Thanks guys. Will look into all of those. |
Sound stage is not a big consideration for me in this application so that might not be an issue.
Here is a question about the Klispch (and probably other brands as well): Klipsch makes a floor standing (tower type) speaker that have one tweeter and one woofer. It is their lowest end floor speaker. As best I can tell it is the same tweeter and woofer that comes in one of their bookshelf speakers. The towers cost about $100 more.
Just wondering what you get out of the tower that you don't get out of the bookshelf with the same woofer and tweeter? Better bass from the bass port on the tower? Different crossover? |
Okay, here is a dumb question: How do you hook a powered sub to a 1980's era receiver? It has 'record out' via RCA and it has two banks (A/B) of speaker connections. There is no other line out. No Sub out of course. |
Thanks mrdecibel. I tried this briefly with a B&W sub that I had but it was just a muddy rumble. But now I'm pretty sure I did something wrong. Gave the B&W back to its owner.
builder3, good info. I asked this same question in another thread since it had not been answered here and it also seems like better and deeper bass is possible with the tower due to cabinet/port configuration.
In my specific case it would actually be easier to place a tower than a bookshelf so now I am leaning toward a lower end tower. If the bass is indeed okay (and okay is all I really need) then I might not need a sub at all. Which would also be good since space is tight. |
glupson said: "I do not have an answer to sub question but, the way it seems from here, you will be replacing that Toshiba receiver much sooner than you now think."
I am trying to resist the impulse but you are probably right. But I can hardly bear the thought of not using the old Toshiba. I think I got it in 1980. My Dad got it from his friend who sold Toshiba gear. I think it was a floor model because there was no way I could have afforded it new, although it did come in the original box. I remember seeing it on the cover of some stereo magazine and it got good reviews if I recall. It went with me through college and med school. Pretty amazing to think it has been running all these years.
It has a loudness button. I like that.
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The Toshiba is how I got into hi-fi. It was starting to get static and noise when changing volume etc and I was ready to toss it.
I knew my brother-in-law had a system in his (dark, dank) basement that he'd gotten from a cousin. I borrowed it from him. That is my current system. He does not want it.
Then I read online about some sort of spray you can spray into the pots on audio gear. I don't remember the name. $15 for a little can. Opened up the receiver, sprayed stuff on pots. It worked great. All issues resolved. So Toshiba is back at cabin. Hi-fi system is in my house in town.
Music is always on at the cabin. Even bring the speakers out on the porch when I'm working outside. |
Well, I’ve definitely got the bug. Putting together something nicer at the cabin on a small budget has its appeal.
However, I’m here at the cabin right now and to be honest these little Bose speakers don’t sound all that bad when positioned properly and with 12 gauge speaker wire rather than 18. I know Bose is a passé brand that folks love to hate but in this environment I can’t fault these 2.2s much. Maybe just my untrained ears.
I’m enjoying listening to them and it really doesn’t make sense to spend money where I don’t need to. So, will probably save for a better DAC and/ or a Node 2 for the home system.
I’ll admit I’m a little disappointed not to be on the market to upgrade as it is fun....just no real need now.
Being content can be a bummer. ;-)
Any way, I do appreciate all the good advice. And once my daughter and her husband move out of my cabin when their home is finished I may rethink this.
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Yes, my daughter and her husband have been in the cabin for a few months. Love them both and we like to hang out a lot. But, they aren't music lovers and I'll be real happy when their house is done. About another month or so.
mrdecibel you did recommend putting a book on my CD player. I don't know how much difference it makes but I do it now, particularly on cheap flimsy feeling players like the $14 job I have down there.
Anyway, I'm now going to make little shelves to set the speakers on. The cabin walls are flat-faced logs so it will be easy to mount them and I've found a sweet spot for them.
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I've got a stash of red cedar planks....... |
Finished the shelves for my old Bose speakers. Nothing fancy but they will do and have enough room for a little aiming if necessary.
Up until now they have been sitting on the floor, which is pretty much the worst place for this sort of speaker. I'm sure they'll sound much better at ear level. Bass port faces out.
The cabin is pretty rustic. My daughter (who helped me build it, along with many others, when she was in elementary school) is peeved that I'm mounting speakers on the wall next to an antique Winchester cartridge board and deer horns. The things we do for music.
Maybe I'll tell her that I'll take them down if she gets me a nice set of towers for Christmas! |
Reviving an old thread. Was listening to some good recordings down at the cabin and found myself disappointed even with the minimal expectations that low end system warrants.
So now I'm looking around for some low priced speakers but will probably go with some small tower speakers since placement of bookshelf speakers has turned out to be a problem. Given space constraints the only options are too low or too high.
But as I was looking at bookshelf speaker again it became apparent that most bookshelf speakers have the base port in the rear.
Why would you put the bass port in the rear for speakers which are, almost by definition, going on shelf or a wall or fairly close to a wall? It looks like Klipsch has discontinued all of its bookshelf speakers with forward facing base ports.
I know they can go on stands. I've considered that option but would prefer a tower if I'm going to do that. I'm looking at a low end Polk Audio tower with downward facing base port. |
Well, I found a pair of Polk Audio Monitor 70 tower speakers on CL for cheap and I put in an offer for them. They are like new.
I know they are low end but still likely to be much better than my Bose 2.2s.
It will be interesting to see if my 25wpc receiver will drive them.
@loomisjohnson , I came across an ad on CL for a vintage audio shop in Greensboro, NC with tons of 1980's era speakers and components most of which the owner has refurbished. Mostly mid-fi stuff but some serious hi-fi stuff too. Prices are good but some of the JBLs and such are still very pricey. I'll be passing through there next month. If these Polk towers don't work out I'll give them away and get something at that shop.
I'll be lucky to get out of there with my shirt! I've only been into hi-fi for less than a year and I'm already in danger of accumulating more stuff than I need and in this case it won't even be hi-fi but current and 1980's lo-fi and mid-fi! |
So here's the end of the story:
Got the Polk Audio Monitor 70's for $180. They are in near mint condition.
Yes, they do sound way better than the Bose 2.2s.
In fact they sound quite good driven by my 40 year old 25 watt Toshiba. They tend to be a slightly boomy at times but the bass port faces the front so I may play around with damping them a little. They seem to be clear and resolving and the soundstage is respectable for such a meager receiver and speaker combo. I'm pretty impressed.
They will be more than sufficient for the cabin.
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