Jump to content

Quad 9L Active


Hopstretch

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 72
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Those suggestions might be alright if he was single, but I'm sure he's going to want to share that experience once in a while.

Focal XS 2.1? (a) They may be "voiced" for the nearfield since they're meant to be desktop speakers, (b ) not sure if they will go loud enough well, and (c ) don't know if they turn sideways well.

Ditto Gallo Stradas (which also aren't active). Though they would be small enough.

Does KRK have anything that small? I'm sure there are lots of actives in the professional and home/project studio market, I just happen to like KRK. And Mackie, but I know they don't have anything that small. Tannoy?

Center channel speakers might work well there, but they aren't usually active -- I.E. two mid/bass's and a tweeter in d'onofrio...d'appolito (or however it's spelled) configuration.

And a lot of professional/home studio/project speakers are designed to be oriented either way.

M-Audio might have something that small.

Just do something custom with a couple of cheap full-range drivers, so that you don't get weird edge effects (doubly so -- once for the speaker ending, and another for the hole starting).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well the Audioengine 2 would work, but it sounds like ass. Is that a hard constraint on the width or a preference?

In most cases I would agree that they don't sound great; except that when placed on stands the mid-bass clears up and doesn't drown out the mids and highs, at which point they're really not so bad.

PS: I bought the A5 at the last RMAF and those are a noticeable step up in sound quality, but I still can't say the A2 sound like ass.

Edited by HeadphoneAddict
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, I originally tried the A2s on the Tyll designed Headroom stands (still one of the best audio purchases I have ever made) and saying they sounded like ass was being kind. Few things in audio have been night and day differences to me but the A5s vs the A2s is definitely one. No side by side necessary or blind test needed here. (waiting for the :basement:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ooh! Surround sound A2's! How 'bout it, Marc? I can package them nicely with a bottle of booze!

I actually don't hate them, the imaging is quite nice. Yeah, the tone is quite thin/tinny, but I didn't expect much for tiny speakers on my desktop. Maybe my standards for such things are too low. I'll admit I don't have a great urge to turn them on all the time. We'll find out when I get the 9L's ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have an inexpensive set of Sony bookshelf speakers and a cheap pair of Radioshack bookshelf speakers that both sound like ass compared to the A2. Same with my Travagans mini-desktop speakers. Not even the PWD and ZDT can extract any kind of enjoyable sound from those (nor with extra power from my vintage Marantz receiver connected to the PWD). Like I said before, my new A5 are a noticeable step up from the A2, but I bet there are a lot of speakers out there that are not as enjoyable as the A2 on stands. If the A2 were enough to keep me happy I'd have not bought the A5 at RMAF, but I just don't agree they sound like ass (horrible, unlistenable is what I assume ass sounds like).

On my small rolling laptop table (no walls within 5 feet) with MacBook > DACport driving them they have a decent near-field soundstage which is more intimate than spacious, somewhat rolled off highs, and boomy bass - but the mids are not bad and detail is not terribly blurred.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can't speak to the A2, but I am very happy with these

When run on flat eq, there is no excessive mids or bass to my ears.

You can add plenty of thick bottom with the sub volume or eq change, but they are well balanced for an economy speaker out of the gate.

Very nice at the price point imo. And they're biamped.

Edited by aardvark baguette
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Then you are wrong.

or a poor judge of sound quality...

or both.

The question I have is what is an active speaker the same size (or smaller) as the A2 that is significantly better? That seems to be hard to find.

I haven't really looked at any others in that size range. I went up to the A5's and never looked back. The real problem is that they don't sound better than really cheap WalMart speakers (HPA's comments not withstanding) and yet cost $200.

Edited by morphsci
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.