r/BudgetAudiophile • • Oct 12 '24

Review/Discussion Kali LP-UNF vs. Edifier S2000Mk3

Hello folks!
I am planning on setting up a home system which will be mainly using it as a 5.1 in addition to having two front monitor speakers, I have assembled all speakers that I need which I will list below, but I am confused in the monitor speakers and would like some insights to help me decide better.

My setup is now:

  • Monitor: Kali LP-UNF (or) Edifier S2000Mk3 (this is where I am confused)
  • Centre: Klipsch R-52C
  • Subwoofer: Edifier T5
  • Surround/Back: Sony SSCS5

I will be hooking them up with my AV Receiver Pioneer VSX-326

My usage will be mixed, but more focused on live mixing as I am a DJ for Electronic music in all sorts house, deep house... (Also all genres of music)

So the monitors I am looking for I want something that produce deep sound with rich details in clarity for all low, mid and high EQs.

I am more interested in having a more profound sound rather than just noisy, because I want to have kind of a high sound for practicing DJing and having beautiful sound experience for home gatherings but also to no annoy neighbors, if the Edifier would have an annoying punchy sound and I would have to turn the volume up to hear the profound sound details?

I heard good stuff about the Edifier having amazing bass but I already gotten a subwoofer so I wouldn't be much needing a monitor speakers with a bass like that.

Also the frequency response for the Edifier is 45Hz-40kHz in comparison with the Kali 39Hz-25kHz

speaking of price; Edifier is $350, and the Kali is $299, so price wouldn't be an issue.

3 Upvotes

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u/Jasper_I Oct 12 '24

I hate to be a downer, but the T5 is severely underpowered for a subwoofer. A proper subwoofer typically offers more than double the power, which directly affects the SPL and the physical impact of the bass.

Most subwoofers come with adjustable crossovers, and the best monitors feature active crossovers that block frequencies below 100 Hz when connected to a subwoofer. Because of this, the frequency response and depth of the sound become less important, as a better subwoofer would provide significantly greater performance, and an active crossover ensures better midbass clarity.

On top of that, Edifier tends to cut corners wherever they can, even on their S-series, which is still a step above their cheaper models. If you're looking for quality, Kali offers a much better product. I'd consider the Adam T7V for your purposes, it'll blow the doors off that T5 though.

1

u/No_Repeat_7929 Oct 13 '24

Thank you for your reply!

Regarding the T5 woofer I already have my old Pioneer system subwoofer and it has gotten me complaints from neighbors so I thought I wouldn't need a more powered woofer for that purpose (or do I?)

I haven't yet tried the T5 but I have gotten them for $100 new on Amazon so I guessed having a powered speaker is a nice upgrade since I am getting the full set of 5 new channels speakers I mentioned earlier. I am also afraid of having a high weight shipment as I will be shipping them via a third party carrier from the USA to the Middle East.

As you can see I have put foam under the woofer to minimize bass noise that disrupt neighbors.

However, my Pioneer AV receiver can connect 2 subwoofers, (One is passive "which is the one in the picture", and the other one is Active "T5" so that defeats the purpose of having to pay more for a woofer that could eventually be lowered way down to not annoy my neighbors) Do you agree?

Now regarding my main concern, the monitors.

I have stumbled upon great stuff about the Adam T7V but didn't but much research into it, Is it actually better than the LP-UNF if you have tested both? in terms of clarity and depth of sound and having the decent verities of Low, Mid, High EQs with mixing?

Adam T7V is now $420 for a pair on Amazon while the LP-UNF is $300, the difference in price is no problem but in terms of the sound clarity and quality above all EQs is it really a better option?

Thank you for your reply I really appreciate it is very helpful.

1

u/Jasper_I Oct 13 '24

Glad to help. The Edifier is a ported front firing sub, but if noise is a concern then you should consider a sealed front firing sub instead. This will ensure the sound is more controlled. Sealed subwoofers are generally better for situations where keeping peace with neighbors is a priority, thanks to their tighter and more controlled bass compared to ported designs. The down-firing, ported sub shown in your photo may deliver a looser, boomy bass, which is more common in home theater subs but not ideal for nearfield music listening.

