Monitor Audio BR1s?

[Gyp]

The BR2s and RS1s get a lot of attention, but what about the BR1s?

I'm still looking to find some speakers to partner my Teac DR-H300, and my other half is pushing me down the "compact" compact speaker route.

She *is* right of course, as the kit is for a small flat (and subsequently a bedroom) but my natural tendancy is towards large floorstanders so I tend to shy away from little boxes.

So, when I get the dealer to warm up the BR2s and RS1s in the dem room, will it be worth my while trying the BR1s as well?

(btw, before any of you suggest I find a more flexible partner, I think it's only fair to point out that with two fully-populated 5-sheff racks, 5 kef speakers (105/3s, Q35.2s and a Q95.2) and a telly at one end of the living room I think I get away with a lot more than most would)

 

[Anonymous]

Yes it most certainly will. One of my friends has just bought a set of BR1's to go with his teac mini separates system. They are belters. Really hard hitting and open sounding.The clatter off them, for such a small speaker, has to be heard to be believed.Excellent bass too( far more than you would expect fro such a tiny speaker) but they sound better near a back wall.That way you get more depth and impact. We heard them and the BR2's in sevenoaks and all present at the demo preferred the BR1's. Still not as heavyweight as BR2's but better in other respects.They need decent filled stands though.Something like atacama or mission stancette would do.

 

[Gyp]

I've had a chat with my local Sevenoaks and they're lining up the BR1, 2 and RS1s up for dem on Monday 🙂

Re stands, I've already grabbed some Target stands from ebay for a quid. Probably not optimal, but they'll do.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Gyp"]I've had a chat with my local Sevenoaks and they're lining up the BR1, 2 and RS1s up for dem on Monday 🙂

Re stands, I've already grabbed some Target stands from ebay for a quid. Probably not optimal, but they'll do.[/quote]

Let us know how you get on. I have RS1s on my system and my gf has KEF Cresta 1s on her TEAC mini system. I'm curious to know whether Bronzes or Silvers are a better match for the TEAC. Cheers!

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Gyp"]I've had a chat with my local Sevenoaks and they're lining up the BR1, 2 and RS1s up for dem on Monday 🙂 Re stands, I've already grabbed some Target stands from ebay for a quid. Probably not optimal, but they'll do.[/quote]

make sure you fill them as i let my mate borrow my stands and they made a big difference to his BR1's.He had them on un filled stands probably not as good as targets.

 

[Gyp]

[quote user="igglebert"]
Let us know how you get on. I have RS1s on my system and my gf has KEF Cresta 1s on her TEAC mini system. I'm curious to know whether Bronzes or Silvers are a better match for the TEAC. Cheers![/quote]

As with all these things it turned out to be not quite that simple...

First up (on Atacama stands) were the BR2s. Quite disappointing. IMO they make a mistake often made by small speakers, that being an overly weighty bass. I went through all all of my auditioning CDs and decided that the BR2s were not for me.

Next the BR1s. What a difference! A far more balanced sound, and a far more pleasurable listening experience than the BR2s. The mid to high range remained clear and distinct, but this time the bass was clear and well defined, the instruments starting to come through as instruments rather than as bass if you know what I mean.

On to the RS1s. More like the BR1s than the BR2s in character; nice and neutral but with a nice step up in sonic performance. Definitely better than either of the Bronze speakers, but not as far ahead of the 1s as I would have expected. The pianos sounded more pianoy though, and the the double basses sounded more double bassey.

If I'd have only listened to the BR2s and the RS1s I'd have walked out with the RS1s under my arm, no question. But much to my surprise, adding the BR1s into the mix made it a significantly harder decision. After lots of speaker switching and umming and ahhing I decided on the (£112.50) BR1s over the (£262.50) RS1s.

If they'd been for my main speakers I'd have found the additional £150, but they're not so I didn't. For the money, the BR1s are just stunning.

So as you can see it's not just a question of Bronze or Silver 🙂

One caveat I must add is that it might be that the BR1s and RS2s are bass light and the BR2s are very neutral and it's the Teac that's bass heavy (which wouldn't surprise me as it sounded heavy in the bass through my Kef References), but as as it was Teac compatability you asked about I hope that's the question I've answered. I suspect you'd have to go the the RS1s to make it worth spending money upgrading the Crestas though.

 

[Anonymous]

Excellent, thank you for writing up how you got on. I can believe what you've said about the mix; the BR1s are probably a better match in many ways for the TEAC where RS1s might just be a little overkill. If your source was something more detailed then you may have swung to the RS1s.

The only reason I think I would go for the RS1s would be for future use on a different system, but that's often a poor economy anyway as things move on!

As it happens our TEAC second system has just disappeared off to Devon to the gf's parents. Might just have to move my Rotel amp to secondary duties....🙂

Have a good evening and Happy New Year...

 

[Anonymous]

not surprised you liked the BR1's.a good choice.and yes, teac stuff is quite heavyweight.my mates' is anyway.

 

[ear]

I have a strong feeling the br1 will be my next speakers.

"Next the BR1s. What a difference! A far more balanced sound, and a far more pleasurable listening experience than the BR2s. The mid to high range remained clear and distinct, but this time the bass was clear and well defined, the instruments starting to come through as instruments rather than as bass if you know what I mean.

On to the RS1s. More like the BR1s than the BR2s in character; nice and neutral but with a nice step up in sonic performance. Definitely better than either of the Bronze speakers, but not as far ahead of the 1s as I would have expected. The pianos sounded more pianoy though, and the the double basses sounded more double bassey. "

The RS1 sound a bit unatural to me.the BR range seems more smooth sounding.the br2 and br5 are a bit coloured.The br1 seems to do everything right.