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Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by AriaMinaei on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @10:10AM (#34427529)
Speaking of smart speakers, I'm moving to a new flat and I'm looking for some good old dumb speaker setup. The smartest that I'd let it get would be a Bleutooth dongle.

As a recovering Audiophile, I'm gonna stay away from r/audiophile lest they temp me to sell my kidney to afford that extra 5% in "acoustic fidelity." Seriously, I'm happy with the 95%.

Now, how do I go about putting together that sound system? Or in Audiophile terms, what is the DT 770 Pro of home stereo setups?

Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by lommelun on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @10:29AM (#34427841)
Probably something active like the Q Acoustics M20, Triangle AIO Twin, JBL 305P, or Kali Audio In-5 (though the last two are monitors so you’d need a dac/preamp of some sort).
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by xd1936 on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @11:08AM (#34428478)
Just got a pair of Kali LP-6 last month for my desk setup and they're incredible for the price
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by Jhsto on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @10:29AM (#34427835)
Where I'm from everyone is using Genelec speakers.
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by jeffbee on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @11:47AM (#34429151)
Difficult to answer the question without knowing the OP's budget, but I agree on the Genelec line. $700 for a pair of their smallest powered speakers, and they sound great. What you are getting from these little speakers would have been considered quite exotic a few decades ago: individually-driven speakers with active crossovers and equalizers. For a couple thousand dollars you can put together a system that would have cost more than a house 25 years ago.
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by criddell on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @12:01PM (#34429379)
In my home office I have a little Onkyo (CR-N575) desktop receiver and it sounds okay at best. I keep wondering if replacing the default speakers would make much of a difference? I'm doubtful because the amp itself isn't great.

I clearly don't know much about amplifiers, but the specs say "RMS output power: 20W+20W (1 kHz, 10% THD 6 ohm)" which is terrible, right?

https://www.intl.onkyo.com/downloads/manuals/pdf/cs-n575d_ma...

Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by jeffbee on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @12:35PM (#34429920)
20W per channel at 10% distortion is pretty bad. The $350 powered speaker mentioned elsewhere in this subthread claims < 0.05% amplifier THD at 100W total power, and total distortion including the speaker of < 0.5% at 85dB SPL, which is an uncomfortably loud output.
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by criddell on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @02:00PM (#34431267)
On another line of the spec sheet I linked to, they say:

> 12W+12W (1kHz, 0.9%, T.H.D 6ohnm)

Which isn’t terrible. I have no idea how to read these spec sheets.

Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by byproxy on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @11:35AM (#34428955)
A pair of cheap(ish) active studio monitors will probably give you the best price:performance ratio: https://www.sweetwater.com/c405--Active_Monitors

I can vouch for the JBL 305Ps sounding pretty damn good. If you aren’t keen on spending that amount, though, the Presonus Eris line looks decent, as well.

Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by drcongo on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @12:08PM (#34429479)
Studio monitors are maybe a bit specific - ie: flat response and VERY directional.
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by densh on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @12:13PM (#34429568)
Klipsch The Fives ticks a lot of boxes in terms of ease of connectivity and sound quality.
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by danbee on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @02:33PM (#34431787)
I love my AudioEngine A5's
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by robotresearcher on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @03:37PM (#34432722)
I like my HD6s too. Onboard amp, two analog inputs plus optical and BT. Sound good to me.
Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by astrange on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @02:55PM (#34432104)
Used KEF Q150 if you mean full sized speakers. Or these: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-surround-sou...

> Or in Audiophile terms, what is the DT 770 Pro of home stereo setups?

You want speakers with a weird treble hump and sibilance?

Re:Apple HomePod 2nd Generation by Terretta on Thursday January 19, 2023 @04:34AM (#34438394)
Denon HEOS wireless AVR with Definitive Tech ProMonitor wired L,R,Center and pair of wireless surrounds.

Or Sonos ARC with sub and their version of surrounds.

Or ATV4 + HomePods OG or these, then anything hooked to an eARC tv plays through these once TV+ATV4K set to eARC mode.