This particular recording fits the bill. How do the crossovers differ from the mb42x? Getting down to 55hz extension was really impressive at the time; most affordable bookshelves didn't attempt anything near that. What subwoofer crossover point are you using in your receiver for the MB42x? Could the issue be maybe speaker wasn't raised off surface or simply a current limitation of the rb42 at the moment? In a desktop setup, a "50W" Class D amp like an SMSL Q5 Pro or SA-50 will just barely cut it. With curiously robust bass output and silky smooth sound signature, it renders all musical genres with faithful authority along with a dose of fun. Subwoofers add so much cost, complexity, and inconvenience and 90% of the time they're not even set up right. The bass gets pretty farty! Depends on the recording, but some classical music contains a massive dynamic range that provides the ultimate test of one’s system. They did well with heavy bass tracks, movies and music but the highs were less defined. My Boston CR57 were much better overall with a subwoofer. The Miccas even manage to hang within a few decibels of the massive Classix II DIY bookshelves. You're going to need an amp. I had a bad issue with the Origen+. Oh, also, you didn't mention how it compared to the C-Notes, except for the "blanket" remark. Meaningful, repeatable measurements are not possible unless you happen to have an exact replica of my den in your own home. Can reveal port chuffing if present; the spare mix means there’s nowhere for it to hide. That’s thicker stuff than we’d normally see on much larger, more expensive speakers. I’m fairly certain these crossovers dwarf the drivers themselves in terms of cost. I was left with a few questions - that you had anyway - but one remains. The RB42 are a little more compact and put out fatter bass. But I've got a soldering iron and I'm not afraid to use it. Micca has been a friend to budget audiophiles for a while now, releasing a series of affordable, compact and sometimes oddball speakers that do enough things right to catch audiophiles’ attention. What I was trying to accomplish however was to transition the Q100's elsewhere and replace them with the RB's. Looks like the Dayton's are a much more accessible while not being much worse after I run DSP. If you find yourself missing that extra treble sizzle you can always just turn up the treble a few dB in Windows' sound controls, or on the Yamaha. I wonder if they would perform the same if someone took a micca mb42x and got the Dayton's. COVID-19. The impedance of a speaker varies depending on the frequency being played, and it is normal for most 8ohm rated speakers have impedance that dip as low as 4ohms or even lower. Hosa CMR-210 3.5 mm TRS to Dual RCA Stereo Breakout Cable, 10 Feet 4.6 out of 5 stars 722. That's a pretty killer niche and to my knowledge they're the only speakers (aside from the Overnight Sensations DIY kit) to really occupy that niche. Might sound okay if certain key parameters are the same between both old and new drivers but that’s unlikely. I took outdoor measurements on a platform roughly 6.5’ off of the ground. I have some MB42Xs arriving today so hopefully I can spend some time with them head to head. The Micca MB42X builds on the success of the sensational MB42 by significantly raising the performance bar while still taking up very little space and budget. More bass and more refinement in a very small package makes a very appealing product. Very impressive. Bass from a small affordable package made them a winner. The build quality was pretty exceptional for the price, but the sound quality near field on my desk was pretty poor. Cute song. They are inefficient, but due to Hoffman's Iron Law that will be the case for any speaker that attempts decent bass output in a form factor this small. Prior to 5k, that's a very appealing FR curve- is Micca just betting they'll sell more speakers for living rooms than for nearfield? Micca is proud to be the sponsor of the "Intro to Audio" room at T.H.E. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the BudgetAudiophile community. Are the RB42 worth the extra dough? Just read the a impression review on: https://hyp0xia29.wordpress.com/2019/03/16/micca-rb42-impressions/. Are they basically identical? They're small 4" speakers. They just sound more open, richer and more dynamic...just overall more balanced. The RB42 is perfect for someone that doesn’t have the room or budget to have a subwoofer, or just doesn’t ever care to get one. Is there a reason, other than they're old, you're ready for something new, that you're replacing the Z-5500? The Blow - “True Affection” iTunes - YouTube - Spotify. With the Micca RB42 ($149 MSRP, $129 introductory pricing) they attempt to make a slightly more upscale speaker than we’re used to seeing from them. They no doubt punch above their price range but they'd still get absolutely destroyed by a good pair of floor-standing towers, no replacement for displacement. Measurement setup was identical to the first day's setup for all I could tell. That would be a particular