Floor standing speakers w/ Rotel RA1572?

[Exophile]

Looking for recommendation for floor standing passive speakers with a Rotel 1572 for audio-only (no AV/TV) in a 4000 cubic foot room. ~$1-2K/pair range, strongly consider a 2.1 set-up with a sub (separate consideration/budget). I currently look at Martin Logan Motion 20, but there certainly is more out there.

[Macca]

£2k will fetch you some decent s/h Tannoy dual concentrics. Some Radford monitors still in the classifieds here I think, they would work well. Also some big Focals there as well that are worth a look. Decent sized space so you've got a lot of options, I wouldn't go for the Logan/sub combo myself, you've got the room and budget to get something a lot more accomplished if you don't mind second hand.

[plastic penguin]

I know this sounds a bit obvious. But... B&W speakers IMHO work brilliantly with Rotel. They're not technically the greatest speaker but because they were produced at the same S. Coast factory as Rotel, the synergy is excellent IMO.

IIRC B&W was the main distribution centre for Rotel.

Of course, I would always recommend a dem rather than taking my word before parting with any of your hard-earned money.

[simon g]

I know this sounds a bit obvious. But... B&W speakers IMHO work brilliantly with Rotel. They're not technically the greatest speaker but because they were produced at the same S. Coast factory as Rotel, the synergy is excellent IMO.

IIRC B&W was the main distribution centre for Rotel.

Of course, I would always recommend a dem rather than taking my word before parting with any of your hard-earned money.

Not quite sure what you mean? Rotel is a Japanese company, the 1572 is manufactured in China, not on the south coast of the UK!

[Macca]

I think Rotel are Taiwanese.


The thing about Rotels is that some can swing current and some can't and if you want to use them with B&W speakers you want the one of those that can.

[Pigmy Pony]

A few years ago, at a Sound & Vision show at Renaissance Hotel in Manchester, the Rotel room had their stuff running with B&W. I'd agree about the synergy thing - the speakers were the wallet friendly DM685 standmounts and the sound to me was way beyond what you would expect for the money.

[plastic penguin]

Not quite sure what you mean? Rotel is a Japanese company, the 1572 is manufactured in China, not on the south coast of the UK!

I know they are Japanese and built elsewhere, but the UK distribution for Rotel amps/CDPs/streamers is/was based at B&W in Worthing Sussex. B&W tweaked their speakers to match Rotel's tonal qualities.

Years ago, when I had a Rotel RCD 975, I contacted B&W to ask about fixing the laser. They quoted me for genuine Rotel parts, but decided against it as it was cheaper - more sensible - to buy a replacement.

It's like PMC speaker company used to be the UK outlet for Bryston amps and CDPs. Bryston are made and assembled in Canada but distributed in the UK by PMC. You can also add Marantz and Mordaunt Short blah blah blah...

EDIT - Just checked and Rotel and B&W are still based in the same buildings in Worthing.

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/contact_us

http://www.rotel.com/en-gb/contact-us

Scroll down the links.

[Exophile]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I went to Bestbuy today (I know, not high end, but available), and listened to ML Motion 20, 40, one of the Electro motion series (ESL?), and also Bowers and Wilkins 683S2. My first experience in trying a bit better audio fare.

I was surprised about the difference between Motion 20 and 40, the 40 being much clearer throughout. The Electro motion worked very well with singer-songwriter music, but only in the perfect equilateral triangle listening spot, and were much worse than the Motion 20/40 with electronica. The B&W 683 S2 were even cleaner than the Motion 40 across genres (singer songwriter, AC/DC, electronica, classical orchestral), and also seem to have a wider acceptable listening area. Bass seemed to be sufficient "out of the box". Specs say 30Hz at -6 db and 52Hz @+-3db. I have a Paradigm PDR8 sitting around (handmedown), so may hook it up and see what it will do.

I've also seen B&W being owned by the same parent company as Rotel, so there may be some positive synergy going on. Not betting too much on it, but a nice thought. (or just marketing).

Haven't heard Focal yet, hopefully tomorrow morning I will get a bit more exposure at a local high end place.

Cheers/Ta!

[plastic penguin]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I went to Bestbuy today (I know, not high end, but available), and listened to ML Motion 20, 40, one of the Electro motion series (ESL?), and also Bowers and Wilkins 683S2. My first experience in trying a bit better audio fare.

I was surprised about the difference between Motion 20 and 40, the 40 being much clearer throughout. The Electro motion worked very well with singer-songwriter music, but only in the perfect equilateral triangle listening spot, and were much worse than the Motion 20/40 with electronica. The B&W 683 S2 were even cleaner than the Motion 40 across genres (singer songwriter, AC/DC, electronica, classical orchestral), and also seem to have a wider acceptable listening area. Bass seemed to be sufficient "out of the box". Specs say 30Hz at -6 db and 52Hz @+-3db. I have a Paradigm PDR8 sitting around (handmedown), so may hook it up and see what it will do.

I've also seen B&W being owned by the same parent company as Rotel, so there may be some positive synergy going on. Not betting too much on it, but a nice thought. (or just marketing).

Haven't heard Focal yet, hopefully tomorrow morning I will get a bit more exposure at a local high end place.

Cheers/Ta!

Martin Logan Electro Static speakers are available in the UK but I've not heard them. I know from experience that Rotel gear generally works well with Wharfedale and Dynaudio.

I would guess Focal might be too bright in the HFs for Rotel's tonal qualities.

