Replacing current speakers because of ear fatigue

[Pogre]

Got a taste of that sweet, sweet clean bass and now you wanna see what else you can do for improvements, eh? Welcome to the rabbit hole! Lol.

 

[qba]

Got a taste of that sweet, sweet clean bass and now you wanna see what else you can do for improvements, eh? Welcome to the rabbit hole! Lol.

lol Pogre why did you have to go there? The dialogue in my head between reason and impulse is in full-on battle mode. There is a side of me that is saying "Alex how convenient this listening fatigue thing to justify to yourself that you need to spend $1000 (Canadians) to compensate for the quality of the new subwoofer?" Meanwhile, the other voice says "Of course you need those brand new shiny speakers, doesn't make sense to have something you can't listen to"

While the impulse side subconsciously knows that if I just keep doing research there is a point of no return where the hours spent in the research needs to be justified by the action of purchasing the god damn speakers.

If you add that economically it won't cost too much stress, you know where this train is going even from the moment the first thought came into your head.

All of this is happening as I tried to avoid the big elephant in the room of me willingly falling into the rabbit hole. lol

So Pogre help me put this in the past by telling me what speaker should I consider. I need to move on from this failure on self-control lol

 

[Verdinut]

You probably end up with ear fatigue because you listen to the music at too high volumes, which causes your speakers to distort.

You could get a SPL meter to verify at what sound pressure levels you usually listen to the music. Also, you can check how much power you need to drive speakers to obtain a certain SPL with the following link:

Peak SPL Calculator

 

[Pogre]

lol Pogre why did you have to go there? The dialogue in my head between reason and impulse is in full-on battle mode. There is a side of me that is saying "Alex how convenient this listening fatigue thing to justify to yourself that you need to spend $1000 (Canadians) to compensate for the quality of the new subwoofer?" Meanwhile, the other voice says "Of course you need those brand new shiny speakers, doesn't make sense to have something you can't listen to"

While the impulse side subconsciously knows that if I just keep doing research there is a point of no return where the hours spent in the research needs to be justified by the action of purchasing the god damn speakers.

If you add that economically it won't cost too much stress, you know where this train is going even the moment the first thought came into your head.

All of this is happening as I tried to avoid the big elephant in the room of me willingly falling into the rabbit hole. lol

So Pogre help me put this in the past by telling me what speaker should I consider. I need to move on from this failure on self-control lol

The best advice I can give you is to try and get out somewhere that you can listen to some different speakers so you at least have an idea of some of the differences. If that just isn't possible then I think the next best thing would be to buy from somewhere with a generous enough return policy to take them back if you don't like them, and don't feel guilty if you don't like something.

It's really hard to guess what someone else might prefer since sound quality is so subjective. I have to run out the door right now so I'll go back through the thread and catch up some more later. Depending on your budget, SVS has some nice speakers with a very generous return policy and might be one Avenue for you. I had the Ultra bookshelf speakers and absolutely loved them. They are not bright at all and play very cleanly. It took a much more expensive speaker to make me want to upgrade from those.

 

[-Jim-]

Thanks Jim do you use them for music? Where did you buy them?

I listen to the HSU CCB-8s for Music (in Stereo mostly), Concerts (Blu-Ray & DVD) as I have the CCB-8s across the 3 Fronts of my Atmos Home Theater system, Movies, and TV Sports. I bought them direct from HSU on-line and had them shipped to Point Roberts Washington. My Mom still lives in Tsawwassen, BC about 10 minutes from the drop box service in Point Roberts; so I typically visit her when I get stuff from the USA. Crossing the Border (before Covid) there was a breeze. Check out all the reviews, there's not a bad one out there. Great Speakers.

 

[PENG]

Yep in Canadian would be a bit more but that range is correct.




Thanks for the article lovinthehd, I'll check it out

I would just trust specs and measurements. ASR has measure a good number of bookshelf speakers, so you can just pick one that fits your budget. If you have trouble interpreting the measurements, just let us know and some of us may be able to help.

