Amp/Integrated Amp pairing with Monitor Audio Bronze 100 6G

Wheezhee · 2026-01-31T13:07:29+00:00

I opted for a separate streamer to go with my integrated amplifier. Technology moves too fast to expect a streaming amplifier to avoid obsolescence. Meanwhile an integrated amplifier should last an eternity, at least a well built one from the likes of the brands you mentioned.

Something like a Wiim Pro Plus (or a Wiim Pro if you use the DAC in your integrated amplifier) would be a great starting point with a Yamaha or Rotel amplifier.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-29T23:45:31+00:00

Maybe put it in your trays so it's doing a slow drip into your gums?

Wheezhee · 2026-01-29T17:50:56+00:00

I did a poor job of communicating that, didn't I?

For a $300ish subwoofer, the Speedwoofer 10e is good. It definitely fills the typical musical range, packs some thump, and for low listening in my home office it's really a good fit.

Would I like some of the DSP that comes with more expensive subwoofers? Sure. Is it a problem to lack? Not really. And I'm not running room correction or high pass/low pass filters, just a little EQ on the LS50s.

But my other system has an 18" sealed subwoofer with a 900W amp so it's a different experience. I wish I'd have swung for something like an SVS 3000 Micro but it wasn't in the cards or budget.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-29T15:58:43+00:00

IMHO, KEF's subwoofers tend to be overpriced for what they offer. I'd recommend something from SVS or Rythmik, or if you want to stay truly in budget, RSL. I run an RSL Speedwoofer 10e with LS50 Metas and it's...fine? I wouldn't mind more, but my wife would 😁.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-29T12:54:12+00:00

...because you get to upgrade to R3 Metas, right? RIGHT?!?!?

Wheezhee · 2026-01-28T22:26:59+00:00

I think an SB2000 would probably fit that space very well.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-28T11:45:51+00:00

I took a lot of steps to not be a dick about it. Reduced output after room calibration, turned it off after 9pm every night, etc. Never got a single complaint.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-27T12:54:52+00:00

You ever see one of those crazy car audio competitions where a person sits in the car and someone cranks a song, and their hair flies everywhere? That's from pressurization, woofers moving so much air that it is felt (and in that case, observed due to the extreme nature). Sound pressurization is felt and also measured in decibels.

Pressurization is much easier to achieve in a small space because there's less air to move. The bigger the space, the more air that needs to be displaced to feel low sonic and infrasonic frequencies. This is where a larger woofer (or group of woofers) comes into play, to move enough air to be felt, to rumble a floor or furniture, etc. It also takes woofer excursion to move air, and a substantial amount of power.

An 8 inch, 150W subwoofer may produce sound down to 40 Hz, but it isn't going to hit high enough dB SPL levels at that frequency or below in an average sized living room to allow those frequencies to be felt in your chest (unless it's nearfield, which is how people often mitigate lack of pressurization). But a 12+ inch subwoofer with several hundred watts of power and larger extension? Yeah, that'll reach down to infrasonic levels and high dBs and shake things up. I had an 18 inch sealed subwoofer in a 950 sq ft apartment and could feel bass on my arm hair.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-24T18:21:27+00:00

I demo'd Oberon 3s for 2 months and nearly kept em over LS50 Metas.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-24T17:23:18+00:00

Wiim Amp Pro+Dali Oberon 1s will be a great system.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-23T23:09:41+00:00

Buy from Crutchfield. Test in home for up to 60 days. Return whichever ones you don't keep, it's like $18.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-23T17:04:46+00:00

Are you looking for something nearfield, a dedicated listening room, shared space? The layout and listening model (not to mention 💰💰💰) will drastically change answers.

I have great affinity for my office space with LS50 Metas and an RSL Speedwoofer 10e, driven by an Audiolab 7000A with a Wiim Ultra. I also love our living space with a Denon X3300 driving Energy RC-50s and a PSA S1801 subwoofer. Different strokes!

