[Closed] Ikea Symfonisk or a little amp and bookshelf speakers?

Do you have any other streaming system stuff at home to consider aside from the Soundlink? I've bought 2 Yamaha WX-021 to act as a stereo pair, but I have other MusicCast stuff around. They sound good, but not as good as the Ruark MR1mk2's I have hooked up to a Yamaha WXAD10 in the kitchen.

I tried Sonos, but the app was horrible so I returned it.

I've not tried the ikea stuff, but it relies on Sonos doesn't it?

Like tellies, I think you're best separating the 'smart' bit from the 'speaker' bit, because sooner or later the 'smart' bit will stop being supported (look what Sonos have done with their older kit).

Plus, decent separate speakers always, always (usually 🙂 ) sound better than single ones. So, amp, speakers and a separate method of getting the music from your phone to e.g. Chromecast Audio, Bluetooth or even (shock!) a cable from the headphone jack.

The ikea stuff is good but it's Sonos. Bought some as we've a load of Sonos kit. Good sound but the app does get on my tits somewhat. But then so do many things.

One of these? https://www.whathifi.com/audio-pro/addon-c10/review

I had the exact same need, I ended up with an echo link amp and a pair of monitor audio bronze 1 speakers. Sounds lovely, if you don't need the echo integration (I chose this as it can join whole-house music) - the yamaha wxa-50 seems like an excellent little thing too. I imagine the quality of either would way out-do the ikea stuff.

The speakers are end-of-line so way under half price from most places, they sound pretty close to the bronze 20s, same components just in a smaller chassis

I have a single Ikea speaker and quite a few Sonos Play 1's The Sonos ones sound better in my opinion.

ruark mr1 mk2 are absolutely brilliant if you've got 300 odd quid to spend and space is limited. if you want a bit more ooomph (you might not need it), add a BK Gemini II sub later. its a worthy addition IMO.

i have some old M-audio Bronze - still use em, still brilliant (I run em through a Denon microsystem that's old too, with another BK Gemini). but they're too big to sit on a desk. Some crazy prices at the moment so might be worth getting some anyway!

What's your budget?
If you want a full sound, you usually need to go bigger or more expensive. Ruarks are great little speakers but you can get that full sound for cheaper with bigger pairs.

Worth looking at other active speakers (or powered passive) speakers rather than a separate AMP & speaker combo.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071Z81L6H/ref=emc_b_5_t

and some bookshelf speakers. Bluetooth, USB and Aux in.

It says Nobsound on it.

but they’re too big to sit on a desk.

the bronze 1's are pretty small (26x16x20cm) - I have them on the windowsill just above\behind my desk. Anything else in the range is much too big, I'd agree

aye true, depends on the size of the desk I guess!

i have about five pairs of speakers already, i don't need more, but the price they're currently going for i'm talking myself into it...

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Assuming you have a streaming account on a phone, all you need is a Lepy LP-2020A (or similar), a pair of reasonable bookshelf speakers, speaker interconnects and a 3.5mm jack to 2xRCA lead.

The above little set-up sounds great.

Richer Sounds are doing Mordaunt Short M10 (Black) for £69.

https://www.edifier.com/int/en/speakers/studio-1280t-2.0-powered-bookshelf

Powered bookshelf speakers?

I had similar requirements and went for a set of Q Acoustics BT3, I also beefed them up with a Q Acoustics subwoofer which was probably overkill but have been very happy with them.

Aux, optical, Bluetooth and WiFi / multiroom via Chromecast Dongle.

Moving house in next few weeks and they will no longer be required. Was planning on putting them on eBay once moved but let me know if the are of any interest. Surrey /London.

+1 for DS link, I have a Lepy and its great.

Big fan of the little AudioPro speakers. Big sound for little box.

personally, I like these https://store.google.com/product/google_home_max_speaker

Couple of them definitely fill the room. Often on sale (at £200). Sounds very good.

These are also very good https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/gbr/en/products/yoyo/yoyo-m, but bluetooth only, rather than wireless.

https://darko.audio/2013/11/pioneer-sp-bs22lr-standmount-loudspeaker-review/

With a class D amp - check out Topping or SMSL.

Should get you awesome sound on a budget...

I have 4 of the IKEA speakers in a 1000sq.ft space. They are very impressive for the money, plenty loud enough and the sound quality (to me, a non-audiophile) is very good. I reckon you'd have to spend a significant amount more money to get better.

I'd agree that the SONOS software is a bit klunky though, but once the music is playing you can just use the Spotify app. Also it's annoying not to be able to play whatever you want, it's only certain apps that are supported.

My audiophile father in law donated me a pair of old but OK speakers that he had recently replaced, paired them with a little amp like Derek_Starship above that cost 20 quid from amazon. Have one input from the back of my TV so all my consoles, Blu ray etc and another that feeds into a phono streao jack to plug into phones etc. I might add a spare echo Dot. All in really good sound for buttons.