Not sure of the availability of speakers in the US, but I would try and seek out Totem. Canadian based company there should be ample supply of Totem loudspeakers. Totem speakers are known for exquisite stereo imaging and timing.

https://totemacoustic.com/en/hi-fi

[Exophile]

Thanks for the additional suggestions. I think for my 1.0 system, I will get something that I was able to listen to, as opposed to specs-sheet/reviews. Focal should be available, and the HF bias actually could work well with my preferences. We'll see about the others ...

Totem seems to be quite a bit pricier, so not in the running.
Dynaudio has exactly one in the price range.
Wharfedale has a bunch.
No idea whether they will be available for a listen. Things to keep in mind for down the road ...

The electrostatic speakers had an amazing 3D imaging (I think that is the term?) for singer-songwriter, so lots of mid-tones, but with electronica they sounded muffled, because they don't seem to be able to handle strong higher frequencies. So it is a limited-tricks-pony, but does very well with that trick. I am looking more for an all-round speaker. Should handle medieval polyphonics, Biber (baroque), The Ex (punkish), Sleater Kinney (garage), Austra (indie), and Mittageisen (electronica).

[walpurgis]

Gererally, properly designed amplifiers and speakers should work together well enough regardless of make. It would be daft for a maker to offer items that are incompatible with other product brands.

There are some exceptions, speakers that are a demanding load and amplifiers that are finnicky about capacitive or unduly reactive loads, but these are not the norm.

[nonuffin]

The speakers I was going to suggest don't have a distributor in the US unfortunately. Just checked the Quadral website and the USA is notable by it's absence.

Huge shame, as they really are stunning performers which to me leave all the usual candidates like KEF and B&W et all, way behind.

I run a pair of Chromium Style 6s which are only suited to small to medium listening rooms, but the Style 8 works in bigger rooms.

[Exophile]

Geoff, point well taken. The same argument could be made for type of music to be played. From my admittedly limited-newbie experience, that is not the case. Accordingly, I at least entertain the possibility of better/worse matched amp-speaker combos.

The Quadras might have been interesting. Pricewise according to amazon.de they are just about within parameters, but shipping would be a rather expensive, and looks like fat chance to hear them across the pond. The folded tweeter looks quite like the Martin Logans.

[plastic penguin]

Gererally, properly designed amplifiers and speakers should work together well enough regardless of make. It would be daft for a maker to offer items that are incompatible with other product brands.

There are some exceptions, speakers that are a demanding load and amplifiers that are finnicky about capacitive or unduly reactive loads, but these are not the norm.

Totally concur. However, if it was that simple to match speakers with amps life would be a lot easier... save lugging boxes to demo rooms etc etc.

Truth is no matter how well engineered the amp and speaker is the sound is also influenced by room size, shape or acoustics. So IMHO it is a hi-fi 'yin and yang'.

[Jac Hawk]

With speakers the best advice is try them at home if you can, the listening room they have them set up in the shop will make a difference to the sound and if you’re looking at shelling out a couple of grand you want to be sure

[plastic penguin]

With speakers the best advice is try them at home if you can, the listening room they have them set up in the shop will make a difference to the sound and if you’re looking at shelling out a couple of grand you want to be sure

Indeed Jac. If, for some reason, you can't home dem then make sure the dealer has a returns policy...

[Lawrence001]

Thanks for the additional suggestions. I think for my 1.0 system, I will get something that I was able to listen to, as opposed to specs-sheet/reviews. Focal should be available, and the HF bias actually could work well with my preferences. We'll see about the others ...

Totem seems to be quite a bit pricier, so not in the running.
Dynaudio has exactly one in the price range.
Wharfedale has a bunch.
No idea whether they will be available for a listen. Things to keep in mind for down the road ...

The electrostatic speakers had an amazing 3D imaging (I think that is the term?) for singer-songwriter, so lots of mid-tones, but with electronica they sounded muffled, because they don't seem to be able to handle strong higher frequencies. So it is a limited-tricks-pony, but does very well with that trick. I am looking more for an all-round speaker. Should handle medieval polyphonics, Biber (baroque), The Ex (punkish), Sleater Kinney (garage), Austra (indie), and Mittageisen (electronica).If I was building a 1.0 system I'd probably get a Quad 2 and a nice Wharfedale Airdale, Altec or Klipschorn running off an early Lenco with mono cartridge :)

Seriously though, I generally choose speakers that sound nice to my ears in the room I want to use them in, and then choose a clean amp that can drive them well to the volume levels I will play them at, not the other way round.

Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk

[Exophile]

So went out to the high end showroom today. Listened to Parasound S2 bookshelf, Linn109 bookshelf, Linn 140 floor, B&W 605, 705, 805.

I will go with the B&W 705 on stands. Quite a bit cleaner and not as bass heavy than the the Parasound and Linn, and while the 805s beat the 705 by a little, I cannot justify the price difference of 2K vs. 6K. One of those diminishing return issues. I may get a deal on the floor model, so that helps as well if the deal is sufficiently good.

Thanks for everybody's input!

[plastic penguin]

So went out to the high end showroom today. Listened to Parasound S2 bookshelf, Linn109 bookshelf, Linn 140 floor, B&W 605, 705, 805.

I will go with the B&W 705 on stands. Quite a bit cleaner and not as bass heavy than the the Parasound and Linn, and while the 805s beat the 705 by a little, I cannot justify the price difference of 2K vs. 6K. One of those diminishing return issues. I may get a deal on the floor model, so that helps as well if the deal is sufficiently good.

Thanks for everybody's input!

Congrats on your choice.

Good thing about B&W is they are speaker specialists, whereas Parasound and Linn are more known, in the UK at least, for their amps and streamers.