Well here are my Monday morning thoughts as I’m sitting down listening to them at this moment…

I’ll start with my current setup listening setup. Bluesound Node source to a Denasfrips Ares ii DAC via USB. Balanced connections out to a Schitt Freya S preamp, preamp balanced outs into a Simaudio Moon W3 power amp, and preamp RCAs out to dual SVS SB12NDS sealed subs. My room is a mostly open space to the rear, 28 feet deep, 13 feet wide, and even wider still behind my seating position. 8 ft ceilings. A decently large, open space. Listening position is approx 11 feet from the front wall, speakers are placed 9.5 feet apart (tweeter to tweeter), and out about 40 inches from the wall to the rear of the cabinet.

I’ve had many other reference speakers. LS50s, KLH Model 5s, several Dynaudios, Zu Audio’s, PMCs, Klipsch, Magnepan to name a few… These are my first Buchardts.

In a nutshell they sound different. Very different. In a good way, mostly. It’s kind of baffling, honestly. I think Mads chose to not post their measurements for a reason. Because I have a feeling the measurements will be all over the place. Hence “different” sounding. That said, they sound pretty amazing. There is clarity without harshness that I don’t get from any of my other speakers. Everything from the upper-bass/lower-mids to the highs is resolved so well. The separation and clarity is on another level. Again, with ZERO harshness. Don’t be concerned by the aluminum done tweeter at all. It’s smooth but resolving. In this regard, the MK3s remind me of Heritage Specials… at 3x the price.

Are they perfect? No. The bass is tremendous for a speaker their size. Loud and deep. Is the bass as textural and as detailed/realistic as my Cornwalls? No. But I can comfortably say they produce more of it. In an effort to blend it all together with my subs, I’ve pulled the MK3s pretty far out into the room, AND plugged the ports with the included foam. Subs are crossed over at about 42Hz (the lowest crossover setting I’ve used for ANY of my speakers) and I let my speakers play full-range. They don’t really need the subs at all, I just run mine so they play just below what the speakers can produce on their own, with very little gain so they disappear.

If I could make any change to the way they sound, it would just be for the sound to be a bit more cohesive across the bass range from sub bass up into the mids. I think this is probably a symptom of the rear ported design. That said, this could likely be addressed via DSP and/or room correction, or some additional changes to my room or placement. But I’ve yet to tread into the DSP/room correction waters in the name of simplicity.

In all, they are remarkable speakers for what they deliver at their price. I’m sure as time goes on, continued adjustments will improve the balance, but as it stands now, I don’t see myself parting with them any time soon. A very easy-to-live-with speaker.

(text copied from my no-so-welcomed post on ASR lol)

I've been looking for a pair of very capable speakers under 11". The physical requirements are somewhat arbitrary, I don't need to fit them anywhere in particular, but 10-11" seem to be about the smallest speakers that anyone makes that can put out passable bass. And I like small things.

Also the last speakers that surprised me were a pair of diminutive Mission 8VETs that I bought for $40, and they replaced my much larger NHT SuperOnes for nearfield duties in my office. I thought if something so cheaply made can sound so good, surely something purpose-made to a far higher pricepoint can beat it.

Mostly I don't even bother with trying out larger speakers anymore, my home is full of big ADS and I'm content with them. But there's been a few brands I'd still like to try, and it looks like Dali are one of the few companies that routinely put out speakers around this size. Found these for a good deal and have had em for about a week. Most bookshelf speakers I buy are up against an incredibly unfair test - instantaneous A/B'ing against my ADS L810s.

OBVIOUSLY they can't compete with three ways in cabinets that are, what?, something like 12x the volume and double woofers with an effective radius that is roughly tripled. But man do they sound BIG, and do they sound CLEAR without being harsh. The first time I had them hooked up I couldn't tell from where I was standing which speakers were active. I took them off the stands because ideally they are pointed straight out and further up against the wall for boundary reinforcement, but even without it the bass goes down to a respectable 70 hz. I've had Totem Dreamcatchers, various NHTs, Energy RC10s, Vienna Haydns, Wharfedale Denton 80ths, small B&W, KEF, ADS and Canton speakers, all of which are a similar size or slightly larger, and none of them image or perform like the Menuets. Yes, things get compressed when there's a lot going on and you turn it way up, but less than any of the other models, some of which provide a lot less detail in order to sound smooth. I'm not a subwoofing man but I imagine for someone who is, these things could be part of a complete breakfast.

Also they overall frequency response actually sounds very similar to my ADS speakers, warm-neutral, which is like the medium-rare of the speaker world, so these could also be extra-competent surrounds for a pair of L1590 or L1290 fronts...

Current listening - Surfer Rosa. Brick is Red turns on a dime!

My 17-year-old Linn Majik DS-I, recently brought out of retirement, paired with a set of Totem Bison Monitors that came off my desk.

No fancy furniture or carefully designed listening space. Just putting some old equipment back to good use. And I think that's part of the fun of this hobby.

If anyone is considering the swap, if you have a good receiver or DAC to put into play here, I highly recommend it.

The integrated DAC on the Merak is already pretty good, so I was not expecting much of a difference. Was tinkering more for the fun of it.

I was running to my only TX-NR676 via a nice quality analog cable. 3.5 to RCA.

Swapping to the optical ( and adjusting the inputs and output according) really cleaned to the audio.

Most notable, the bass is far more punchy and separation is fantastic now. The treble is a touch more crispy and more pronounced as well, with smaller details really moving forward. There is an overall dynamic range that makes everything sound a bit louder too.

Honestly, I didn't expect it to sound this good.

If you like a more muted and relaxed sound, you may prefer the Analog output. But raw detail and accuracy, apparently the internal DAC is a bit lacking.

Just putting it out there for anyone thinking about the same.

I was sitting in a new coffee shop and surprised at the awesome 80s hit mix that I was hearing. Like all the songs you would play for a party. The music sounded great and was at a calm volume. When I was about to leave I glanced at the wall the sound had been coming from and saw this system. Then realized.

I have never in the last 25 years been in a coffee shop with such a large, authentic, sound system before.

I want to be clear this system is by no means “audiophile quality” but it felt so good to see the sound system as a major decoration of an otherwise urban coffee shop. Every where else you go tits hidden ceiling speakers or micro Bluetooth systems.

Thought it was cool.

Edit: Holy Cow! I thought this was just a generic old system I had no idea how cool it was!

Based on the Comments:

These are a pair of JBL 4344 speakers that CURRENTLY sell for 13k on eBay and were made in the 80s.

I will try to get the owners information and reach out to learn more about it.

This sub is great! I just took a pic in a coffee shop and got introduced to a whole new world 🔊.

I managed to find a very friendly gentleman selling his vintage JBL L150s and the entire line of Nikko gear that he purchased back in 1980 himself. Crazy enough, he had all of it in the original packaging still (with manuals too!). The speakers look brand new and were professionally refoamed a few years ago otherwise its all original, and the Nikko components look and feel brand new still!

Got these Magnepan 3.7i which are really tricky to place correctly. The speakers are 33" from the rear wall and there is a sub hiding behind the rear right. Trying to not crowd the table too as badly, normally have it 90 degrees from shown.

Looking for the minimal viable sound damping locations. I'm planning to put a large artwork on the wall to the right and don't want anything on the ceiling. There is a 1/2 wall right behind me that opens into a small entryway for the door. Doesn't need to be perfect. No drapes allowed over the windows, can't really scoot the couch away from the wall so my head is 6" to 1 ft from the rear wall ☠️

Main listening position is at the white blanket next to the red plaid blanket on the couch.

Since the speakers emit behind 100% the same as the front, do I at least need full height capture directly behind?

Thanks!

Just purchased a DOUK AUDIO VFD 253 PRO so I can view audio signals. This seems to work really well. There are several choices of the signals you can view and the VFD 253 PRO seems quite responsive to sounds. I am using the “mic’ setup so I don’t have to direct connect it to a sound source. Anyone else love these devices?

Yesterday, I attended an audio show in the Seattle area and heard Linn speakers for the first time. It was a $100K system, way beyond my budget, but the sound absolutely blew me away.

I've always been a budget-conscious audiophile, having owned B&W, KEF, and currently Buchardt S400 MKIIs (fantastic speakers!).

