Smaller speakers solution?

[Mikeandvan]

Hello Sounders. I use a Sugden - forgot its name - in my bio - a21 newbie thing - with meridan g08 cd +1210 vinyl, and Wharfedale Lindtons floorstanders. Gonna be moving soon to another flat and don;t want to tannoy the neighbours, aaaah, get it, t-annoy. Anyway, any reccomendations for some small speakers that would still make music decent enough for me but wouldn;t piss off the neighbours so much, will be a flat, so could be downstaris upstairs, fucking sideways, you get the idea. WIsh I could afford a house, fug it, there we go. I still plan on keeping the lintons, but would set up system so the smaller spkrs could be easily brought into use in the evening etc
Ta.

M&V

[Sherwood]

They may not be easy to find in the UK but I can highly recommend the Martin Logan Motion 2i or the larger 4i. They are limited in terms of bass output but the midrange and treble are exceptional, due to the use of a folded ribbon tweeter. Dynamics are excellent and the sound is very lively. I usemine in a bedroom system where the lack of bass is a virtue.

[Sherwood]

https://www.referenceaudio.co.uk/martin-logan-motion-4i?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5ImwBhBtEiwAFHDZxy5O_YuJbxGr5MMRKALE FiGXttzh4T1JOX1ThBJhCccrSK-3-Ii4JRoCygAQAvD_BwE#variant_18065

[Puffin]

Isn't it really down to the volume that is used? It could be a TV, TV with sound bar, Bose radio......etc etc I have some small Klipsch speakers that can really belt it out, I also have large Klipschs which can do the same. My S-In-Law recently added a "BOOM" bar to his tele which drives me nuts. Could be the way it is set up but everything has bass, music, speech..... The tele is on the party wall of his semi and it must radiate to some extent.

Some people are far more sensitive to this kind of thing and maybe I am one of those. When we were in a semi I waited for them to go out before I used the hifi or used headphones. It's a bit of a minefield IMO.

[Pigmy Pony]

I imagined those Lintons still sounding pretty good at low volumes, in any case I'd hold off on doing anything until you are installed in your new place. Maybe get some dog's danglies headphones :)

[bumpy]

If you can afford it, then the Harbeth P3ESR are as good as it gets. I have found that if you need to turn the volume down, then just move closer to the speakers. They are phenominal from about 2ft away - spookily good.

https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?77597-Harbeth-p3esr

[Barry]

Mike, your concern about possibly annoying the neighbours is admirable. I like to think that we all are so considerate, which sadly at times is not reciprocated.

But Rob is right - changing the speakers is not necessarily going to be a solution; it's the overall volume level at which they are played.

When you move, introduce yourself to your immediate new neighbours and find out about their lifestyle: if they have small children; if any of them work shifts etc., so you can accommodate it with your listening habits.

The last thing you want is a "loudness war" and to be at loggerheads with the neighbours.

[walpurgis]

Proper BLH (back loaded horn) speakers don't boom and can take up no more space than compact speakers on stands. They are an acquired taste though.

[Pigmy Pony]

Mike, my understanding from past threads is that you're quite sensitive to and wouldn't be able to tolerate anything that sounds 'toppy' or potentially harsh. And it sounds like you finally arrived at a sound agreeable to you with the Sugden/Lintons, so I wouldn't be messing with that just yet.

As Barry suggests, first get to know your neighbours and their routines, then go from there.

[willbewill]

LS3/5a or similar clone (some clones are quite reasonably priced) as it's generally the low bass that really annoys neighbours. Or if you want real cheap get a pair of old Realistic Minimus 7.

[Macca]

Neighbours have no grounds to complain if you don't play music after 2300.

You live somewhere with party wall you have to expect a bit of noise. Music is better than a barking dogs or someone's screaming children.

I had neighbours once who were always fighting. I mean chucking crockery about and screaming at the top of their lungs. Fine by me, they can hardly complain about my music when they make that much racket themselves. Never felt guilty about blasting it out there.

One place I lives there were four of us in there all working at the same company. One youth liked to crank up Pink Floyd and play along on his guitar.

The neighbour would come round with his boxer dog to complain. He looked exactly like the boxer dog, just standing on his hind legs. None of the others would answer the door to him, it was always me who had to try and placate him.

[shane]

If you like the Lintons then how about Denton 85s, or the new Aura 1s, which PJC seems to be particularly pleased with?

