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Speaker recomendations for a newbie

While I applaud your DIY spirit, I would suggest you consider buying something used, refresh/refurb it then consider moving to a better quality kit in the future.

Get something you can enjoy now, see if you actually want to continue with the hobby then move forward. By that time who knows where your interest may lie.

For your kind of music, given your budget and the modest power of your receiver you might consider some used Cerwin Vega's, JBL's or Klipsch's.

Good luck on your quest !!
 
There's a pair of NHT Super 1 (one) speakers on your local CL. They produce far more, and better sound than they look like they should. I used a pair (that I still have) for several years, until I upgraded to some much larger KEF's. If they're reasonably close, I'd at least give them a listen.
 
rickb119 said:
There's a pair of NHT Super 1 (one) speakers on your local CL. They produce far more, and better sound than they look like they should. I used a pair (that I still have) for several years, until I upgraded to some much larger KEF's. If they're reasonably close, I'd at least give them a listen.
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I am actually getting in contact with the person selling those. There are a lot of speakers for sale from them. I will make sure to give them a listen. Thanks!
 
I would enthusiastically recommend the SuperOne's, but I may be a bit biased as I have 3 pair throughout the house a.t.m.

Sealed(acoustic suspension) design gives tight, accurate bass and the large soft dome tweeter is always smooth.
 
I ended up buying the Super One speakers. They are the perfect size, and they sound great.

He had quite a few others but I thought they sounded like the best value. He also taught me a lot about tube amps to look for. I have never seen so much equipment in my life. It was a great experience.

He said the kits from both pi and parts express are great projects that sound great when finished, so I am going to but a kit to build. I think a tower kit, something with a smaller footprint that I can squeeze into my music room.

Thanks for all your help!
 
retro_fan said:
I ended up buying the Super One speakers. They are the perfect size, and they sound great.

He had quite a few others but I thought they sounded like the best value. He also taught me a lot about tube amps to look for. I have never seen so much equipment in my life. It was a great experience.

He said the kits from both pi and parts express are great projects that sound great when finished, so I am going to but a kit to build. I think a tower kit, something with a smaller footprint that I can squeeze into my music room.

Thanks for all your help!
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Surprised as these aren't what your criteria called for, I've always found the Super one and zero to be a fine speaker very lacking in bass crying for a subwoofer, once paired an excellent speaker.
 
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While the smaller NHTs don't go particularly low I found my Super Zeros have really full sound for a small speaker. What they do they do very well, well enough to possibly make someone not care that much the bottom two octaves aren't really represented.
 
Yup, your inquiry is a "loaded one". And depends on who you ask.

You've indicated some preferred genres that you listen to, so bass reproduction will be part of your choice selection.

No mention of budget which will factor into your range of speakers available, or whether you want to go new or used. Your plan of going DIY enclosure/speakers/cross over might be the way to go, esp if you have experience in wood work. The rest will require leg work on your part to end up with the ultimate end result.

Keep in mind to keep most of the gear relative to the the calibre that you already have, unless in the near future you want to improve eventually the whole lot. And it seems, most tend to build from the speakers back, but this again there are various POV's on doing this approach.

Some great suggestions have already been shared.


Listen to your ears, as they will be the final determiners of what you will end up with.


Q
 
Grenadeslio said:
Surprised as these aren't what your criteria called for, I've always found the Super one and zero to be a fine speaker very lacking in bass crying for a subwoofer, once paired an excellent speaker.
Click to expand...

I know you were wanting me to pursue the jamo speakers. I did look into them, and they look like they are great speakers. I just didn't want to go down that road to get them.

I listened to quite a few sets of speakers before choosing these. To my ears they sounded the best for the price and for what they are. Iggy Pop's "Search and destroy", and "Guns of Brixton" by the Clash sound great through them. Only spending a fraction of my budget on these means I can buy better components, or a better kit for the towers when I am ready to do them. I can also address any lack of bass at that point.

