I was going to buy B&W 685 speakers but was advised that Monitor Audio BX2s are just as good and cheaper to buy. Since I have not heard how either of these speakers sound I'd be grateful for any advice. Should I go for the B&W 685 or the Monitor Audio BX2s and on what do you base your recommendation?
B&W 685 vs Monitor Audios BX2
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Not sure if this is any real help but in my experience you need check to see if the vocals sound like there too much in the background, sort of shut in. Its a common fault with budget speakers but Im sure I read that the BW 685 are free from that problem, but like I say its better to check since it can ruin everything...
matthewpiano
Well-known member
If you are looking at the 685s, the natural competitors would be the MA RX1 and the KEF Q100 or Q300.
manicm
Well-known member
From my experience the 685s are universally applicable, and have high sensitivity. But to get the best out of them they prefer more powerful amplification and do need some free space - I'd say about 40cm from the back wall and the same from sidewalls.
The KEF Q300s, from what WHF says, would probably need the same. If you're in a tighter space then like me I would look at the Q100s, or yes the BX2s.
The KEF Q300s, from what WHF says, would probably need the same. If you're in a tighter space then like me I would look at the Q100s, or yes the BX2s.
The 685s are also rather deep which doesn't come across in the photos too well. May be an issue if space is limited.
I am a complete novice and only recently brought my old Technics hi fi unit down from the loft! The stereo integrated amplifier is SU-X 102 (DIN 45 500). Bought in the early to mid 1990s together with a stereo double cassette deck, stereo synthesizer tuner, a compact disc player and a automatic turntable system. In the technical specification of the stereo integrated amplifier operating instructions it says DIN power output 1 kHz THD: 1%: 2 x 40 W (8 ohms). Total harmonic distortion rated power at 1 kHz: 1 % (8 ohms). Harmonic distgortion half power at 1 kHz: 0.03 % (8 ohms). Residual hum and noise: 0.5 mV. Damping factor 30 (8 ohms). Note that I am referring to the horse shoe symbols as "ohms". If we forget about price for the moment, from the responses received my senses are telling me that the B&W 685 is the better out of the two speakers and that I probably need to buy a more powerful amplifier but unfortunately I have to make do with what I have for the time being. My living room is approx 5.25m x 4.25m with fairly high ceilings, a fire place with alcoves either side being a Victorian terraced property. We have our TV in the bay window area. I have been trying to work out how best to position the hi fi unit and the speakers when I get them but am still undecided. The problem I think I am going to have is being able to position the speakers with enough distance from the back and side walls without it encroaching on the available communal space. The hi fi unit itself wll have to go in one of the alcoves.
Knowing what you know now in terms of what equipment I have, what advice would you give me now? The fact remains I have a hi fi system but no speakers! My son, when he was living at home, blew the original speakers which came with the system so I do need to buy some new ones without a doubt.
I appreciate the responses so far. Thanks all.
Knowing what you know now in terms of what equipment I have, what advice would you give me now? The fact remains I have a hi fi system but no speakers! My son, when he was living at home, blew the original speakers which came with the system so I do need to buy some new ones without a doubt.
I appreciate the responses so far. Thanks all.
matthewpiano
Well-known member
It all depends on what your aspirations are. If all you want is a pair of speakers to add to your Technics gear, then something like Mission MX1s or Tannoy Mercury V1s will be more than sufficient. The 685s need much better amplification. If you are working at a longer term plan things are different.
A pair of 685s costs just short of £400. Think about what you want. Do you intend to use the turntable and cassette deck? If not, a package based around the Denon DM-38DAB with either Mission MX1s or the Tannoys would give you much better performance.
Alternatively, you could pick up a NAD C316BEE amp and combine it with either the Missions or the Tannoys, changing your CD player at a later date.
Food for thought, anyway.
A pair of 685s costs just short of £400. Think about what you want. Do you intend to use the turntable and cassette deck? If not, a package based around the Denon DM-38DAB with either Mission MX1s or the Tannoys would give you much better performance.
Alternatively, you could pick up a NAD C316BEE amp and combine it with either the Missions or the Tannoys, changing your CD player at a later date.
Food for thought, anyway.
Paul.
