B & W vs Monitor Audio vs Maurdant Short......help

[lcd4ever]

Looking at 3 possibles for some new speakers(replacing Mission 302e), will be using with Audiolab 8000A amp and Arcam cd72.....

MA Silver RS 6

B & W 684

MS Mezzo 6

all roughly £700

also advice on quality speaker cable choice(currently using QED silver with old mission speakers).

listening to a wide variety mainly rock, looking to stir up the Arcam...

 

[plastic penguin]

All your choices will match well with Audiolab - depends on the sort of presentation you're looking for?

 

[Lost Angeles]

lcd4ever:

Looking at 3 possibles for some new speakers(replacing Mission 302e), will be using with Audiolab 8000A amp and Arcam cd72.....

MA Silver RS 6

B & W 684

MS Mezzo 6

all roughly £700

also advice on quality speaker cable choice(currently using QED silver with old mission speakers).

listening to a wide variety mainly rock, looking to stir up the Arcam...

I have never heard Mezzo 6s

RS6s are more forward in their presentation than 684s, but both are excellent speakers it depends what sort of a sound you are after.

I had an 8000A (1986 version) before I upgraded and found that with the 684s if volume turned up the sound tended to become noisy more than musical and bass became muddy. I think the amp (50W) lacked the welly to drive the speakers properly. Marantz PM7200KI SIG (95W) and my new Roksan Caspian (85W) do not struggle.
I did not try the Audiolab with RS6s.
I demoed my Caspian with RS6s and my CDP with rock music (Thin Lizzy) and it was certainly exciting and listenable.
I would suggest you take your amp and CDP and get some demoing done.

You might find that whichever speakers you buy. You may soon want to upgrade your amp.

 

[lcd4ever]

Thanks guys; the Missions i am using now have amazing bass and low end detail but struggle on the detailed higher frequencies so I guess I don't want to compromise the bass but want loads of 'tweeter' detail if that makes any sense.

Demoing is difficult, I don't drive and nearest specialist audio shop is over 30 miles away, so I'll either be buying online or in the case of the B & Ws ordering then buying at the shop in one visit.

 

[Lost Angeles]

Some Sevenoaks stores stock both B&W and MA. I demoed both and picked 684s because I thought RS6s were too slightly too bright for me (That was with CD192 And Arcam A90) but I know that loads of people on here like RS6s and I have nothing negative to say about them(RS6). Both 684s and RS6s have great bass (and I would guess Mezzo 6s do). If you cannot demo it is going to be a difficult choice as everyone's taste is slightly different.

RS6s were certainly impressive when I demoed my Caspian and I wondered when I got home whether I had bought the wrong speakers with 684s, but on some remastered CDs I have I think the sound is too forward and bright even with 684s, and RS6s would only make that worse for me, but RS6s may suit you. Good luck.