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Speakers for bad rock recordings

I'm kind of stuck, my music collection is about 90% average and bad recordings, some very bad. I listen to a lot of rock, metal and punk. I live in an apartment too, which means I want them to be able to sound good at moderately low listening volume. I also like 'live' sounding speakers like my Klipsch's, but they do create a alot of fatigue.

I really like the way my Grado SR80's make even my worst metal recording sound good, so I was thinking maybe there's a speaker that's similar? Right now my amp is a Onkyo A-9555, which is neutral sounding and has about 85 real wpc.

I can only afford to spend about $600, maybe a little more if I have to.
mstapletn
saki70
907 posts
 
Yes , you do not want to leave a tubed device on all of the time . It will wear out the tubes prematurally .
Why do you 'tend' to do that ? Memory ?

Another alternative would be to try some non-tubed DAC's . You might find one that would allow you to tailer/color the output to your desires . Sort of like the tubes would do .

Good luck .
mstapletn OP
6 posts
 
Because I use the amp for the PC, music and movies. Sometimes I forget to turn it off because I'm using it all the time.

Basically I'm just looking for speakers for my apartment that don't have to be loud to sound good, and make bad metal recordings sound pretty good. Like the Grado phones. Metal heads love Grado.
kirkus
502 posts
 
Another unorthodox (in 'audiophile' circles) suggestion: B&O Beolab Penta, an early pair (Penta I) can probably be had for your budget. I've owned a couple of different pairs and lived with them in apartments . . . and for rock, metal, and punk, they will do exactly what you're after.

The bass response is full and warm but not boomy, but slightly gritty in a way that fits this music well -- the bass has some adjustability as well. The Penta I's lack a bit of sparkle for classical and jazz, but really bring a sizzly rock/punk recording into nice focus. They crank up really well . . . but also hold together at low volumes.

Oh and they look cool, hold their value well, are relatively insensitve to room placement, and have pretty decent monoblock power-amps built in. RCA out from your preamp (or variable out from CD, DAC, or phonostage) is all that's required.
mstapletn OP
6 posts
 
I saw and ad for a pair of Phase Technology PC80's someone is selling locally for $100. Blindjim recommended those. I might also try to find some old Advents, I know they come up for sale often here.

I'd rather be patient and buy locally to save on shipping, but buying that way I won't be able to get brands like Spendor and OHM Walsh, unless I wait a really long time.
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,687 posts
 
Speakers are not gonna solve your problem.A bad recording is a bad recording,that's just the way it is.Just my opinion.
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