Gromit's music centre...

[Tarzan]

Will do James - been a busy day today but I did manage to grab a little bit of time. The comparison is an insteresting one (ie Edens vs Sapphire 1's) and definitely swings/roundabouts with one side - the Edens - winning out overall as one would probably expect.

The Edens are a neater, more couth sounding speaker which do a better job at portraying inner details. Their top end doesn't dominate the proceedings in the way the Saff's does, although in true Royd tradition they're still not what you'd call shrinking violets. Vs the Sapphires they do need a bit more power to wake them up.

The Sapphires by comparison sound more open, less damped, much fuller in the bass and are just whip-crack fast. It's hard to overstate the speed of these little things and they're just a riot on the right material. They're more adept rhythmically too, in a similar vein to my old Merlins.

Positioning, the 2 speakers seem to require different approaches. The Edens - in my room - like to be approx 10cm from the back wall, firing straight out. This opens them up nicely, adding impact to transient edge without increasing bass. Toeing in softens their edge and (hard to describe I'm sorry!) just makes them sound slightly lazy (this is lazy in Royd terms - they're still bloody fast!).

The Saffs need about 30-40cm behind them, set wide as possible and toed-in so the apex of the triangle crosses well in front of the listener. This has the added bonus of diffusing their top end sting.

Bottom line is they're both adorable speakers, and I just think I'm going to keep both of them.

Edens in-situ...

DSCF9675 by Boxertrixter, on Flickr

As l have stated many times Richard, great pictures and a lovely looking system/room Will PM you later as l need a bit advice from you.

[Yomanze]

Nice to see the Something Solid SL24s back Richard. Off your recommendation I also have some, haven't heard anything better on my Sorcerers or Sapphires, but the RR3s are much happier bolted into their custom stands with much lower bass extension.

[Gordon Steadman]

Hi Richard,

I'm interested in the size of the speakers you seem to prefer. Is it because of the presentation or just that the 'sort' of sound you prefer only comes from particular makers?

I really enjoy my little KEF101s but always miss the real depth of the bass when listening to classical music - especially organ of course. Even with the Quads I've gone back to using the REL Quake as the underpinning of the sound just enriches the experience. Listening to a string bass just seems to lose that lovely wooden 'boom' that the real thing has if the speakers don't go down far enough.

As always, your pics look fantastic. I'm looking forward to getting our lounge done so we can sort out something that looks a bit less like a nest of rattlesnakes.

[Gromit]

As l have stated many times Richard, great pictures and a lovely looking system/room Will PM you later as l need a bit advice from you.

Thanks Andy - I am quite proud of my little man-cave.

Fortunately, in the house we live in now there's a sort of family/day room which is where we tend to congregate 90% of the time. It's where the most-used tv lives, leaving the room in the photo (which is at the other end of the house) to the big telly and the hifi. The piano lives in its own music room adjacent. The cat's also not allowed in there too and he has the good sense to stay out, even if the door's open.

Been doing some photography work this morning but just popped the Sapphires back on - you know what? I think I prefer them to the Edens if I'm honest. Not quite as detailed but they're just such unbridled fun and seem to suit the NAP110's limited power better.

[Gromit]

Nice to see the Something Solid SL24s back Richard. Off your recommendation I also have some, haven't heard anything better on my Sorcerers or Sapphires, but the RR3s are much happier bolted into their custom stands with much lower bass extension.

The SL24's are simply the best stands I've used with my Royds - thanks to Peter Empson at Deco Audio otherwise I would probably have never heard of them. So much better than the Kan II stands I was using before.

[julesd68]

What's the new lens Richard?

I've just got a NOS Tamron 17-50 2.8 which I am very impressed by indeed ...

[istari_knight]

just popped the Sapphires back on - you know what? I think I prefer them to the Edens if I'm honest. Not quite as detailed but they're just such unbridled fun and seem to suit the NAP110's limited power better.

The best bit is you can switch between them to your hearts content... If you still had the Sony it could be Sapphires on Speakers A & Edens on Speakers B

[Gromit]

What's the new lens Richard?

I've just got a NOS Tamron 17-50 2.8 which I am very impressed by indeed ...

Hi Julian - it's one of these:

DSCF0807 by Boxertrixter, on Flickr

Fuji 60/2.4

James - it would seem my hunch about the amp/speaker synergy having a bearing on the proceedings is true (for once!). Put the Exposure XV on and the Edens fill out nicely - clearly they're a better match for the Black Beauty from Brighton than the Naim rig. Put the Naim on and the Sapphires work just great. At a push, I prefer the Naim/Sapphire combo - it's just got so much zing.

[Gromit]

A brief fiddle around in Lightroom...

DSCF1150

[Tarzan]

Very arty.