£600 budget options? SMSL AO300+wharfdale 12.2?

Caporegime
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22 Nov 2005
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Thinking about getting an amp and some decent bookshelf speakers.

Would be upgrading from Eris 4.5 Studio Monitors

I'm thinking SMSL a0300 + wharfdale 12.2 for near field listening


any better options? maybe for the amp? AO300 is only 200 I could spend another hundred or so, but don't want a massive amp as it has to sit on my desk.

I was looking at the fosi etc but really want an optical input on the amp
 
any better options? maybe for the amp? AO300 is only 200 I could spend another hundred or so, but don't want a massive amp as it has to sit on my desk.

I was looking at the fosi etc but really want an optical input on the amp
I have a Denon CEOL N10 for this purpose which is not tiny but a lot smaller than a standard amp and has dual optical inputs, remote, airplay/tidal connect etc built in. Think they are about £300.
 
Was looking at the kefQ150 and almost pulled the trigger, then read a lot of people had problems with the cones cracking.. apparently even when only played at low levels over their short life time. on photos it literally looks like someone took a knife to the cones

Also every amp I read about on forums that has great reviews seems to be discontinued and hard to get hold off lol...

I think I might just get powered studio monitors again, was looking at the yamaha hs7, as I'm used to neutral sounding speakers anyway I guess using them as every day pc speakers won't be an issue for me.

Eris 4.5 always sounded reasonably good imo, with movies and music I usually did Direct Mode from my sound card so no EQ etc and they always sounded really nice and clear to my untrained ears.
The left speaker amp always buzzed slightly, it's got worse over the last 5 years to the point where the cone amplifies it, touching the cone lightly makes it almost inaudible :/ otherwise I'd probably just stick with them.


I can literally spend like 800 or more but it doesn't make it any easier a choice because Nearfield... maybe I should just move my PC to the centre of the room lol have the speakers about 6ft away, apartment life so my neighbours probably wouldn't like that :/

Why did someone have to invent good sounding headphones and destroy the pc speaker market
 
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Was looking at the kefQ150 and almost pulled the trigger, then read a lot of people had problems with the cones cracking.. apparently even when only played at low levels over their short life time. on photos it literally looks like someone took a knife to the cones

Also every amp I read about on forums that has great reviews seems to be discontinued and hard to get hold off lol...

I think I might just get powered studio monitors again, was looking at the yamaha hs7, as I'm used to neutral sounding speakers anyway I guess using them as every day pc speakers won't be an issue for me.

Eris 4.5 always sounded reasonably good imo, with movies and music I usually did Direct Mode from my sound card so no EQ etc and they always sounded really nice and clear to my untrained ears.
The left speaker amp always buzzed slightly, it's got worse over the last 5 years to the point where the cone amplifies it, touching the cone lightly makes it almost inaudible :/ otherwise I'd probably just stick with them.


I can literally spend like 800 or more but it doesn't make it any easier a choice because Nearfield... maybe I should just move my PC to the centre of the room lol have the speakers about 6ft away, apartment life so my neighbours probably wouldn't like that :/

Why did someone have to invent good sounding headphones and destroy the pc speaker market

I really wouldn't be put off the KEF's tbh, they are amazing price to performance speakers and coaxial drivers work so well for near field listening.

I've had a good look around and regarding the driver breakages it's not 'lot' in the grand scheme of things, I have two sets of Q100s and have driven them quite hard with no issues.

I'd recommend the following for a 'hi-fi' desktop setup

Mission 778X stereo amplifier, good desktop size, built-in DAC with USB so ideal for PC use and a pair Kef Q150s, on offer from KEF at the moment (£299).

I like the Yamaha HS speakers as well, but like you say you have to be used to that type of sound, they are very analytical, not the most musical sounding speaker but then they aren't deigned to be.
 
Nice! They are lovely speakers, the 7's being bigger have better bass over that of their little siblings, hopes you have many year of enjoyment from them.
Yea they seem to have quite a lot of bass.
My rooms only about 9x13ft and I'm a corner which kinda amplifies it a lot I guess...

but I can't have a desk and tons of power cables etc pulled out a few feet from both walls, I'm not mixing anyway so whatever still sounds really good, got the room control at -4 but the boom is still real.

mPjuG82.jpeg


Since bought some ISOAcoustics stands so about 5 inches off the desk and angled upwards slightly.

Neighbours can definitely hear the booming bass even on low volumes :D maybe the hs5 would have been better suited :D

Tracks like this my neighbours can probably hear from 2 doors a long even when its not really loud

I'm connected to a soundcard so can adjust the EQ on the bass anyway for evenings etc
 
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