I now know exactly what I will be getting to finish off this system and how to make the sound work in this room. It is currently real good with the LS50's. A bigger speaker will be added to the mix along with 2 amps, a Benchmark AHB2 and a another amp I am deciding on.
More updated pics when the 2 remaining items are bought.
Main take away from this system for me is that a small room can be made to sound great.
Pairs real well with the the HPA4. The pairing sounds better to me than the DAC3 HGC that I owned for a long time in the past. The volume control on the HPA4 must be the must be what is tipping the scales.
Meze Audio Empyrean
Burning it in at the moment
KEF LS50
These stay with me until I die. I will be adding a floor stander to this room soon.
Peachtree Audio nova 150
Currently only using the amp section of this integrated. I will likely sell this once new amps are purchased. A very good integrated for the price. Sounds good with KEF LS50's
I am almost of the opinion that you should put all the CD's and books in the closet and try listening with the doors reattached. Maybe put the Just a thought...
Not to sound like a broken record (if you have a kid, you probably don't remember), but the VLR's would really be a good fit in your room. They don't look like much, but they do sound great. The Treo's will work, too, considering their smallish size- and having them close to the walls should improve bass.
The VLR's are really good for the size, and price, but the Treo's are really amazing (and I owned the 3a sigs before them).
I really must post some pics of my setup, but I am trying to learn Jriver along with the Jriver Id. My poor old mind takes so long to learn these things nowadays.
@gdnrbob I cannot make any alterations to the room. I was thinking that removing that 31" wall would make audio life easier but that is not in the cards.
I have not put up any blankets on the windows but that is something I will do if I need to deaden the room further. Room is rather good now without treatments for the LS50. It sounds very promising for a bigger speaker.
That second desk will not make a reappearance in the office. The improvement without it was huge. I can adjust my work tasks to be done on that one big desk.
Yes, I can understand wanting floor standers. My VLR's are very good, but the Treo's are outstanding-Though I do use them with a pair of 2wq subs.
I can sympathize with your opinion about sub integration, but the use of the Vandy sub w/crossover makes integration seamless. IMHO.
I also think you would be able to put the desk back to get a full stereo image-especially if you add room treatments.
My one major change would be to get rid of the closet and open up the remaining space-and perhaps adding a second door at the corner. But, I know that would be big hassle.
Have you tried putting a blanket/rug over the window/shades to see if it makes things less reflective?
@gdnrbob I am planning on placing the speakers in the same spot as the existing KEF LS50. Unfortunately this would mean I am hearing the music with my right hear closer to the speakers than the left ear, unfortunately that ear is on the other side of the head. Sounds OK at the moment doing this.
Now that I think I can get floor standers into this room, I do not want to get any small monitors anymore. I have had them for 10 years now from AudioEngine A2, Thiel SCS4, KEF LS50, Audience 1+1 V3. All because I moved to Southern Cal and lived in audio unfriendly places. Now that I have the best room in 10 years I want it to be floor stander or something that can approximate the audio happiness for me of a Thiel 3.7 or KEF Blade. I have yet to find a monitor that gave me that kind of sound.
The floor standers that I have demoed recently, Vandersteen Treo CT, Magico A3, Vivid Kaya 90, all had that big sound that I am looking for. The KEF Reference 1 not so much but it came real close.
I understand the sentiment towards using subs in my room but I have never liked separate subs and preferred the low freq to come from the speaker. I have some sensitive hearing that way, maybe a medical thing, but subs get to me in a bad way.
Today, I contacted a Canadian dealer on the Yamaha NS5000 speaker. Something, that sounds real exciting for a office system, super cool audio technology. I was told it would work in my room with room treatments (100% required) and guaranteed with the DSP of the Lyngdorf. If that observation is correct, that also means the other floor standers I have auditioned would also work with the treatments and DSP.
Treatments were delayed in shipment and went out today.
I am going to demo another floor-stander tomorrow, the Paradigm Person 3F. I maybe able to check out DSP via the Anthem components.
I still think you should look at a pair of Vandy VLR's. I think they will fit in you office perfectly. With a pair of HSU subs, you would be in heaven.
@hallock01 No sub in plans. Looking at one of Harbeth SHL5+, Magico A3, Vandersteen Treo CT driven by Lyngdorf 3400. I also have GIK treatments coming this week or next.
Whoa, 5 big monitors - you ain't messing around! :-) As a fellow KEF LS50 owner, I do love their sound. Interesting thread. Makes me reconsider relegating my big Klipsch Epic CF-4s to HT duty in my smallish condo living room.
