Introduction, first time posting

[David Lai]

Hi community!
My name is David, a piano major, international student, completely blind and beginner audiophile (recently dubbed myself, more on that in just a few). I've listened to a lot of online opinions and Youtube reviews and believe Audioholics is a great place for such discussion, so here I am!
I use a pair of generation 4 KRK Rokit5 powered studio monitors in my bedroom as my basic setup. At the moment I have the FocusRite 4I4 audio interface as the bridge between my laptop and the KRK's, and so far I think the upgrade is significant from the 1/8 inch audio jack on my laptop previously. The monitors are placed directly on a desk, with the included iso soft foam under the monitors. Currently not sure how to raise the speakers higher to ear level, otherwise I'm liking what I'm hearing, whether it'd be piano, orchestra, chamber music, jazz or vocals.
I may read more than I post here as I don't have any desire to upgrade, due to my limited budget, and also I need to be prepared for when my program ends, if I'm returning home or going on to the next step.
But I recently read somewhere that audiophiles are people who care about the quality of music reproduction. Well, if we define an audiophile by that standard, then I guess I am an audiophile. I love listening to music as well as making music, but when I listen I love to experience the kind of "you are there" and a "performance", not just listening to two speakers. I guess that's why I went for a pair of studio monitors last year. As for getting active ones, it's because I would like my desktop set up to be clean and less clutter, and I read that speakers that have the amplifiers built in does have that advantage. So anyway, I think that's where I am today.
Anyway, so much for now. Nice to meet you all, and that concludes what I have to say at the moment!
David

 

[Gmoney]

Hi community!
My name is David, a piano major, international student, completely blind and beginner audiophile (recently dubbed myself, more on that in just a few). I've listened to a lot of online opinions and Youtube reviews and believe Audioholics is a great place for such discussion, so here I am!
I use a pair of generation 4 KRK Rokit5 powered studio monitors in my bedroom as my basic setup. At the moment I have the FocusRite 4I4 audio interface as the bridge between my laptop and the KRK's, and so far I think the upgrade is significant from the 1/8 inch audio jack on my laptop previously. The monitors are placed directly on a desk, with the included iso soft foam under the monitors. Currently not sure how to raise the speakers higher to ear level, otherwise I'm liking what I'm hearing, whether it'd be piano, orchestra, chamber music, jazz or vocals.
I may read more than I post here as I don't have any desire to upgrade, due to my limited budget, and also I need to be prepared for when my program ends, if I'm returning home or going on to the next step.
But I recently read somewhere that audiophiles are people who care about the quality of music reproduction. Well, if we define an audiophile by that standard, then I guess I am an audiophile. I love listening to music as well as making music, but when I listen I love to experience the kind of "you are there" and a "performance", not just listening to two speakers. I guess that's why I went for a pair of studio monitors last year. As for getting active ones, it's because I would like my desktop set up to be clean and less clutter, and I read that speakers that have the amplifiers built in does have that advantage. So anyway, I think that's where I am today.
Anyway, so much for now. Nice to meet you all, and that concludes what I have to say at the moment!
David

Happy Holidays and welcome to AH!! Cheers!

 

[CajunLB]

Welcome to Audioholics David. Happy holidays and new year’s.

 

[lovinthehd]

How much more do you want to raise the speakers? Build small risers? How about a solution that really doesn't involve a desk, like stands or wall mounts?

Welcome aboard and hohoho and merry merry.

 

[David Lai]

Thanks for having me, and happy new year to you all as well! For those who also celebrate Christmas, like me, then, merry Christmas!!!

As for raising my speakers a bit, I'm 5.58 fet (170 CM) when standing, and I would like my speakers to be between how I'm standing and how I'm sitting. I'm looking for a cheep (if free is not possible) way to do this, maybe decoupling from the desk wouldn't be a bad idea either, but so far I'm not sure. Since it's also COVID, I don't think I am able to visit someone at their home or ask them to come to my house to advise me on how exactly to do that. So I think it'll take some time. Meanwhile, I think if I lowered my head a bit, the tweeters would be around ear level, so I can't do this for long. Of course, this pair of speakers have a 5-inch woofer, so I guess we can only do a little bit, if at all, right?

