View Full Version : Should I buy these speakers?
Thoughts and advice please.
I'm on the hunt for replacement speakers for the PMCs I've just sold.
I want standmounters. I want the spacious sound that the PMCs excelled at but with better overall balance (in my system/room the PMCs suffered from sibilance and disappointing bass response). The system will comprise a Touch, Caiman and Sugden A21a.
Given my train fares have just gone up 12% (:steam:) I don't have the cash for Harbeths et al, so I've been considering a pair of EB2s - www.ebacoustics.com.
Pros: they are well regarded (albeit within a very small circle), affordable, and available for trial and return. Cons: they are big, bloody ugly and I'd have to wait 8 weeks for them to be made.
My alternatives are maybe a pair of SCM11s off ebay. None on at the moment, but just before Christmas a few people were selling off demo stock.
Any thoughts?
hifi_dave
03-01-2011, 10:19
No idea about the EB's but your Sugden won't give it's best into the SCM-11s which do require a bit more grunt to produce a balanced sound.
Stratmangler
03-01-2011, 10:34
You could always audition some of these http://www.castle.uk.com/Knightseries/Knight2/tabid/91/language/en-US/Default.aspx
ADM9T's? - oh sorry, wrong site :D = the chap behind the EB2's like 'em anyway :)
I know they're floor standing, but with a small footprint, but the B&W CDM7SE's advertised here may well be better mannered than the PMC's.
A pair of used Audio Note J or Snell J.
Thoughts and advice please.
What you actually need is the first hand experience of someone who has already bought a pair. Unfortunately, nobody on this forum does seem to - nor, it would seem, does anybody on any of the other forums on which you have asked this question.
So, you either take a leap of faith on the basis you can send them back (if you can be bothered). Or, don't buy them.
I heard the little Elac standmounts with the ribbon tweeter at a dealer's - run from the new Exposure amp and CD player - no deep bass but punchy mid-bass and sweet and clean mid and top.
I whacked the amp right up (it was a big room) and they remainded good and clean (the dealer came in and turned it down after about 5 mins I think I pissed him off a bit)
Anyway my thinking is if you can't have proper bass in your room at least have great quality mid-top.
Newest model new is about £800 but the older ones s/h around £300
If you are after a spacious, larger scale sound you need to look at speakers with largish main drivers at least 8 inches (ooh missus)
Modern lifestyle wife friendly designs with tiny 5 or 6 inch drivers just don't cut it imho, they tend to sound impressive in short demos but on long term listening fall short.
I have had both GB1 and FB1+, the Audio Note J are much more satisfying all round.
The Vinyl Adventure
03-01-2011, 17:21
If you are after a spacious, larger scale sound you need to look at speakers with largish main drivers at least 8 inches (ooh missus)
Modern lifestyle wife friendly designs with tiny 5 or 6 inch drivers just don't cut it imho, they tend to sound impressive in short demos but on long term listening fall short.
I have had both GB1 and FB1+, the Audio Note J are much more satisfying all round.
The fb1's in question here where the ones i sold to Andy ... whilst he was using them i borrowed his Snell jiii's ... he eventually came back to get the snells after deciding the pmc's had basically the same problem you describe ...
i would have been happy with the snells long term if thay had a greater waf .. (i belive the lack of waf was what made andy think of somthing else .. and it was what made me look for my curecnt speakers) they really were exceptional ... especially considering what they can be got for
Hi Hamish
The wife was not impressed when I brought the Snells back home and sold the FB1's.
I managed to pick up a fully veneered pair of Audio Note J's recently so she is half happy.
If the OP is anywhere near Stoke he is welcome to borrow the Snells for a few weeks.
The Vinyl Adventure
03-01-2011, 18:03
Ha, nice one Andy ... Half happy is all we can expect in this hobby I think ... My missis has been givin me more shot lately and has made me move the speakers into the corners of the room ... Not good! Thankfully with some serious tweaking I have pretty much rescued the situation ... Although it's not what it was it's not far off...
I bet the audio note j's are pretty tasty looking... How do they compare to the snell j's then?
Simon ... Borrow Andys snells if you can get them ... Well worth a listen I'd say!!
The Audio Notes are not that much different to the Snells, a touch more refined, little bit sweeter in the treble but not a lot in it.
When I get time and some spare cash I will rewire the AN's with their silver cable.
Thanks guys - some excellent advice. I think I'll give myself some more time and do a few auditions.
Andy - thank you very much for the offer of a lend but Stoke is a long way from me. Shame. Nevertheless I'm intrigued by the Snell/Audio Notes. Struggling to find a price though.
Snells pop up on ebay quite often around the £300-£400 mark.
Audio Note J are much harder to come by used and they tend to be a lot more expensive, they can come in various configurations from the basic package with copper wiring to mega expensive with silver wiring, hemp drivers etc.
New they start around £2k but older lower spec ones do turn up for <£1k
I see there are some Snell Ks on ebay - a dealer I've never heard about just half an hour away from my home!
Any views on the K? Looking at the figures I'm presuming it's a smaller model.
Simon - you'd have to hope that they put more effort into the EBs than they do their website. Personally I would never take a chance on speakers unheard in my own room on my own system.
There must be plenty of floorstanders are large stand-mounts to suit your amp, such as Tannoys, B&Ws or Castles.
The Snell K are a nice speaker, they use the same 8 inch driver as the larger J's but in a smaller sealed enclosure so will work well close to a rear wall, good solid stands are a must.
It was a very cheap driver from memory and if you sit too close, you may suffer discomfort in the crossover region possibly..
Couple of others that come up occasionally - Sonus Faber Concerto's (any version) on their adjustable stands (so you can lift them pretty high) and Harbeth Compact 7's - best on Something Solid stands which support the boxes at their corners and don't store energy like many heavy filled-pillar stands do..
Agreed on the Harbeths if you can stretch your budget that far, could pick up a used pair c£700
Have you heard Monitor Audio RX2's. I was really taken with them as they have a large mid driver the sound was very big and I never noted sibilance or treble sharpness. I went for RX6 in the end because stands and daft cats seemed a bad idea. In Gloss white of Black they pass the wife test easily.....just a thought
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