The lower end speaker line of Rowen can be upgraded to active speakers with an amp in the base that includes a switchable bass-EQ https://www.rowen.ch/en/data/rowen_sa2bi.php
The higher end speaker line base amp upgrade to an active speaker includes an adjustable 3-way EQ.https://www.rowen.ch/en/data/rowen_socle_bi.php
Starting mostly from the mid-range, like the S6 in the Symphony line, their speakers can be positioned against the wall. https://www.rowen.ch/en/fullbipol.php
Add ProAc Tablette 10 and Tablette 10 Signature to the list. These latest incarnations from the pen of the late Stuart Tyler are now fully sealed and no longer have a rear port. They can go right up against the wall.
Donald is saying that one of his issues is complaints from his neighbours about bass. I am wondering if using speakers against a wall may not exacerbate the problem, especially if it is a party wall?
Absolutely, itās on my mind. The Rowen speakers, Iām thinking either the S6 or the S10, depending on what is meant by switchable bass-EQ and how it differs from the adjustable 3-way EQ, would be placed close to or against a wall that is looking to the outside of the building. The Devialet Phantoms are slightly pointed upwards and the sound travels through the ceiling to the neighbors above me (only those can hear the music). Iāll have to see. Against the wall might still be an issue. Close to the wall might be less of an issue than the Devialets in my situation.
Edit - after I read up on the active version of these speakers, it involves way more electronics which increases the complexity. The passive S6, which are quite affordable, are the preferred option at this point even if there is no way to control the bass. The Rowen speakers are ideally placed 20-25 cm from the wall.
Your problem with your neighbours requires that you restrict bass extension so that the lengthy wavelengths of low frequencies are not transmitted through the structure of your building.
Loudspeakers with switchable EQ do not restrict bass extension but seek to maintain it but without exaggeration caused by the fact that the closer speakers are to the wall bass increases ( think of the wall as a mirror at these frequencies). So you will still be producing bass which may disturb your neighbours. Instead you need to restrict bass extension.
Coupled to the above is due consideration of the sound levels that you play at. Basically apartment dwellers cannot easily enjoy full range sound at the levels heard for rock or EDM music at a club or live venue without upsetting the neighbours.
Those Rowen speakers are large and although I cannot find specifications I would not expect them to suit your and your neighbours need. This is why small speakers with extraordinary midrange clarity but restricted bass extension like the LS3/5A have been suggested. Unfortunately the audiophile ideal of full range sound at realistic sound levels is not easily attainable ( or at all) unless you have a dedicated room in detached premises. It is compromise otherwise.
Increased living in apartments and the impact of sound systems on others has led to the increase in the head-fi market where great sound can be enjoyed without disturbing others.
So I think you can enjoy a satisfying 2 channel sound at reasonable sound levels albeit with restricted low bass and have top level headphones for times that you want to rock out ( as it were).
Other solutions such as soundproofing are, frankly, not easily doable in an apartment where you do not have access to the building structure as pretty heroic steps are needed to deal with bass frequencies e.g. suspending the listening room from rubber girders. Impractical for domestic circumstances.
Ok, now I got it. Thatās the best option in my situation.
I will just mention that if you want to think of something a bit larger but still a standmount i.e. a larger bookshelf design, a friend who is also an apartment dweller is very happy with KEF R3 Meta. They really need the dedicated stands so a little away from the wall and, in his case, use of the supplied foam bass port bungs.
Just a thought.
These KEF R3 Meta look nice.
This is a nice solutionā¦??
Harbeth Nelson = Bass Extender + Stand Solution
I have nothing against the product but how does a bass extender which provides bass down to 30Hz help someone whose problem is complaints about bass from his neighbours?
One thing that you can do with studio mount speakers like the Harbeths and BBC inspired monitors is listen near-field - even as close as 3 ft away. A near-field setup allows one to listen at a lower volume and still hear the full range of what the speaker can offer. BBC speakers were designed to be used this way and sound quite good ā almost like giant headphones!
Strauss SE-NF-3 studio monitors I had thought about. The room is 55 square meters (living and dining room combined) and I think I can work something out with the neighbors. Iāll see in the new year.
