Looking for speaker recommendations

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Here's the shop basic layout. Has huge problems in terms of speaker placement............

I had a similar set-up in my old office and got good sound with the Beovox RL series speakers.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/bang_beovox_red_line_45_6504.html


They are wide dispersion similar to some surrounds in home theater.

Mounted high on the wall low level working music was good - could hear both channels, and after-work open the bottle of Scotch and roll my chair to the center of the room listening was fantastic.

These speakers if you can find them will be really old, so I suggest seeking out some newer used home theater side and rear channel speakers to be mounted high on the wall.

There are some features to your receiver that make multi-speaker placement very inviting, take advantage of it. Maybe one speaker in each corner?

EDIT:

Any small or flat-ish speaker can be wall hung or ceiling suspended. One store I used to go to had rather large DCM Time Frame TF 250 Speakers hanging off the ceiling, overkill but it worked.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I know you said you want "vintage" speakers, but if it were up to me, I'd run it into an Allen and Heath mini mixer (hey, it's sort of vintage in that you are only talking about circa 2004 or so?), and then for speakers, I would use either two or four QSC K-8 8" amplified loudspeakers.

Trust me, if you do this you will thank me.

an interesting suggestion, thanks. I'm not sure but I think the receiver can do everything the mixer can. What does the mixer bring to the table? I watched a video and it wasn't immediately clear.

Will look into the speakers.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

These are an option

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ele/d/bang-olufsen-rl35-speakers-excellent/6883832239.html


I think these will be perfect for me though. I like that they will nicely on a wall.

https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/ele/d/westford-polk-sda-reference-speakers/6869636031.html

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

an interesting suggestion, thanks. I'm not sure but I think the receiver can do everything the mixer can. What does the mixer bring to the table? I watched a video and it wasn't immediately clear.

Will look into the speakers.

The mini mixer does several things. It vastly cleans up the sound, but also gives you the ability to run MP3 players, an iPod, or your phone to the same speakers.

The heart of the system is going to be the speakers, so do not skimp there. You spend a lot of time in the shop, and the sound quality ( I beg to differ with some of the opinions here) really matters. I repeat, do not buy sh+tty speakers.

I should probably also disclose that I have a $38K rack system that I am running all QSC speakers, amps, and Allen and Heath mixer on. So I am biased, but I have tried out EVERYTHING on the market before going with what we have now.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

These are an option

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ele/d/bang-olufsen-rl35-speakers-excellent/6883832239.html


I think these will be perfect for me though. I like that they will nicely on a wall.

https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/ele/d/westford-polk-sda-reference-speakers/6869636031.html

If you have a Guitar Center near you, go there and take a listen to these speakers. Ask them if they don't mind if you run your tuner on their equipment before you buy.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Have a set of B&Ws connected to my Hafler/Rotel/Rotel system now which I like more because they are clean and bright. I typically like bright. Just my ear.

Well, these seem to be right up your alley, and very well priced.

If your current B&Ws aren't as nice, you could demote them to shop duty, and stick these in the main (indoor) listening room.

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I'm listening to the SDAs next week connected to a Sansui. I'm intrigued by the DCM Time Windows so if I don't like the SDAs, I'll look for those.

Pffft, if you like/want SDAs, be like Mike and go big(er) or go home.

Honarable mention.

Honorable mention 2.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by rusnak

The mini mixer does several things. It vastly cleans up the sound, but also gives you the ability to run MP3 players, an iPod, or your phone to the same speakers.

The heart of the system is going to be the speakers, so do not skimp there. You spend a lot of time in the shop, and the sound quality ( I beg to differ with some of the opinions here) really matters. I repeat, do not buy sh+tty speakers.

I should probably also disclose that I have a $38K rack system that I am running all QSC speakers, amps, and Allen and Heath mixer on. So I am biased, but I have tried out EVERYTHING on the market before going with what we have now.

Originally Posted by rusnak

If you have a Guitar Center near you, go there and take a listen to these speakers. Ask them if they don't mind if you run your tuner on their equipment before you buy.

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

Well, these seem to be right up your alley, and very well priced.

If your current B&Ws aren't as nice, you could demote them to shop duty, and stick these in the main (indoor) listening room.


Pffft, if you like/want SDAs, be like Mike and go big(er) or go home.

Honarable mention.

Honorable mention 2.

I'll see what I can do on the Guitar Center, I'm sure there's something around here.

Those 802s are cheap! Others are intriguing. Thanks!

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by rusnak

The mini mixer does several things. It vastly cleans up the sound, but also gives you the ability to run MP3 players, an iPod, or your phone to the same speakers.

The heart of the system is going to be the speakers, so do not skimp there. You spend a lot of time in the shop, and the sound quality ( I beg to differ with some of the opinions here) really matters. I repeat, do not buy sh+tty speakers.

I should probably also disclose that I have a $38K rack system that I am running all QSC speakers, amps, and Allen and Heath mixer on. So I am biased, but I have tried out EVERYTHING on the market before going with what we have now.

Is the mixer going to clean up the sound without changing the sound?

To the OP, get speakers you can demo in your shop, that's the only way you will be able to tell how they will sound in that audio-unfriendly environment..

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

These are an option

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ele/d/bang-olufsen-rl35-speakers-excellent/6883832239.html


I think these will be perfect for me though. I like that they will nicely on a wall.

https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/ele/d/westford-polk-sda-reference-speakers/6869636031.html

Nice thing about the B&O's is they are light compared to the compress board alternatives because of the plastic enclosure. Important when installing over your head and or supporting.

Listen to them first, bring your receiver with you if you have to.

You want to buy speakers, not a project.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

Pffft, if you like/want SDAs, be like Mike and go big(er) or go home.


...]

He coulda had their bigger brothers, an original SDA inter-connect cable, and those $700 Tara Labs bi-wire cables.....fer $1200 (plus s&h )....but naw

Yer outta my league too....I'd bet I have le$$ in my whole system....than any amp you've ever owned

[KFC911]

One last comment... the SDA 1As that I've had for 30 years...driven by a fine Sony ES (50 lb) 200 watt/channel, mebbe the "warmest" of them all....sweet . Coming out of mothballs too....needs nuthin' but music...I have that .

These are awesome small SDAs...great without the interconnect too...seriously.