View Full Version : Speaker shortlist advice please.
Hi all,
My system is coming together nicely now and I'm looking to replace my Neat Motive 2s in the near future. The Neats sound great for a full-on listening session, but for day to day use, they can be a bit forward for me.
I've got a Rega DAC and Brio-R amp and want something either new or secondhand that fits the following brief:
- Slightly laid back sound, not fatiguing.
- Works well with Rega Kit.
- Good bass, but not overblown.
- needs to be positioned quite close to back wall.
- Good for low volume listening *** important***
- Compact, preferably floor standing - ideally Neat Motive 2 size and finish.
- Decent quality finish and nice to look at.
- Suit female vocals mainly - not interested in rock.
I've got the start of a shortlist already and here it is:
1. Rega RS3.
Any ideas? I'm looking to spend maybe £5-600 ish, maybe more or less.
Cheers in advance,
Here's my room - 3 rooms 4 x 4 m ech connected in L shape.
http://www.chelsea-bathrooms.co.uk/montage.jpg
What's wrong with the Neats? The RS3's have a fab midrange, but the tweeter can come on a bit strong and the bass depends on the siting. I like 'em but.........
Why not save until you can make a really big change?
What's wrong with the Neats? The RS3's have a fab midrange, but the tweeter can come on a bit strong and the bass depends on the siting. I like 'em but.........
Why not save until you can make a really big change?
Thanks Dave,
Your description of the RS3s sounds a bit like all the things I don't like about the Neats :doh:
I guess I'm more after a vintage-type sound?
Quite fancied trying some Harbeths, but don't think my budget will stretch that far. What are the smaller harbeths like in small/large rooms like mine/
:scratch:
Snell or AN maybe good for you,not sure how they would work with the rega though.
julesd68
06-02-2013, 17:15
I guess I'm more after a vintage-type sound
Really not sure how you achieve this given your source and amp :scratch:
For the sound you're after I'd definitely shortlist some Audionote AN/J's or some AN/K's.
They don't sound shrill in the treble, image well, have surprising bass clout for their size and importantly, the base models are well within your budget on the used market. Heard some at Whittlebury last year and was very very impressed. They also retain a lovely mid range. If by "vintage sound" you mean slightly laid back but with power when it counts, and don't make your ears bleed with the treble response, then the Audionotes are perfect IMHO.
Really not sure how you achieve this given your source and amp :scratch:
Agree,change of amp maybe needed as well.
kenworthy100
06-02-2013, 17:25
My second system is a BRIO R, APOLLO R and DAC. For my speakers I chose Kef LS50's, they have an engaging sound with plenty of detail but without the obtrusive character of some speaker designs, like you I had wanted a floor standing design but within my budget I couldn't find one I liked hence I decided on the kef's on decent stands
Thanks for the suggestions so far - I'm not very good at describing the issues with my Neats, but here goes.
The sound is quite forward and the treble could be smoother - I think the latest motive 2s have addressed this.
At higher volume levels the balance is pretty good, but the bass can be boomy at times. I think the boom frequency corresponds to the length of my L shaped room - about 8m. I always have some audiophile socks to put in the ports for these occasions ;)
At low volumes, the bass all but disappears and all that it left is the forward upper mid and bright treble.
Most of our listening is at relatively low levels during the evenings and then I crank it up a bit when I'm on my own :)
Not sure if a speaker exists that works better at low and high volumes. Any ideas? Tone controls?
Cheers,
If by "vintage sound" you mean slightly laid back but with power when it counts, and don't make your ears bleed with the treble response, then the Audionotes are perfect IMHO.
Yes, that's what I meant :exactly:
Thanks you, I'm not very good at describing things.
hifi_dave
06-02-2013, 17:36
For goodness sake, don't even think about changing your amp. What you describe is the speaker's characteristics - not an amp thing, at all.
Suggested these to someone else on another thread - if I had the pennies spare they'd be in my living room...
Spendor A6 - £795 B.I.N. (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spender-A6-Speakers-/321062613563?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudio HiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item4ac0d2b23b)
For goodness sake, don't even think about changing your amp. What you describe is the speaker's characteristics - not an amp thing, at all.
