Rrobot Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 (edited) Hi team I'm really just starting my journey on building up a decent 2 channel system on a budget. I have a 90s Yamaha amp - an AX590 paired with B&W DM301s from Dad, a hifiberry (burr-brown DAC) streamer and a turntable. The B&Ws sound fine, pretty clean to my untutored ears but seriously lack low end and don't seem to have much warmth if I can even use that term so glibly. I listen to mainly jazz, funk, soul, acoustic and a lot of electronic music with and without beats including (many will cringe) hip-hop, house music and synth-based post-disco etc. While I don't abuse my audio gear I do like to turn it up a bit occasionally. I have a modest record collection so will be either playing albums and 12s on my old Dual CS-505 or probably spotify. I'd play lossless tbh, but buying flacs is not really in the budget. I recently picked up some sony APM speakers which I quite liked (bit of a saga there though however involving a Russian and bespoke foam surrounds and I'm not sure when they'll be back in action). Can people suggest some speakers to consider around 150 but up to 200 dollars at a pinch? I'm in Perth. I have been thinking about quality vintage bookshelf speakers known to go down lower without a sub such as the EPI 100 which I've seen on here before in my price range or some other larger sized bookshelf from the 70s, 80s or 90s. I find the Yamaha can be a bit in your face at times (not that I have heaps to compare to) so something warmer to tone that down may be good? I'm not sure I yet have the words to describe what I hear - please forgive my ignorance. Thanks everyone! Edited August 13, 2018 by Rrobot edit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irek Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Hi, I would say probably adding subwoofer is the best option in your price range. Just make sure it can be easily connect with your amp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakey72 Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 (edited) @Rrobot These without a question of a doubt. They are warm with big bass. Great speakers, great price: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/fremantle/speakers/richter-acoustics-2way-stereo-speakers/1190312874 Richter Merlin Mk1. Edited August 14, 2018 by blakey72 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rrobot Posted August 14, 2018 Author Share Posted August 14, 2018 25 minutes ago, blakey72 said: @Rrobot These without a question of a doubt. They are warm with big bass. Great speakers, great price: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/fremantle/speakers/richter-acoustics-2way-stereo-speakers/1190312874 Richter Merlin Mk1. Thanks! I did see those in gumtree actually... They've passed hands recently - I though they might be a bit small but sounds like they're worth a second look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakey72 Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 No they aren't too small. They put out a big sound believe me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTobiasFunke Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Yep, those Merlins are really beautiful. They just sound 'right'. Great buy for $100. And, as someone who also listens to a lot of electronic stuff, I would also encourage you to add a sub to your set up when you are able. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rrobot Posted August 16, 2018 Author Share Posted August 16, 2018 Thanks guys. I think the mk1 merlins have a foam suspension ring do they not? Do I need to factor in refoaming them at some point do you reckon? Thanks for the advice on the sub too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTobiasFunke Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Probably don't need a re-foam, by the looks of them. I've had a pair before of similar vintage that was AOK. (Not an expert on that topic! Best guess!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Seth Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 On 13/08/2018 at 11:33 PM, Rrobot said: Hi team I recently picked up some sony APM speakers which I quite liked (bit of a saga there though however involving a Russian and bespoke foam surrounds and I'm not sure when they'll be back in action). Thanks everyone! Excuse me for expurgating your OP. How did you you go with the Russian connection? I also have some Sony APMs which I'd like to restore, but the price of the foam surrounds and the Ukrainian connection was too much to deal with at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaky Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 Humidity is the cause of death of Foam surrounds. If your climate lacks humidity you should be OK. BUT, it depends where the speakers have been before that is the big deal.....ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rrobot Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 On 25/10/2019 at 2:13 PM, Uncle Seth said: Excuse me for expurgating your OP. How did you you go with the Russian connection? I also have some Sony APMs which I'd like to restore, but the price of the foam surrounds and the Ukrainian connection was too much to deal with at the time. I do apologise for the lateness of this reply @Uncle Seth. In the end, the sony 181ES pair that I have turned out to be equipped with black anodised 22ES woofers. So I sourced a pair of foams from https://speakerfoams.com/. They did arrive, and were actually rather good quality, although not trimmed/die cut. I ended up getting a professional to do it for me as it seemed all a bit fiddly and difficult to align. What APMS are you looking to restore out of interest!? Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rrobot Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spukee Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 I had a set of Aaron ATS4s which served me well for years. Had it paired with a Yamaha amp, but I filled in the bottom end with a matching Aaron Sub. The below is an older version of the ATS4 I had, but might be worth a punt and is certainly within your budget. https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-aaron+ats4/k0?categoryRedirected=true Happy gumtree/stereo.net.au hunting! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Seth Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 17 hours ago, Rrobot said: I do apologise for the lateness of this reply @Uncle Seth. In the end, the sony 181ES pair that I have turned out to be equipped with black anodised 22ES woofers. So I sourced a pair of foams from https://speakerfoams.com/. They did arrive, and were actually rather good quality, although not trimmed/die cut. I ended up getting a professional to do it for me as it seemed all a bit fiddly and difficult to align. What APMS are you looking to restore out of interest!? Best of luck! APM-101ES (Made in W. Germany). They were bought as part of an early-ish Sony Surround system, with a centre speaker and two diminuitive surround speakers. Please excuse the dust in the pics. My woofers also have the black anodised piston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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