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Showing 1 of 108 conversations about:
keith.f.kelly
4
Nov 23, 2017
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SkipPpAnyone who says “you don’t need a sub for listening to music” obviously has zero idea what they are talking about.
onoduras
54
Nov 24, 2017
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keith.f.kellySpoken like someone who's never listened to even half-decent, properly-powered, full-range stereo speakers. Even back in the 70's you could get speakers that could power a block party, no subwoofer required. If you meant to provide some clarification to your uninformed and flat-out wrong opinion, you should have done so, like: "If you want to listen to Noisia loud enough to shake pictures off your walls, then you have to have a powered sub." There are a lot of situations where subs are a pleasant bonus, or yes, even required - but saying you can ONLY properly enjoy music if you have a sub is just silly.
keith.f.kelly
4
Nov 24, 2017
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onodurasYour assumptions about my experience are wrong, as is your assertion that a sub isn't needed to fully enjoy music of pretty much any genre. But hey, it's your right to be wrong, so keep on being so if you want to be.
onoduras
54
Nov 28, 2017
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keith.f.kelly In fact, it is pretty easy to buy a POS subwoofer (or 2.1/home theater kit) that will make your music sound muddy and boomy. Many home theater kits have tiny satellites that can't produce anything smooth or warm so you end up with a hyperactive bass end and no mids (or booming mids, depending how high the crossover is set) with shrill treble, same for 2.1 computer speakers.
Or, if you get a decent subwoofer, it's easy to connect or configure it incorrectly and make your music sound boomy and hollow. The most important thing in buying audio gear is how it sounds to you - but you have to train your ears to learn what music should sound like or you'll convince yourself that the speaker equivalent of Skol vodka is just as good as Stolichnaya.
Just about any set of floor speakers - cheap ones like Sony or Yamaha or higher end offerings from JBL, Polk, or Infinity (and yes, higher still like KEF, B&W, etc) - powered with a full-bandwidth amp, will provide enough bass (with much more balanced frequency response up through the mids and treble) for anyone. Even playing bass-heavy music like Snoop or Lil Jon, Ultrablack or Noisia, Chemical Brothers or Moby, a full-range floor speaker with a 6" driver and 50+ watts per channel will give solid, though not earth-shaking, bass. Moving up to an 8", 10", or bigger main driver will steadily improve that thump element as larger cones mean more air movement. Corresponding power increases will also improve that low-end reach.
I have a subwoofer but I do not use it in my apartment because it's too loud, for the small space, even when set correctly. That's why I have several nice headphones. :)
Oh, but you don't listen to headphones, because they don't have a subwoofer. :P
onoduras
54
Nov 28, 2017
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BowlerSo dude, you can get some pretty decent offerings from Logitech these days, for about $30-$60 dollars if you're on a budget. (Logitech 2.0 Z200 is $22 from Amazon; or the 2.1 Z323 for $38) If you're looking to use it with your TV be sure to check that the speakers offer the correct inputs and buy the appropriate adapters. I have yet to listen to any myself, but I see that you can get sound bars for around $80 with 40W of power, which should be PLENTY of power for a small room. Most of these tiny sound bars (and portable bluetooth speakers) use dynamic EQ to maximize available power across the frequency spectrum so a little power goes a long way.
If you're looking for something more 'audiophile', the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 is a very solid product and has been around for more than 15 years. The subwoofer is very powerful, so it is probably not a good choice if you're in a small apartment or otherwise need to keep the noise levels down. Amazon has them for $150. Logitech also has some excellent offerings at this price range.
You might also try some self-powered speakers. The AudioEngine A2+ is something I have experience with, but is a bit more premium at $250. Klipsch also offers the R-15PM for $339. Check Amazon for similar speakers, like the Edifier R980T for $60. There are lots of cheap Chinese speakers around that price - just make sure they are covered under the Amazon return policy so you can return them when they suck. :D But don't let one or two crappy experiences make you stop experimenting.
You could also go the T-amp route; get a super-cheap 2x20W t-amp and a pair of passive bookshelf speakers at whatever price point you feel is reasonable. I have some low-end Dayton bookshelf speakers that cost something like $50 and don't sound half-bad for a small room. Going this route you could get a pretty good (and upgradable) system that won't cost more than $100 for your initial investment. Getting a $50 t-amp to power a $124 set of Klipsch R-15M would give you top-notch sound for less than $200; though personally I'd buy a refurbished Marantz receiver (like the 2220B) from Ebay or a local electronics store/pawn shop for about $300 and then experiment with speakers that are to your taste - but then you have the size of the old amplifier to consider. :P
If you're looking for something more 'audiophile', the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 is a very solid product and has been around for more than 15 years. The subwoofer is very powerful, so it is probably not a good choice if you're in a small apartment or otherwise need to keep the noise levels down. Amazon has them for $150. Logitech also has some excellent offerings at this price range.
You might also try some self-powered speakers. The AudioEngine A2+ is something I have experience with, but is a bit more premium at $250. Klipsch also offers the R-15PM for $339. Check Amazon for similar speakers, like the Edifier R980T for $60. There are lots of cheap Chinese speakers around that price - just make sure they are covered under the Amazon return policy so you can return them when they suck. :D But don't let one or two crappy experiences make you stop experimenting.
You could also go the T-amp route; get a super-cheap 2x20W t-amp and a pair of passive bookshelf speakers at whatever price point you feel is reasonable. I have some low-end Dayton bookshelf speakers that cost something like $50 and don't sound half-bad for a small room. Going this route you could get a pretty good (and upgradable) system that won't cost more than $100 for your initial investment. Getting a $50 t-amp to power a $124 set of Klipsch R-15M would give you top-notch sound for less than $200; though personally I'd buy a refurbished Marantz receiver (like the 2220B) from Ebay or a local electronics store/pawn shop for about $300 and then experiment with speakers that are to your taste - but then you have the size of the old amplifier to consider. :P
keith.f.kelly
4
Nov 29, 2017
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onodurasLike I said, it is your right to be wrong, and I'm obviously not going to change your mind.
rastus
1391
Feb 1, 2018
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onodurasToo funny, perception today is based on little speakers, that do need subs, many nowadays simply have never listened to "Old School". My Klipsch KLF-20's do not need a "sub-woofer", they came built-in back then,, four 10" ones. Never did a block party, but have had them out on the deck for fun, cranked they give you a home outdoor concert feel, need warning zone cones around them;) The KLF-30's must be even more fun...
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