Speaker recommendation

[MrC2]

Further to all the detail I put in my intro thread, I have the following;

Systemdek IIX turntable
Arcam SA27CD player
Naim 122x/150x amps
Monitor Audio Bronze2 bookshelf speakers, stand mounted.

My living room (about 5m square) has wooden floors and the speakers are positioned either side of French windows that lead into a conservatory. The speakers back onto floor to ceiling fixed glass windows.

I added the Naim amps only recently, and I think I'd like to move to floorstanding speakers. As I plan a major spend on hi-fi next year sometime I don't want to go too crazy, but would appreciate some thoughts on speakers that would complement the other equipment. New and second hand will be considered. I don't want to put a price in just yet, interested to see what's recommend first.

Thanks

Mr C

[Macca]

A square room is tricky if you go for something with a lot of bass. That size of room you will get some modes in the bass below 100hz which could mean uneven bass and boom. Maybe look at an infinite baffle speaker rather than one that has a port to reinforce the lower bass response. You probably figured that already but if not then at least it narrows your enormous range of options down a bit. ;)

[hifi_dave]

How can you get recommendations without a price guide ?

[Macca]

Just assume the sky is the limit. What's the most expensive speaker you stock, Dave?

[hifi_dave]

Actually in stock is the Harbeth M40.2 at £10,595.

Pie in the sky speakers which I have access to would be top of the range Sonus Faber and Martin Logan. Think telephone numbers.

[fatmarley]

Aren't the bigger Harbeths a bit fruity in the bass? How about some Magicos?

[hifi_dave]

Not 'fruity' at all. They produce a very natural, well balanced sound.

[struth]

What is fruity bass for us newbies

[agk]

It's the same as fruity bass for everyone else Grant. Boom Tish!

[RobbieGong]

It's the same as fruity bass for everyone else Grant. Boom Tish!

:D

[struth]

Sorry for hijacking thread, but i dont see the colleration between fruit and booming... All very odd indeed. I must be getting old.

On topic, the floorstanding 2050 and 3050s from Q Acoustic are supposed to be very good for the money. Ive tried the standmounts and was pleasen tly surprised

[Macca]

They are okay but the don't exactly set the world alight. They are just a budget speaker with some well-judged compromises.

[walpurgis]

I've heard Spendors sounding good with Naim amplification.

I've also heard Acoustic Energy AE1 Mk.I speakers being driven by a pair of 135s. That would strip your skin off. :D

[hifi_dave]

Old Naim was very bright and relentless. Later Naim is warm, probably to match up with Focal speakers.

[danilo]

In My view.. Having a glass backdrop to Any speaker is less than good.
Either add significant drapes or move the speakers to a non glass wall.
Once done, then think about alternate speakers, IF you still feel the need.

[Macca]

Old Naim was very bright and relentless. Later Naim is warm, probably to match up with Focal speakers.

Or digital sources perhaps? The original Naim amps do seem to favour partnering with vinyl, especially TT set ups that lean towards a soft and warm balance. Hence the myth about early CD sounding harsh, which was always a UK thing as there were so many very vocal Naim users here who never considered it was the amps that were the issue because, well, they sounded fine with tape and vinyl.

[plastic penguin]

Firstly, you'll need to utilise the Naims, which at present the OP isn't.

If standmounts tickle your fancy then Dynaudio Contour S1.4 are superb. Heard them with Naim XS and they sounded a cool combo. The only caveat, as with most big Dyns, is they need lots of breathing space to work at their best.

Small floorstanders I'd look at Neat Motive SX2's. They work really well with Naims. For s/hand I'd look no further than PMC GB1is. These are front vented which means they are very easy to site. Likewise, Totem Arros. Another wonderful speaker.

A dem, though, is essential. We all hear different things and hi-fi is very personal, so my above choices are only suggestions.

[high.spirits]

In My view.. Having a glass backdrop to Any speaker is less than good.
Either add significant drapes or move the speakers to a non glass wall.
Once done, then think about alternate speakers, IF you still feel the need.

Agree with this comment. I have glass behind my speakers in the lounge set up.

Heavy curtains made a world of difference and killed the brightness overload.

[DSJR]

Aren't the bigger Harbeths a bit fruity in the bass? How about some Magicos?


Harbeths have changed a lot in recent years. The only one which may still cause an issue on typical UK brick-n-plaster rooms is the C7-ES3, although they appear to balance well in lightweight far eastern rooms. Oh yeah, and the two-ways need you to listen on tweeter axis, so 14 to 20" stands are mandatory depending on model - ime.

[MrC2]

OK. So firstly, thanks for the comments. Although I was very into my hifi in the 90s, I just haven't had the living arrangements suitable for a hifi for a long time, and it's been quite daunting going into hifi shops and reacquainting myself with what's going on.

So in answer to various replies:
Curtains (Drapes). Yup, working on that, still negotiating a colour scheme for the room... it appears that all my ideas on that subject are 'wrong'. As long as I get my hifi I can compromise on that if it keeps her happy...
Wooden floors - never had these before, so it was interesting to hear the comment about infinite baffle vs ports. I'll keep that in mind, as I was worried about the effect wood would have. I had already considered avoiding rear ports because of the glass. The current speakers are front ported, and are OK (might try all the old tricks like a piece of carpet/bowl of water in front of them to try an neutralise them a little for evaluation purposes).
Positioning - already kinda stuck with that... before the furniture arrived I had a day to play, admittedly in a fairly empty room, and didn't like the alternatives (affected by door and cupboard positions).

...so all in all, don't worry I wasn't planning an immediate purchase, as there are variables to work through. I still think that for £300 the speakers I have are OK, but the new amplification has definitely shown some deficiencies in them.

What I did want to do was generate a list at various price points to consider. Now those £10000 speakers are not on the list....this year..., and I won't spend £2000 on speakers I might only keep for a year, but I didn't want to restrict thinking by setting a price in my original post. I would buy £2000 speakers.....second hand (the amps are c.10 years old after all).

The ideas so far have made me aware of some speaker companies I haven't heard of, so I'll do some more research and come back to you with some questions.

Thanks

Mr C

[Macca]

You may have considered this, I don't know, but logically a better amplifier means better sound through the same speakers. Can improving the amplification show up a speaker's deficiencies?