Speaker Review and Measurement Index | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

James of AH has also reviewed/measured a few:

Our Top Six $600 Bookshelf Speaker Picks for 2021 | Audioholics

Outlaw Audio BLSv2 Bookshelf and LCRv2 Loudspeaker Review | Audioholics

Understanding Loudspeaker Review Measurements Part I | Audioholics

 

[-Jim-]

Stretch - you'll want to keep these speakers for years and years => Our Top Six $700/Pair Bookshelf Speaker Picks for 2021

 

[Teetertotter?]

Ask if you can return the speakers if you don't like? Listen in your own environment and be the judge. Good luck

 

[Pogre]

I listen to the HSU CCB-8s for Music (in Stereo mostly), Concerts (Blu-Ray & DVD) as I have the CCB-8s across the 3 Fronts of my Atmos Home Theater system, Movies, and TV Sports. I bought them direct from HSU on-line and had them shipped to Point Roberts Washington. My Mom still lives in Tsawwassen, BC about 10 minutes from the drop box service in Point Roberts; so I typically visit her when I get stuff from the USA. Crossing the Border (before Covid) there was a breeze. Check out all the reviews, there's not a bad one out there. Great Speakers.

I haven't heard the CCB-8s but I can say that I don't think I've seen anyone who's heard them say they didn't like them. I think their design would work very well for nearfield listening too.

 

[Pogre]

Stretch - you'll want to keep these speakers for years and years => Our Top Six $700/Pair Bookshelf Speaker Picks for 2021

This is a great list. I own Ascend Acoustics speakers (Sierra 2 books and Sierra ribbon towers) and absolutely love them. Not sure their availability to you up there but the rest of that list is very solid too. RSL was running a sale on their white speakers (color is discontinued) to clear inventory a week or so ago and they reviewed very well here at their regular retail.

RSL CG5 & CG25 Bookshelf / Center Speakers Review

RSL Speaker's recent release of the CG5 and CG25 speakers have raised the eyebrows of audio industry. Did RSL produce a premium higher end product at a more moderate price? Read on to find out.

www.audioholics.com

*Edit: Yes! RSL's white speakers are still heavily discounted. @Hetfield has some experience with RSL and I know he really liked them a lot.

CG5 Bookshelf Speaker - RSL Speakers

rslspeakers.com

 

[Pogre]

Toronto has a bunch of HI Fi stores, but I have never been to one, I'm sure I can go and listen but I prefer to have something in mind before I go, or don't even go, so far you guys have been right with the subwoofer, I don't want to end up buying something because of the combination of my lack of knowledge in the subject and some pushy salesman.

Got any links to a couple of those hifi stores near you? We could take a look with you here and see if we can find something interesting or worth checking out.

 

[Verdinut]

I strongly recommend that you visit several of the Toronto Hi-Fi stores and get to hear and compare speakers within your planned budget. Bring one or two of your preferred CDs for a hearing session. If the store allows trial at home with possible return, that would be a plus. In your listening room, any speaker will sound differently than at a store.

 

[qba]

You probably end up with ear fatigue because you listen to the music at too high volumes, which causes your speakers to distort.

You could get a SPL meter to verify at what sound pressure levels you usually listen to the music. Also, you can check how much power you need to drive speakers to obtain a certain SPL with the following link:

Peak SPL Calculator

So there is a pressure level that the speakers need to be driven at, and if I go higher I created distortion? But I can't notice any distortion at any level, the music comes out of those speakers, and the new sub, very clean.

 

[qba]

I listen to the HSU CCB-8s for Music (in Stereo mostly), Concerts (Blu-Ray & DVD) as I have the CCB-8s across the 3 Fronts of my Atmos Home Theater system, Movies, and TV Sports. I bought them direct from HSU on-line and had them shipped to Point Roberts Washington. My Mom still lives in Tsawwassen, BC about 10 minutes from the drop box service in Point Roberts; so I typically visit her when I get stuff from the USA. Crossing the Border (before Covid) there was a breeze. Check out all the reviews, there's not a bad one out there. Great Speakers.

