quick advice... tannoy mxr or MS 302s?

Guys,

Don't want to waste much of your time with this.
I need to choose a pair of rear speakers and a pair of stands for them. This is for AV surround duties, so I am thinking of something decent but cheap, as it is mainly for sound effects.

So far, I have listed these two:
- Tannoy mX-r rear speakers.
(front ported, slightly bigger than i wanted and rated 80W over 8ohms. will they be total rubbish?)

- Mordaunt Short 302
(almost double the tannoys, smaller but said to be very clear. perhaps too bright? metal tweeter... rated at 70W over 4ohms and 86db)

Questions:
1) Does any of you have experience with any of these and recommend one of them straight?

2) Will be using the Denon 3802 to drive them. Will it be too powerful for these speakers and burn them down? (denon at 110wpc)

3) any recommendations on rear speaker stands to use with any of them?

Thanks guys!
Jack

 

i use a pair of atacama se1000 stands, thought the argos ones are far too flimsy to take anything more than a pc surround speaker.

 

Why not try some little KEF eggs? come with thin stands,look stylish,are very small and sound OK for effects,I wouldn't go to mad,as you say they are just effects,and noises.

 

the Tannoys have a fuller sound- they do do a bit of bass, but its quite a hollow sounding speaker.
The MSs aren't that bright, yet not dull sounding. imo, they have a very good midrange and treble and go down to around 100hz bass response. They also have OMNI wall mounting brackets capability although their matching stands are called '300p', available from www.av-land.co.uk

 

Thanks Robert. Will bare that in mind, and avoid Argos' stands!

Adam, you mean the 2005s? They cost 100 pounds each, i believe... are they really that much better that justifies double the MSs? (and i'm not saying they aren't...). I am trying to spend as little as possible on the rear speakers...

I thought the stands had to be bought separately, no?

cheers!
Jack

 

So if I read you correctly, you prefer the MS... they don't go down as much on the bass but they are generally a better sounding speaker, right?

That's just what I needed, thank you very much Rory!

:beer:
Jack

[this forum is really something special, guys... I go to avforums, ask the same question, and i get no answers... and they are supposed to be the specialist forum for av... oh well... thanks!]

 

Hi Jack,

Sorry, but didn't realise that the MS were only £50.I like the eggs for thier unobstructiveness,and nice looks,but not last word in sound.Yes the stands are seperate,again unobtrusive,if not the highest build quality,atacama are flimsey too I found.

 

Adam,

The MS are about 100 pounds for the pair. You mean that the kef eggs are about 100 for the pair too? I thought they were 100 each (the 2005).

Cheers!
Jack

PS: Do you think that a speaker with RMS of about 75-80W will not handle the Denon 3802 (110wpc on paper, probably less in real life).

 

the 2005s are £100 each. The Ms302s retail for 120uKp per pair btw and the stands for 70ukp a pair but I think you'll find those discounted at most places. Especially if you find the older 'Declaration' MS302s as opposed to the new 'Avant' MS302s.
They really like loads of power btw. Just make sure u set the Denon amp to 'small' speakers because they don't like 20hz being chucked at them

 

thanks Rory,

do you think the new avant series is much better than the 'declaration' series, or is it mainly a marketing exercise? to be honest, the ones i found online didn't say if they were one or the other...

the MS stands are not easy to find. the website that you told me about is the only place i found them, but they go for the 70 pounds you mentioned... i reckon i could use one of the other available stands like the alphason or b-tech ones and save some money...

cheers!
Jack

 

the only stands that will support the 302s are the 300P Mordaunt Short ones. They're very heavy for the size

Theres next to no sonic difference between the Declaration and Avant series. The Avants come in Beech and Black finish and have cabinets that have straight right angles. The Declarations came in Cherry and Black finish and have cabinets that have softer, rounded sides. As a hifi retailer, the Avant series haven't been anywhere near as popular as the Declarations, so a bit of a backwards step there for MS imo!! Guess people liked the cherry finish :?:

 

If you are looking at £100 I know someone trying to sell some wharfedale pacific pi40 for £100+p&p but he is in London so you may be able to collect them.

As they are floorstanders it would save on the stands and I have heard they are good for AV

Let me know if you are interested and I will pm you his email

Andrew

 

Rory, are you sure I can't use the Alphasounds with them? Their specs on the website say they weigh 2Kgs per box. Are you sure you aren't thinking of the 902s?

Andrew, thank you for letting me know. As much as they seem to be a great bargain, I unfortunately don't have the space for such large speakers. I really need something small... even the MS 902s will be bigger than I want the rear speakers to be, at least for now.

Quick question: my Denon 3802 says 6-8ohms impedance. MS302s list 4ohms and 86db... will this be a problem with the receiver? I'm assuming it won't, otherwise I can't see MS being able to sell many of their speakers...

Thanks, guys!
Jack

 

Rory, all,

I got the MS 302s. They sound pretty good with DTS and DD, haven't tried SACD but to be honest can't be bothered to have to buy all the discrete RCAs to plug the player to the receiver... so I'll stick to the 2ch SACD.

I would like to spend less and go for a cheaper stand than the 300P if at all possible, but all the vivanco and alphason ones seem to not have a plate where i could sit the 302s... Does anyone know of a stand like the 300P with a plate on top that costs in the region of 40-50 pounds or do I really have to go with the MS stands?

If so, Rory do you know if there's anywhere in London that stocks the stands that I could go to?

Cheers!
jack

 

the Btech BT111s and BT11s have a plate. I work in Ipswich, Suffolk and we have them in stock for £35. Our Chelmsford and Farnham branches have them too.

The problem with the MS302s is that they have two screw threads at the back, and they both need to be supported. This is usually done with an Omniâ„¢ wall bracket, u see.