[Lawrence001]

Good advice about the Denton and the 80th anniversary is cheaper than the 85th if you're on a budget. Not sure what the difference is.

Sent from my PCT-L29 using Tapatalk

[zanash]

rather than sell the lintons....

look at floor isolation ie townshend podiums or isoacoustic gias ....or at the cheep skate end of the range large felt tumble drier balls.

obviously if you want a change of speaker for the sake of a change then these will still help reduce bass injected straight into the floor.

you don't mention how you currently couple the lintons to the floor , but any none constrained layer support will be injecting vibration straight to the frame of the building and allowing your neighbors to enjoy the prodigious bass of the lintons! I use townshend seismic bars, and this allows me to play 10db higher than when the speakers are on spikes or directly on the floor.

[Macca]

The vast majority of the sound transfer to neighbour will not be structure borne (vibration)

Raising the speaker off a boundary with feet or whatever will reduce the volume of the bass in the room and therefore in adjacent rooms too. That's how that works. It's not the vibrating structure they will be hearing it's the airborne transfer. You can only fix that with soundproofing which is expensive and probably impractical.

[AJSki2fly]

rather than sell the lintons....

look at floor isolation ie townshend podiums or isoacoustic gias ....or at the cheep skate end of the range large felt tumble drier balls.

obviously if you want a change of speaker for the sake of a change then these will still help reduce bass injected straight into the floor.

you don't mention how you currently couple the lintons to the floor , but any none constrained layer support will be injecting vibration straight to the frame of the building and allowing your neighbors to enjoy the prodigious bass of the lintons! I use townshend seismic bars, and this allows me to play 10db higher than when the speakers are on spikes or directly on the floor.

Another alternative for isolation of speakers which is not so expensive is https://www.hudsonhifi.com/collections/sound-isolation/products/bigfoot?variant=42761545416902 I use these and they are very good and improve bass focus/definition.

As others have said its not about speaker size more about volume in dB. If your new flat has another below thow a thick large rug down over the flooring whether carpeted or wood, put some fabric wall hangings on the wall the speakers are firing at if it is a shared wall. Best option is to try and rent end trarrace with lounge on outside end of terrace if you can.

If you want to try some other speakers and have the cash these will sound excellent. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285647303668?itmmeta=01HT2F65MH2EQ11VSAGD654HE8&hash=item4281e7f3f4:g:HLMAAOSw97RlnoKm&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4JakpD3tbtAxy2h32Uz32KFN7Q%2B md2Dn9ToGpwFgvAasv6pYeZ4H4oX92N8%2BZkICL7B6jzkUyel Z2tkinJP3Ummlplkg2%2FgtALqO3sjCuBEepRZq8WhQCoF3nkS xVeAmkQiO4iPArJnU%2FkmfVtsMdrnZfK%2FWUWMIRaQ8CpEYt FMgjVik00tVizj6nK5UI1nUXu7VbOXjFsfSW3MX9cK98Blgvnk TClcvi1msDsFhWZrqSg3dXZ%2BVwje0XIobA6AHEEZRVIq50bi 7rgHjP0vNvvysRcuII%2BMLCAkgaWv7fcQ5%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6 jamM_QYw

[Pigmy Pony]

If you want to try some other speakers and have the cash these will sound excellent. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285647303668?itmmeta=01HT2F65MH2EQ11VSAGD654HE8&hash=item4281e7f3f4:g:HLMAAOSw97RlnoKm&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4JakpD3tbtAxy2h32Uz32KFN7Q%2B md2Dn9ToGpwFgvAasv6pYeZ4H4oX92N8%2BZkICL7B6jzkUyel Z2tkinJP3Ummlplkg2%2FgtALqO3sjCuBEepRZq8WhQCoF3nkS xVeAmkQiO4iPArJnU%2FkmfVtsMdrnZfK%2FWUWMIRaQ8CpEYt FMgjVik00tVizj6nK5UI1nUXu7VbOXjFsfSW3MX9cK98Blgvnk TClcvi1msDsFhWZrqSg3dXZ%2BVwje0XIobA6AHEEZRVIq50bi 7rgHjP0vNvvysRcuII%2BMLCAkgaWv7fcQ5%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6 jamM_QYw

They look proper, I like the look of them. But you really shouldn't be encouraging Mike to sell the Lintons - his quest for acceptable-sounding speakers that don't make his ears bleed has pretty much propped up this forum since the last century (almost).