Thanks Jim! I will check those out, but this comment on a video I read said that those speakers were better suited for a theater setup than for music.

 

[qba]

I would just trust specs and measurements. ASR has measure a good number of bookshelf speakers, so you can just pick one that fits your budget. If you have trouble interpreting the measurements, just let us know and some of us may be able to help.

Speaker Review and Measurement Index | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

James of AH has also reviewed/measured a few:

Our Top Six $600 Bookshelf Speaker Picks for 2021 | Audioholics

Outlaw Audio BLSv2 Bookshelf and LCRv2 Loudspeaker Review | Audioholics

Understanding Loudspeaker Review Measurements Part I | Audioholics

Thanks PENG, I will try to go to local stores and buy speakers online but knowing how easy is for me to be happy with audio, I'm going to go through all those amazing reviews this forum have done and see what else is available in my area, I'm really looking for warm and clean sound more than anything else.

 

[qba]

Stretch - you'll want to keep these speakers for years and years => Our Top Six $700/Pair Bookshelf Speaker Picks for 2021

Thanks Jim that is the list on my budget. Let me see what I can find locally and let you guys know for advice, I really need you guys' help to narrow it down to at least 3, I know I need to listen to as well but with those 3 I can try to track them down and compare them, I can't have 10 choices to listen to is not practical and I truly don't really want to go through that much trouble, look how well I did by just buying one of the subwoofers you guys suggested.

 

[qba]

This is a great list. I own Ascend Acoustics speakers (Sierra 2 books and Sierra ribbon towers) and absolutely love them. Not sure their availability to you up there but the rest of that list is very solid too. RSL was running a sale on their white speakers (color is discontinued) to clear inventory a week or so ago and they reviewed very well here at their regular retail.

RSL CG5 & CG25 Bookshelf / Center Speakers Review

RSL Speaker's recent release of the CG5 and CG25 speakers have raised the eyebrows of audio industry. Did RSL produce a premium higher end product at a more moderate price? Read on to find out.

www.audioholics.com

*Edit: Yes! RSL's white speakers are still heavily discounted. @Hetfield has some experience with RSL and I know he really liked them a lot.

CG5 Bookshelf Speaker - RSL Speakers

rslspeakers.com

Thanks Proge, those sierra are on my budget :https://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/SRM2/srm2.html. have you tried them for music with just as a left and right speaker with a subwoofer?

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks Jim! I will check those out, but this comment on a video I read said that those speakers were better suited for a theater setup than for music.

A speaker is a good speaker, what ever you listen to. If a speaker was only useful "for music" it wouldn't be much good to me, as well as the other way around.

 

[qba]

Got any links to a couple of those hifi stores near you? We could take a look with you here and see if we can find something interesting or worth checking out.

Thanks a lot for this Pogre!!!

Do you mean for me to go and listen to them at the store right? Because to just buy them I got a lot of options online, even from local HI RES stores without showrooms but with online presence, I guess the prices have gone up on audio equipment here in Canada with the whole Covid distribution situation, so don't worry about the price of something you see there, if you think is worth listening to, I'll go listen to it and if the prices are outrageous I just try to find the speakers online.

Here are some links:

Trutone Electronics | High-End Audio & Home Theater

Experience the best in high-end audio, speakers, TVs, and smart home systems. Trusted experts, curated brands, and fast shipping across Canada.

www.trutone.ca

Bay Bloor Radio - Toronto's Audio Video Store | Bay Bloor Radio Toronto Canada

Canada's premier audio video retailer offering both in-store & online shopping featuring the widest range of quality products from leading brands.

www.baybloorradio.com

Custom Home Automation Solution, Entertainment Systems – Kennedy HiFi

www.kennedy-hifi.com

 

[lovinthehd]

If the stores have speakers to listen to, take the opportunity to at least get the experience. Nice to buy something from them if they have the right stuff, but if they don't just move on....