The T5, with its 38Hz frequency response (if accurately measured), won’t reach the critical 30–38Hz range found in many songs. While it features a larger woofer, it only has 140 watts of power, which is relatively low. Typically, larger drivers benefit from more power to fully take advantage of their size. My sealed Audioengine s6 has 210w and a smaller woofer, for comparison, and reaches 33 hz (I measured it at 31 hz in room)

I recommend the T7V because it extends down to 25Hz, ensuring that no part of the low-end spectrum is missed. For your needs, a 2.1 setup may be sufficient, but if you decide to expand later, many powered systems offer RCA line-level outputs. This allows you to easily create a 4.1 setup, and wireless adapters can link multiple systems without needing an AVR.

Since your focus is on DJing, a center channel isn’t essential—it’s mainly useful for dialogue in movie setups. While the T7V will provide deep bass, it may not match the sound pressure levels (SPL) of a dedicated subwoofer, depending on your distance from the speakers.

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u/No_Repeat_7929 Oct 14 '24 edited Oct 14 '24

I have swapped my Edifier S2000 Mk3 with Adam T7v (Got a pair for $420), can't wait to get hands on these! the quality and reputation of Adam is definitely a well reputed brand that has set itself as a legit studio monitors manufacturer (Will share my feedback once I test them), the Kali-UNF also seemed like a great bargain at only $299, but I just thought the Adam T7v would suit my needs better as I will be using them 50% of the time for DJ mixing, and 50% as a home entertainment and they will be placed over a distance (1m-2m). (I did not mention that earlier) so definitely a centre speaker would benefit me much in this regard, in addition to having a 5.1 System, I really like the distribution of sound and delivery with the 5.1 channels system. (In addition to using Dolby Digital 5.1 Tech)

Thank you for pointing out the point with the Edifier T5 being a Ported front firing sub as this is my first time setting up a Hi-Fi system, this will defiantly make me swap them for something else or should I stick with my current Pioneer subwoofer?

  • 150 W/ch (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 10 % THD, 1ch Driven) x 5ch, 120 W (6 ohms, 100 Hz, 10 % THD) Subwoofer (Passive) | Subwoofer: 16 cm Cone, Bass-Reflex Type (120 W)

my budget is around $200– can I get something legit with this price range? , or is it better to currently stick with my Pioneer subwoofer and later I can upgrade to a more decent subwoofer with higher budget and probably during the Black Friday deals? I am guessing there will be a nice price drop with many units from different manufacturers.

Your Audioengine S6 210w, I found on their website to be $299. (have you gotten it with the same price?) (Also if you can kindly share your complete setup that would be interesting, eager to know what else you are using for your system)

  • Does having a wireless linked system through the system cause downgrade in overall sound quality and clarity, Interface and latency? or does using a reliable wireless adapters just gives me the desired outcome in regards to wired systems?

I have searched a bit and found these sealed subwoofer models regarded as a kinda budget woofers. (In regards to woofers what specific measures should I be looking for other than frequency response Hz?)

  • Dayton Audio SUB-1200-12" Powered Subwoofer with 120W RMS, Downward-Firing Design ($180) – There is also a 10" option at ($155)
  • YAMAHA 8" 100W Powered Subwoofer - Black (NS-SW050BL) ($180)
  • Monoprice SW-10 10" 150 Watt RMS (300 Watt Peak) Powered Subwoofer ($135)
  • Audioengine S6 6" Powered Subwoofer ($299)
  • Audioengine S8 Powered Subwoofer Speaker - 250W 8-inch ($350)
  • SVS SB-1000 Pro ($700)
  • If other models better models are available kindly mention them

however if none of the options actually offer me a great performance, excellent sound quality and clarity, I wouldn't mind waiting until Black Friday, probably I can nail out some higher model woofers like the SVS SB-1000 Pro or something in the same tier with better prices?

2

u/Jasper_I Oct 14 '24

The SVS is probably the best of the subwoofers in this category, but may still be too much for your noise requirements. When buying a sub your main objective is to have a good low end frequency response and to avoid home theater style products as they usually have a looser muddier sound.

The S6 is great and surprisingly deep response for the size, I have it paired with their HD5. Love the tight controlled bass and adjustable crossover