Arcam Solo Partners

[admin_exported]

I need some ideas as to which speakers will complement an Arcam Solo.

Not too bothered whether Standmount or Floorstander, but unsure which way to look!

Budget would be anything upto £850 but is this too high for the Solo as only 50w per channel??

 

[John Duncan]

Not at all, the more money the better. I won't pre-empt drummerman's suggestion, but I'm a standmount kind of bloke, so will suggest Spendor (S3/5r), PMC (DB1i) and ProAc (Tablette Reference 8) for starters.

 

[matengawhat]

i have the solo movie but use the rear surrounds to bi-amp my fronts - i use the Quad 12L2s and i am very happy with the sound - although these are a lot less than what your suggesting to spend but personaaly think they are a great match sonically. However i use this as a second system in my bedroom so guess would also depend on th sixe of your room

 

[plastic penguin]

I can't disagree with what has been suggested, although I haven't heard the new Quads, so cannot comment on those.

As regards floorstanders, MA BR5's would match well with the Solo. Likewise give Kef a whirl, the IQ5SE's & IQ7SE's (£400 & £600 respectively).

 

[JoelSim]

You could do worse than Dali Ikon 6 floorstanders. They are 1m tall but quite thin so will fit in narrow gaps and I have some in a small room and they work very well with Arcam and positioning. If you were to go to audiologica.com you could get some ex demo.

 

[plastic penguin]

JohnDuncan:Not at all, the more money the better. I won't pre-empt drummerman's suggestion, but I'm a standmount kind of bloke, so will suggest Spendor (S3/5r), PMC (DB1i) and ProAc (Tablette Reference 8) for starters.

Surely, JD, you have to draw the line somewhere. I can understand the logic behind your suggestion but an amp is limited by the quality of its internals.

I personally would only spend around £200 either side of the cost of the amplifier. I can't see how pound for pound there would be a significant difference on what is essentially an A70? (sound quality-wise, I mean).

 

[John Duncan]

plastic penguin:JohnDuncan:Not at all, the more money the better. I won't pre-empt drummerman's suggestion, but I'm a standmount kind of bloke, so will suggest Spendor (S3/5r), PMC (DB1i) and ProAc (Tablette Reference 8) for starters.

Surely, JD, you have to draw the line somewhere. I can understand the logic behind your suggestion but an amp is limited by the quality of its internals.

I personally would only spend around £200 either side of the cost of the amplifier. I can't see how pound for pound there would be a significant difference on what is essentially an A70? (sound quality-wise, I mean).

You'd think, yeah, but I say this because speakers are the one area where the more and more expensive the speaker I've heard, the better and better the sound (with good examples, obviously). I have heard three- and eight-grand speakers on the end of a Rega Mira and they were a revelation.

Now I'm not saying if you buy a two hundred quid amp and a four grand pair of speakers that you're sorted, I think there is a balance to be achieved, but with a Solo that's all you've got - the only thing you can do to improve it is speakers, so spend as much as you possibly can.

jd

 

[drummerman]

JohnDuncan:Not at all, the more money the better. I won't pre-empt drummerman's suggestion, but I'm a standmount kind of bloke, so will suggest Spendor (S3/5r), PMC (DB1i) and ProAc (Tablette Reference 8) for starters.

Monitor Audio or B&W 685?

 

[John Duncan]

drummerman:
JohnDuncan:Not at all, the more money the better. I won't pre-empt drummerman's suggestion, but I'm a standmount kind of bloke, so will suggest Spendor (S3/5r), PMC (DB1i) and ProAc (Tablette Reference 8) for starters.

Monitor Audio or B&W 685?

Don't confuse the man. Repeat after me..........

 

[drummerman]

JohnDuncan:drummerman:

JohnDuncan:Not at all, the more money the better. I won't pre-empt drummerman's suggestion, but I'm a standmount kind of bloke, so will suggest Spendor (S3/5r), PMC (DB1i) and ProAc (Tablette Reference 8) for starters.

Monitor Audio or B&W 685?

Don't confuse the man. Repeat after me..........

Don't confuse the man ...

 

[John Duncan]

I'm going to have some business cards printed for you:

 

[plastic penguin]

I knew I had deficiencies, I'm going to the broom cupboard and give myself a good telling off. Hang on, we haven't got a broom cupboard. . . .Lol!

 

[drummerman]

JohnDuncan:I'm going to have some business cards printed for you:

 

[plastic penguin]

drummerman:
JohnDuncan:I'm going to have some business cards printed for you:

You must be due a promotion, DM?

 

[fr0g]

MA GS10. Tried some with my A80 a while ago, and they were about the best thing I'd ever heard up to that point. Fantastic match.

 

[JoelSim]

fr0g you would like my ProAcs and my Dalis actually. Totally different but both have their time

 

[fr0g]

JoelSim:fr0g you would like my ProAcs and my Dalis actually. Totally different but both have their time

Dont forget, my current speakers are Dali Ikon 6 😉...and yes I like them very much. The room I am in now really benefits a floorstander.

However, the GS10s are probably my favorite speaker I have listened to with the Arcam amp. It was a match made in heaven that unfortunately I couldn't afford at the time.

 

[Thaiman]

All you need for Solo is the pair of Usher 520 which cost less than half of your budget.

 

[Anonymous]

Thankyou for all you comments, I appreciate all of your help.

In the end I had a crazy moment and opted for some ProAc Studio 140's -

personally, these were stunningly good with a glorious weighty sound, rich

in detail and perfect with either delicate recordings or simply belting out

harder stuff. Blew the budget completely but heh, my ears didn't lie!!

 

[matengawhat]

beautiful speakers but can't help but think that the electronics are not in the same league