Well-known member
The BX2 wasn't available when I demo'ed the 685. I went in to the store expecting to leave with the 685, But ended up buying an ex-demo MA BR5. The BR5 is available online now for about £280, so when you factor in the cost of a good stand for the 685 the BR5 is significantly cheaper. Adding in cost of stands, the 685 is about the same price as a BX5, I would buy the BX5 if you can!
Assuming you plan on upgrading the amp, they would be a good option. If not, do as Matthew said!
Assuming you plan on upgrading the amp, they would be a good option. If not, do as Matthew said!
OK. I think you are right. My daughter is about to give birth so on second thoughts a solid floorstanding speaker would be the best way to go. I started looking at the MA BX5 and BR5 last night and since I do not plan to upgrade my amp anytime soon I think for the money I should go for the BR5. That said I'd be interested to know what speakers Gaz 19 has. I'm new to all of this so I'm not sure how to PM you Gaz 19! I'm showing my ignorance here but what is PM? Private Mail?
I forgot to say that I do plan to use the turntable and cassette deck. I have a huge bag of tape cassettes which has a lot of old time classics which I will need to get transferred onto CD eventually.
matthewpiano
Well-known member
If you are worried about the child safety issue I'd buy some compact speakers that can be easily wall-mounted. Look at Q Acoustics 2020, and Dali Lektor 1s or 2s. All of these are great affordable options that are very easily wall mounted and should be easy for your amp to drive.
I would choose the BX2, a very good speaker for the money. Also look at the Dali Lektor 2 if you can.
I ended up buying Monitor Audio BX5 speakers!! I have to say they look really nice. I took receipt of them yesterday and was eager to set them up. I used the standard speaker cables which came with the speakers for my Aiwa XR-EM70 Compact Disk Midi Stereo System - low end stuff!! But when it was all set up as soon as I tried to play something the BX5s just hummed! I checked and re-cheked all my connections and everything was correctly connected up but nothing. Just this terrible humming. I reconnected the speakers from my Aiwa midi stereo system and they played fine. I couldn't work it out so I got my son-in-law to come over and he disconnected all the cables from my Technics stacking system and reconnected them again and still the BX5s hummed! In the end, in order to test whether there was a problem with the BX5 speakers we took them round to his. He connected them to his Arcam Alpha 8se and bi-wired them to the power amps and they played perfectly!! We then tested the speakers by doing a straightforward wire just using two pins in instead of four and they played perfectly! So what can the problem be?
Should have bought my Dali Lektor 2`s but never mind, there still available if you want. I would have sold them to you for half the price of the BX5 and they would sound better anyway since they are soft dome for the treble. The BX5 use metal dome which are known to be harsh sounding. The only reason that I am selling them is because I have bought a 950 pounds power amp which has made my hifi sound so amazing that I cant help myself, I have to get all high end parts now to match the amp.
Bookshelf speakers were my original plan but I am perfectly happy with my floorstanding Monitor Audio BX5s. They are slender and elegant if you can say that about speakers and they sound great now that I worked out what the problem was. I found a Active Current Sensor switch on the back of the amp and once I switched this to the off position the speakers no longer hummed and boomed into action. Thanks.
Paul.
Well-known member
Gaz19:Should have bought my Dali Lektor 2`s but never mind, there still available if you want. I would have sold them to you for half the price of the BX5 and they would sound better anyway since they are soft dome for the treble. The BX5 use metal dome which are known to be harsh sounding.
Going for the hard sell I see?
Going for the hard sell I see?
Toosweet:
Bookshelf speakers were my original plan but I am perfectly happy with my floorstanding Monitor Audio BX5s. They are slender and elegant if you can say that about speakers and they sound great now that I worked out what the problem was. I found a Active Current Sensor switch on the back of the amp and once I switched this to the off position the speakers no longer hummed and boomed into action. Thanks.
Think about running in your nice new speakers (point 7 here)
Bookshelf speakers were my original plan but I am perfectly happy with my floorstanding Monitor Audio BX5s. They are slender and elegant if you can say that about speakers and they sound great now that I worked out what the problem was. I found a Active Current Sensor switch on the back of the amp and once I switched this to the off position the speakers no longer hummed and boomed into action. Thanks.
Think about running in your nice new speakers (point 7 here)
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