R-28F/PF for near field and small room?

[alxlwson]

Hello all! 

I grew up around Klipsch products. Dad always has had their speakers. How envious I am of his LaScalla's

 

I've been using a pair of Sony SS-MB215's for probably the last 18 years or so. They did well enough for me in middle/high school and as a young adult with limited funds. I'm 32 now, and I decided they just aren't doing it for me any longer.

 

My office isn't the ideal space-- 8x15x8, carpeted, with nearly zero wall space due to shelves of LEGO(yup, big kid and I love my Star Wars LEGO). My computer desk is centered on the short wall. Currently, I have the Sony's sitting on the floor on each side of the desk. There is roughly 8-12" behind the speakers, and I have them angled slightly towards the center of the room. I suppose the term is near field listening, as the only time I'm using then is while at my computer. These speakers are used for PC gaming and music, both at fairly loud volumes. As far as music goes, I mainly listen to heavy metal (Lamb Of God, Attila, Iron Maiden, In Flames) but do run through some EDM on occasion.  I don't remember the model number of my receiver(it's old) but it's a Pioneer 5.1 DD unit. I run a fiber connection between it and a Creative Labs SB unit in my PC. The receiver has been on the fritz lately (sometimes will drop a channel, power off and then on for no reason, and has turned into a space heater when just listening to a news podcast at lower levels).

 

I was looking at the R28PF's. I like that they are self powered, have the sub out, and the specs are pretty decent. I don't have any desire to in the future change into a surround system. If I went with the non-powered ones, I would have to get another receiver. I'm not completely against doing that, but it's not ideal.

 

I had thought about a pair of The Sixes and a sub, but I don't have any room on my desk. It's filled with a 38" ultrawide curved monitor and a 27" monitor.

 

So, what does the collective think? I'm ready to assimilate, but just need advice on the correct hardware. I'm not wanting to spend much more than a grand at this time.

 

Thanks for any advice! 

[willland]

I think that would work just fine.  I do suggest the RP series over the R series.  IMO, you don't have to go with the largest RP floorstanders(RP-280F) and could get way with the RP-260F's but maybe from that distance the RP-250F's may be ideal.

 

Bill

[alxlwson]

2 hours ago, willland said:

I think that would work just fine.  I do suggest the RP series over the R series.  IMO, you don't have to go with the largest RP floorstanders(RP-280F) and could get way with the RP-260F's but maybe from that distance the RP-250F's may be ideal.

 

Bill

 

 

Thanks for the reply. Since my receiver is basically garbage, what would you recommend to drive these?

 

Edit: Actually, I'm not sure I want to go with the RP's. The rear porting and close quarters to the wall(and it's not a corner) could be problematic, no?

Edited June 2, 2018 by alxlwson

[willland]

3 hours ago, alxlwson said:

Edit: Actually, I'm not sure I want to go with the RP's. The rear porting and close quarters to the wall(and it's not a corner) could be problematic, no?

The mentioned 8 to 12 inches will be enough room behind speakers.

 

3 hours ago, alxlwson said:

Thanks for the reply. Since my receiver is basically garbage, what would you recommend to drive these?

Are we talking multichannel AVR, stereo receiver or integrated amp?

 

Bill

[alxlwson]

17 minutes ago, willland said:

The mentioned 8 to 12 inches will be enough room behind speakers.

 

Are we talking multichannel AVR, stereo receiver or integrated amp?

 

Bill

 

 

With the height and depth of the 28's, I'll have to move them closer to the wall due to my monitors. They'll probably have to be right up against the baseboard.

 

It's not a true AVR, as it has no HDMI passthrough. I suppose it's really just a stereo receiver with a DD decoder. Has coax and toslink inputs for digital, then coax out for sub, plus the other usual fare for outputs.

 

Lighting is a bit off, but here is a picture I took of the area a few months ago. Speakers would go immediately to each side of my desk, replacing the Sony's that currently occupy that space.

 

Edited June 3, 2018 by alxlwson

[willland]

7 hours ago, alxlwson said:

With the height and depth of the 28's, I'll have to move them closer to the wall due to my monitors. They'll probably have to be right up against the baseboard.

 

Then I say go with the RP-250F's instead since they are more than 3 inches smaller from front to back.

 

7 hours ago, alxlwson said:

It's not a true AVR, as it has no HDMI passthrough. I suppose it's really just a stereo receiver with a DD decoder. Has coax and toslink inputs for digital, then coax out for sub, plus the other usual fare for outputs.

 

No, I am wondering what you want to replace this older receiver with?

 

Bill

[alxlwson]

2 hours ago, willland said:

Then I say go with the RP-250F's instead since they are more than 3 inches smaller from front to back.

 

No, I am wondering what you want to replace this older receiver with?

 

Bill

 

 

Seems I ended up with an alcohol induced order last night, and ordered the R28PF's. Guess I'll go ahead and give them a whirl and hear what happens. I have a local GC that I can return them to if I dislike them (the only reason I went with GC)

[alxlwson]

After some more reading, I decided to cancel the order on the R28PF's. They weren't due to ship until the 15th anyway.

Ended up ordering The Sixes at GC for 599 and an R10SWi for 239 at ABT. 

Im going to build some stands for The Sixes. I'm thinking of using some thick Oak for the base, then a pipe flange, 1" black iron pipe as the riser, another flange, then either walnut or cherry for the top. Can't decide if I want to paint the pipe in a gloss black or if I want to faux rust and then seal. Decisions/decisions!  I'll have to route in a small elevated edge so the speakers can't fall off so easily, and probably line the bottom with a thin but dense foam pad.

Edited June 6, 2018 by alxlwson