After 10 years or so of building close to 20 guitars, building 2 tube amps from the ground up, modifying a dozen or so tube amps, and countless guitar pedals. I decided to try something else. I love to tinker with things and the journey of how to get a great setup is probably equally as important to me than getting there. To me what I bought is a great start for my system. If they don't fit in down the road, I am not out much and I can sell them for what I paid for them.

Going to see all the equipment, and speakers yesterday really opened my eyes to what all is out there. I'm excited to do some more research on amps, and speakers. I'm slowly selling off some of my guitars and amps that I feel I can part with. As I make room in my music room I am sure I will add more stereo equipment in there.
 
Quadman2 said:
Yup, your inquiry is a "loaded one". And depends on who you ask.

You've indicated some preferred genres that you listen to, so bass reproduction will be part of your choice selection.

No mention of budget which will factor into your range of speakers available, or whether you want to go new or used. Your plan of going DIY enclosure/speakers/cross over might be the way to go, esp if you have experience in wood work. The rest will require leg work on your part to end up with the ultimate end result.

Keep in mind to keep most of the gear relative to the the calibre that you already have, unless in the near future you want to improve eventually the whole lot. And it seems, most tend to build from the speakers back, but this again there are various POV's on doing this approach.

Some great suggestions have already been shared.


Listen to your ears, as they will be the final determiners of what you will end up with.


Q
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Thanks for the advice. Right now everything I have is pretty inexpensive, and entry level.

After seeing all the different amps I saw yesterday makes me want to look into them much more. I never thought about building a system starting with the speakers first. I was thinking more of find the amp first then add the speakers last to finalize the sound. Like I have done with guitar amp set ups. That kind of thinking really changes a lot.
 
retro_fan said:
I know you were wanting me to pursue the jamo speakers. I did look into them, and they look like they are great speakers. I just didn't want to go down that road to get them.

I listened to quite a few sets of speakers before choosing these. To my ears they sounded the best for the price and for what they are. Iggy Pop's "Search and destroy", and "Guns of Brixton" by the Clash sound great through them. Only spending a fraction of my budget on these means I can buy better components, or a better kit for the towers when I am ready to do them. I can also address any lack of bass at that point.

After 10 years or so of building close to 20 guitars, building 2 tube amps from the ground up, modifying a dozen or so tube amps, and countless guitar pedals. I decided to try something else. I love to tinker with things and the journey of how to get a great setup is probably equally as important to me than getting there. To me what I bought is a great start for my system. If they don't fit in down the road, I am not out much and I can sell them for what I paid for them.

Going to see all the equipment, and speakers yesterday really opened my eyes to what all is out there. I'm excited to do some more research on amps, and speakers. I'm slowly selling off some of my guitars and amps that I feel I can part with. As I make room in my music room I am sure I will add more stereo equipment in there.
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didn't care what you purchased but your music choice pointed toward a bass head, the NHT isn't that lol.

as I said, great choice if adding a sub, they were really meant to be paired with one, and there's nothing wrong with that, my favorite speakers were designed as such.
Screenshot_20210417-014213.png
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NHT makes subs and you can most likely find one that works well, the Rythmik F12SE would make them endgame.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/hometh...subwoofers/rythmik-audio-f12se-subwoofer/amp/
 
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Grenadeslio said:
didn't care what you purchased but your music choice pointed toward a bass head, the NHT isn't that lol.

as I said, great choice if adding a sub, they were really meant to be paired with one, and there's nothing wrong with that, my favorite speakers were designed as such.
View attachment 2322952
View attachment 2322950
View attachment 2322951

NHT makes subs and you can most likely find one that works well, the Rythmik F12SE would make them endgame.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/hometh...subwoofers/rythmik-audio-f12se-subwoofer/amp/
Click to expand...
That looks like quite the set up. I will look into a powered sub and see what that is like. I can put one under my desk pretty easy.

Thanks for the link.
 
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