Do speakers need room to breath

[Tweaky]

You can try and run BIG floor standing speakers in a small room.....the only recommendation I could make if you were to do so is to use solid core speaker cables

But the sound you will get from doing so will be very much like listening through headphones.

Truth be known it is a big ask,the solid core will diminish most over action of a bass reflex designed speaker....but over driving the SPACE will always be a problem [try mode cal to find your rooms Achilles heel] and work with that .

Heaps of links at this site to help you sort it.

http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html

[Audiobugged]

Sliksilvia,

Echo some of the perceptions of other members - they do know their stuff. Try not to get the concept 10's for the bedroom, unless you've got a huge room. The bass can be overpowering - try before you buy... The ikon 6's have definitely got much less bass than the concept 10's (they're very bass light for their size, but what bass they do have is well controlled and defined) but they really need room to breathe as well. Having checked out JB hifi selections, I'd definitely go for the ikon 2's myself at this price - they are a steal (especially if you can get the ikon 6's at that price). The ikon 6's are also fantastic for the living room, but they will benefit from pairing with a sub, especially considering your taste in music.

Also, what are your source and amplification? With the money saved, you could put this into getting better quality partnering equipment instead...

AB

[sliksilvia]

i havent purchased ANY equipment so far.

i wont be going the concept 10's there just too big

[2sheds]

are expensive speaker cables really worth paying for??[/b]

Whoa! Careful sliksylvia! Asking that question around here is a bit like going over to the middle east and asking " Ok, you guys, who started this...?" :biggrin:

And besides, if they're not worth it, there's gonna be a lot of guys around here, who'll have a lot of explaining to do to their wives....!!

Seriously though, I would start with something basic like this at $2.85 a metre, which will get you started, Once you have listened to your system and know it's ups and downs pretty weel, you might think of buying some better cable to complement (or correct) the sound. I would however, spend a little on some better interconnect cables (which connect your CD to the amplifier)- the cords which come in the box definitely do restrict the sound.

cheers

2sheds

P.S. And $2.5k will be more than enough to buy a very good amp and CD for example, the Marantz PM 7000 KI (the KI part is important) and a Marantz CD 6002

both of these have been voted top of their class recently.

[sliksilvia]

2sheds thanks very much for that info, i have been listening two a Marantz CD & Amp combo in the shop so ill find out if this is the same model number

will the Marantz amp you have suggested power the Dali IKON 6's easily???

[2sheds]

2sheds thanks very much for that info, i have been listening two a Marantz CD & Amp combo in the shop so ill find out if this is the same model number

will the Marantz amp you have suggested power the Dali IKON 6's easily???[/b]

sliksilvia

It will be a walk in the park for the Marantz. The IKON 6 is a pretty efficient speaker (the way us hifi nuts measure how much power you need to produce a certain volume), so the Marantz will probably blow you away in the bedroom (if you want). There is a plain vanilla version of the Marantz amp (PM7001) which has similar power to the PM7001 KI. It hasn't got all the high quality electronics which have been added to the KI version, but the retail price is $600 cheaper. Still a very good amp, just not the same magic as it's twin. If you can hear them side by side, see whether you feel the extra dollars is worth it. Always take a CD of something you know very well.

Good luck and let me know how it all goes.

cheers

2sheds

[scuzzii]

In a word yes.

That is if you want a speaker to perform the way it is intended.

But unless you have a very large bedroom i'd avoid such large boxes.

As it would be wise to get them at least a meter away from any boundry you may not have much room left to setup the correct listening position.[/b]

Joz, sage advice. It is a rule of mine to avoid large boxes in the bedroom...

[b.d]

$500 buck for a Behringer DEQ2496 parametric equalizer (outboard dac optional) and get the biggest speakers you can (all other things being equal).

I took mine over to a mates house recently for him to listen to, he was using big B&W 603's in a room the size of my bathroom. Predictably bass running amuck, +15db at 50hz. Night and day difference after running auto EQ bellow 300hz. As had had plenty headroom to spare we also flattened them down to 20 which improved dvd content. By far the biggest improvement you could get for $500 in a situation like this.

Eq will not help the lack of imaging cause by pushing speakers up against the wall, thats to do with high frequency arrival times. Passive treatment the way to go.

Bookshelves with sub is also a good idea. $200 for a Behringer DSP 1124 on the sub and you're styling.

If you arent looking for a full range system my vote would go for Dynaudio 42W, their on wall version. Their new active speaker could also be worth a look at if you dont have an amp already, it has fairly flexible bass contouring, though nothing like PEQ.

Eq will let you make the most out of what little advantage small rooms offer. Otherwise I reckon you'll be fighting a loosing.

Cheers

B.