Today I called in to Digital Village Southampton and listened to a few active nearfield monitors.
Adam A7
Genelec 8040 (They were set up and there were no 8030s in the shop.)
Dynaudio BM6 Mk II
Didn't like the Adams at all - particularly the treble (a ribbon tweeter), and I wasn't sure about the bass either.
The Genelecs were pleasant enough, but it was the Dynaudios that sang for me.
I listened to some classical piano solo music, some choral music on a particularly clear Gimmel recording and YoYo Ma on the cello.
And John Gielgud's speaking voice.
The man in the shop says he prefers the Dynaudios and that's what he sells the most of (he told me that after I had expressed a preference).
I was listening to the BM6, but he says the BM5 is just as good for rather less.
He suggests I listen to Focal CMS 50 or 65.
I would need to listen for much longer, but my initial impression was that although they were clear and clean they were not in a different league to the passive towers I have in Nicosia. I did not attempt this`afternoon to listen to a romantic orchestra in full fortissimo!
I have every couple of years for the last 20 years gone into HiFi shops for a listen, and come out thinking I would stick with what I have, for it measured up well.
