Hi so, after setting out a long time ago to build a Hi-Fi system to love and cherish (delayed by other stresses and financial constraints), I've finally decided to pull the trigger to finish it off - and buy myself some dedicated speakers!
I'm running an Icon Audio Stereo 60 valve amp/Audiolab 8200CD to listen predominantly to Jazz and Swing (real 1930's-60's mind) music (other music is a far lesser concern for my sound). The valves suit this taste perfectly, however i've been running a pair of slightly aggressive/uncontrolled for my room, KEF R300's borrowed from the home cinema set-up (which has never seen the benefit of these speakers plugged in!). The KEF's have had to do a reasonable stop-gap job for a long time now. The room is a relatively large living room with a lot of hard reflective surfaces, and despite slowly furnishing the place (one or two more bits to go in still, including a rug on the tiled floor), its a touch on the echoey side.
In all my various testing over the last couple of years I've come to realise that a clear trebble and cohesive, full and punchy midrange is the most important thing to me, bass doesn't need to be "fat" for modern pop/electronic music rather it needs to be controlled and detailed to pick out the wooden sound of the double bass playing it. Overall therefore I'm looking for a relatively laid back, clear and beautifully coherent speaker that doesn't tire the ears, but most of all, is really engaging to listen to.
I've tried lots: B&W CM8-9's are good but lack engagement, KEF floorstanders tend to be a bit woolly, Big Triangle Signatures were great but not so well balanced for Jazz, Martin Logans sounded highly detailed for classical but completely lacked the punchy mid-range and low crossover for a Big Band. Modern Tannoy's mostly were a bit too polite, Totem's had a horrible lower midrange/bass crossover right on the trombones range (and I am a trombonist!). Focal 700 and 800 series are too aggressive and tiring on the ears. Harbeth SHL5+ didnt exactly grab me to start with (I felt they lacked a touch in openness), and though they improved considerably over an hour, I left somewhat undecided about their apparent neutrality, and a very high price tag. You get the picture....
As such I've eventually come to two completely different and opposing speakers to pick from - from completely different shops and both with with clearance offers or deals offered to me.
1. B&W PM1 (including stands) CHF 2100 = £1400 (full UK RRP £2400 inc stands). I like the look of these neat modern little standmounters, they would fit in to the jazzy/modern part-approach of my living room, and be less imposing as furniture than full blown floorstanders. As for the sound - despite being quite low sensitivity speakers my 60W valves run them easily. They were wonderfully clear in the shop, with solo instruments and treble really standing out with the Valve amp (far better than with an electronic amp), truly feeling like you are close to the soloist (a live recording of Wynton Marsalis sounded gorgeous and brought a grin to my face). They are quite coherent and I hope laid back enough to suit the room and music quite well. If nitpicking, the bass is possibly its weakest point, its not quite as detailed or crisp as I would like, though really not bad, and very good for its size. Of course these are standmounters so I can't expect them to give the overall width of sound as good floorstanders, they are however remarkable for their size, and importantly, they fit well and comfortably in my head for cost.
2. Tannoy Prestige Stirling GR €3550 = £2600 (full UK RRP £4000). I havent actually heard these specifically, but they are nightmareishly difficult to find. I've only heard their little brother the "autograph mini" which were tiny, and so couldnt possibly suit my space. But the mini's delivery was such a joy. After ages listenning and comparing my KEF R300's to some modern tannoys, martin logans and a few other randoms, these tiny speakers literally had me grinning ear to ear and wanting to dance where all others had failed! I couldnt buy them though, they were much too small, but I am led to believe the Stirlings will have a similar style to the delivery, but also the full and open sound of a floorstander. If the stirlings are anything like the much smaller and cheaper mini's in delivery, I expect a wonderfully engaging experience, with that cohesive and punchy midrange for the big band. As for their styling, they are a bit marmite, I like vintage things usually, and they would fit in with the "vintage" items in my room and appartment (the valve amp, and pictures of old sailing ships etc) rather than the more modern but neutral and darker feeling furniture I have. In otherwords, quirky... but maybe will pass! Probably the B&W will win on the looks front in my current appartment. Budget-wise it feels a touch uncomfortable however, and I likely wont get to test these exact speakers first (if I'm lucky the shop may have the slightly bigger tannoy turnberry's to test).
Anyway, I thought I would share - can anyone add their tuppence worth? I believe the prices are truly very good on both, meaning for value I think they beat most. Will the Stirling likely give me much more over the PM1 to justify that extra cost however? Is the standmounted nature of the PM1 really a drawback in that price range? Is there any other speaker that has the right feel and would compete with these at these prices? (bearing in mind the discounts I'm receiving).
