Name: Buchardt
Rating: 0.0

The topic already contains my question in a nutshell:

I’m thinking to get a nice stereo system (2.0 or 2.1) again. Due to my neighbors, my preferences and our dog I don’t really listen to loud music. Most of the time I use headphones…. but I really want to get a stereo again.

After days of online research I read that most class A/B amps won’t sound great at low volumes. Being a hobby musician / bassist I know about this problem. 

So - should I focus on class D instead? Or might it be an idea to get a low watts A/B amp with high impedance speakers, so low volume will already need the amp to work over 25% ? 

Low volume = normal speaking volume or less.

<div class="md"><p>The topic already contains my question in a nutshell:</p>

<p>I’m thinking to get a nice stereo system (2.0 or 2.1) again. Due to my neighbors, my preferences and our dog I don’t really listen to loud music. Most of the time I use headphones…. but I really want to get a stereo again.</p>

<p>After days of online research I read that most class A/B amps won’t sound great at low volumes. Being a hobby musician / bassist I know about this problem. </p>

<p>So - should I focus on class D instead? Or might it be an idea to get a low watts A/B amp with high impedance speakers, so low volume will already need the amp to work over 25% ? </p>

<p>Low volume = normal speaking volume or less.</p>
</div>

Is a class D amp better for low volume listening?

You say the Q150 has "sloppy midbass", how loud are you pushing them? 

It might be an issue with your amplification. I drive mine with an Emotiva UPA-2 which runs 125W@8 ohms and shows a lot of control, no ringing or sloppiness, plenty of the necessary current to make them sing.

Yeah, they are excellent at the disappearing act, just fades into a beautifully wide and deep soundstage. The Q150 is one of the biggest bargains in audio at $299. There's an interesting interview with one of its designers and he's rather uncomfortable answering the question of whether the Q150 gives you most of the LS50 for a fraction of the cost.

<div class="md"><p>You say the Q150 has &quot;sloppy midbass&quot;, how loud are you pushing them? </p>

<p>It might be an issue with your amplification. I drive mine with an Emotiva UPA-2 which runs 125W@8 ohms and shows a lot of control, no ringing or sloppiness, plenty of the necessary current to make them sing.</p>

<p>Yeah, they are excellent at the disappearing act, just fades into a beautifully wide and deep soundstage. The Q150 is one of the biggest bargains in audio at $299. There&#39;s an interesting interview with one of its designers and he&#39;s rather uncomfortable answering the question of whether the Q150 gives you most of the LS50 for a fraction of the cost.</p>
</div>

I have some low-end powered Totems (Kin Play Mini) paired with a Totem Kin sub (8”). Whole setup was about $1300 CAD. There is also a passive version, and a larger and pricier powered version.

I really like the sound but it definitely isn’t flat or neutral. I remember seeing a post, either here or on another audio sub, roasting another Totem model for terrible measurements. Wouldn’t be surprised if these also suck if judging on measurements. Personally I will go with my ears over specs every time, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s some trickery going on to make them sound much bigger than they are. 

Soundstage is impressively expansive but I haven’t heard any recent Kefs for comparison (nearest comparable would be LSX but those cost quite a lot more). I find the sound especially pleasing with mellower music and just about anything with female vocals. Very clear, detailed highs and mids. Surprisingly good bass extension without the sub, but the sub makes a world of difference. I wouldn’t go back to the subless setup. 

On the whole I think these are love-or-hate speakers. I bought them after listening to some Kantos and PSBs in the same price range and I thought the Totems blew them out of the water.

BTW if you wind up going with Kef, wait for a sale. They happen regularly.

<div class="md"><p>I have some low-end powered Totems (Kin Play Mini) paired with a Totem Kin sub (8”). Whole setup was about $1300 CAD. There is also a passive version, and a larger and pricier powered version.</p>

<p>I really like the sound but it definitely isn’t flat or neutral. I remember seeing a post, either here or on another audio sub, roasting another Totem model for terrible measurements. Wouldn’t be surprised if these also suck if judging on measurements. Personally I will go with my ears over specs every time, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s some trickery going on to make them sound much bigger than they are. </p>

<p>Soundstage is impressively expansive but I haven’t heard any recent Kefs for comparison (nearest comparable would be LSX but those cost quite a lot more). I find the sound especially pleasing with mellower music and just about anything with female vocals. Very clear, detailed highs and mids. Surprisingly good bass extension without the sub, but the sub makes a world of difference. I wouldn’t go back to the subless setup. </p>

<p>On the whole I think these are love-or-hate speakers. I bought them after listening to some Kantos and PSBs in the same price range and I thought the Totems blew them out of the water.</p>

