Starting out with a music setup at home

[dreamlife789]

I'm starting out with a music set up at home. Should I just plug my iPhone into some speaker system and use Spotify? Should I use CDs? If so, what CD player and speaker system? Do they even make CD players anymore? What is the best speaker to plug an iPhone into? What about all those CDs I have? Just need some tips on getting started. I'm sick of listening to music on my computer. I'm sick of having a bad audio experience.

 

[shadyJ]

Spotify should sound OK, I believe it has a 160 kpbs standard. If you are a subscriber, it can do 320 kpbs which is very good, indistinguishable from CDs. Make sure it is set to 'Extreme' in the music quality settings of whatever device you listen on.

If you want a good speaker system, you have to tell us a few things, like, what is your budget, what kind of room will you be listening in, how far will you be sitting from the speakers. How big are the speakers allowed to be?

 

[yepimonfire]

Spotify should sound OK, I believe it has a 160 kpbs standard. If you are a subscriber, it can do 320 kpbs which is very good, indistinguishable from CDs. Make sure it is set to 'Extreme' in the music quality settings of whatever device you listen on.

If you want a good speaker system, you have to tell us a few things, like, what is your budget, what kind of room will you be listening in, how far will you be sitting from the speakers. How big are the speakers allowed to be?

+1 for Spotify. At 320kbps for the $10 subscription the sound quality is excellent, and there music discovery and interface is top notch.


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[dreamlife789]

Spotify should sound OK, I believe it has a 160 kpbs standard. If you are a subscriber, it can do 320 kpbs which is very good, indistinguishable from CDs. Make sure it is set to 'Extreme' in the music quality settings of whatever device you listen on.

If you want a good speaker system, you have to tell us a few things, like, what is your budget, what kind of room will you be listening in, how far will you be sitting from the speakers. How big are the speakers allowed to be?

I'm thinking a bedroom. I just need something to plug my iPhone with Spotify into, or hook my computer with Spotify into. Budget isn't a big deal. $100-$500 would be ideal, but I'm open to flexibility.

 

[shadyJ]

I'm thinking a bedroom. I just need something to plug my iPhone with Spotify into, or hook my computer with Spotify into. Budget isn't a big deal. $100-$500 would be ideal, but I'm open to flexibility.

I would just get a pair of active speakers. Sweetwater has a good deal on the JBL LSR308s at the moment, $400 a pair. These are very highly regarded speakers. You would want a DAC to use those with a computer, and this one would do nicely. Just add some balanced 1/4" to XLR cables like a couple of these guys and you are set. You can also easily connect your iphone to it, just use one of these for the 1/4" inputs.

I think this speaker would also work well, and if your computer has an optical S/PDIF output, you can skip getting a DAC. To connect your iphone to that, just use this guy.

 

[yepimonfire]

I'm thinking a bedroom. I just need something to plug my iPhone with Spotify into, or hook my computer with Spotify into. Budget isn't a big deal. $100-$500 would be ideal, but I'm open to flexibility.

You might want to look into some powered studio monitors. Jbl lsr308 can be had for around $250 right now on jbl’s website. Specs state a frequency range down to about 37hz, but from this link it looks like it’s more around 45 hz-3dB http://noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR308/

Another great option, especially if you want an onboard dac with direct usb connectivity to a PC, Bluetooth connectivity, and a remote control would be the Klipsch R-15pm. Those can be had for about $350 on eBay https://m.ebay.com/itm/Klipsch-R-15PM-Powered-Bluetooth-Monitor-Speakers-Pair-Ebony/253283598629?epid=901257197&hash=item3af8e10125:g:ulEAAOSwIJlaHd~R

They also feature a subwoofer output if you wanted to add more low end. The speakers themselves get about 50hz -3dB in room, which is adequate for stuff like rock, but a bit thin for electronic music. I own the unpowered r-15m and for the price, you will be hard pressed to find a better speaker. Very neutral sounding, tight bass, fantastic imaging, and very resolving of detail.

The high efficiency also gives plenty of headroom with relatively little power. A buddy of mine has a pair hooked up to a cheapo lepai amp that was bench tested by old school stereo on YouTube at 7wpc. My friends room is 18x15, and about 8’ away we were able to get 98dB out of them before the amp clipped. The built in amplification should offer enough power to drive them loud enough to damage your hearing.

Last Christmas I had the 15ms set up in my bedroom connected to an old onkyo receiver rated at 100wpc. I was trying to get the music loud enough to hear throughout the house (from an upstairs room), and had them cranked up so loud that the SPL measurement inside the room was 114dB, yet the sound remained nice and clear with no sign of distortion.

