Floorstanders or Bookshelfers at £200-250?

[admin_exported]

Well it's nearly Xmas so that means annoying gets like me bothering people like you!

I'm looking to get a Yamaha DSPAX763 for it's ability with both music and home cinema. I'm looking to start my surround sound speaker collection with a strong front line-up and am torn between floorstanders and bookshelfers at around the £250 mark. I wasn't really looking to spend much more than that though I'd be willing to go to £300 if it makes a world of difference. I'm weighing up the Mordaunt Short 914i's, Monitor Audio BR2's and Dali Lektor 1's, all at the £250 mark. I've seen tat What Hi-Fi has rated the 914i's at 5 stars but only the 914 review is in here.

Which would you plump for at this price, if not another? If I get bookshelfers, am I going to need a sub to make up for the lack of bass? If floorstanders have better bass are they typically weaker elsewhere besides compactness?

 What are the benefits of speaker stands - purely for raising the speakers to ear height, or is there an aural boost from a good stand?

 

Thanks for any and all advice! 

 

[the record spot]

Consider also Mission M33i (a lot of speaker for the money according to WHF), and Hughes Direct in East Anglia has KEF iQ5SE for £199. Both worth considering as well as you current shortlist. You might also get some good used models for that kind of money.

 

[fatboyslimfast]

iQ5 for that money is a steal.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Totally agree...

The Kef's at that price are a steal (even though i'm not a massive fan of them).

You could consider taking a look at some M/A BR2's on decent stands; they offer a superb soundstage and good bass weight.

If you want to go down the 2nd hand route you could consider the B&W 602 S3's on eBay; partnered with decent mass-loaded stands they offer a very good soundstage too with solid bass and a smooth midrange. They love to be driven hard and, IMO, can offer better bass weight than a majority of floor standers.

 

[crang]

Hi please give Wharfdale Diomond 9.1s a listen, 150 quid, stunning!My modest system, CA 540A VER 2, cA 540C vER 2 , p60 phono stage, Genie turntable, W/d Diamond 9.1. soundstyle Z60 stands, all 5 star products. Fantastic all for under a grand!

 

[drummerman]

I am quite a fan of the Kef's though they rarely impress immediately in a show room. I'd audition the iQ7 (not SE) which can be found for around £300. A lot of quality speaker for not a lot of money. They ultimately benefit from a good small sub too for wide band replay but are fine out of the box. Easy to drive and place.

Hope this helps.

 

[Anonymous]

On standmount speakers, speaker stands make the world of difference, tightening the bass, reducing distortion, bringing greater clarity to the music.

At the price range you are talking about, MA BR2