know the Zu is 1k but might be worth spending a little more $....These speakers will be a 60th birthday present to me - wait did I just say 60??? I am open to all suggestions - also knowing that things will be opening up - will there be any places to hear these speakers in person in the NYC area? I am in Brooklyn but can easily pop into the city. It is really against my audiophile ears to buy a pair of speakers without listening first - like who buys a car without a test drive???? Help!

[@ostapnakoneczny834]

It all begins with the room. Get the room right and your available choices of speakers will greatly expand.

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

Your friend Jonesing for big Maggies may consider getting two pairs of LRS or even three pairs why not? As for running them in series or parallel, maybe call the factory. Anyway to the point, you could use them up high and angled maybe get one of those panel moving things from Home Depot they use for sheetrock lifting with the wheel and angling capability and do some adjusting on them. I mean it's an industrial look but hey how cool would that be? And even 3 pair is what like 2100 bucks plus another maybe 500 for two of the panel lifters, you are only out like 2600 bucks which is still 1/2 of even a 3.7i. Think about it.

[@shardsofcontent4829]

Looks like the missus ran out of material when it came to the pocket on that shirt. Love it.

[@t3dewys]

I have Forte I’s. Want more power in my amp. Yamaha AS1200 or NAD C388?

[@JohnAdams-or9xw]

Great video Steve.

[@TheAirConditionerGuy]

Id love to be able to have a real conversation with you in person. I have a set of JBL L-100 Classics, im driving them with an old Sansui receiver im my bar/second living room thats about 12’ by 35’. They sound very good down there. I had them in my upstairs living room first thats about 12’ by 15’, and they didnt perform as well up there but that could also be the receiver I have up there. Its a 120 WPC Fisher RS-914 from 1989, that receiver can rock my set of Fishers with 15” woofers with upgraded drivers just fine, loud, clear, and house shaking. Do those JBLs classify as large speakers? Maybe I could even interest you in a Vintage Air Conditioner if i knew you personally for your help lol

[@ridirefain6606]

Great advice, especially on the importance of auditioning in home. However this video brings up for me two topics I hope you can elaborate on some time i n the future. The first, would be if you live in part of the world where you cannot audition in person, what are some options. I.E. Online merchants or companies like Tekton, that offer free in home trials. The second, is why would not recommend an Maggie 20.7 for a smaller space? My own experience with Maggie's is they do not output a lot of bass, so you would think they would be fine in smaller room. Since the bass would not pressurize it like a dynamic speaker with a big 15 inch woofer would, I would love to see a post on how a speakers over all bass output and frequency response interacts with rooms of various sizes? So to put my questions in another way, why would a large tower that can only reach down to 35Hz, not be a good fit for a smaller room, while a stand mount that can also reach down to the same frequency is? Is it always the case, that a large tower that can move a lot of air will actually over pressurize the room?

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

In answer to some of your queries, I believe you can try the Magnepan LRS for 60 days? They do want to be 2+ ft minimum off a back wall, so there is that aspect. Personally I think you could play with placement on the LRS including turning them horizontal and raising them up to a foot off the ceiling assuming you have that option. As to bass, if you want real bass you need to add two subwoofers. From my personal experience, the REL t5i work great with the LRS because you don't want a big gap to try to reach too low. Crossover around 60 or 70 hZ and run the LRS full range. Shove the subs against the wall and behind the LRS. The maggie bass is not wimpy per se, it just is different from "real" bass and the REL t5i downfiring makes the integration more seamless. That's my advice for a system under 2k I think it kicks some serious booty. Get monoblocks if you can afford them and even tubes on the power end otherwise get Bryston 4B or 7B with Bryston preamp if you want a sweet match. 4B works well on the bass end if you want to get bass w/o adding the subs I got that in a big room and it's nice enough but you need power! Tubes probably still want 60 watts min and not crank it 100 watts/ side would be better but really solid state is the right choice w/the magnepans. As to big towers in a small room, why not IMO, it really depends on a lot of factors but room size is low on that list, sorry steve.