My advice Mike - keep the speakers you know and like, and just turn the wick down when your neighbours are at home :)

[Barry]

Emporium always charge top dollar for everything.

I would follow Steve's advice: keep the Lintons but just turn the volume down, when listening late at night.

[Mikeandvan]

Isn't it really down to the volume that is used? It could be a TV, TV with sound bar, Bose radio......etc etc I have some small Klipsch speakers that can really belt it out, I also have large Klipschs which can do the same. My S-In-Law recently added a "BOOM" bar to his tele which drives me nuts. Could be the way it is set up but everything has bass, music, speech..... The tele is on the party wall of his semi and it must radiate to some extent.

Some people are far more sensitive to this kind of thing and maybe I am one of those. When we were in a semi I waited for them to go out before I used the hifi or used headphones. It's a bit of a minefield IMO.

Absolutely, guy upstairs playing on his compooter game duz my ed in, but then that's crash bang wallop kill kill

[Mikeandvan]

https://www.referenceaudio.co.uk/martin-logan-motion-4i?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5ImwBhBtEiwAFHDZxy5O_YuJbxGr5MMRKALE FiGXttzh4T1JOX1ThBJhCccrSK-3-Ii4JRoCygAQAvD_BwE#variant_18065

That's kinda what i had in mind, thanks.

[Mikeandvan]

I imagined those Lintons still sounding pretty good at low volumes, in any case I'd hold off on doing anything until you are installed in your new place. Maybe get some dog's danglies headphones :)

Yep, gonna get some ed fones so I can listen loud IN MY HEAD too

[Mikeandvan]

If you can afford it, then the Harbeth P3ESR are as good as it gets. I have found that if you need to turn the volume down, then just move closer to the speakers. They are phenominal from about 2ft away - spookily good.

https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?77597-Harbeth-p3esr

Emmmmm

[Mikeandvan]

Reviews of the Dentons seem very poor.

[Mikeandvan]

Mike, your concern about possibly annoying the neighbours is admirable. I like to think that we all are so considerate, which sadly at times is not reciprocated.

But Rob is right - changing the speakers is not necessarily going to be a solution; it's the overall volume level at which they are played.

When you move, introduce yourself to your immediate new neighbours and find out about their lifestyle: if they have small children; if any of them work shifts etc., so you can accommodate it with your listening habits.

The last thing you want is a "loudness war" and to be at loggerheads with the neighbours.

I'd be too nervous to go around and knock on their doors for a chat! I think the best policy is to start off quiet, and then test the waters!

[Mikeandvan]

Generally speaking I am enjoying the Lintons, but the bass boom is bloody annoying some times, and I can't seem to be arsed with room treatment, i might be in line for some new speakers. Unless I manage to land a widely different listening rooms

[AJSki2fly]

They look proper, I like the look of them. But you really shouldn't be encouraging Mike to sell the Lintons - his quest for acceptable-sounding speakers that don't make his ears bleed has pretty much propped up this forum since the last century (almost).

My advice Mike - keep the speakers you know and like, and just turn the wick down when your neighbours are at home :)

I was not really encouraging Mike to sell the Lintons, personally I would wait until I could hear them in the new home, they may work very well there, and as I mentioned volume is the main thing about annoying neighbours.[emoji4]

[Pigmy Pony]

Ah sorry Mike, I thought you'd already found your ideal speaker in the Lintons.

If you're thinking about speakers you can better control bass-wise, Q Acoustics do a lot of speaker models at all price points, and are generally well-regarded. You could then stuff the bass ports during 'quiet times', and then tune the bass to your tastes with a quality sub (which could be attenuated or switched off during these quiet times).

Shame you don't live nearer (a lot nearer), I have a couple of different subs you could have played about with ahead of buying anything.Maybe a friendly dealer could home-loan something to experiment with.

