|
|
Post by gregd on Jul 20, 2017 18:29:38 GMT -5
I was not completely successful in setting up my main rig for optimal performance, and I also felt bad that it would disturb my wife, so my listening migrated to headphones, and eventually, for simplicity, to IEMs and my portable music player.
Currently I'm in a transition period, living solo and my main rig is in storage. So I decided to give near field listening a go. I just got a pair of Airmotiv 6s speakers and set them up next to my recliner, about 1 meter between speakers and between speakers and ears. The speakers are pointed at my ears. For fun I put on an out-of-phase recording and made some adjustments to eliminate any localization of the sound. I'm driving the speakers with the headphone jack of my portable music player, FIIO X3.
Then I listened to recordings of Nora Jones and Diana Krall. I don't have my meter; the volume was at 50% and the level was probably similar to standing close to someone talking rather loud. The imaging of the main vocals was far more distinct and powerful than I have ever experienced before. Even when I was distracted the voice was coming from "right there". When you are standing hear a campfire, or standing in the sun on a hot day, you are constantly aware of the direction the heat is coming from; this was similar in that I was constantly aware of the direction the voice was coming from. At lower volumes the effect dissipated and I had to listen in order to hear the localization.
Pretty cool.
|
|
hemster
Global Moderator 
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,920
|
Post by hemster on Jul 20, 2017 18:38:52 GMT -5
Yep, those Airmotivs are something special. I really enjoy mine. Happy to hear of your experience. Are you running a sub? It's really not needed for music with these monitors, IMHO.
|
|
|
|
Post by Loop 7 on Jul 20, 2017 19:21:48 GMT -5
Near-field listening can be magical. Really 3-D in my opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gary Cook on Jul 21, 2017 0:18:08 GMT -5
I probably use my Airmotiv 4's and the BigEgo that powers them more than any other one of my systems, near field is good.
Cheers
Gary
|
|
|
|
Post by gregd on Jul 21, 2017 7:27:59 GMT -5
I'm not running a sub with these. Trying to keep it simple. String bass is not disappointing.
It feels very 3D for me too.
|
|
|
|
Post by craigk49 on Aug 9, 2017 11:37:01 GMT -5
I have been running a pair of 4s monitors on isoACOUSTICS stands through a Chord Mojo. I get a very wide and deep soundstage. The speakers are sonically invisible on well done recordings. 3D and holographic While they are very detailed, they have a relaxed and natural quality that makes them easy to listen to for hours without a trace of fatigue. The instruments and vocals seem very solid and tangible. Recordings made in live venues convey the natural sense of space and ambience of the venues. Have I heard better? Yes, but the admission fee is considerably higher.
|
|
Jace
Minor Hero
Posts: 19 
|
Post by Jace on Nov 21, 2017 0:14:16 GMT -5
I am thinking of purchasing a pair of 6s's and pairing the with an OPPO Sonica DAC. My question/concern is a statement the op made. If I understand correctly he was/is sitting one meter from the monitors. At 50% volume, he perceived the sound to be at a level of someone talking loud. Is this to say, if the op had placed the monitors further from his listing position, 3 meters or so, the volume would have been close to maximum for the sound to be acceptable? I haven't decided if this setup should go in the office or the living room. I am concerned the volume level, if placed in the living room, may not be adequate. We would be feeding the DAC from a MacBook Pro via wifi, or a mobile device via bluetooth. Primarily Tidal to take advantage of lossless playback, etc.
