Best bookshelf speaker sub 200 GBP for classical music

[Tibor]

  What do you think about these speakers? Which speker is the most suitable for classical music, having a neutral, balanced and detalied sound, without harsh treble or boomy bass? I own NAD electronics(320BEE, C 515BEE). I do not want to buy second hand speakers, only new.I have no possibility to listen all these speakers, I would prefer the Acoustic E. Aegis Neo 1, it has many good reviews in international hifi press, but not in What Hifi.

  -Mordaunt Short Avant 902i
  -Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
  -Tannoy Fusion F 2
  -Acoustic Energy Aegis Neo 1
  -Q acoustic 1020
  -Monitor audio BR 2
Thank you for any information
  
I know that is very dificult to find a good speaker for classical in this price range, but now my budget is afected by world economy problems

 

[matthewpiano]

Like you say, it is very difficult to find a good speaker for classical music at this price level but here is my experience of the ones I've heard/had.

Monitor Audio BR2 - Excellent integration between drivers and a warm-ish full bodied sound. Capable of decent bass for meaty cellos and double basses and a decent treble. Slightly let down by the midrange which can sound a bit hollow. Plenty of attack and a good match for the NAD.

Mordaunt-Short 902i - A brighter sound though not excessively so with NAD amplification. Greater transparency and clarity than the MAs with a more open midrange and firmer bass. Very exciting with orchestral climaxes though soundstaging can become slightly unstable on occasion.

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 - Cohesive and with a superb midrange and treble. Bass is not big but well controlled and stereo imaging is superb. Could be very exciting with NAD amplification though they can become slightly hard when things become more complex.

Of these 3 I'd recommend the Wharfedales. HOWEVER, have you seen that the Quad 11Ls are available for £220 in some places? Beautifully finished and extremely balanced with supreme soundstaging, though not the warmest sound available. Well worth a look. I believe the AEs are also excellent but I haven't heard them myself.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the MS 902is, and I listen mostly to classical music. Matthewpiano is right to say that they have a great midrange and are very clear. I would add that the bass is surprisingly good, given their size. Unfortunately, it is also true that they are a bit bright with string instruments, but your NADs may counteract that tendency a bit. All in all a great speaker for the money!

Hedgehog

 

[Johnno2]

I have heard the MS 902i and was impressed with their overall presention but the treble could sound harsh at times. The MA BR2 I have heard too,sounded refined to me,that was with a NAD C352 amp. Seems they go well with NAD . Not heard the others.

 

[Tibor]

Thank you, it was a great help, so do you think, that the Mordaunt short 902i has a more open midrange and a brighter treble than Monitor A. BR 2 and the 902i is clearer and has a more exciting sound. For me Wharfedales sound is lack openess, and is dull at low volumes

 

[matthewpiano]

Tibor:Thank you, it was a great help, so do you think, that the Mordaunt short 902i has a more open midrange and a brighter treble than Monitor A. BR 2 and the 902i is clearer and has a more exciting sound. For me Wharfedales sound is lack openess, and is dull at low volumes

Yes the Wharfedales can sound dull at low volumes. I would put the 902is above the BR2s because of their clarity.

 

[Anonymous]

I have heard the Wharfedales and the 902is with a Nad 325 amp and to my ear the 902i's did sound nice and sharp and had more clarity than the Wharfs. The Wharfedales did seem to be slightly punchier in mid-range though. I also much preferred the looks of the Mordaunt Shorts if that counts for anything! Look great in black with the silver fronts.

Without wishing to steal this thread, and by way of not having to start a whole seperate one, id just like to quickly pick your brains - i have just picked up a Nad C352 off Ebay in supposedly mint condition (£200, good price?), and am now in the market for some speakers to go with it. Would the 902i's sound at least as good on the 352 as the Nad 325 i demo'd them with originally? Id also be interested in knowing whether the 352 could drive a more expensive set of speakers sufficently well, something like the B&W 686 or even 685? Or would it not be good enough?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Tibor]

ÿThank you, it was a great help

 

[Anonymous]

Yes that's a good price, yes they will improve on what you were driving the speakers with and yes they will sound great with much more expensive speakers than your current ones bags more drive slam and a sweet midrange

 

[Tibor]

I have to decide betwen Mordaunt S. 902i and Acoustic Energy Aegis Neo 1.Thankÿyouÿforÿhelp. I suppose that the Neo has not bright treble because hasÿsilkÿsoftÿdome.Nobody has this type of speaker(Neo 1 )?

 

[Anonymous]

hi fi newbie:

Yes that's a good price, yes they will improve on what you were driving the speakers with and yes they will sound great with much more expensive speakers than your current ones bags more drive slam and a sweet midrange

Good to know, thanks mate!

 

[Anonymous]

What Hi Fi's take.....
This
is a truly outstanding product that oozes far more sophistication than the price
implies. Its superlative sound combines finesse and power, poise and precision
brilliantly.

Despite NAD's fabulous record of producing outstanding budget amplification
- they've got the WHAT HI-FI? SOUND AND VISION stars to prove-
we were still startled by just how good this amp is.

The combination of power, dynamics and transparency is better than it has any
right to be at this kind of money. It doesn't matter what you listen to:
this NAD will kick hard with Squarepusher's Come On My Selector, soothe
with Jim O'Rourke's Women of the World and raise goosebumps with
the vocal on Townes Van Zadt's Pancho and Lefty. It matches any of its
immediate competitors in terms of refinement, but reserves an enviable touch
of steel that rivals simply can't equal.

Stereo imaging is superb: no rival places sounds with such unerring precision
or recreates a soundstage with such convincing depth. If your speakers are up
to the task, the C352CT is deeply impressive in this respect - individual
instruments are given room to breathe without compression or confusion. The
superb detail only serves to emphasise how wide open the soundstage is, exploring
intricacies that lesser amplifiers fail to expose. The bass is powerful and
the treble textured and true, but it's the clear, precise midrange and
smooth integration of all the elements that are this amp's most impressive
assets.

"This
is a truly outstanding product that oozes far more sophistication than
the price implies. Its superlative sound combines finesse and power,
poise and precision brilliantly."

Adding to the appeal are a sensible provision of features (though not a phono
stage), and a well-designed remote control. However, this amp isn't perfect.
While the standard of build is adequate for the price point, the NAD's
casework is a bit flimsy, particularly the back panel, which flexes noticeably
when speakers are plugged and unplugged. The controls lack the quality of some
rivals, too.

These shortcomings, though, are easily overlooked in light of the performance:
the C352CT is outstanding!

 

[drummerman]

Why not try Dali's Lector (Lektor?) range of bookshelf speakers? I've heard them at the Bristol S&V and they sounded good for the money which is just slightly above your budget. Similarely, Epos just launched some budget standmounts at just over £200 which I personally certainly would check out. If they are anything as good or better than Mordaunt Shorts MS20i Pearls which benefited from Epos engineering than they should be superb too.

Also worth considering are Kef iQ7's (non-SE). They where available for just under £300 recently and are very capable. They sound like good £700 standmounts with no bass boom, great imaging and better treble than MA's comparable silver series speakers. Should suit something like Nad very well and they are very sensitive as a bonus. Good luck.

 

[Cypher]

Try the Dali Lektor 1 or Lektor 2. Much better than all the speakers you mentioned. They are just awesome.

 

[Tibor]

Thank you, the Dali Lektor 1 is too small for my room and has weak bass, the Dali Lektor 2ÿorÿ3ÿ would be perfect for me, but is very expensive in my country, I have no place for floorstanders in my room