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Post by plm on Feb 6, 2015 11:44:17 GMT -5
For a really cheap - but good - DAC, look at the HiFiMe U2 Async DAC (24/96 and $57), or maybe their brand-new 9018-based DAC (32/384+DSD and $89).
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Post by jcisbig on Feb 7, 2015 17:37:46 GMT -5
Does anyone have some an idea on how I can create an inexpensive "speaker stand" for the 6S's? I need to get about 8" to 10" of elevation for them, and I'll plan to put an Auralex pad on top of whatever I create.
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Post by entropymann on Feb 7, 2015 22:25:18 GMT -5
I use a couple of small boxes, stuff them with small books or newspaper for rigidity...voila, el cheapo. This bring the tweeters to about ear level. Other ideas, go to your local wal-mart or home depot; you could get squarish containers/tupperware type or Home Depot may have things like bricks you could stack to get 10"...that may cost you 5bucks per side. Or if you have some tools at home, buy 2x4x8, cut them up, nail/screw the pieces together to make a small stand...one 2x4x8 will probably make 2 stands, at 8-10" high. HomeDepot will also cut the wood for you. I think they give you 1 or 2 cuts for free...then it's 50c/cut? You could ask them to cut the the 2x4 into 8-10" pieces. Depending on how large a stand you need, I imagine you need 3-4 pieces of 8" long for the top, and 4 for the legs...and you got yourself a speaker stand...hey, you can use varnish too...LOL...
Have fun....
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Post by entropymann on Feb 7, 2015 22:29:43 GMT -5
Hey, don't forget old romance novels. You can get them really cheap...stack them, and you have a "lovely" speaker stand... :-)
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Post by jcisbig on Feb 9, 2015 20:54:29 GMT -5
Ha ha! Thanks for the replies entropyman! I went to the hardware store and picked up a couple cinder blocks today, we'll see where that gets me! I also received a Behringer UCA 202 in the mail today as per garbulky's advice. I've not tested it with my 6S speakers yet, but my headphones at home sounded pretty awesome with it! (they are usually plugged into my motherboard audio on my desktop)
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Post by jcisbig on Feb 10, 2015 14:39:30 GMT -5
Here is a new picture! You can't see the DAC itself, but I did get the Behringer UCA202 installed! It does make the speakers sound quite a bit better, there is more low-end definition, better detail, better noise floor, and much better imaging compared to the headphone jack. Thanks for that suggestion Garbulky, it was a good one! Also, I picked up a couple cinder blocks yesterday, cut a custom piece of cardboard to go on top of them, and then wrapped them with some black cloth my wife had. I think for $3 total spent, they do pretty well! And the tweeters are at the perfect height now! The stands create a big improvement in "de-coupling" my speakers from the desk. I'm not sure how much better the audio would get by adding the Aurale pads that Chuckienut suggested. Maybe someone can chime in on that front. I'm also continuing to play with placement, but there's not a lot of room for adjustment (front to back that is). As it is now, there is a little more than 6" of clearance behind the speakers. I have them toed in to a point that converges about 2 feet behind my main listening position. At this point, I'm pretty happy with my 6S's! I definitely don't regret getting the 6 instead of the 5 or 4, I'm appreciating the extra extension the 6 provides.  |
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Post by jcisbig on Feb 17, 2015 18:02:35 GMT -5
I'm enjoying the 6S speakers a lot! One thing I do notice though is that even with the bass setting at -2dB, I'm still getting A LOT of rear port chuffing that is quite audible on a lot of songs that have louder bass. Is this happening because I only have them 6" from the wall, or because Emotiva designed them without adequate venting to prevent chuffing? Is there anything I can do to improve this? Would plugging the ports be a valid option, or would that change the tuning of the cabinet too much?
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Post by redog on Feb 17, 2015 19:13:44 GMT -5
I'm enjoying the 6S speakers a lot! One thing I do notice though is that even with the bass setting at -2dB, I'm still getting A LOT of rear port chuffing that is quite audible on a lot of songs that have louder bass. Is this happening because I only have them 6" from the wall, or because Emotiva designed them without adequate venting to prevent chuffing? Is there anything I can do to improve this? Would plugging the ports be a valid option, or would that change the tuning of the cabinet too much? [br Are you using an equalizer on your cp? |
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Post by jcisbig on Feb 17, 2015 20:07:53 GMT -5
Redog,
Nope, no equalizer at all. I was using a WASAPI connection over USB to the Behringer 202 DAC, and I had it setup in JRiver for exclusive access so that it bypassed Windows messing with it. So unless there's something in JRiver messing with things, I don't think that the EQ is messed up. (And I was looking at the EQ, which wasn't adding anything at all to the Frequency Response while hearing the chuffing)
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Post by redog on Feb 17, 2015 21:37:31 GMT -5
I would just turn the bass down a tad on the speakers, use one of the switches. You'd be surprised if your over driving the speakers it'll actually allow the bass to play lower and sound a lot better.
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