Jace
|
|
|
|
Post by pknaz on Nov 21, 2017 0:44:18 GMT -5
I am thinking of purchasing a pair of 6s's and pairing the with an OPPO Sonica DAC. My question/concern is a statement the op made. If I understand correctly he was/is sitting one meter from the monitors. At 50% volume, he perceived the sound to be at a level of someone talking loud. Is this to say, if the op had placed the monitors further from his listing position, 3 meters or so, the volume would have been close to maximum for the sound to be acceptable? I haven't decided if this setup should go in the office or the living room. I am concerned the volume level, if placed in the living room, may not be adequate. We would be feeding the DAC from a MacBook Pro via wifi, or a mobile device via bluetooth. Primarily Tidal to take advantage of lossless playback, etc. Jace his lack of gain more than likely is due to the headphone jack on his mobile music player. |
|
|
|
Post by Gary Cook on Nov 21, 2017 1:01:20 GMT -5
I am thinking of purchasing a pair of 6s's and pairing the with an OPPO Sonica DAC. My question/concern is a statement the op made. If I understand correctly he was/is sitting one meter from the monitors. At 50% volume, he perceived the sound to be at a level of someone talking loud. Is this to say, if the op had placed the monitors further from his listing position, 3 meters or so, the volume would have been close to maximum for the sound to be acceptable? I haven't decided if this setup should go in the office or the living room. I am concerned the volume level, if placed in the living room, may not be adequate. We would be feeding the DAC from a MacBook Pro via wifi, or a mobile device via bluetooth. Primarily Tidal to take advantage of lossless playback, etc. Jace At 50% volume on an BigEgo DAC a pair of 6's are plenty loud, sit back in the lounge 2+ metres away and listen to every nuance of a movie loud. At around 60% volume it's party time, a loud party at that. The tweeter in each 6 has a 100 watt amp and the woofer a separate 110 watt amp, that's 210 watts per speaker. That's more than an XPA-5 has in each of its 5 channels into 8 ohms. Cheers Gary |
|
|
|
Post by sahmen on Nov 21, 2017 1:19:44 GMT -5
I am thinking of purchasing a pair of 6s's and pairing the with an OPPO Sonica DAC. My question/concern is a statement the op made. If I understand correctly he was/is sitting one meter from the monitors. At 50% volume, he perceived the sound to be at a level of someone talking loud. Is this to say, if the op had placed the monitors further from his listing position, 3 meters or so, the volume would have been close to maximum for the sound to be acceptable? I haven't decided if this setup should go in the office or the living room. I am concerned the volume level, if placed in the living room, may not be adequate. We would be feeding the DAC from a MacBook Pro via wifi, or a mobile device via bluetooth. Primarily Tidal to take advantage of lossless playback, etc. Jace I'll put it this way : My pair of the Airmotiv 6s are set up, also in near-field array in my 14ft by 14ft home office, and in my case I do not have to crank the volume beyond 20% to get room filling sound... Actually, 20% would be already too deafening. When I am using headphones on the preamp attached to the Airmotiv 6s (AudioGD NFB1amp), the impact is roughly similar, unless I am powering a hard to drive planar such as the Hifiman He-6 (50 Ohms, 83.5db), in which case I have to move the dial to 30-35% range. My point is that, amplification also depends on what you're using as a pre-amp (which I am guessing would be the more than capable Oppo Sonica, in your case)... In my case 20% volume on my 6s are is equally and adequately loud both at my desk (where the distance from ears to speaker are 6-5 ft) and from the farthest reaches of the 14' X 14' room, to the point where I wouldn't need to adjust the volume if I were to move my chair to the farthest corner of the room away from the desks where the Airmotivs are located. I do not know the full size of your living room, but if you're going to be seated about 10 feet away from your speakers, my guess is that the speakers will be more than capable to satisfy you at 50% volume or, most likely, less. I have used the Emotiva Big Ego to power the Airmotiv 5s in my main office at my job (which is larger than the home office I have been describing, and I did not need to crank the volume too high i to get room-filling sound) |
|
Jace
Minor Hero
Posts: 19
|
Post by Jace on Nov 21, 2017 22:46:24 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for your responses. My goal here is to have a nice 2 ch. system in the living room using powered speakers/monitors. Our living room size is 19.5' wide, left to right from the seated position, and 14.5' deep. Being in the research phase, Emotiva was the first I ran across with powered monitors. Considering the Stealth 8 or 6S. I am sure there are other options to sleuth out. Have always been a fan of Emotiva.
Jace
|
|
|
|
Post by garbulky on Nov 22, 2017 16:46:58 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for your responses. My goal here is to have a nice 2 ch. system in the living room using powered speakers/monitors. Our living room size is 19.5' wide, left to right from the seated position, and 14.5' deep. Being in the research phase, Emotiva was the first I ran across with powered monitors. Considering the Stealth 8 or 6S. I am sure there are other options to sleuth out. Have always been a fan of Emotiva. Jace Both are good high value choices |
|
hemster
Global Moderator
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,920
|
Post by hemster on Nov 22, 2017 18:45:28 GMT -5
My seating position is 14 feet from the Airmotiv6s I have a slight toe-in as i feel it centers the soundstage better. Love the sound and for music I don't use a sub as I feel it's not needed.
|
|