Then again you might find when at your new gaff that the Lintons' bass is not as annoying. Or maybe more annoying... so my suggestion about doing nowt till after you move still stands :)

[Sherwood]

I have some experience with the challenge of putting together a good quality hifi system in properties where noise overspill is a consideration. My first serious Hi-Fi (1977) was a vinyl based system based around a Dual turntable, a Rogers A75II amplifier and a pair of Rogers Ls3/5a speakers. The choice of system was largely influenced by the fact that I was at university and living in the middle floor of a large Victorian terraced house in Hackney, The lounge was a great size with high ceilings and a large bay window but the sound insulation was minimal to the extent that I could hear conversations from the flat above and television from the flat below, not to mention neighbours on either side. The Rogers speakers, when wall mounted on long-arm speaker brackets were far enough from the rear wall to retain their imaging qualities yet largely decoupled from the house. The limited bass output meant that I could listen at reasonable levels and still enjoy the vitality of a musical piece. I find this to be a problem with many speakers, namely, that when played at low levels they lose what might be called a sense of energy or vitality. It is true that some large speakers such as the dual concentric Tannoys can sound good at low/evening level volumes but most speakers lack this facility.


The Rogers speakers survived through many upgrades and house moves. For many years I continued to live in small flats or accommodation where I was limited in how loud I was able to play music. My last accommodation before leaving the UK was a new purpose built one bedroom flat in Leeds near to Headingley. Here I had neighbours both to the side and below. The Rogers remained a fixed feature during this time although the rest of the system evolved. On the turntable side I transitioned from a Rega Planar 3 To a Linn Sondek LP12. On the amplifier side I moved first to a Rogers Cadet 3 valve amplifier and then to an Art Audio Quintet valve power amp with a Croft super micro preamp. A major transition occurred when I left the UK in the mid 90’s to work overseas and my hifi and all of my vinyl went into long term storage. Only my cd collection came with me.


Once overseas, the space and noise limitations were lifted. An unexpected benefit of working on international health in developing countries is that one tends to have a reasonable housing allowance or to be assigned decent housing. Freed of the limitations of party walls I acquired a series of floor standing speakers with much more extended bass output and far superior dynamics to the Rogers. I tended to sell up my system at the end of each contract and start again when I moved to my next project/country. When ill health forced my relocation back to the UK I bought a new detached property on the edge of Sherwood Forest and started my hifi journey again with a blank canvas.


As much as I love my LS3/5a speakers (I still have them) I have come to realise their dynamic limitations and their masking of fine detail and transients. Curiously, I was not so troubled by their lack of bass extension. Wanting to retain the natural sound of their midrange, my first purchase was a pair of Magneplanar 1.7 speakers. I mention the Maggies because I think that they may offer the type of sound you are looking for. Although the 1.7 model may be too large for your new accommodation, the newer models such as the LRS+ have a small footprint. They do require a powerful amplifier to drive them properly but your Sugden should be an ideal match. In my judgement the bass is more than adequate but more to the point it is fast and highly textured. Most importantly, they sound fantastic When listening at low levels at night. There are an increasing number of UK dealers where you can audition them and if you choose to do so I would encourage you to bring your Sugden along.


Alternatively, you might consider the Martin Logans that I mentioned earlier. If you are looking for a speaker to coexist with, rather than replace your Lintons, then these are ideal and could be placed atop the former for evening use. I bought mine on a road trip in the USA and carried them back as hand luggage. I bought them for a bedroom system both for music listening and for watching movies. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Without regard to their size, they are fast, detailed, dynamic and have a real sense of energy. They reproduce human voice better than most speakers irrespective of price. If I were moving back into a small flat with neighbours close by they would be top of my list. I see that there are now a few stockists in the UK so it's possible to get a demo.


I suppose the bottom line from this is that speakers like the LS3/5A which were long considered the ideal small monitor speaker for domestic use Have been eclipsed by newer technology at a far more affordable price. Mine cost £150 back in 1977. I see current production models sell for £2500 pounds. If you have the space, have a look at the smaller Maggies, if not consider the Martian Logans. Both will offer a satisfying sound at low volumes without bass boom or overspill. A rather lengthy post, but hopefully helpful.

[Pigmy Pony]

After hearing Maggies for the first time (at NEBO earlier this year) I'd think they could be ideal for you (if space allows). They had a lovely even sound I could have listened to all day, and the bass was more than adequate imo. And to my ears everything was there without having to listen at high volumes.

[Sherwood]

After hearing Maggies for the first time (at NEBO earlier this year) I'd think they could be ideal for you (if space allows). They had a lovely even sound I could have listened to all day, and the bass was more than adequate imo. And to my ears everything was there without having to listen at high volumes.

Exactly.

This is a review of the new LRS+

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/magnepan-lrs/

Incidentally, the original LRS model is being discounted now.