The speakers in my little set-up arwe Gale 3010S (discontinued) which were £40 new from Richer. A pre-owned pair should cost peanuts.

+1 for Audio Pro.

I’ve got 2 x A10‘a and the sub and it’s made working from the spare bedroom for the last 4 months significantly more bearable. Sound quality is excellent and if you buy the multi room stuff you can add to it should you wish.

They had some end of line stuff on their outlet store not long back and if you sign up to their emails they regularly send out discount codes.

Blimey, that's a lot of replies!

So, I feel the general gist is to go for the amp and speakers route. I'll be playing from my phone but I have a Cyrus Soundkey that I use for my headphones, so will probably just use that to connect to the amp. Wireless stuff isn't a necessity as my phone will be sat next to the amplifier anyway.

The review of the Pioneers looked great, and said that they're AU$200, but when i've looked they're actually AU$479, but then the review was from 7 years ago.
I'll have a search around and see if I can find some monitor audio bronze series, but i'm keen to go second hand.

Also some good tips on the amps.

Thanks all!

I'm been looking for something small for my office for a while. I missed the AudioPro Outlet sale recently.

I noticed that Currys are selling the BT5 for £70 last night so I ordered it. I'll let you know if it's any good.

I just want to listen to Radio 6 or music from my phone or FiiO player but space is tight.

(look what Sonos have done with their older kit).

They actually backed down on their killing of older kit, they support it still now but “may not add new features” as they add them to the newer speakers.

If you don’t want to put it all over a house then I wouldn’t get Sonos for a single speaker.

I went down a different route and bought a B&W zepplin air - big sound for the space it takes up

I now use it as a sound bar for the TV aswell - it really makes a difference to the enjoyment of films etc rather than the weedy sound from the tv

There are different versions of the Zepplin - the non air version could be good and connect with a lead - much cheaper!

I’m a big fan of my Bose Companion 20s. They sit either side of my monitor on a small desk I stream radio from my iPhone via the headphone and use the speakers for computer audio too. I use a webcam for microphone input and keep the laptop stored away on a docking station. The iPhone has demonstrably. Enter sound than the laptop headphone socket.

I’m not a Bose fanboy in any way, but these speakers had a good review from What HiFi and other Traditional Bose haterZ. Not the cheapest for what they are, but I like them.

Elsewhere I have sonos and sonus faber posh stuff.

The ikea stuff is good but it’s Sonos. Bought some as we’ve a load of Sonos kit. Good sound but the app does get on my tits somewhat. But then so do many things.

Yes, the Sonos App itself is truly awful, luckily we never use it as we use Spotify and its App, which is much better, just talks to the Sonuses directlty.

@TiRed - apologies but when I read the "sonus faber posh stuff" it made me think of this...

😉

https://twitter.com/TheFastShow1/status/1077985644809543682

+1 for these> https://www.edifier.com/int/en/speakers/studio-1280t-2.0-powered-bookshelf < Reason i choose these was the various input option I have them connected to my TV, PC, PS4 and phone and just switch between them with the remote.

Just marking for future, don't mind me.

Good info on this thread. It got me thinking and I moved my Ruark MR1 MK1 from the kitchen onto my desk this morning and connect via Bluetooth to the laptop and desktop. The main thing I noticed is the sound changes massively depending on whether I'm typing or reclining back in the chair, with the typing position sounding quite harsh but when reclining the sound is a lot warmer.

Anyway, the problem I've got now is what to put in the kitchen? I'm thinking either The MK2 Ruark's or a pair of Sonos Ones in a stereo pair. The Ruark's go on the window so have quite a narrow gap between them and because of the power outlets I have the left and right the wrong way, but I don't think that makes a significant difference. The Ruark MK1's were also a bit of a pain connecting to Bluetooth but it looks like the MK2 are much better in this area. The Sonos would be about 10 feet apart so in theory should fill the room better. Any advice?

Richer Sounds are doing Mordaunt Short M10 (Black) for £69.

I'm still using a pair of MS15s from 1987....

Ooh, I found the pioneers for au$250. Bargain, I'll order them on Monday.
Just need to find a class d amp that's not shipping from china now!

Big fan of the little AudioPro speakers. Big sound for little box.

+2

I've got a pair of T20 powered Bluetooth speakers, they sound lovely - £300 reduced from £600 in the outlet web store. I'll possibly be adding the Addon sub at some point

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There's a Yamaha a320 going cheap on eBay. Would that be better than a Chinese class d?

https://hifi-express.com/ Or https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/

Why the hate for the Sonos app? I have no issues with it.