A Dayton sub 1000 could be added for around $100, and will extend the low end to about 30hz in room, which is plenty for music. Despite their low cost, I find them to be quite musical. Both the sub 1000 and sub 1500 I own measure pretty flat outdoors, and have low group delay above the tuning frequency.

Those are just two off the top of my head, there are plenty of other options I’m sure others will add.




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[yepimonfire]

I would just get a pair of active speakers. Sweetwater has a good deal on the JBL LSR308s at the moment, $400 a pair. These are very highly regarded speakers. You would want a DAC to use those with a computer, and this one would do nicely. Just add some balanced 1/4" to XLR cables like a couple of these guys and you are set. You can also easily connect your iphone to it, just use one of these for the 1/4" inputs.

I think this speaker would also work well, and if your computer has an optical S/PDIF output, you can skip getting a DAC. To connect your iphone to that, just use this guy.

Also can be connected via usb.


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[lovinthehd]

Where is a pair of LSR308s available for $250 a pair? $200 apiece is relatively easy, but not $250 the pair. $200 a pair for the LSR305 is doable right now.

 

[yepimonfire]

Looks like it dropped more since I posted. $200 on several sites right now. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR308?gclid=CjwKCAiAu4nRBRBKEiwANms5W70UWI4nwKYP-QDGZJFG44wHTwEduSdnnNjizG4KGqePbU3jdNzoARoCX-gQAvD_BwE


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[shkumar4963]

Looks like it dropped more since I posted. $200 on several sites right now. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR308?gclid=CjwKCAiAu4nRBRBKEiwANms5W70UWI4nwKYP-QDGZJFG44wHTwEduSdnnNjizG4KGqePbU3jdNzoARoCX-gQAvD_BwE


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I bought two of them. I had read numerous glowing reviews but my experience has been very bad. So listen to them before purchase.

Here is a more detailed discussion. And if someone can tell what I am doing wrong, I will much appreciate.

×××××××
Ordered another unit to compare. Just got it. So here is the assessment.

The hissing noise at max volume is gone.

But the sound quality is still dismal. I read and reread glowing reviews about this speaker and can not believe how poorly it sounds. Maybe I have just got used to Kef LS50 too much. But really, what was all the fuss about? There are just too many glowing reviews to ignore. So I must be doing something wrong but WHAT.

The sound level is still anemic. As per the spec -10dB is the input reference, that is about 300 mV. I cannot believe that Galaxy headphone or Bluetooth receiver output can not supply that. Again, I must be doing something wrong. But WHAT.

×××××××

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[MrBoat]

I bought two of them. I had read numerous glowing reviews but my experience has been very bad. So listen to them before purchase.

Here is a more detailed discussion. And if someone can tell what I am doing wrong, I will much appreciate.

×××××××
Ordered another unit to compare. Just got it. So here is the assessment.

The hissing noise at max volume is gone.

But the sound quality is still dismal. I read and reread glowing reviews about this speaker and can not believe how poorly it sounds. Maybe I have just got used to Kef LS50 too much. But really, what was all the fuss about? There are just too many glowing reviews to ignore. So I must be doing something wrong but WHAT.

The sound level is still anemic. As per the spec -10dB is the input reference, that is about 300 mV. I cannot believe that Galaxy headphone or Bluetooth receiver output can not supply that. Again, I must be doing something wrong. But WHAT.

×××××××

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They're studio monitors and as such are very revealing. The recording quality of what you are listening to has to be good, to very good. Most mainstream compressed music is going to sound like poo on studio monitors. If you listen to classic rock and pop, there are very few offerings that are going to pass on studio monitors. You will notice that select recordings are recommended for reference. Dire Straits-Brothers in Arms, and Pink Floyd's Dark side of the Moon and a few others.

Against current audiophile trends, I tend to recommend different speakers for those types of music, and usually what the recording industry knew they were going to be played on. I am probably one of the few who believes in different designs for different genres/eras. For classic rock and pop, a decent 3-way speaker will typically be more forgiving than an audiophile grade two way or a studio monitor.

 

[shkumar4963]

They're studio monitors and as such are very revealing. The recording quality of what you are listening to has to be good, to very good. Most mainstream compressed music is going to sound like poo on studio monitors. If you listen to classic rock and pop, there are very few offerings that are going to pass on studio monitors. You will notice that select recordings are recommended for reference. Dire Straits-Brothers in Arms, and Pink Floyd's Dark side of the Moon and a few others.

Against current audiophile trends, I tend to recommend different speakers for those types of music, and usually what the recording industry knew they were going to be played on. I am probably one of the few who believes in different designs for different genres/eras. For classic rock and pop, a decent 3-way speaker will typically be more forgiving than an audiophile grade two way or a studio monitor.