[AJSki2fly]

I have some experience with the challenge of putting together a good quality hifi system in properties where noise overspill is a consideration. My first serious Hi-Fi (1977) was a vinyl based system based around a Dual turntable, a Rogers A75II amplifier and a pair of Rogers Ls3/5a speakers. The choice of system was largely influenced by the fact that I was at university and living in the middle floor of a large Victorian terraced house in Hackney, The lounge was a great size with high ceilings and a large bay window but the sound insulation was minimal to the extent that I could hear conversations from the flat above and television from the flat below, not to mention neighbours on either side. The Rogers speakers, when wall mounted on long-arm speaker brackets were far enough from the rear wall to retain their imaging qualities yet largely decoupled from the house. The limited bass output meant that I could listen at reasonable levels and still enjoy the vitality of a musical piece. I find this to be a problem with many speakers, namely, that when played at low levels they lose what might be called a sense of energy or vitality. It is true that some large speakers such as the dual concentric Tannoys can sound good at low/evening level volumes but most speakers lack this facility.


The Rogers speakers survived through many upgrades and house moves. For many years I continued to live in small flats or accommodation where I was limited in how loud I was able to play music. My last accommodation before leaving the UK was a new purpose built one bedroom flat in Leeds near to Headingley. Here I had neighbours both to the side and below. The Rogers remained a fixed feature during this time although the rest of the system evolved. On the turntable side I transitioned from a Rega Planar 3 To a Linn Sondek LP12. On the amplifier side I moved first to a Rogers Cadet 3 valve amplifier and then to an Art Audio Quintet valve power amp with a Croft super micro preamp. A major transition occurred when I left the UK in the mid 90’s to work overseas and my hifi and all of my vinyl went into long term storage. Only my cd collection came with me.


Once overseas, the space and noise limitations were lifted. An unexpected benefit of working on international health in developing countries is that one tends to have a reasonable housing allowance or to be assigned decent housing. Freed of the limitations of party walls I acquired a series of floor standing speakers with much more extended bass output and far superior dynamics to the Rogers. I tended to sell up my system at the end of each contract and start again when I moved to my next project/country. When ill health forced my relocation back to the UK I bought a new detached property on the edge of Sherwood Forest and started my hifi journey again with a blank canvas.


As much as I love my LS3/5a speakers (I still have them) I have come to realise their dynamic limitations and their masking of fine detail and transients. Curiously, I was not so troubled by their lack of bass extension. Wanting to retain the natural sound of their midrange, my first purchase was a pair of Magneplanar 1.7 speakers. I mention the Maggies because I think that they may offer the type of sound you are looking for. Although the 1.7 model may be too large for your new accommodation, the newer models such as the LRS+ have a small footprint. They do require a powerful amplifier to drive them properly but your Sugden should be an ideal match. In my judgement the bass is more than adequate but more to the point it is fast and highly textured. Most importantly, they sound fantastic When listening at low levels at night. There are an increasing number of UK dealers where you can audition them and if you choose to do so I would encourage you to bring your Sugden along.


Alternatively, you might consider the Martin Logans that I mentioned earlier. If you are looking for a speaker to coexist with, rather than replace your Lintons, then these are ideal and could be placed atop the former for evening use. I bought mine on a road trip in the USA and carried them back as hand luggage. I bought them for a bedroom system both for music listening and for watching movies. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Without regard to their size, they are fast, detailed, dynamic and have a real sense of energy. They reproduce human voice better than most speakers irrespective of price. If I were moving back into a small flat with neighbours close by they would be top of my list. I see that there are now a few stockists in the UK so it's possible to get a demo.


I suppose the bottom line from this is that speakers like the LS3/5A which were long considered the ideal small monitor speaker for domestic use Have been eclipsed by newer technology at a far more affordable price. Mine cost £150 back in 1977. I see current production models sell for £2500 pounds. If you have the space, have a look at the smaller Maggies, if not consider the Martian Logans. Both will offer a satisfying sound at low volumes without bass boom or overspill. A rather lengthy post, but hopefully helpful.