Not just the T20's that I've got, but I just can't see past a decent pair of powered Bluetooth speakers at the moment. No need for restrictive Sonos unless you are wanting multi room. I think audio Pro have multi room options anyway

The T20's have a 2 X 60w class D amp, Bluetooth (obviously) aux and 2 X optical inputs. I think the sub is a 150w class D if I add that

Switching between computer, Alexa, or phone is simple too

Why the hate for the Sonos app? I have no issues with it.

Personally I tested it with a single play3, it often couldn't find the speaker, even though music would be playing from it. The UI isn't great (but the Yamaha ones not amazing either), it just didn't work well for me. Other people might find it fine.

In my experience from several years of using Sonos, any issues you have with it will always be down to the quality of your internet and Wi-fi. The app itself works faultlessly as long as both of these are working properly. For instance I regularly had issues when I was using a Wi-fi extender, but whenever I did I checked and I was also unable to browse the internet properly. Changing to a Wi-fi mesh network sorted it out. It would be even better again if I had fibre but living at the end of a 0.5km private road has put an end to the option.

Just a thought: You might find it difficult to position actual hifi speakers around a desk based work room. Either you have them either side of the desk which is not ideal because you're sitting between them; you have them behind you; or you have them to your left or right. Not great for listening in my experience. Hifi is designed to be listened to in the 'correct' setting. Not that it's going to be bad, particularly, if you use any of these setups, but you're wasting space and possibly money IMO.

So I think the best option is something small but good that you can out on the desk or a shelf close to you. The volume remains low which is good for the rest of the house, and for me it seems more cosy and intimate, and somehow more appropriate for close up listening.

I've found that the audio equipment should match the listening style. So I have a nice HiFi in the living room, but in the kitchen I have an Echo which sounds rubbish next to the HiFi. But somehow when you are washing up, cooking or having breakfast it's appropriate.

A pair of Sony SRS-Xb21s would be another option. You can "party" connect them and there is a decent app.

Whatever system you use there are always drawbacks. Too big, too quiet, loads of cables, mono Vs stereo, recharging etc

Just choose the option that works best for your needs

Just taken delivery of some Edifier R1700BT, sound good to my ears for the money

Why the hate for the Sonos app? I have no issues with it.

It's just super clunky compared with Spotify, which is a much nicer app to use to find and browse music etc. It also refuses to work until you install the latest updates etc which is super annoying as its completely unnecessary to do that. Very poor UI design.

I can confirm that the AudioPro BT5 is a nice bit of kit with excellent sound. Ideal for my home office.

Quick update on this...

I ended up winning the old skool hifi stuff from ebay, including a Yamaha a-320 amp. (also including a K-222 twin cassette deck, T-520 tuner and a Kenwood SL-PD827 5-cd changer!). He also threw in some Boston Acoustics A40 mk2 speakers. All for AU$120 (£65).

Now, when I got home I took the grilles of the speakers, and all of the foam on the woofers has perished and fallen apart - not surprising as when I took a woofer out the manufacture date stamped on it was 1980! Not a massive issue as they were free anyway, so I've ordered some new foam for them and will experiment in a DIY refoam. I did message the seller to let him know and he refunded me AU$60, meaning I got the lot for just over £30!
I then ordered the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR recommended earlier in this thread.

Once the speakers arrived, I set them up on my desk, which is fairly wide (3x 24" monitors) but only 'normal' depth. This put them quite close to me. I connected them to the Yamaha amp, and connected my phone to the amp using my Cyrus Soundkey as a DAC.
They sounded horrible. I had that terrible 'ive spend money and its a load of crap' feeling. The treble was really harsh and the bass was severely lacking.

The harsh top end I put down to being sat too close to the speakers, so moved them to the other side of the room. Then when I looked at the frequency response chart for the Cyrus I noticed a really weird drop at the lower frequencies, not noticable through my headphones but I wondered if this is what was causing the lack of bass. So I dusted off the tuner that came with the old bits from ebay and sure enough, the bass was back if I used that as a source!
So I now had two problems, I couldn't use the cyrus as it sounded crap through the amp, and also the amp was now at the other side of the room anyway so it was a PITA to get up to adjust volume etc. and I couldn't connect my phone to it anyway.
Then I remembered I had an old Amazon echo dot in the garage, so I dug that out and connected it up to the amp. Bingo! Great sound (not sure what the DAC is in it but its certainly good enough for my purpose) and wireless operation, I can either shout at Alexa across the room, or use spotify connect to stream from my phone.

So, it took a while to get there but I'm happy now.

And I've got my next project sorted in the form of re-foaming the A40s, I might pair them with a Class D amp and use them in the garage.

Why the hate for the Sonos app? I have no issues with it.

Constantly looses devices
Albums sometimes show all tracks, sometimes sites only one track
Search function is random
Browse/discover is not smart
Can’t play direct from Apple Music