What speakers should I be looking at?

I-S

I-S

Good Evening.... Infidel
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Well, here's the quandary...

Once the present round of tweakery is complete, some new speakers will be on the shopping list (to be followed by a new amp).

Only problem is, what? Budget will be about £500-£700 or so, but that's as much as I've determined.

What do I want? Well, something communicative and open (especially at low volumes, unlike my 602s!), with good punch and drive. Low frequency response a bonus, but it doesn't seem too likely.

I've looked into PMC (seem a bit flabby), Rega Jura (bit shut in in the mid range)... Dynaudio Audience floorstanders were also recommended but not heard them.

What others should I be looking at?
 
B&W CDMNT1s?

What others should I be looking at?
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Personally, I'm still a bit partial to B&W CDMNT1s. They are a pretty good match for a brightish/forward system I feel. Moorgate are doing them ex-dem with their stands for £699.

I have also heard a pair of Ruark Equinoxs. They impressed me too, being effortlessly smooth (although still detailed) and with really good bass extention for a standmount. I'm not a bass fiend though, so felt that the bass was a bit exaggurated. Still, if you can find them ex-dem, it may be something to consider.

HTH,

D.
 
see my post a week ago re: Ruark Equinoxes- theres a pair at www.progressiveaudio.co.uk at £700 inc stands. They are nice speakers, with excellent treble and midrange detail. Bass was actually ok for me- they have a comparitively large mid/bass driver.

i was really put off the Quad 21ls (£700) when i heard them, but they were NOT loaded. i really want to hear them loaded, as this would benefit the mid and bass, and i suggest u try and audition them too.

Wharfedale Evo 30s are supposed to be quite competent for £750

theres a pair of my Mordaunt Shorts on Ebay for £700 at the moment- i am experiencing imaging probs with mine, but i feel only because of the smallish (4x4.5m) room. £1900 new.
 
By all accounts the Quads are wowing all who hear them........but I'm a little biased !

Sounds like you need to build a kit to get the performance for you outlay.

I built a pair of transmission lines total cost about £650, inc two set of prototypes same drivers though. There performance was well up with the £3000 replacements......don't ask I had an accident so it was insurance orientated, but I got to choose the speakers which was nice of them !
 
Does punch and drive mean high spls? If not, then a reconditioned pair of ESL-57s would be just the ticket. You might even find a pair of ESL-63s for that money if you're lucky but the risk is that they'll need a service which would drive the price up.

Contrary to what you may have heard, Quads do bass. Real bass. Not your chest pounding, port chuffing, distorted, out of phase bass which most of us are conditioned to, but real phase coherent, crossoverless, lightning quick bass. So you'll get punch and drive in spades - but not absolute spls.

Oh, and they work just as well at low volumes too, unlike many dynamic boxes which only seem to 'come alive' above certain levels.

:MILD:

reg
 
If you look around you should be able to get a pair of s/h Dynaudio Contour 1.3MkIIs within your price range. I got mine for £600 (they were £1200 new) :) Since they've been superceded by the Contour 1.4 now there should be a few ex-dem pairs out there around the £700 mark (my local Dynaudio dealer in Lisbon had a couple of pairs he was getting rid of for £680).

The Contour 1.3MkII is/was the best standmount under £2K IMO - and they go lower than most floorstanders :eek: Only possible downside is they can be a little tricky to drive (86dB, 6ohms) so don't buy without demming them with your amp.

Michael.
 
If you like an open, transparent midrange with a big image, you should also look at picking up a pair of s/h proac speakers. most of the range share these characteristics. very musical imo
 
anyone know what the imaging is like on the esl57s/63s/988s/989s?

same question to Dynaudio Contour 1.3 owners (my imaging probs have not gone away but not as bad as they were :( )
 
Originally posted by Rory
same question to Dynaudio Contour 1.3 owners (my imaging probs have not gone away but not as bad as they were :( )
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I get a fabulous image out of my Contour 1.3MkIIs - your mileage may vary though :)

Michael.
 
Isaac, I usually keep out of speaker threads, as it's a very personal thing, however these little beauties, can surprise many a 'half about speaker', not major bass monsters, but very tight articulate and fast, top notch coherience, very big image and strong focus major stage too, lovely 'real presence' not to big and fab build quality. I've heard them, but I like the brand so I'm biased :D worth a listen for sure WM

A quality speaker for not too much dosh
 
WM - I was hoping you would reply!

After hearing your system it allowed me to figure out what mine is lacking and what I want. I'd like some of the drive and pace, but smoother than your setup, but also open and articulate for low level listening (where B&Ws fail badly, sounding very shut-in) as well as taking some volume in their stride.

I like the look of the swifts... The Contour 1.3s are on the list as they've been so widely recommended. Ruark, ProAc and PMC are also on the list to listen/consider.

My amp can supply a good bit of current (22A or so), and is known for being able to drive significant loads very well for its price. However, once the speakers are upgraded then the amp will be next on the list. However, that's not going to be for a bit... The speakers will take a while, but I like to get a good bit of research in...
 
don't go for els57s if you like imaging...you have to be right dead centre, or they are dire...

63s I heard did do nice bass...

I have some yamaha ns1000s for sale that do most things...imaging, bass, detail, easy to drive......need a bit more room (9ftx7) but they work great...probably as good as you get this side of £2k
 
The yammy's are an accquired taste :) to quote a speaker man, putting them with valves is 'Like try to fit a BMW with tractor tries and take it off roading' :D better to buy an off roader in the first place :) apprantently there are the Rover 800 series of the speaker world, but with s/s hummm, I have heard 989's bass is pretty quick, image is well open and they do disappear, but they have that 'woody feel' that lets you know it's a panel driver, but they do what the people who buy want them to do, and that's all the matters. large following too. WM
 
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Damn. Doing some reading around the place, I'm now drooling over those Meadowlark swifts. If they sound anything like a smaller shearwater I'll be happy, and the quality looks awesome (eg solid ash frame, silver wiring, serious attention to detail, etc)... To quote a computer modding community phrase:

NNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDD

:D
 
Originally posted by Isaac Sibson
WM - I was hoping you would reply!

After hearing your system it allowed me to figure out what mine is lacking and what I want. I'd like some of the drive and pace, but smoother than your setup
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If there's a system that gets a balance between smothness and openess/slam/detail better, I've yet to hear it. :) A comment from someone who hates ragged or over-exposed top-ends...
 

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