Very good advice Geoff. :) If I had more room and my wife was accommodating I would consider Maggies myself, or if I have the dosh a pair of these http://www.analysisaudio.com/Omega.php (Planar speakers), I heard a pair at a dealers not long ago and they were truly outstanding and produced bass, or possibly the smaller Epsilon

[Mikeandvan]

I have some experience with the challenge of putting together a good quality hifi system in properties where noise overspill is a consideration. My first serious Hi-Fi (1977) was a vinyl based system based around a Dual turntable, a Rogers A75II amplifier and a pair of Rogers Ls3/5a speakers. The choice of system was largely influenced by the fact that I was at university and living in the middle floor of a large Victorian terraced house in Hackney, The lounge was a great size with high ceilings and a large bay window but the sound insulation was minimal to the extent that I could hear conversations from the flat above and television from the flat below, not to mention neighbours on either side. The Rogers speakers, when wall mounted on long-arm speaker brackets were far enough from the rear wall to retain their imaging qualities yet largely decoupled from the house. The limited bass output meant that I could listen at reasonable levels and still enjoy the vitality of a musical piece. I find this to be a problem with many speakers, namely, that when played at low levels they lose what might be called a sense of energy or vitality. It is true that some large speakers such as the dual concentric Tannoys can sound good at low/evening level volumes but most speakers lack this facility.


The Rogers speakers survived through many upgrades and house moves. For many years I continued to live in small flats or accommodation where I was limited in how loud I was able to play music. My last accommodation before leaving the UK was a new purpose built one bedroom flat in Leeds near to Headingley. Here I had neighbours both to the side and below. The Rogers remained a fixed feature during this time although the rest of the system evolved. On the turntable side I transitioned from a Rega Planar 3 To a Linn Sondek LP12. On the amplifier side I moved first to a Rogers Cadet 3 valve amplifier and then to an Art Audio Quintet valve power amp with a Croft super micro preamp. A major transition occurred when I left the UK in the mid 90’s to work overseas and my hifi and all of my vinyl went into long term storage. Only my cd collection came with me.


Once overseas, the space and noise limitations were lifted. An unexpected benefit of working on international health in developing countries is that one tends to have a reasonable housing allowance or to be assigned decent housing. Freed of the limitations of party walls I acquired a series of floor standing speakers with much more extended bass output and far superior dynamics to the Rogers. I tended to sell up my system at the end of each contract and start again when I moved to my next project/country. When ill health forced my relocation back to the UK I bought a new detached property on the edge of Sherwood Forest and started my hifi journey again with a blank canvas.


As much as I love my LS3/5a speakers (I still have them) I have come to realise their dynamic limitations and their masking of fine detail and transients. Curiously, I was not so troubled by their lack of bass extension. Wanting to retain the natural sound of their midrange, my first purchase was a pair of Magneplanar 1.7 speakers. I mention the Maggies because I think that they may offer the type of sound you are looking for. Although the 1.7 model may be too large for your new accommodation, the newer models such as the LRS+ have a small footprint. They do require a powerful amplifier to drive them properly but your Sugden should be an ideal match. In my judgement the bass is more than adequate but more to the point it is fast and highly textured. Most importantly, they sound fantastic When listening at low levels at night. There are an increasing number of UK dealers where you can audition them and if you choose to do so I would encourage you to bring your Sugden along.


Alternatively, you might consider the Martin Logans that I mentioned earlier. If you are looking for a speaker to coexist with, rather than replace your Lintons, then these are ideal and could be placed atop the former for evening use. I bought mine on a road trip in the USA and carried them back as hand luggage. I bought them for a bedroom system both for music listening and for watching movies. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Without regard to their size, they are fast, detailed, dynamic and have a real sense of energy. They reproduce human voice better than most speakers irrespective of price. If I were moving back into a small flat with neighbours close by they would be top of my list. I see that there are now a few stockists in the UK so it's possible to get a demo.


I suppose the bottom line from this is that speakers like the LS3/5A which were long considered the ideal small monitor speaker for domestic use Have been eclipsed by newer technology at a far more affordable price. Mine cost £150 back in 1977. I see current production models sell for £2500 pounds. If you have the space, have a look at the smaller Maggies, if not consider the Martian Logans. Both will offer a satisfying sound at low volumes without bass boom or overspill. A rather lengthy post, but hopefully helpful.

Thanks Geoff, seems like good advice.

[Mikeandvan]

Ah sorry Mike, I thought you'd already found your ideal speaker in the Lintons.

