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Compact powered remotes

 

I struggle with deciding which compact, powered remote speakers to get. I was hoping to get some advice here.

The remote speaker pair will replace four Minimus 7s far away from the mains and the sub, and elevated, on the other end of the same large, open space (high ceiling). They’ll be connected to and fed by a WiiM Mini that picks up the wireless signal from a WiiM Pro Plus that is also sourcing everything for the mains and remotes.

I listen to a broad range of music, mainly via music services, vinyl and CDs.

Ideally the remotes are on the smaller side, compact, and still produce clear, well articulated, accurate, balanced sound in all frequencies, even at lower volumes. Some of the sub that is with the mains is still audible where the remotes will be so they can support the low ends a little bit, meaning the remotes don’t have to go super low (although it wouldn’t hurt if they can go a little below 55 Hz). A bit of a wider dispersion wouldn’t hurt either I guess.

Below is a list of my current contenders.

I read tons of reviews and looked at all the specs. Still not sure what’s best for my setup/situation.

Maybe some of you here have some real life experience with some of the listed models, or/and have an idea how they’d compare in my setup.

Dynaudio Xeo 2

Dynaudio LYD7

Dynaudio BM5A

Vanatoo T0

Fluance ai61

Tannoy Gold 7

Klipsch R-51PM

SVS Prime Wireless Pro

Q Acoustics M20

Airmotiv 6

Focal Shape 65

Adam T7V

Elac Connex DCB41

Some of them are above my budget ($650 max), in which case I’d try to find a good deal in the used or refurbished markets.

 

Thank you!

raphaz
raphaz OP
34 posts
 

I ended up getting a pair of used Q Acoustics M20 for a god price. 

Now it's about setting it up as soon as I can carve out enough time. 
The plan for now is to have the Wiim Pro+ serve as intake for all sources (music services, TT and CD), with a pre/switch to pick the source; the receiver (an R-2000) will basically serve as the amp, feeding the wired mains (floor standers and sub) and the Pro+ sends directly to the Wiim Mini for the remotes.

raphaz OP
34 posts
 

I hooked the Wiim Mini up to the M20 via 3.5 mm Line out to 3.5 mm Aux in.
Almost done. But:

The M20 has an auto-standby function that kicks in after 20 min inactivity (apparently EU market requirement) - smart but annoying. It would be tolerable if it would automatically turn back on when sound is detected. Unfortunately it does not. It needs to be turned on manually (at least for me), plus, it forgets it’s volume setting each time.
I have the M20s elevated and can’t easily get to them, and the remote has a hard time turning it on (distance or angle?) It takes to click on power and ANA on the remote a couple times, and I have to turn the volume on the Mini up a lot for the M20a to eventually wake up.

Apparently the auto shut off on the M20 can’t be turned off. Q Acoustics blames the EU regulations (even though this was sold here in the US) but doesn’t offer a workaround or an option to shut that function off.
It’s a shame as the M20s seem to be a great value otherwise.

Is there anything I can do to turn off that auto shut-down?
Or even better, is there a workaround for me to make the speakers come back on automatically when sound is detected (even at lower volumes)?

Thank you for advice in advance!

raphaz OP
34 posts
 

I guess I’ll take that standby/auto on business to a separate thread 

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