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks for having me, and happy new year to you all as well! For those who also celebrate Christmas, like me, then, merry Christmas!!!

As for raising my speakers a bit, I'm 5.58 fet (170 CM) when standing, and I would like my speakers to be between how I'm standing and how I'm sitting. I'm looking for a cheep (if free is not possible) way to do this, maybe decoupling from the desk wouldn't be a bad idea either, but so far I'm not sure. Since it's also COVID, I don't think I am able to visit someone at their home or ask them to come to my house to advise me on how exactly to do that. So I think it'll take some time. Meanwhile, I think if I lowered my head a bit, the tweeters would be around ear level, so I can't do this for long. Of course, this pair of speakers have a 5-inch woofer, so I guess we can only do a little bit, if at all, right?

I use some adjustable height stands for my JBL 305s, so that could be one way and that way you could adjust for when you're seated vs doing other things....and offers some options a desktop can't.

 

[David Lai]

I use some adjustable height stands for my JBL 305s, so that could be one way and that way you could adjust for when you're seated vs doing other things....and offers some options a desktop can't.

Interesting. Do you putthem on your desk or on the floor? I have wall to wall carpeting where I live. And oh, I would love them to be on the desk if possible, as I use my laptop for typing as well, and I need my screen reader to output through these speakers. Thanks for answering my questions!

 

[lovinthehd]

Interesting. Do you putthem on your desk or on the floor? I have wall to wall carpeting where I live. And oh, I would love them to be on the desk if possible, as I use my laptop for typing as well, and I need my screen reader to output through these speakers. Thanks for answering my questions!

They're floor stands, too tall to just sit on a desk, but I'd put them just beyond the desk if I used one. I do vary the height depending how I'm using them, tho. There are probably such things for sitting on a desk top, or clamping to a desk top, tho. I'd just prefer to have them not on my desk so I can make better use of the desktop....but these days I don't work any more and do not ever want to sit at a desk again . Why do you want them on the desk particularly if they're not at ear height?

 

[David Lai]

They're floor stands, too tall to just sit on a desk, but I'd put them just beyond the desk if I used one. I do vary the height depending how I'm using them, tho. There are probably such things for sitting on a desk top, or clamping to a desk top, tho. I'd just prefer to have them not on my desk so I can make better use of the desktop....but these days I don't work any more and do not ever want to sit at a desk again . Why do you want them on the desk particularly if they're not at ear height?

Well, I'm using a laptop and the desk is about 4.9 feet, or close to 150 CM long. I bought it for the convenience of having my laptop and the two monitors on the desk and nothing more -- that is, if I'm connecting a portable hard drive and what not, it could sit on the desk, but otherwise the desk will just have the two speakers, with the laptop in between them in the listening position where I sit. I'm now typing to you in the position with my screen reader echoing every letter as I type.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well, I'm using a laptop and the desk is about 4.9 feet, or close to 150 CM long. I bought it for the convenience of having my laptop and the two monitors on the desk and nothing more -- that is, if I'm connecting a portable hard drive and what not, it could sit on the desk, but otherwise the desk will just have the two speakers, with the laptop in between them in the listening position where I sit. I'm now typing to you in the position with my screen reader echoing every letter as I type.

That doesn't quite answer why you want the speakers on the desk, tho it certainly seems you have plenty of room ....you mentioned they're not at ear height and then there's perhaps reflection issues too. Just curious mostly.

LOL modern desk usage! I just don't think of one as just a laptop and speakers and maybe a hard drive....mine was always covered in paper/files and reference materials as we still dealt in quite a bit of it when I worked, even though we had as much on computer as possible.

 

[David Lai]

That doesn't quite answer why you want the speakers on the desk, tho it certainly seems you have plenty of room ....you mentioned they're not at ear height and then there's perhaps reflection issues too. Just curious mostly.

LOL modern desk usage! I just don't think of one as just a laptop and speakers and maybe a hard drive....mine was always covered in paper/files and reference materials as we still dealt in quite a bit of it when I worked, even though we had as much on computer as possible.

