Not too loud, but crystal clear sound on an affordable prize???

[teazsur]

Hello.

I just moved to a new apartment. My friends who I living with are great, we can share so much joy with each other.

Still from time to time, each one of us would want our privacy, while the other would still listen to some music with some drinks in the living-room. But the shitty Logitech system we have now doesn`t give out many frequency properly unless we reach a certain volume. Its not extremely loud, but sadly loud enough to disturb the one in the neighboring room who wants to read or sleep or whatever... so its ends up always that one room cant have its fun or the other cant have its peace. Or even turns in smaller fights . Its no way a way of things with each other, so I am planning to find a solution.

Sadly putting on a full surface soundproof layer onto the wall is ain`t possible.

The solution I thought up was to use 4 or 8 smaller speakers, mounted on the wall. Facing the center of the room. And one sub on the farthest point from both neighboring bedrooms. Really clear speakers, what could give us full spectrum in lower volumes, so we aint miss out the last idophone or the forest noises in the background of a music... etc ^^ We occasionally turn the volume higher but anyway cant really listen it too high volume anyway, cause of our friendly old hag on the next floor XD.

We are no way rich so we need to find a solution on an affordable price. I anyway love to work with wood, and solder two cables to each other is not a big issue, so making a box for our desired speaker is totally okay with me, but I would never go into modifing or building and amplifier or anything that much electric.

The sound would come out from our PC, Notebook, Macbooks. So I am ready to buy some nice USB soundcard what can be connected to any computers... Because I know sound clarity is much depends on the card too.

So yeah I would love to hear any suggestions, IDeas of wich speakers, or speaker drivers should i look for. What solutions would help us cancelling the music out from the other rooms even just a tiny bit.

Im open for any brands, but I live in Vienna, Austria. So English, German, European, and Global brands are highly welcomed since specialities would make us some difficulties to get transfered...

Thanks for your help!
TsUr

 

[markw]

Do keep in mind that speakers can produce clear sound at all volumes. It's our ears that lost sensitivity as the SPL goes down. Google "Fletcher-Munson Loudness Compensation" if you want to learn more about our bodies frailties in this area.

For that matter, a Tivoli Model 2 table radio with an "aux" port filled with the source of your choice will produce amazing sound at a low level. If you want more bass, add a subwoofer.

 

[TheWarrior]

^ what he said. And no multi channel system is going to offer you 'quiet' benefits. The more speakers, the more air that is moving. Find a great sounding radio type system and be happy.

 

[j_garcia]

Mounting them on the wall is also going to make things WORSE for isolating them so as not to annoy others, so that's not a good plan.

 

[teazsur]

For that matter, a Tivoli Model 2 table radio with an "aux" port filled with the source of your choice will produce amazing sound at a low level. If you want more bass, add a subwoofer.

Wow looks really good, most prices seems quite high for a single unit, but I bet its quality. But unfortunately, this is also our Movie room, so surround is a must there. And the room is quite big, 25 sqm with high ceiling, So with the single unit we would have the same issue, that we have to turn it louder for the one in the opposite corner... that is why I would want at least 4.1

Mounting them on the wall is also going to make things WORSE for isolating them so as not to annoy others, so that's not a good plan.

Even if I use two nice layer of coconut and cork under it? The room ain`t having too much tables, and I am not trusting my drunken flatmates, and the dog for a standing system. ^^

Thanks for the advices so far, keep it coming I take all of them in account even if not straight going with one ^^

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Not sure if available in Austria, but UK's Wharfedale Diamond speaker series offer excellent sound for the great value.
New Andrew Jones designed Pioneer speakers also excellent value
German Designed/China made Behringer speakers are another good option,I can't provide specific models model recommendations without knowing size of your room and how do you define loud...
see this site:
Loudness volume doubling sound level change factor of perceived loudness formula calculate power level noise levels volume logarithm dependence three four fold loudness sound - by what factor does level decrease dependence comparison decibel levels 3

Not really sure on what is your budget to provide any additional recommendations...

 

[lsiberian]

You can't blow in insulation in the walls.