If I had to rank them, first the Rowen S6 (passive, the active just come with a +/- 3dB bass switch and require more electronics/wiring), second the LS3/5A, third the KEF R3 Meta. The latter two require at least 60 cm stands. Aesthetically, the Rowen S6 appeal to me the most at the moment. Acoustically, Iāll have to find out. In the German reviews people are gushing over the SQ of the LS3/5A.
I use a LINA in a reasonably high end system and can assure you that your dealer is in error. The LINA is simply fabulous in 2 channel stereo.
Responding here in the context of LS3/4A speakers. I have a Bartok APEX and Harbeth P3ESR speakers, and Luxman amp, and itās a fantastic system! I listen most often at low volume and I miss nothing. The music just emanates beautifully from the system. It can also play well at higher volumes.
This is in a fairly small, well dampened room (my home office) but I can easily imagine it working out well in a larger space.
I give credit too to the amp speaker pairing. The Luxman knows how to handle the Harbeths, itās in control. Apparently a high damping factor helps this.
The Aurender + dCS Bartok source gives the system a beautiful signal to convey. I may add the Lina clock someday. I use the Bartok with headphones too.
I wonder how old the advice from the dealer for @mech was?
Firstly, this thread is about the use of Lina DAC in a 2 channel system. Lina DAC does not involve the headphone aspect which is a separate headphone amplifier unit and which one need not purchase if uninterested in this aspect.
Further v.2 of the software adds features like balance and remote controls making 2 channel use more practical.
One for @Phil:please advise whoever is responsible for Only the Music website that Software History needs updating regarding the above as only v.1 is listed.
The Rowen speakers are no good in the passive version, Iāve read, and Pete is right about placing them close to the wall. They would create more of an issue with noise to neighbouring apartments than they would solve. This leaves the LS3/5A as the ābudgetā option and the Avantgarde UNO SD iTRON version as the high-end option for low volume listening. The latter are humongous, very heavy, and super expensive but reportedly sound really good at low volume.
There is a third option, the Avantgarde Acoustic ZERO iTRON. These speakers are compact enough, can be placed against the wall, work like monitors, and can be listened to at low volume. They are active speakers and come with a DSP.
https://avantgarde-acoustic.de/en/products/zero-itron/?_gl=1*nxykta*_up*MQā¦_gsMQā¦_gaMTU4MjQ3MzIwMi4xNzM2MDAxOTc4*_ga_ZTS6C5D8VW*MTczNjAwMTk3OC4xLjAuMTczNjAwMTk3OC4wLjAuMAā¦&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoN-lp6fcigMVzqeDBx0h1zvjEAAYASAAEgLES_D_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAAqwUt2xY-eoTKx_14OCyuzjQcUfd2
Iām not religious about a DSP. I use Apple Music and on some tracks the Focal Utopia22 requires boosting the treble a bit. This takes nothing away from the Lina DAC.
Given that your issue is complaints form your neighbours about bass I donāt think that buying large speakers with extended bass response is going to provide a solution.
The specification of these speakers shows a response slightly beyond the conventional lower limit of hearing to 18Hz. Frequencies powered by a 400watt amplifier! That means means long sound wavelengths which will be easily distributed through your buildingās structure.
What would be the point in them if you could only would be to use them at whisper level? Can you be sure that you would restrain yourself to this level?
I donāt know what your budgetary limitations are but I do recall listening to Magico A1 driven by Devialet where my friend and I had our sceptical preconceptions replaced with very positive opinions. They offer good low bass ( 35Hz off is quoted, presumably -6dB) but without fully entering the problematic ( in an apartment) bottom octave. However , like all bookself speakers, bookshelves do not offer the best support and stands would be preferable.
I really appreciate everyoneās insightful feedback on the topic of listening and enjoying music at lower volumes. Iām basically trying to find the most flexible solution to enjoy a dCS DAC, in my case the Lina, without having to settle on speakers that are handicapped on the bass side in case the neighbors arenāt in or if I can agree with them on certain times when I can listen at higher volume. I think I will at least give the ZERO iTRON a listen. These speakers come with a lot of settings to adjust the bass.
Two screenshots from its manual here:
