change of speakers for something smaller

[admin_exported]

hi guys,

I currently have the MA RX6 speakers with a REL R-305 subwoofer, and although it is an amazing combo the wife and i would like to downsize the speakers to a standmounts with no sub so i have put my stuff on ebay and i'm on the hunt for new standmounts.

I have been to my local dealer to audition some standmounts, i have listened to the spendor sa1's, dynaudio x12's, pmc db1i, and pmc tb2's. all of the speakers had different traits and it was very interesting to hear this. with my current set up i listened to the spendors first, these are truely great speakers but my rega amp could not drive them properly and it showed, next up was the dynaudio's these were very good and more of a forward sounding speaker and slightly easier to drive i did like these little speakers and i will give them another chance at a home demo, next up was the pmc db1i speakers, wow what a big sound from a little box, great soundstage with the rega and brilliant imaging in the demo room these are a must for home demo. next was the tb2's and although they are easier to drive than the db1's i could'nt get the db1's out of my head, the tb2's were in fact great speakers but for my room they were just a bit to big.

my budget is about £1000 ish for the speakers, for the time being i will be keeping my rega amp but thats not to say i won't upgrade in the near future.

can anyone think of any other speakers i should be listening to?

.

 

[plastic penguin]

The obvious choice for synergy and looks would be Regas own speakers, as I haven't heard them I couldn't tell you how they stack up against the likes of PMC or Spendor.

I personally love the DB1S. As you rightly said the bass response is impressive for such a tiny box. You might also consider the forums fav ATC SCM11s. I've heard them briefly and they are good but they need a good current and/or high powered amp to make the most of them. Alternatively, I also love the Ruark Sabre IIIs. They are fantastic with the right amp, but here again my knowledge falls flat when it comes to Rega amps.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks pp i forgot about the ATC SCM11 speakers i will see if i can find somewhere that sells them near me for a demo.

I know rega speakers are ment to go well with rega kit for good synergy but unfortunatly they just don't do it for me...

 

[Anonymous]

I recently bought new speakers after listening to rx6 at home and others i was totally smitten with the db1's they comfortably outplayed the rx6 for speed and musicality the only reason i never bought them was because she said i could have floor standers so gb1i has landed

 

[Anonymous]

I currently have the ATC SCM11's on home demo and you have to try these speakers!!! Fantastic speaker, although they are rather large. If you wanted a really small speaker try the Neat Motive 3's.

 

[Anonymous]

I wish i could, i am having a job finding a dealer in kent that supplies the atc's. size wise i don't think they would be to large just can't demo them which is a huge set back.

 

[plastic penguin]

Try these:

http://www.iglooaudio.co.uk/

 

[Anonymous]

thanks pp i will look into it..

i think they are web based but i will send them an e-mail to see if a demo is possible

 

[plastic penguin]

THESTIG08:

thanks pp i will look into it..

i think they are web based but i will send them an e-mail to see if a demo is possible

I got them from ATCs own website. Do companies like ATC promote web-based businesses?

 

[Anonymous]

one thing ive noticed just from reading various threads on here , is that there are very few people that try the atc speakers and are not blown away by them , they must be very good , id like to hear your opinions of them stig if you do manage to demo , seeing as your used to the rx6 sound ...

 

[plastic penguin]

maxflinn:one thing ive noticed just from reading various threads on here , is that there are very few people that try the atc speakers and are not blown away by them , they must be very good , id like to hear your opinions of them stig if you do manage to demo , seeing as your used to the rx6 sound ...

Interesting point, Max. Although there are a few who love them.

I heard them when I was invited to the 'Towers' last year. They are impressive sounding, but my reservation has alway been that ATC need a powerful amp to make the most of them and if you want a neighbour-friendly monitor, then ATCs are not for you.

Have a quick butchers at this thread I started a while back.

http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/258041.aspx

 

[Craig M.]

oooh! blanket statement alert!

my 19s are neighbour friendly, i think the very clear sound helps at low volumes. if background noise levels are very low, i really can have them on very quiet and they still sound good.

and as they need a powerhouse of an amp, maybe you should let the mag know, they partner them with a weedy cyrus in the recommended mid range system.

 

[Anonymous]

plastic penguin:
maxflinn:one thing ive noticed just from reading various threads on here , is that there are very few people that try the atc speakers and are not blown away by them , they must be very good , id like to hear your opinions of them stig if you do manage to demo , seeing as your used to the rx6 sound ...

Interesting point, Max. Although there are a few who love them.

I heard them when I was invited to the 'Towers' last year. They are impressive sounding, but my reservation has alway been that ATC need a powerful amp to make the most of them and if you want a neighbour-friendly monitor, then ATCs are not for you.

