Awkward bookshelf speaker placement and streaming set up
Discussion
My kitchen set up is always going to be a bit compromised because the speakers are place high (2m) on the top of some cupboards and within a few inches of the wall. The room is about 20'x12 and the speakers are about 5' apart at the midpoint of the long wall. Listening position is opposite - where I cook or sit when I'm eating.
It's the room the dogs sleep in so trailing cables, standmounts and floorstanders are impractical. I have Linn->Naim->Rega Ela to take care of vinyl in a suitable room. Got this 35 years ago and apart from adding a tuner and CD, never felt the need to upgrade or change.
The catalyst for the change is that my kitchen set up Onkyo mini CD amp (no wireless connections) is dying and the iPod feeding the aux is getting very flaky. So I'm taking the plunge and joining the 20th century a quarter of the way in.
For the replacement streamer I'm looking at Naim Infiniti Atom or Cambridge Audio EVO 150. inclined towards the Naim because Naim and I can't see me needing the power of the Cambridge. Realistically this will probably be my last hifi purchase if I follow th pattern of a 35 year gap between investments so a little future proofing/reliability would be good. Could end up being a hub following a house move but no multiroom or AV requirements immediately.
I've considered all in ones such as MUSO and Sonos but I really CBA with driving it off a phone or voice and my analogue ears can't accept one box speaker solutions. They're impressive but a bit harsh.
Music is never played beyond medium. Musical tastes very broad, classical, choral opera, jazz, soul, funk, classic rock and folk. I like reproduction to be warm and detailed and not fussed about powerful bass.
So what speakers would be suitable for this compromised placement? - budget reasonably flexible but aware getting into 4 figures could be a waste.
It's the room the dogs sleep in so trailing cables, standmounts and floorstanders are impractical. I have Linn->Naim->Rega Ela to take care of vinyl in a suitable room. Got this 35 years ago and apart from adding a tuner and CD, never felt the need to upgrade or change.
The catalyst for the change is that my kitchen set up Onkyo mini CD amp (no wireless connections) is dying and the iPod feeding the aux is getting very flaky. So I'm taking the plunge and joining the 20th century a quarter of the way in.
For the replacement streamer I'm looking at Naim Infiniti Atom or Cambridge Audio EVO 150. inclined towards the Naim because Naim and I can't see me needing the power of the Cambridge. Realistically this will probably be my last hifi purchase if I follow th pattern of a 35 year gap between investments so a little future proofing/reliability would be good. Could end up being a hub following a house move but no multiroom or AV requirements immediately.
I've considered all in ones such as MUSO and Sonos but I really CBA with driving it off a phone or voice and my analogue ears can't accept one box speaker solutions. They're impressive but a bit harsh.
Music is never played beyond medium. Musical tastes very broad, classical, choral opera, jazz, soul, funk, classic rock and folk. I like reproduction to be warm and detailed and not fussed about powerful bass.
So what speakers would be suitable for this compromised placement? - budget reasonably flexible but aware getting into 4 figures could be a waste.
For this sort of use, I would have thought forget about a separate amp and get a decent set of active speakers with suitable wall mounts. Something like the Kef LSX2s. Easy Roon streaming plus apple play etc.
Probably won't sound as good as a Naim Atom with decent speakers, but the convenience of dedicated wall mounts, minimal cabling edges it for me. Or maybe an older set of actives - meridian, AVI or ATC with a Wiim streamer/digital pre.
Probably won't sound as good as a Naim Atom with decent speakers, but the convenience of dedicated wall mounts, minimal cabling edges it for me. Or maybe an older set of actives - meridian, AVI or ATC with a Wiim streamer/digital pre.
blindspot said:
For this sort of use, I would have thought forget about a separate amp and get a decent set of active speakers with suitable wall mounts. Something like the Kef LSX2s. Easy Roon streaming plus apple play etc.
Probably won't sound as good as a Naim Atom with decent speakers, but the convenience of dedicated wall mounts, minimal cabling edges it for me. Or maybe an older set of actives - meridian, AVI or ATC with a Wiim streamer/digital pre.
Thanks for that. My reasoning is that we are due to move in the next year or two and the amp streamer will then be able to work as the heart of main hifi or AV set up (with addition of phono stage if required) So I'm really asking, what's the best speaker choice/set up for now.Probably won't sound as good as a Naim Atom with decent speakers, but the convenience of dedicated wall mounts, minimal cabling edges it for me. Or maybe an older set of actives - meridian, AVI or ATC with a Wiim streamer/digital pre.
Wall mounting brackets are something I'd considered - would still keep the cabling out of the way and could get them a tad further apart. Any recommendations?
tonyg58 said:
The best thing to buy would be a pair of small front ported speakers.
They seem to be a bit thin on the ground these days.
A quick search found the Wharfedale Diamond 9.0 which would probably do as a short term solution if you're moving soon.
Thanks for the reply. A quick search in a cupboard produced a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.0s They seem to be a bit thin on the ground these days.
A quick search found the Wharfedale Diamond 9.0 which would probably do as a short term solution if you're moving soon.
They are part of my little used 3.1 set up (since I gave a pair to my daughter to set up her system)That's might be the best way to tide me over until we move house and I can choose something a bit more audiophile.
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