<p>BTW if you wind up going with Kef, wait for a sale. They happen regularly.</p>
</div>

Hi guys,

I’m in Canada so access to certain brands in the US while available here usually don’t have the best value. Right now I have the Q150s with a Klipsche synergy black Sub100 through a marrantz Pm6006 integrated amp. The sub is decent and I have it away from corners aswell as 2ft from a long wall so it’s not boomy at all. I run a parametric eq through windows 10 to tune down the slightly sloppy midbass of the q150’s. I’m starting to save for a higher end pair of bookshelves, I have my eye a set on the new LS50 metas for $2000 (hopefully they go on sale) I’m hoping to get them for $1700 or so. At any rate I think they look really nice but can’t help but feel there are better value options since aesthetics and build quality are not that important. In fact I’m willing to sacrifice it in favour of sound quality. I do appreciate the pinpoint soundstage of the coaxial driver but surely this is not the only way to achieve soundstage accuracy. The Q150s are spaced 6ft apart and 2ft from the back wall. I sit around 7.5 ft away. Budget is under $2000 Canadian, i don’t like to pay retail either so if I can get a pair of $2000 speakers for $1500 that is ideal. Im looking for lower distortion, wider soundstage...deeper and more 3D aswell if that’s possible just a step up basically. I really like the aspect of closing your eyes and the speakers disappear, the Q150s provide that so I would want that character in the new set of speakers. A few other options I’ve considered

-Paradigm prestige 15B, heard these were bright though...the graphs look to have a scooped out midrange aswell.
-paradigm 200B, again with the scooped out midrange and batwing graph, paradigm seems to be chasing the consumer sound rather than accuracy and flat graphs. 
-Focal chora 806, midbassy and boomy? I could always run an EQ on these aswell. I just can’t help but I feel I’m paying a premium in Canada just for having speakers made in France. I don’t care where they are made, in fact I prefer China as it allows the money to go to the parts rather than the labor. 
-Original LS50 $1200 on Amazon too bad they don’t have anything other than black, Its not a deal breaker though as I said. I also heard these were bright...perhaps not as bright as the paradigms? 

Totem speakers are in Canada so I might be able to get good value there but can’t find much info on them. They seem super expensive for what look like DIY designs. Again I don’t really care how they look, I’m more concerned about sound quality. How do totem speakers sound? The totem sky bookshelf’s look totally DIY but I would be interested in how they sound.

<div class="md"><p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I’m in Canada so access to certain brands in the US while available here usually don’t have the best value. Right now I have the Q150s with a Klipsche synergy black Sub100 through a marrantz Pm6006 integrated amp. The sub is decent and I have it away from corners aswell as 2ft from a long wall so it’s not boomy at all. I run a parametric eq through windows 10 to tune down the slightly sloppy midbass of the q150’s. I’m starting to save for a higher end pair of bookshelves, I have my eye a set on the new LS50 metas for $2000 (hopefully they go on sale) I’m hoping to get them for $1700 or so. At any rate I think they look really nice but can’t help but feel there are better value options since aesthetics and build quality are not that important. In fact I’m willing to sacrifice it in favour of sound quality. I do appreciate the pinpoint soundstage of the coaxial driver but surely this is not the only way to achieve soundstage accuracy. The Q150s are spaced 6ft apart and 2ft from the back wall. I sit around 7.5 ft away. Budget is under $2000 Canadian, i don’t like to pay retail either so if I can get a pair of $2000 speakers for $1500 that is ideal. Im looking for lower distortion, wider soundstage...deeper and more 3D aswell if that’s possible just a step up basically. I really like the aspect of closing your eyes and the speakers disappear, the Q150s provide that so I would want that character in the new set of speakers. A few other options I’ve considered</p>

<p>-Paradigm prestige 15B, heard these were bright though...the graphs look to have a scooped out midrange aswell.
-paradigm 200B, again with the scooped out midrange and batwing graph, paradigm seems to be chasing the consumer sound rather than accuracy and flat graphs. 
-Focal chora 806, midbassy and boomy? I could always run an EQ on these aswell. I just can’t help but I feel I’m paying a premium in Canada just for having speakers made in France. I don’t care where they are made, in fact I prefer China as it allows the money to go to the parts rather than the labor. 
-Original LS50 $1200 on Amazon too bad they don’t have anything other than black, Its not a deal breaker though as I said. I also heard these were bright...perhaps not as bright as the paradigms? </p>

<p>Totem speakers are in Canada so I might be able to get good value there but can’t find much info on them. They seem super expensive for what look like DIY designs. Again I don’t really care how they look, I’m more concerned about sound quality. How do totem speakers sound? The totem sky bookshelf’s look totally DIY but I would be interested in how they sound.</p>
</div>

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