for two years now I have been looking for new loudspeakers.
My current system is:
Sources:
1- Audirvana on MM via USB on Dac V1
2- Rega P6 with Exact2 on Stageline N
the rest of the system is: 282 (powered by 1 HC DR) > 200 > NacA5 > Ariva
I’m looking for a valid alternative to Ariva. Overall I’m satisfied but unfortunately have a low burst that often drowns and overhangs.
I’ve already done a thorough demo at home with the Allae. Although the bass of the “Allae” is as I would, contrary to the medium / high, for my taste, they are too bursting and tiring.
I also had the Ovator 400 but unfortunately (although I liked it) they were too big for my environment.
Now I have the opportunity to be able to buy (from a private) the Raga RS5 at a very low price. My budjet is currently limited and I can not evaluate anything else …
In the past I have already had experience with Rega. My first setup was (12 years ago) Nait 5i and Rega R5 and I remember it was not bad.
Obviously now my setup has grown a lot and the RS5 are anyway different from the R5 that I had.
I would be grateful if anyone could give me some advice about it.
I have direct experience of curing bass overhang with Arivas. Tried everything before realising there was one boundary I hadn’t tried distancing them from: the floor.
As an experiment, try it. Mine have been sitting on LP record boxes for the last 14 years, all the bloom/overhang gone. I wouldn’t part with them for anything!
interesting … I’m interested in your solution … can you explain me better? What do you mean by “LP record box”? some photos maybe can help me understand well what I could do …
To try this suggestion, use anything that is stable and safe for your speakers. If you hear a dramatic improvement you can think about a good way to make the change permanent.
It’s a great solution for small rooms and I found I could position the speakers closer to back and side walls which was more convenient for me. The cabinets are so well designed there’s very little energy to dissipate out of them so they don’t seem to care what they are placed on but something rigid is good for audible clarity and home safety.
it would also be convenient to keep my LP near the turntable …
just a curiosity: but are not too high? when I’m sitting, my ear is at the tweeter … considering that the Ariva are already tilted upwards, do not you risk being too low compared to the ideal listening point?
You will be aware already that they have good dispersion and create a large sound-stage and it is for this reason that I did not have a problem with the extra height.
please don’t replace Arivas with rega RS5s. Do some more research, do your best to make the Arivas sound as you want them to, but please, not a pair of RS5s. Those are toys, not loudspeakers, and totally unworthy your excellent ancillary electronics.
you’re right … I know that I accept your advice … for two years now I try to change Arivas but I can not find the substitutes … I will try to value them as much as possible!
Thx again for your interest
Ps: you give me another interesting idea… i just have n-Sats in my surround system… this we i’ll try the n-Sats in place of Arivas
I take this post back to share my experience with you.
As suggested by Max, I used my n-sats (from the surround system) as front speakers of the main system.
I was shocked by what these “little” speakers were able to do simply positioned on two bar stools (I don’t have the original stands). A fantastic sound, fast and detailed.
Obviously, as it should be, I am not able to give myself the sound pressure of the Ariva nor can I reach high listening volumes. At medium volumes, however, I find them much better than the Ariva because, being drier, the “boom” that was bothering me disappeared.
Given this, I am at a crossroads …
I have the possibility to buy at a good price both a pair of nsats complete with stands and a pair of SBL Mk2.
Which road is better?
I take another pair of nsat with the stands? hoping that the result is even better …
I take the SBLs (which I can’t prove) that, based on what I’ve read, should be better on paper than both ariva and nsats?
I would guess that the reduced bass extension of the N-Sats avoids, or at least reduces, the problem frequencies of your room. Maybe adding a sub would allow you to reintroduce those low frequencies in a more controlled way, although N-Subs are not so easy to come by.