I know what you mean. Well, I guess if I used floor stands, it wouldn't be good as I have a super long desk in the middle blocking the sound.Also I don't want the sound to go down the stairs to the floor below if I played, let's say, a John Williams film score recorded at the Sony PicturesScoring Stage. You know how low the bass drum would go in these recordings!
I like a simple setup,that's why I didn't go for a separate amplifier and passive speakers.

 

[lovinthehd]

I know what you mean. Well, I guess if I used floor stands, it wouldn't be good as I have a super long desk in the middle blocking the sound.Also I don't want the sound to go down the stairs to the floor below if I played, let's say, a John Williams film score recorded at the Sony PicturesScoring Stage. You know how low the bass drum would go in these recordings!
I like a simple setup,that's why I didn't go for a separate amplifier and passive speakers.

The stands I'm talking about and using would clear the desk and put the speakers at ear height....(range of 27 to 47 inches for base). Or do you have one of those standing desks? Not used to those either

 

[David Lai]

The stands I'm talking about and using would clear the desk and put the speakers at ear height....(range of 27 to 47 inches for base). Or do you have one of those standing desks? Not used to those either

I don't think I have those desks. This is just a regular writing desk. I'll probably wait till 2021 to really think about it. Now probably use a couple of cardboard box lids to raise the speakers up a little?

 

[lovinthehd]

I don't think I have those desks. This is just a regular writing desk. I'll probably wait till 2021 to really think about it. Now probably use a couple of cardboard box lids to raise the speakers up a little?

I could improvise speaker stands with likely something better than a cardboard box, but I'm probably better equipped in my workshop/materials on hand than you. A box could do, a lot of household type materials could be put to the task of raising them up, too. I've built risers for speakers out of scrap wood on hand for example....

Do you angle the speakers towards your ears? Something wedge shaped could help do that....

 

[David Lai]

I could improvise speaker stands with likely something better than a cardboard box, but I'm probably better equipped in my workshop/materials on hand than you. A box could do, a lot of household type materials could be put to the task of raising them up, too. I've built risers for speakers out of scrap wood on hand for example....

Do you angle the speakers towards your ears? Something wedge shaped could help do that....

Hey, that's good! I'm not that good at shapes, I'll ask my house mate to help look for stuff like this. Thanks for your suggestion!

 

[lovinthehd]

Hey, that's good! I'm not that good at shapes, I'll ask my house mate to help look for stuff like this. Thanks for your suggestion!

An old trick for angling is simply using something like these https://www.amazon.com/wedge-door-stopper/s?k=wedge+door+stopper

 

[David Lai]

An old trick for angling is simply using something like these https://www.amazon.com/wedge-door-stopper/s?k=wedge+door+stopper

Really? I didn't know these would dothe trick! I do find that I need to angle the KRK's towards my ears a bit to have good sound stage and imaging. So this is good. Thanks!

 

[lovinthehd]

Yep, have done it myself. Also can be useful for center speakers on the usual cabinet/stand under the tv

 

[David Lai]

Yep, have done it myself. Also can be useful for center speakers on the usual cabinet/stand under the tv

That's great, thank you! I'll think of some improvised ideas first. Once I'mdone with the next semester, I will know if I need to buy a stand for a more permanent setup, or do something else with my speakers.

 

[killdozzer]

completely blind and beginner audiophile

Welcome!!
Please look beyond what might strike you as insensitive as it is not meant to be and tell me are you in fact impaired or is this just how you would describe yourself on the subject of audio - being a beginner and all?

If you're really blind, would you be willing to put up with my curiosity, please?

I've recently been involved in a conversation where a person claimed that it is nothing but a mere myth that having one sense in a way weakened would heighten any other sense and I always thought this is simply natural and ordinary. Not in the sense that you would actually hear better, but in the sense that your brain would process what is heard with closer attention and thus would extract more information from what it is hearing. (much like, if you don't mind, why some people make love with blindfolds).

Could you, please, tell me more about it? Maybe I'm just ill informed through no bad intent, but for lack of proper info.