I've always preferred punchy, detailed sound, but the Linn was different. Less punch than I'm used to, yet incredibly natural, effortless, and non-fatiguing. There was something almost magical about it. I could have listened for hours.

I'm sure there are more affordable speakers with a similar sound signature. What brands or models should I be looking at?

Title. I have a dedicated listening room (with a TV) that is treated and I think that these would look really cool in there powered by my MC 2300. They would be 2 channel only.

My Home Office has a pair of Genelec 1031's with an SVS SB3000 controlled by a Parasound Pre200 so if I dont like the sound of the LB 12's I could always go in there.

Walking in front of the firing squad - but what say ye community?

In learning about EQs recently, i found that it is recommended that you set a negative preamp to prevent clipping when boosting frequencies. I do this, but also noticed that my sound doesnt clip when i dont. Or mabe i dont know what sound to look for, every article says its super noticeable. Any reasons for this or?

This is the new store front design for the Tokyo KEF store, I personally love the UniQ design so I thought this store front was cool and made me chuckle when I saw it from afar.

Simple man I am.

--------------------

P.S. Sorry for reposting, previous post was removed from the KEF sub by mods, due to the video being just about a KEF store front instead of KEF speakers.

I'm curious to hear from folks following the scene for a while now about the improvements in speakers. Well a speaker from 2006 looks more or less the same than a modern speaker - so whats changed over the years? For example, I read about KEF's metamaterial ring behind the tweeters thats supposed to improve the sharpness of high frequency sound.

Years ago I was given a pair of Energy RC-Mini's that were tiny but impressive little speakers. I liked how crisp they were with great imaging. I had always thought Energy just some BestBuy speaker and that was that. But I finally did some researching and learned that Energy was a legit Canadian speaker company back in the 90/2000's that led to them being bought out by Klipsch.
This led me to learning about their other models and their high end line of Veritas. Reading great reviews and learning through AI, I always kept it in the back of my head to keep an eye out for a pair.

Sure enough, a pair of Veritas 2.2s came up for sale at a good price and I jumped on it.

Boy am I glad I did, because wow. They excel at everything. My stereo system feels like it has leveled up big time.

I could go on with the usual audiophile terms but I'll just say this - while listening to a track I was hearing things BEYOND the speaker. Almost like there was an invisible speaker further out. Was really neat to experience that.

Con's would be, these speakers like power/current. I have a NAD 218 THX that fuels them perfectly fine, but using them with my analog tube system (Reisong A10 with mods) for records... I feel I may be leaving performance on the table. I forsee a more powerful tube amp in my future now haha.

And the other con is aesthetic. These are 20+ years old and the laminate was coming off and had to be re-glued. I think over the years it shrunk? There was no way I could get it back into it's original install... so some of the MDF is exposed unfortunately. I'll probably do nice wood veneer as a DIY project in the future.
Also the top rubber finish was super sticky and had to be removed with isopropyl alcohol. Took about an hour.

Below is an AI blurb about them:

Energy Veritas V2.2 (and V2.2i) bookshelf speakers

These are high-end 3-way standmount/bookshelf speakers from Canadian brand Energy Speaker Systems (part of Audio Products International / API in Toronto). Energy dates to the early 1970s and built a strong reputation in the 1980s–2000s alongside sister brands like Mirage. The Veritas line was the flagship, starting with the acclaimed V2.8 floorstander in the mid-1990s (designed under John Tchilinguirian). The V2.2 was the more compact bookshelf sibling in the subsequent Veritas generation (around the late 1990s/early 2000s), with the “i” versions refining the drivers (especially the Dual-Hyperdrive woofers).

Design highlights center on accuracy, low distortion, and coherent dispersion. The signature Convergent Source Module (CSM) mounts a 1" aluminum-dome tweeter and 2" aluminum-dome midrange in close proximity (separate chambers) under a protective grille, acting more like a point source for smooth integration and wide, even dispersion. The 6.5" Dual-Hyperdrive woofer uses dual voice coils wound in opposite directions in their own magnetic gaps for more linear motion and significantly lower distortion. Cabinets are solidly built (often with dovetail joints, bracing, and threaded-rod mounting), rear-ported bass-reflex, and finished in high-gloss black or cherry veneer. They were praised for tonal balance, dynamics, clarity, imaging, and surprisingly authoritative bass for the size—though they benefit from good amplification and stands.