benefit for desktop 2.1 systems with a subwoofer on the floor because IMO they never sound well integrated to me while you're actually sitting at the desk. God help me, I might like these better than the Overnight Sensations. Cookies help us deliver our Services. I hope this is 10% as good as one of his. There is nearly 5dB difference between the midrange and the treble. While its -3dB point is similar to that of the BS22, the similarities end there. Or to put it in more immediate terms, they're a few clicks of the volume wheel less efficient than other bookshelf speakers. I think you absolutely hit the nail on the head, though, about his lack of speaker stands. The Z-5500 is pretty deluxe insofar as PC speaker systems go. Yiiiiikes. Its slim shape can be used horizontally as a center channel speaker, vertically as bookshelf speakers, or use with optional wall mounting brackets as surround sound speakers. Gives a more integrated sound and more even bass coverage. Frames are stamped rather than cast. Any other comparisons? The RB42-Cs are tuned for vocals and dialog, while the RB42's are tuned for maximum bass from a tiny speaker, so if you want thumping bass from a tiny speaker, get the RB42, not the RB42-C. Joe N Tell 43,022 views. However, we can use these measurements to get a general sense of bass output and extension in a typical room. If you're talking about those fancy polar response graphs I've no idea how to make them =). The only bad audio system, is the one you don't enjoy to the fullest. The satellites are even fairly passable albeit small and full range. These are passive speakers. Woofers have beefy magnets and vented pole pieces. Need to look into how to do summed measurements so I can give a more complete picture with my reviews. My take is that outside of the pro and audiophile markets most people are actively looking for boosted treble (and bass) even on the desktop. In the living room, any class AB amp will be fine and higher-powered chip amps probably will as well. I don't know how many people would benefit there. I'll add that to the list of things to look at if/when I do a follow up in the next week or so. DSP-enabled “Micca Voltron” frankenstein setup, Micca RB42 ($149 MSRP, $129 introductory pricing), Externally, this speaker is as nice as anything you’ll find anywhere unless you move up a few price brackets and start getting into lacquer finishes and such, These are very compact speakers, dwarfed by competition like the Pioneer BS22. Solid at an average of 80-85 dB in this 200 sq ft room from 6ft away, with headroom left over for dynamic peaks. Sadly the RB's weren't just worse, but they weren't even serviceable for me. But still. 80hz? The Micca RB42-C is a handsomely styled center channel speaker that delivers a level of performance that belies its affordable price. Micca is one of the few manufacturers that specifies the impedance of its speakers as a range, rather than a fixed nominal value. The short version of the story is that the treble response is not rising in the way the initial measurements indicated. We did all sorts of troubleshooting for about 2 months, and, in the end, they let me return them to Amazon well outside their return window. Micca is one of the few manufacturers that specifies the impedance of its speakers as a range, rather than a fixed nominal value. That, and an entire craft store’s worth of polyfill, add up to an exceptionally dense and solid speaker. All the best products. Whether that's actually the case, I'll try and figure out. Here were my primary test tracks. I really want to hear them after that excellent review by you JB. Glad you're enjoying them though. The RB42s probably have a few dB more of a midbass hump added compared to the CNotes which strive for flatness. Say some good reviews of the Micca RB42 speakers, and grabbed them as soon as they came back in stock at Amazon. The Miccas were the warmest sounding of the three, they have very good low end, the bass was clean but not punchy even though they are the smallest. Nobody will be fooled into thinking there's a subwoofer present, but these pass the crucial "no subwoofer required" test for me. The RB42 are more accurate. Flared port to minimize port chuffing. With anything else you may want to add a subwoofer. I really like them, but they are bigger than I would like. With the Micca RB42 ($149 MSRP, $129 introductory pricing)they attempt to make a slightly more upscale speaker than we’re used to seeing from them. The Club 3 are sort of ridiculous and I love them even though they're bad without some real EQ help, but they're no longer available so I didn't spent a lot of time on that comparison. 