Show Off Your Small Listening Space

I found they sounded great when supplemented with a subwoofer for rock music, which is my main genre as well.

What subwoofer are you using? Do you run the LS50s wider open? If you cut them off, what frequency? I've read some posts that people like to run them wide open and supplement them with a subwoofer. I was going to try that with a couple passive "subs", the first being a 3D Acoustics bass module from their 3D610B 3-piece system:

3-D-Acoustics-3-D610-B-3.jpg


The 3D bass module has a built in crossover at 100Hz. I can either crossover the LS50s at this frequency, or run them wide open. Visually, this is a good match for the BP John nightstand I plan to use with my office system:

BP-John-Nightstand-1.jpg


But I need to test it with the LS50s to see how they sound together.

Next up is a Canton Plus C passive subwoofer:

649094805_large_033021e2a54e244ea44e107f326b0f47.jpg


If neither of those integrate well with the LS50s, I'll go active, probably with the Definitive Audio ProSub 800 I used to run in my bedroom system with a pair of modified (Dennis Murphy mods) Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers. It's a powered sub with variable loudness and crossover frequency controls. So, not as visually interesting as the passives, but a lot more flexibility when it comes to matching it to the LS50s.
 
What subwoofer are you using? Do you run the LS50s wider open? If you cut them off, what frequency? I've read some posts that people like to run them wide open and supplement them with a subwoofer. I was going to try that with a couple passive "subs", the first being a 3D Acoustics bass module from their 3D610B 3-piece system:

3-D-Acoustics-3-D610-B-3.jpg


The 3D bass module has a built in crossover at 100Hz. I can either crossover the LS50s at this frequency, or run them wide open. Visually, this is a good match for the BP John nightstand I plan to use with my office system:

BP-John-Nightstand-1.jpg


But I need to test it with the LS50s to see how they sound together.

Next up is a Canton Plus C passive subwoofer:

649094805_large_033021e2a54e244ea44e107f326b0f47.jpg


If neither of those integrate well with the LS50s, I'll go active, probably with the Definitive Audio ProSub 800 I used to run in my bedroom system with a pair of modified (Dennis Murphy mods) Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers. It's a powered sub with variable loudness and crossover frequency controls. So, not as visually interesting as the passives, but a lot more flexibility when it comes to matching it to the LS50s.
I had them running with a 12" SVS PC-12 Plus active subwoofer. They were crossed over at 80 Hz, so I didn't run them wide open.
 
Fit what I had in the way of extra components into the 8 X 10 room. Beyond the older Panasonic 42" plasma mounted on the wall is the Mac mini computer on the desk along with a Denon DVD 2800 as transport when listening to CDs on the Hifiman HE 400i headphones which are plugged into a Schiit Magni 3, feeding that is a MF V Dac. Some older cables went in, such as a pair of Straight Wire Encore II interconnects from Magni to V Dac and another longer pair of MIT 330i from V Dac to Denon 1907. Two digital cables take signals from either a DV 37 or DVD 2800 to the dac.


I also use a Denon AVR 1907 under the desk drawers along with the Pioneer Elite DV 37 for CD playback, again through the V Dac and on to Boston Acoustics T 830 speakers. For movies I use an older Denon blu ray player. Stream music via the Mac Mini, again into the V Dac and onto the Denon AVR. A small Sony centre under the tv and the complimentary thin floor standing rears make up the surround portion. There is also a Paradigm PDR 10 sub in the small closet space for both 2 channel and movies.


I usually sit within 3 to 4 feet of the Bostons and find it very enjoyable. Out of necessity I need to sit closer to them due to bass reinforcement from the rear wall, which is only 2 feet behind me but it makes all the difference. One can get very relaxed and cozy listening away, and it is habit forming!

Also, I tried to do this on the cheap, intentionally or otherwise. The 1907, Sony rears and center and blu ray player were free. The denon 2800 was 20.00, Bostons 100.00 ( re foamed ), tv was 40.00, DV37 was 50.00. I found the Hifiman headphones on Craigslist for 150.00 lightly used.

I managed to come across the 2014 Mac Mini for 250.00 which is perfect for simply being on the internet, YouTube etc. The 24" monitor was 35.00. Those prices are quite decent up here where bargains can be elusive.

The only items that were new was the Magni 3 and V Dac , which I have had since around 2010. The nice part about this is that the 2 channel end works very well together, in fact I can spend hours just sitting there listening away. Those T830s are very nice sounding and image very well, they are much more articulate and detailed in the small room as near field compared to when I tried them in the 13 X 26 main room, even when fed by very decent electronics. One should tend to hear more when so close of course, still, go figure.


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Seems like if I add even the smallest piece of equipment the whole room gets changed....

This week I swapped out my Yamaha DVD-S2700 for a Oppo BDP-83SE and got creative again. At this point though I think other than upgrading from the GTP-400 I am pretty set for some time to come.
 

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Here are some pictures of my budget work in progress setup. Check signature for components.
IMAG0267.jpg
Mid century modern credenza refinished by my dad and speaker stands built by a family friend (still not sure whether to paint or stain them).
IMAG0268.jpg
Recent Lafayette eBay purchase.
IMAG0324.jpg
Recent $8 thrift store cassette deck find.
 
Here are some pictures of my budget work in progress setup. Check signature for components.
View attachment 1438445
Mid century modern credenza refinished by my dad and speaker stands built by a family friend (still not sure whether to paint or stain them).
View attachment 1438446
Recent Lafayette eBay purchase.
View attachment 1438447
Recent $8 thrift store cassette deck find.

Issac, nice setup. I'd vote to stain the speaker stands. If you don't like the result, could paint over stain.
OG
 
View attachment 1445814 View attachment 1445815 The equipment is off to the side.. but here is my space with Martin USA speakers set up!

I can open the shades and see the neighbors house, but beyond that I see Signal Mountain in the backdrop... it is nearly impressive.

Here is my larger space attached as well. :)

A
Nice setup in your small listening space. I see that outside the gravity flows a bit differently than in my neck of woods.
 
One is being put together. Upstairs bonus room. Right now everything is torn apart as we change out furniture. Will update when there has been more progress. Will be primarily SONOS Connect or Sony Blu-Ray > NAD 7000 > Dahlquist DQM-5's. With a turntable potentially being added later.
 
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