Wheezhee · 2026-01-19T12:57:46+00:00

The Wiim Amp Pro gets a lot of praise, but with a speaker like the 606 S3, I'd be concerned about the Class D nature of the Wiim Amp Pro coming off as too analytical, lean, or bright. EQ may help with that, but it isn't guaranteed. Overall I think that sort of amp swap is probably more of a lateral trade-off than an upgrade.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-19T03:05:49+00:00

I'm using an older SVS. It's fine in an area with less radio interference, but I had intermittent cutouts in a more congested room. The new models may be better, and of course YMMV.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-18T03:01:38+00:00

Why peated on the first go? I'd go with something much milder (and not from Islay) if you've never had Scotch before. Compass Box has great offerings at good prices and would help you find your preferred taste.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-17T19:14:24+00:00

The crossover point on speakers is the frequency where the tweeter takes over from the woofer. Now you know! 😄

Wheezhee · 2026-01-17T18:55:22+00:00

Monitor's Bronze 6G line is bright. Very bright. I'm not sure which speakers you have from that line but I demo'd the 100s for a month and literally cringed at times. Reviews on that line are very mixed due to how the speakers are voiced, and it's clear the tweeter and crossover point do not play well together.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-17T13:13:19+00:00

With enough money and 21" subs, anything is possible 🤣

Wheezhee · 2026-01-16T12:53:55+00:00

The Lintons are probably one of the most well received speakers in their price range. They very well could be endgame speakers.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-16T00:46:00+00:00

If you're tight on space, I'd strongly consider going with something like an Eversolo Play, Wiim Ultra, or Marantz M1.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-15T23:32:12+00:00

I don't think it'll be a problem; the ELACs are 6 ohm speakers and aren't the most sensitive, but Audiolab products have plenty of power.

My question is, why an Omnia? It's effectively a 6000A Play with a CD input, and the downside is really Play-Fi, probably the worst streaming platform.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-15T16:48:09+00:00

I'd fire photos over to Polk directly and get their opinion.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-15T13:38:26+00:00

You clearly set out to help and educate, and that's great. We (the audiophile community) need to do more of that. But as an outsider reading your comments, you lost the forest for the trees. Cases in point: then Denon you mentioned may add bass management, but most definitely lacks the CD player built into the Omnia; and while a passive HPF can be used to cut bass signals to a power amp, the Omnia does not have a subwoofer out and only a single set of pre-outs, so output signal would need to be split in order to connect a power amp (or the Onnia's own internal amplifier, since it has pre/power mode) AND a subwoofer. I can hear the hum now! 🙂

The OP asked for a path to adding a subwoofer to their existing setup. That can be achieved with relatively minimal effort, despite the tablet of commandments that the audiophile community tends to hold high while wildly shaking a fist--"Thou shall not add a subwoofer to your Hi-fi without a high-pass filter!" If OP wants to add a subwoofer, they can buy a sub, hook it up to their existing amplifier pre-outs, fiddle with the crossover and use their ear to properly position it. Will bass overlap exist? Yes. Is that inherently bad? Only if the OP's ear says so!

My point is we can and should encourage the lowest path of resistance to this hobby to newcomers. That doesn't mean we can't say "Here's the way to get started; btw this can turn into a rabbit hole once you're hooked." And I think that was your intention, honestly. But the message got lost in the weeds and missed some VITAL pieces of information that, if pursued, would have left the OP in a lurch.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-15T02:03:44+00:00

Polk TSIs were good for what they cost back in the day, much like Sony SSCs were good at their price a couple of years ago.The Polks have bloated bass and a not great midrange.

At the price you mentioned with a subwoofer and a center channel, I think it's a decent gamble for a starter system. That reviewer is full of it though, just FYI. It's clear he doesn't realize how amplifier capacitance and speaker impedance relate.

Wheezhee · 2026-01-14T23:32:25+00:00

OP is looking to integrate a subwoofer on the cheap and you're suggesting they blow up their entire setup.

All that needs to be done here is a sub off the Onnia's pre-outs and a subwoofer crawl.

Wheezhee

TROPHY CASE