16:11. The chorus is spine-tingling on good speakers. They're packing drivers that are easily 2X the cost of those inside the RB42s. Just wanted to know, did you run into issues with dialogue on the rb42? The face is narrow and the speakers themselves … RB42 are popular for going without a subwoofer. The RB42 will probably still sound better in the crossover region, have less port chuffing, and so on. Kidding... amazing write-up! This speaker also seems to be the favorite of youtube bloggers, helped partly by generous seeding of such "reviewers." Press J to jump to the feed. Cast is better than stamped, but given that this is only a 4” driver that's probably not a sin. My wife and I compared them against the venerable Pioneer BS-22, Micca Club 3, and even the Parts Express C-Notes DIY kit speaker. Random objects added for scale, The woofer looks like a miniature subwoofer, with a beefy surround. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, Bookshelf speakers don't go on a bookshelf. In the meantime, listening impressions and the overall conclusion still stand. I was mad that I didn't have a banana handy, but not quite angry enough to drive to the store and buy one! Not that you should be spending much time listening to anything at 85dB. Externally, this speaker is as nice as anything you’ll find anywhere unless you move up a few price brackets and start getting into lacquer finishes and such. Doing some evangelizing here. One thing I can say is that moving from a 80hz to a 60hz or even 40hz crossover point, if your L/C/R speakers can go deep enough, is usually a major win. Ideally I'd have done measurements of this. IMO Micca more or less split the difference between the audiophile and casual crowds and tried to create something for both. I was hoping they refined the tweeter a touch and made it a bit less in your face. Oh, nitpick: I can't see dropbox links at work, had to go mobile to see 'em. I'm super curious to see an AB with the OS as they are very good speakers that are very close in size and money. High spousal approval factor; would not look out of place on an executive’s desk. They are very impressive afaic. How would I go about figuring out (roughly) what value resistor to use? During complex techno or classical tracks, the BS22 stay composed and are more revealing. Thanks to u/strategicdeceiver for showing the world how speaker reviews are done. Acoustic guitar and legit contender for greatest male vocal rock performance. If the RB42s enable a lower crossover point than the MB42X that's potentially a big benefit. Build quality is outstanding at this price range, or any price really. May do a follow-up if there's interest. Pulled the trigger on mine last night and am expecting them Friday. The only bad audio system, is the one you don't enjoy to the fullest. If you are limited on space, these things will forgo the need for a sub or big speakers at your desk. If parametric EQ is an option for you, you can probably wring comparable performance from the cheaper Dayton MK402s using NoAudiophile’s DSP corrections in conjunction with a MiniDSP, EqualizerAPO on your Windows PC, or via some other means. Micca RB42 Has anyone had a chance to hear these speakers? This subreddit is for the budget minded audiophile that wants to grow out of soundbars, boomboxes, portable bluetooth and lifestyle speakers, and PC branded audio solutions. In a bedroom, office, or small apartment these plus a solid 50 watts of power could be all you need for a fun, minimal setup that delivers satisfying low end without a subwoofer. The hype is definitely real. Clearly they're garbage below 1khz. It is a much higher quality cross over. It doesn’t go super deep, but it goes hard in the midbass range which is where most of the good stuff is with rock and hip-hop. Outdoor measurements ← Link temporarily removed. With a better/smoother tweeter, it'd be a different story, but that catapaults us right out of this price range haha. I put on Automaton by jamiroquai and couldn't stop giggling. I didn't do any movies/TV with them. That's a good question. They don't do that and may initially sound "boring.". Press J to jump to the feed. If you're looking for a small 2.0 that actually gives a full range sound then these might be the way to go. The Micca RB42 bookshelf speaker celebrates music reproduction in a handsome package, delivering the next step up in compact speaker performance. . Any other comparisons? Typically you would never see a crossover half this complex in the commercial speaker world; only from DIY fanatics. The tweeters appear to be, uh, tweeters. to acceptable levels then these RB42s aren't going to cut it. The Micca RB42 Reference is mighty impressive, but the Dayton Audio B652 Air and Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers are less expensive and clearer-sounding speakers. We focus on education, discussion, and sharing of entry and mid level separate & multi component audio systems. Didn't really have time to troubleshoot and since I'd already sunk a bunch of time into this review I figured I'd just punt and maybe figure it out later. The Micca RB42 bookshelf speaker celebrates music reproduction in a handsome package, delivering the next step up in compact speaker performance. If you're interested in testing with these tracks yourself, seek out some decent-quality downloads (256kbps AAC/mp3 or better) and if you're unsure about how to get the best audio quality from your music player, use VLC or Foobar which don't