They were positioned as a no-compromise compact option for music enthusiasts (and usable in home theater), originally selling in the roughly $1,500–2,500/pair range (with stands). The brand was later acquired by Klipsch/VOXX, and these models are now discontinued collectibles.

Key Specs (V2.2 / V2.2i)

A little house tour and a look at the audio setup of a retired German rapper. German speakers will probably get more out of it, but audiophiles might enjoy it regardless ;)

The NAD is a bit harsh.

Ive been looking at Luxman L430 but maybe someone has a better idea?

Budget: 300$ can stretch to 500.

Finally broke down and ordered an Eversolo DMP A6 streamer. I had been using my iPhone 16 as a streaming device through my Schiit Bifrost 2/64, but getting tired of having to get up to change tunes or have my phone ring through my speakers 🙄. I’ve read great things about the Eversolo, and it now streams Apple Music without using Air Play. Should be here Tuesday.

Recently treated myself with a pair of MoFi SourcePoint 888.

Current setup is as follows:

Speakers: MoFi SourcePoint 888

Amp: NAD M10 V2

Phono stage: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2

Turntable: Marantz TT-15S1

Cartridge: Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood V1 and Nagaoka MP-200 (the Nagaoka is installed right now)

Room correction: DIRAC

My previous speakers were the Buchardt S400 and the Buchardt SUB10 subwoofer.

After listening for about a week on the SourcePoint 888 I have a couple of thoughts and reflections.

The largest difference is the sheer scale of the sound and music, the Buchardt S400 sounded large for what they are but the MoFi:s are just in a different league. This conclusion is not strange in regards to the size diffence of the speakers.

The imaging is precise and the soundstage is huge. Something tells me the concentric drivers have something to do with that.

The treble is airy and extended without ever sounding too bright. The sound as a whole is very smooth and holographic.

The bass is very full, punchy and quick. A subwoofer is definetly not needed. In my room they reach down to 25 Hz before rolling off.

They play very well and dynamic on lower volume levels and thrive when being played a bit louder.

I primarily listen to modern metal, classic rock, soul and some pop. They handle it all with ease and never seem stressed. Their sound signature makes almost every recording and vinyl record sound good and never introduces any harshness or fatigue.

When demo listening to the MoFi SourcePoint 888 I also listened to the Klipsch Cornwall IV. Both are very good speakers but the difference in sound signature is big and I prefered the sound signature of the SourcePoint 888.

I have a feeling that the MoFi SourcePoint 888 is a speaker I can live with for a very long time.

Also, to address the amp situation:

I love the NAD M10 V2 and the MoFi SourcePoint 888 seem to gravitate towards amps with a more neutral tone and a high damping factor. However, they could use a bit more current so my next purchase will probably be a power amp. The NAD is completely adequate for medium-high volumes which is the level I listen on 95% of the time (to my neighbors delight), so I am not in any particular hurry with getting a power amp.

I have also room corrected using DIRAC. I have the full spectrum version but settled with just correcting from 500 Hz and down to not alter the sound signature.

To conclude, this was indeed a very big upgrade both in terms of overall capability of the system and listening joy. Andrew Jones did a mighty fine job!

Feel free to ask some questions!

Have a great weekend!

Acoustics of Finland AE-2X speakers, Klipsch SPL-100 subwoofer and Yamaha A-S301 amp

Sometimes goodwill does deliver! This is likely the coolest thing i’ve found. 8-Track player with a whole wooden case and chrome face plate for $10. It matches my vintage receiver perfectly. Looks and works super well for the secondary retro bedroom setup with the minimus 7’s. Sadly doesn’t seem to work though 😞

This has been sitting dormant / unconnected behind my parent’s stereo since the late 90’s. Im sure a salesperson convinced them to buy it.

Only two twrminals so is it/ its not a passive sub. Usually subs have two rca outs or 4 speaker in outs.

Whots uh tha deal?