Naah. The source is high res spotify vocal jazz and audiophile recording. And it sounds wonderful on ls50, another studio monitor.

So either these speakers are just hyped or I am doing something seriously wrong. One culprit could be the input sensitivity. May be these speakers require a lot stronger signal than what is need for an average AVR.

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[afterlife2]

I'd suggest this Bluetooth player if you don't want a big setup. Tons of great reviews on youtube. I have the Bluetooth headphone by the same company and they are indeed a powerful sound quality with good punchy bass for the price.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HLSMVTQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512251575&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=archeer+a320&dpPl=1&dpID=51+UZSwvtnL&ref=plSrch

 

[MrBoat]

Naah. The source is high res spotify vocal jazz and audiophile recording. And it sounds wonderful on ls50, another studio monitor.

So either these speakers are just hyped or I am doing something seriously wrong. One culprit could be the input sensitivity. May be these speakers require a lot stronger signal than what is need for an average AVR.

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I own the LSR305 and my cheap LG phone, desktop pc and my kids' phones all play fine through them. Their phones play louder than mine do but the SQ is still great. There was an issue with one of the adapter cords I bought separately for them though. I had to wiggle/twist the connection a bit to find it's sweet spot and it held fine after that with no issue. SQ is nearly as good, or better than some, as any of the other 6 pairs of speakers I own, other than not as loud as some, understandably. I would not expect the 308's to perform any worse than the 305's and likely better with the obvious.

I would have to say that my 305's perform exactly as some of the more informed reviews claim they would. The hype to price point ratio is actually not surprising.

What were you using to power the ls50's with or why would you deviate from that if that's what already "sounds wonderful?" I can plug my phone or PC into every amp, AVR or boombox I own.

 

[lovinthehd]

Naah. The source is high res spotify vocal jazz and audiophile recording. And it sounds wonderful on ls50, another studio monitor.

So either these speakers are just hyped or I am doing something seriously wrong. One culprit could be the input sensitivity. May be these speakers require a lot stronger signal than what is need for an average AVR.

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What input sensitivity setting are you using?

 

[afterlife2]

I posted these on the sale thread last week. They are on sale for 99$ each:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DUKP37C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512257137&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Jbl+305&dpPl=1&dpID=41FIvFnPNVL&ref=plSrch

 

[yepimonfire]

They're studio monitors and as such are very revealing. The recording quality of what you are listening to has to be good, to very good. Most mainstream compressed music is going to sound like poo on studio monitors. If you listen to classic rock and pop, there are very few offerings that are going to pass on studio monitors. You will notice that select recordings are recommended for reference. Dire Straits-Brothers in Arms, and Pink Floyd's Dark side of the Moon and a few others.

Against current audiophile trends, I tend to recommend different speakers for those types of music, and usually what the recording industry knew they were going to be played on. I am probably one of the few who believes in different designs for different genres/eras. For classic rock and pop, a decent 3-way speaker will typically be more forgiving than an audiophile grade two way or a studio monitor.

In my experience, accurate speakers sound good with everything. My dad has a pair of krk rokit 8s, and I listened to a bunch of low budget Black Metal on them and it sounded just fine. Speakers I have now measure +-2dB and again, everything sounds great.

Honestly, I have no idea why the OP is having issues.

 

[shkumar4963]

What input sensitivity setting are you using?

Tried both. -10dB setting gives higher volume but still anemic. Max output I get is about 80 dB at 1 meter max.

I used galaxy s4 and s7. S4 gives a bit more volume than s7 though. But sound quality is not what reviews claim.

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[shkumar4963]

I own the LSR305 and my cheap LG phone, desktop pc and my kids' phones all play fine through them. Their phones play louder than mine do but the SQ is still great. There was an issue with one of the adapter cords I bought separately for them though. I had to wiggle/twist the connection a bit to find it's sweet spot and it held fine after that with no issue. SQ is nearly as good, or better than some, as any of the other 6 pairs of speakers I own, other than not as loud as some, understandably. I would not expect the 308's to perform any worse than the 305's and likely better with the obvious.

I would have to say that my 305's perform exactly as some of the more informed reviews claim they would. The hype to price point ratio is actually not surprising.

What were you using to power the ls50's with or why would you deviate from that if that's what already "sounds wonderful?" I can plug my phone or PC into every amp, AVR or boombox I own.

Thanks. I bought these to use as powerful portable (luggable) speakers that can be moved to outside or different rooms when needed. But wuth their current performance I am not sure if they are as good as my 10 year old boombox.

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[shkumar4963]

OP here. Thank you everyone for helping. I will take it to a JBL repair facility. I am glad that they are still returnable till Jan 1.

So if I can not figure it out what I am doing wrong, they go back to JBL.

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