Have a quick butchers at this thread I started a while back.

http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/258041.aspx
cheers pp , 96 replies , ill get stuck into that now

 

[Anonymous]

right.. my rega amp may struggle driving them then as its only 60wpc, still if i can dem them i will let you know how i get on..

just seen that the dynaudio excite x12 & 16 come in gloss black mmm sweeeet..

 

[plastic penguin]

Craig M.:

oooh! blanket statement alert!

my 19s are neighbour friendly, i think the very clear sound helps at low volumes. if background noise levels are very low, i really can have them on very quiet and they still sound good.

and as they need a powerhouse of an amp, maybe you should let the mag know, they partner them with a weedy cyrus in the recommended mid range system.

That's a good point, Carig. I think when a product is classed as an all-rounder it doesn't always mean...all-rounder

. I play a lot of my music quite late at night, so I can't have it at wall-shaking levels. So for me the ATC are wonderful, but living in a terraced or semi-detached house like me, there are better options around.

 

[Craig M.]

that's what i mean by a blanket statement!

i live in a semi with neighbours on the other side of the wall, do you think i don't listen at night? i tell my neighbours all the time to let me know if the music bothers them, they say they can't hear it. total bull that atcs have to be played loud.

 

[plastic penguin]

Craig M.:

that's what i mean by a blanket statement!

i live in a semi with neighbours on the other side of the wall, do you think i don't listen at night? i tell my neighbours all the time to let me know if the music bothers them, they say they can't hear it. total bull that atcs have to be played loud.

You're a rascal, Craig. I do love your enthusiasm for ATC, but in your case you do have the SCM19s which are £1,500 large standmounted? and the fact you have ATC amp (approx £2,300) which I'm sure doesn't harm the cause. Very few of us (me included) can't afford gear that expensive and thus have to make do with lesser equipment. But certainly from what I've heard and read about the SCM11s, they aren't so clever at lower volumes.

Beam me up, Scotty!

 

[Anonymous]

 

[MattSPL]

Personally, i would be very careful or wary of downsizing speakers.

Obviously it all depends on your listening tastes and what you want from the hifi, but i went from B&W N803's plus Rel sub, to PMC IB1's with no sub(Amazing), then my regrettable downsize to PMC DB1i's and REL sub.

I have spent the last 3 years trying to get that full bodied, full range sound back.

 

[Anonymous]

cheers mat, i know what you mean and i will bear that in mind.

 

[the record spot]

Downsizing speakers should not be a problem; many standmounts handle bass better and image more effectively than floorstanders. Unless you've got a very good floorstander of course, but even then, it'd be an interesting comparison.

And while it's the theme of the hifi section of the forum this weekend, when you get into active speakers, it's a different ballgame entirely when the size of the speaker utterly belies the dimension of the resulting sound you hear.

 

[ear]

im keeping my floorstanders.they make 3 star stands for my standmounters haha

 

[Anonymous]

the record spot:Downsizing speakers should not be a problem; many standmounts handle bass better and image more effectively than floorstanders. Unless you've got a very good floorstander of course, but even then, it'd be an interesting comparison.

And while it's the theme of the hifi section of the forum this weekend, when you get into active speakers, it's a different ballgame entirely when the size of the speaker utterly belies the dimension of the resulting sound you hear.
Spot on RS. I think you've also summed up a decent pair of speakers being driven correctly.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Stig

I know you've got a budget of roughly £1k but if you like the M/A sound and it does well with your Rega set-up; why dont you look at the likes of the M/A RX2's or the GS10's?

Both superb speakers and they'll do very well with the Rega amp (the RX2's more so IMO)

Superb soundstage; greatt bass weight thats detailed and articulate as well as smooth, detailed midrange and crisp, clear treble!

 

[Craig M.]

plastic penguin:Craig M.:

that's what i mean by a blanket statement!

i live in a semi with neighbours on the other side of the wall, do you think i don't listen at night? i tell my neighbours all the time to let me know if the music bothers them, they say they can't hear it. total bull that atcs have to be played loud.

You're a rascal, Craig. I do love your enthusiasm for ATC, but in your case you do have the SCM19s which are £1,500 large standmounted? and the fact you have ATC amp (approx £2,300) which I'm sure doesn't harm the cause. Very few of us (me included) can't afford gear that expensive and thus have to make do with lesser equipment. But certainly from what I've heard and read about the SCM11s, they aren't so clever at lower volumes.

Beam me up, Scotty!

ah, now you're narrowing it down a bit from all atcs to one
particular model.

i still don't find blanket statements about
kit too helpful, it depends too much on the room, positioning and partnering kit. i've also read that the 11s like a bit of volume, but talking of bass shaking the walls is probably over egging it.

long time since i've been called a rascal!