I agree with Dave. Nothing wrong at all with your amp...leave well alone! Change the speakers if you want the improvement in sound you describe. Honestly, those Audionotes are well worth searching out on the used market and would, in theory, be a great match with your amp.
steveledzep
06-02-2013, 18:30
+1 Spendor A6. Didn't realise you might get them for £800.
+1 Spendor A6. Didn't realise you might get them for £800.
They're a bargain I reckon... (no connection, just an avid Spendor lover!)
wee tee cee
06-02-2013, 18:42
A second hand pair of quad 63s would be right up your street sonically....just need moving out the way when not in use. I have heard them on the end of your rega kit courtesy of a couple of the members on here....they worked very well indeed. I know its a curve ball, but one to consider if you prefer to listen to music rather than hi fi!!!!
Am I right in saying that Spendor, Harbeth and others used to make bbc type speakers in the olden days and therefore share a similar bbc style sound?
hoopsontoast
06-02-2013, 19:20
Spendor sound right up your street.
hifi_dave
06-02-2013, 19:43
Am I right in saying that Spendor, Harbeth and others used to make bbc type speakers in the olden days and therefore share a similar bbc style sound?
Harbeth still do make a range of 'BBC style' speakers. Drop in replacements.
Spendor still do a "classic" BBC inspired range, but I understand they are not pushed in the UK but mainly go to the Far-East. Their more modern floorstanders share similar sonic values, though I've not heard all of them - the 6's (S6's latterly) are goodies, though.
(Both Dudley Harwood and Spencer Hughes (founders of Harbeth and Spendor respectively) worked at the BBC in the research department and had a hand in many of the designs and principals.)
Harbeth still do make a range of 'BBC style' speakers. Drop in replacements.
One of the reasons I asked was because I saw those Stirling Broadcast LS3 5a kits that MartinT was looking at on ebay for around £550 all in. Anyone tried them?
The Quads are a good shout Martin, work well with the Brio-R.
Sounded better with a valve amp driving them have to say.
I run the RS3's with the same Dac/Brio combo and have to say there's no hint of harshness at all, extremely smooth yet very open and detailed with a Massive believable soundstage. If your filling a lot of space though, I'd be tempted to go higher up the Rega speaker food chain, even the RS5 would be better in this regard, same open mid and top end, but with more scale and "oomph" in the low end.
A second hand pair of quad 63s would be right up your street sonically....just need moving out the way when not in use. I have heard them on the end of your rega kit courtesy of a couple of the members on here....they worked very well indeed. I know its a curve ball, but one to consider if you prefer to listen to music rather than hi fi!!!!
I'd love a pair of those Tony, but I fear that if I brought some home, the wife might divorce me. Now that's an idea :eyebrows:
Riislingen
08-02-2013, 09:35
Snell or AN maybe good for you,not sure how they would work with the rega though.
+1
I think it would work quite nicely. It will get fairly warm and organic, I guess you could call that a "vintage tone". I much prefer a sound along those lines myself, and has been using Snells for ages before the Harbeths - highly recommended those Snells, though very similar to AN, they are more warm and bassy. AN´s usually require corner positioning as well to boost low frequency response, the Snells being more forgiving. The again, there´s the cost as well :eyebrows:
You do seem to have picked the worst possible place to set the system up and that can't be helping. I'm guessing moving it somewhere else is out of the question? That might just solve your problem without needing to change any kit.
+1
I think it would work quite nicely. It will get fairly warm and organic, I guess you could call that a "vintage tone". I much prefer a sound along those lines myself, and has been using Snells for ages before the Harbeths - highly recommended those Snells, though very similar to AN, they are more warm and bassy. AN´s usually require corner positioning as well to boost low frequency response, the Snells being more forgiving. The again, there´s the cost as well :eyebrows:
Yes,have to say i prefer the snells over the an's.
Riislingen
08-02-2013, 15:42
Yes,have to say i prefer the snells over the an's.
Indeed, me too.
Thank you guys for all the suggestions - seems to be a good amount of agreement too, which must be a first :lol:
Shortlist now looks like this:
Rega RS3s (gotta try them)
Totems
Audio Note AN/J or K
Snell
Spendor A6
@ Macca, yes you are right about the placement, but I'm pretty much stuck with it. At least there are no side reflections :D
Cheers,
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