If you're thinking about speakers you can better control bass-wise, Q Acoustics do a lot of speaker models at all price points, and are generally well-regarded. You could then stuff the bass ports during 'quiet times', and then tune the bass to your tastes with a quality sub (which could be attenuated or switched off during these quiet times).

Shame you don't live nearer (a lot nearer), I have a couple of different subs you could have played about with ahead of buying anything.Maybe a friendly dealer could home-loan something to experiment with.

Then again you might find when at your new gaff that the Lintons' bass is not as annoying. Or maybe more annoying... so my suggestion about doing nowt till after you move still stands :)

Cheers Steve, I'll wait till I move, will be about a month time, will likely be a basement flat with party walls and of course upstairs neighbours, so I think small speakers will be the way to go.

[Stranraer]

One of the best things I ever did hifi-wise was have The Chat with my neighbours when they moved in, particularly as my volume control seems somehow linked to my bottle opener/corkscrew.
They have my mobile number in case things get a bit out of hand my end, and let me know when they're out for the evening / off on hols.
We've not had a single cross word. They're grateful for my consideration and I don't sit worrying in the back of my mind if I'm giving it some welly (which is actually worse than getting a bang on the wall I'd say, the audio equivalent of Chinese Water Torture).
If you're happy with the speakers you've got it seems a shame to swap them out where a diplomatic solution's available.
Best wishes for a smooth move.

[Mikeandvan]

One of the best things I ever did hifi-wise was have The Chat with my neighbours when they moved in, particularly as my volume control seems somehow linked to my bottle opener/corkscrew.
They have my mobile number in case things get a bit out of hand my end, and let me know when they're out for the evening / off on hols.
We've not had a single cross word. They're grateful for my consideration and I don't sit worrying in the back of my mind if I'm giving it some welly (which is actually worse than getting a bang on the wall I'd say, the audio equivalent of Chinese Water Torture).
If you're happy with the speakers you've got it seems a shame to swap them out where a diplomatic solution's available.
Best wishes for a smooth move.

Thanks, I thought of that too, the mobile phone thing, trouble is would you hear it above the music!

[Lawrence001]

If you can't and it's next to you then you are listening too loud anyway.

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[Stranraer]

Thanks, I thought of that too, the mobile phone thing, trouble is would you hear it above the music!
I keep it nearby and check every few songs.
The other thing is to offer them over for a listen if they have any particular favourite songs.
They're never gonna be hifi buffs but a listen to Elvis' Suspicious Minds at their request put a smile of acknowledgement on two sceptical faces.

[Sherwood]

I agree with several of the other posts that one should not move to a new property thinking that noise overspill will inevitably result in confrontation with neighbours. However, I think a lot depends upon the type of noise overspill as to how much it is perceived as disturbing. Even though my current property is a modern detached house I have had some problems with unwanted noise since I moved in. I live in a former mining village on the edge of what is left of Sherwood Forest. I am located on a quiet road opposite a large open field that abuts a low rise care home set back some distance from the road.

Most of the time there are no problems but once a year the open field is home for a week to a traditional travelling funfair. Judging by the design and decorative state of the various amusements, first impressions are that it has been running since the 1950s though it may be somewhat younger. To be fair, the event seems reasonably well managed and is typically closed by 10 pm at night. The music played to accompany the rides is very loud but I am more irritated by the music selection and its unrelenting repetitiveness. What really does get to me though is the ultra low bass which is not audible but which shakes the foundation of the house and can be felt in the pit of one's stomach. There is no escape from the constant pounding even in the back of the house. Headphones can mask the sound of the music but not the subsonic onslaught.

Last year the funfair did not operate. My speculation is that low attendances may have rendered it financially unviable although it is possible that the ageing equipment finally gave up the ghost. Perhaps, rather uncharitably, I am hoping that a DNR order has been issued.

[Macca]

Most of the time there are no problems but once a year the open field is home for a week to a traditional travelling funfair. Judging by the design and decorative state of the various amusements, first impressions are that it has been running since the 1950s though it may be somewhat younger.



The Tooth Chipper:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cduQXBwxxQY

[ianlenco]

Hi Mike,
There's a guy on Lenco Heaven selling a pair of speakers with Jordan Eikona full range drivers. I've used these drivers for many years in a variety of cabinets and they are never harsh. My brother has a Sugden A21 SE and the two made a wonderful combination.

[Mikeandvan]

I'm thinking an old pair of Sonus faber concertino ?