pull any shenanigans by default. This takes us from middle C up to several octaves above the highest note a piano can play. I'm in an apartment and I don't want to bother the neighbors so I'm not going to be adding a sub but these little boxes put out a shocking amount of bass. Acoustic music is just okay. Micca is one of the few manufacturers that specifies the impedance of its speakers as a range, rather than a fixed nominal value. We're re-doing these measurements. Crossovers (unless they’re super simple) are closely tied to particular drivers and even sometimes the enclosure itself (baffle step compensation). I think you're spot on when you say they fill a particular niche. https://www.dropbox.com/s/1qd27gqjg7p2m10/off-axis.png?dl=0. These may be the new budget champions! I'm driving them with my Pioneer SA-7700 60wpc amp and in my listening room - which is about 12 by 16 feet, the RB42s easily fill the room just as well as the towers. The problem speaker companies face when voicing these kinds of speakers is that if they actually released a mainstream speaker like this one without some kind of treble boost, most people would find the sound "boring" because hyped up treble is the expected norm. The RB42 are also a little tough to place. I’ve been looking at Fluance Ai40s for a bedroom TV/music 2.0 setup. Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers – An Affordable, Quality Set of Entry-Level Speakers for Those Who Are On a Budget. u/miccatron could probably chime in here! Or does 60hz work okay? Here's a review from NoAudiophile that backs up the "desktop reflection" issue with some measurements... and he's doing that with speakers that already angle up on their own. I did the vast majority of my comparisons with the Pioneers, and just a few quicker comparisons with the C-Notes and Club 3. Hell of a system. After that, I slapped some rubber feet onto the RB42s to lightly decouple them from the surface of the desk. With robust bass and midrange output and a silky smooth sound signature, it renders movie dialogue and music with clarity and authority. The steel guitar in California by Joni Mitchell just sounded amazing. The RB42s never sound like they’re falling apart, but sweet orchestral string sections are lost in the wall of noise during crescendos. They're on a VERY messy desk right now, so I don't want to post pictures. Mine is still in active use. It's possible I received a bad set, but it wasn't worth a second effort based in my experience. How nice the speakers sound takes secondary precedence to whether or not they physically self-destruct. I'm super curious to see an AB with the OS as they are very good speakers that are very close in size and money. RB42 seem to have the enclosure completely revamped, an upgraded driver, but possibly same tweeter, the biggest change is possibly the Crossover. The impedance of a speaker varies depending on the frequency being played, and it is normal for most 8ohm rated speakers have impedance that dip as low as 4ohms or even lower. Powered by an Emotiva A-100. They have a pretty low sensitivity, and I didn't know if that would cause any issues in a living room setup. That "2.0 system with solid bass" niche is so crucial IMO. The compact Micca OoO speaker sounds much larger than it looks, giving listeners a fully immersive experience with its dynamic and extended sound signature. For what they are, they are amazing. Port chuffing is most definitely a thing while playing 40hz and 50hz test tones, but I did not notice this during actual music. And since they're rear-ported, you get swamped with bass pretty quickly unless you keep them well away from walls. Passive Systems can *always* be upgraded! 0.75” silk dome, standard for this segment of the market. Micca�s quoted sensitivity for the RB42; 83dB@1W /1M, with an impedance range of 4-8 ohms, is pretty accurate based on our tests with a number of amplifiers. For not that much more these seem like a very good option. Of course, an entire Radio Shack’s worth of crossover elements is not a guarantee of quality. From 200hz on up, the Miccas are a commendable +/- 2.5dB. Using most of the amp’s 50W output to achieve this. It's still a small bookshelf speaker with good build quality and a long-throw little bass element. The Micca MB42 is one of the most purchased bookshelf speakers up to date. As you can see in the blue window above, the Micca MB42X Mark III is all over the place. Welcome to the goddamn loony bin. The RB42 is pulling shenanigans up there in the upper ranges. If this was an attempt at bribery it was a poor one as the speakers contained no drugs or money, and my wife dreams up new ways to kill me every time a new set of speakers enters the house. ", The RB42 are more accurate. Comparison with the DIY Overnight Sensations, which are similarly priced and have been the perennial pick for compact bookshelf speakers that actually produce some bass. Satellites can get a but tinny. I purchased my sample from Amazon and it cost US $149 including Prime shipping. 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