Q on HiFi Speakers

deefstes

Seeing as I don't belong to HiFiForum.co.za or something like that and seeing as the folk here on GFSA are quite learned in these matters anyway, I thought I'd pose the question here.

I have a fairly oldish Technics HiFi (it was new some time around 1995). It's not great but it's not horrible either. It has a few different components but the part that really matters, I guess, is the amplifier which is a SU-X120 (http://www.hifiengine.com/library/technics/su-x120.shtml) if you must know.

Of all the elements of the HiFi though I think the speakers (SB-CD120) are probably the poorest. That, and they are pretty big. I've been thinking that I might get better quality sound and I might save some desk space if I get something more modern and compact.

But that is as far as I've been thinking. I know very little about modern HiFi systems and speakers and I have no idea where I should start looking and what criteria I should consider when replacing the speakers on this HiFi. I'm sure there are magnificent (and small) speakers available out there from the likes of Bose or KEF or We're-such-a-smart-brand-you-can't-even-pronounce-our-name but I'm not sure it would make sense to put too fancy a set of speakers on this not all that fancy HiFi.

Could anyone suggest anything that I should consider? Any shops in the Randburg area which I should consider? Could I expect to get something reasonable at around R1500? Do I need to worry about whether this particular amp would be able to drive the particular speakers?

Thanks in advance.

AlanRatcliffe

I'm sure some of the ~~audiofools~~ audiophiles like Wizard and Gearhead will chip in.

No, it's not a great amp, but you are 100% correct in surmising that your speakers will usually be your weakest link, and that's where it's easiest to make the most significant difference so if you are going to start upgrading, let it be there.

Fortunately with Hifi going through a big change over the last decade or so (to 5.1, 7.1, etc.) there are a lot of great stereo speakers, amps, etc. on the second hand market going at silly prices for what they are. So start scouting on Gumtree (I think a few guys here check on a daily basis themselves, so maybe someone will give you a headsup if and when they see something likely).

singemonkey

Yeah. I want to do this someday soon. The difference good speakers make is amazing. And I really desire nothing besides stereo. Am I silly to want a tube amp? ?

Wizard

Alan Ratcliffe wrote I'm sure some of the ~~audiofools~~ audiophiles like Wizard and Gearhead will chip in.

Certainly no audiophile, but agree that speakers can make a big difference.
And speaker cable. And you don't need that expensive stuff to get the big difference.
Recently bought a pair of AR18's from the old days for only 600 ront for the pair.
Plugged them in and they sounded just like I remember them.

Found a gumtree dealer who seems to sell decent stuff 2nd hand at decent prices.
His stock changes, so worth watching.
http://www.gumtree.co.za/c-PostersOtherAds-W0QQUserIdZ25065178

singemonkey wrote Yeah. I want to do this someday soon. The difference good speakers make is amazing. And I really desire nothing besides stereo. Am I silly to want a tube amp? ?

+1
I also want a tube amp.
Just because.

kayDUB

Also interested in this - you also need to match impedence and wattage?

I have an old Quad pre and power amp (tube!) I want to get fixed up, and then get some nice speakers for it... ?

Gearhead

Being a self-confessed audiophile there's not much advice I can give OP on the budget he's given ? apart from buying second hand.

What I can do is tell you what I did when my budget was small (but bigger than R1.5k): I made speakers according to some existing design with high-end drivers. Unlike guitars (that you should not build yourself for saving even one Rand) there is a lot of advantage in making the box out of a piece of MDF (=Supawood) and some very good components: you get to have verrry nice speakers for about the same you'd have spent in a Hifi store for crappy stuff like Bose.
In acoustic guitar equivalent: building speakers is like spending Cort money and getting Martin tone. Not: spending second hand Santa Fe/ Ritmueller money and getting Cort tone.

The power and impedance matching is as important as it is with guitar speakers, but the good news is that 16ohm does not exist. Most drivers will be 4 or 8 and most speakers have an impedance curve that puts them somewhere in between. The flatter the curve, the more forgiving the speaker is for poorly designed amps.

Take a look at the 1000000 threads on diyaudio.com, many very knowledgeable folk there and lotsa questions like these, all answered properly. Even advice in OP's budget range.

PS I don't count myself as an audiofool: I spent less than a Gibson on my entire Hifi setup, with Vifa/Visaton/Seas components in the speakers, Shanling tube 24/96 disc player, Vandenhul cables and Yarland 300B tube amp. I just prey that the output tubes will last, a new set of 300B's goes from 6k up to about 12k. Seriously...

deefstes

Gearhead wrote Being a self-confessed audiophile there's not much advice I can give OP on the budget he's given ? apart from buying second hand.

What I can do is tell you what I did when my budget was small (but bigger than R1.5k): I made speakers according to some existing design with high-end drivers. Unlike guitars (that you should not build yourself for saving even one Rand) there is a lot of advantage in making the box out of a piece of MDF (=Supawood) and some very good components: you get to have verrry nice speakers for about the same you'd have spent in a Hifi store for crappy stuff like Bose.
In acoustic guitar equivalent: building speakers is like spending Cort money and getting Martin tone. Not: spending second hand Santa Fe/ Ritmueller money and getting Cort tone.

The power and impedance matching is as important as it is with guitar speakers, but the good news is that 16ohm does not exist. Most drivers will be 4 or 8 and most speakers have an impedance curve that puts them somewhere in between. The flatter the curve, the more forgiving the speaker is for poorly designed amps.

Take a look at the 1000000 threads on diyaudio.com, many very knowledgeable folk there and lotsa questions like these, all answered properly. Even advice in OP's budget range.

PS I don't count myself as an audiofool: I spent less than a Gibson on my entire Hifi setup, with Vifa/Visaton/Seas components in the speakers, Shanling tube 24/96 disc player, Vandenhul cables and Yarland 300B tube amp. I just prey that the output tubes will last, a new set of 300B's goes from 6k up to about 12k. Seriously...

Thanks for the advice, although I must confess that it's not what I was hoping to hear ? I'd probably enjoy making a set of speakers from MDF. I'm not averse to the occasional DIY'ing but right now I don't imagine I'd find time for that any time soon.

Just curious, you don't seem to be very enamoured with Bose speakers? I was labouring under the assumption that they're quite good. I'm not up to date on what the good brands are so would you mind dropping a few names on me so that I know what to look for and what to ignore when I scour the Junktrees? What's the story with KEF, Boston Acoustic, JBL, Jamo, Wharfedale (those are just some other names that I always assumed were good)? How about Logitech (Just kidding!) ?

Have you got any strong opinions on any of the following three deals?
Bose 161 for R2,500 -> http://soundimports.co.za/bose/161-speaker-system/
Boston Acoustic A23 for R2,000 -> http://www.catsdigital.co/index.php/boston-a23-bookshelf-black.html
Wharfedale Diamond 10.2 for R2,077 -> http://purpleflytrading.co.za/shopping/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=269927

Thanks man

Bob-Dubery

Get some powered studio monitors and drive them from the line out. Or from an i-pod.

deefstes

X-rated Bob wrote Get some powered studio monitors and drive them from the line out. Or from an i-pod.

Hmm, maybe something I should consider because I've been lusting after a set of studio monitors for recording purposes as well...