[@ridirefain6606]

@@JohnDoe-np3zk Thanks for the response. I appreciate it. I love the LRS. Regardless, love the sound of the 3.7 and 20.7 so so much more. I equally love REL subs too. Hate integrating a sub though. Especially on Planars and Electrostatics that are so speedy with their transients. Even when paired with the mighty REL the time alignment always sounds a little bit laggy to me. Thus my preference has always gravitated towards a full range solution. Still curious though as to why a 20.7 and other full range offering with smaller amounts of bass output would not work well in a small space? Provided proper placement is possible. You would think it would work well enough. Not having the same type room interaction, that working with something like a Tekton Ulfberht would have.

[@georgec1779]

Question. Would bookshelf speakers paired with a sub work in a large room, 19 x 30?

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Yes

[@amanieux]

what about near field ( typical desktop setup, 1meter trianle) ?

[@carlsitler9071]

Big living room - 4' towers with dual 6 1/2. Small man cave - RP41s with sub.

[@nanfervexino]

Hi Steve. What do you think about the W&W 683 s1? They're selling me a use pair for $600. Or I can get pair of the Pioneer sp-fs52 for $300. I just subscribed to you channel I'm watching all you videos, thank you for all the info you're sharing with us. Nanfer from New Jersey.

[@sdjgfashjasbfasd]

What would the effect be if you set up outside? No walls, no reflection, just wide open.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

Sorry, I refuse to go any smaller than 15 inch with my woofers. "Damn the small room, full speed ahead!"

[@AllboroLCD]

That makes me SAD hearing about Lyric HiFi in the UES closing : ( Super nice staff, never gave off any audio snob vibes, always helpful whether you looked like a buying patron or not. I find messing with older cheaper speakers is a good place to start when putting your space together. That way you can at least establish what design style/driver type/specs sounds best for the room and be far more confident when making the big purchase on the brand new set.

[@alm5693]

I'm discovering that speaker stand quality is a large factor in how bookshelf speakers are going to sound in my small room. As much as wall treatments.

[@marckant3611]

I totally agree with you. Especially it is the stability, material and even the height of the speaker stands that make a difference. And make sure they don't resonate with your music by filling them with sand or small stones or something. Also I think it is best to screw your speakers onto the stands.

[@user-iz7zy7rx9t]

Moving into a house with a bigger room, what the opinions on standmounters with a sub or two? Or should i buy floorstanders?

[@RealHIFIHelp]

I would use a Verity Rienzi used in such a small room. High class and cheap now.

[@jonthompson8807]

no ones gonna talk about the asparagus shirt? what a legend....

[@WillyPDX94]

What I wonder is whether Steve has any thoughts on what people with aging ears and some hearing loss should concentrate on when they are looking for audio gear, especially speakers ... in my case I've mostly lost the ability to hear high frequencies (e.g., I don't hear the ding of the microwave completing its cycle) ... haven't had my hearing tested but will probably do that someday soon so I know specifically what frequencies I may have lost ... but I'm wondering whether a "transparent" sounding system (with more clarity?) would be good for me ... I know nothing is going to replace the frequencies I've lost but possibly some sonic signatures are going to be better for people with modest general hearing loss, no?

[@roberte.andrews4621]

In the development period of talking pictures, speaker researchers learned how to increase intelligibility for a broad range of patrons' of differing ages. A system with horn-loaded treble and mid-range speakers project the wavefront into the listening area more efficiently. They are still detailed, when turned low also. I found I could enjoy high-fidelity again when I got two large speakers made by reputable makers who made much of the commercial theater sound systems. Among them are: Altec, JBL, Harman-Kardon and Klipsch. I'm 87 this fall.

[@WillyPDX94]

@@roberte.andrews4621 Thank you Robert for this thoughtful response. I think I've inadvertently stumbled onto the right set of speakers for me, the Klipsch RP-600M. I bought them a few months ago because of what John Darko and Steve Guttenberg said about them, and because they're within my limited budget. So far I'm very pleased, although I may experiment with some of the other components. My LPs sound great, CDs sound okay, but streaming from my phone sounds just terrible, and I think there are solutions to that. I'll check out what John and Steve have to say on the subject. I'm not one to geek out too much on gear, but I do think it pays off to learn a bit before I buy. Glad to hear you're still listening to music at 87. I turned 70 this year but I suffer from some hearing loss probably related to years of listening to music on headphones while traveling by plane which I did several times a week for about 10 years. It's mostly the upper frequencies that have gone. Music in general still sounds good to me which is fortunate because I love music. Happy listening, Robert!

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Sure, keep it up. Most of your favorite musicians blew out their hearing decades ago. Still make great music.