Many thanks indeed for reading (and hopefully replying)!
I'm running an Icon Audio Stereo 60 valve amp/Audiolab 8200CD to listen predominantly to Jazz and Swing (real 1930's-60's mind) music (other music is a far lesser concern for my sound). The valves suit this taste perfectly, however i've been running a pair of slightly aggressive/uncontrolled for my room, KEF R300's borrowed from the home cinema set-up (which has never seen the benefit of these speakers plugged in!). The KEF's have had to do a reasonable stop-gap job for a long time now. The room is a relatively large living room with a lot of hard reflective surfaces, and despite slowly furnishing the place (one or two more bits to go in still, including a rug on the tiled floor), its a touch on the echoey side.
In all my various testing over the last couple of years I've come to realise that a clear trebble and cohesive, full and punchy midrange is the most important thing to me, bass doesn't need to be "fat" for modern pop/electronic music rather it needs to be controlled and detailed to pick out the wooden sound of the double bass playing it. Overall therefore I'm looking for a relatively laid back, clear and beautifully coherent speaker that doesn't tire the ears, but most of all, is really engaging to listen to.
I've tried lots: B&W CM8-9's are good but lack engagement, KEF floorstanders tend to be a bit woolly, Big Triangle Signatures were great but not so well balanced for Jazz, Martin Logans sounded highly detailed for classical but completely lacked the punchy mid-range and low crossover for a Big Band. Modern Tannoy's mostly were a bit too polite, Totem's had a horrible lower midrange/bass crossover right on the trombones range (and I am a trombonist!). Focal 700 and 800 series are too aggressive and tiring on the ears. Harbeth SHL5+ didnt exactly grab me to start with (I felt they lacked a touch in openness), and though they improved considerably over an hour, I left somewhat undecided about their apparent neutrality, and a very high price tag. You get the picture....
As such I've eventually come to two completely different and opposing speakers to pick from - from completely different shops and both with with clearance offers or deals offered to me.
1. B&W PM1 (including stands) CHF 2100 = £1400 (full UK RRP £2400 inc stands). I like the look of these neat modern little standmounters, they would fit in to the jazzy/modern part-approach of my living room, and be less imposing as furniture than full blown floorstanders. As for the sound - despite being quite low sensitivity speakers my 60W valves run them easily. They were wonderfully clear in the shop, with solo instruments and treble really standing out with the Valve amp (far better than with an electronic amp), truly feeling like you are close to the soloist (a live recording of Wynton Marsalis sounded gorgeous and brought a grin to my face). They are quite coherent and I hope laid back enough to suit the room and music quite well. If nitpicking, the bass is possibly its weakest point, its not quite as detailed or crisp as I would like, though really not bad, and very good for its size. Of course these are standmounters so I can't expect them to give the overall width of sound as good floorstanders, they are however remarkable for their size, and importantly, they fit well and comfortably in my head for cost.
2. Tannoy Prestige Stirling GR €3550 = £2600 (full UK RRP £4000). I havent actually heard these specifically, but they are nightmareishly difficult to find. I've only heard their little brother the "autograph mini" which were tiny, and so couldnt possibly suit my space. But the mini's delivery was such a joy. After ages listenning and comparing my KEF R300's to some modern tannoys, martin logans and a few other randoms, these tiny speakers literally had me grinning ear to ear and wanting to dance where all others had failed! I couldnt buy them though, they were much too small, but I am led to believe the Stirlings will have a similar style to the delivery, but also the full and open sound of a floorstander. If the stirlings are anything like the much smaller and cheaper mini's in delivery, I expect a wonderfully engaging experience, with that cohesive and punchy midrange for the big band. As for their styling, they are a bit marmite, I like vintage things usually, and they would fit in with the "vintage" items in my room and appartment (the valve amp, and pictures of old sailing ships etc) rather than the more modern but neutral and darker feeling furniture I have. In otherwords, quirky... but maybe will pass! Probably the B&W will win on the looks front in my current appartment. Budget-wise it feels a touch uncomfortable however, and I likely wont get to test these exact speakers first (if I'm lucky the shop may have the slightly bigger tannoy turnberry's to test).
Anyway, I thought I would share - can anyone add their tuppence worth? I believe the prices are truly very good on both, meaning for value I think they beat most. Will the Stirling likely give me much more over the PM1 to justify that extra cost however? Is the standmounted nature of the PM1 really a drawback in that price range? Is there any other speaker that has the right feel and would compete with these at these prices? (bearing in mind the discounts I'm receiving).
Many thanks indeed for reading (and hopefully replying)!
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