Monitor Audio RX2 vs Q Acoustic 2050i

[Arsukfjorden]

Hello

I have been saving up in some time in order to buy some speakers. Just stereo. Budget at around 4-6.000kr ~ around 400-600£.

I am a big fan of bying used speakers, but since i have no car it needs to be pretty close to where i live in order for be to be able to transport them home. So that is pretty much not a possiblity and thus i need some brand new speakers. And since Denmark is a quite small country, the marked for used speakers arent so great.

I am quite sensitive to a harsh treble, so it is important that the speaker have a smooth treble that are easy to listen to. In addition i also prefer a dynamic, warm sound with a good bottom end(which most stand mounts cant deliver), to feel the music, but i do not listen to all that hardstyle crap. My amp is a Denon 1911, which i might change in the future. I dont want a subwoofer right now.

I have nominated 2 speakers that cought my interrest:

Monitor Audio RX2 - 5.200DKK ~ around 520£

Q Acoustic 2050i - 4.400DKK ~ around 440£

For a longer period i were actually pretty sure that i were going to buy a pair of Monitor Audio RX2's, because i read that the older RS line had a pretty harsh treble and RX line should be much better. But more research revealed that RX2 could still be harsh. Some people say that they just need a lot of run in time - others say that even with massive run in, they still sound harsh. Does anyone have a comment on this?

But then i found the Q acoustic 2050i. They seem perfect. Smooth treble, great dynamic and bottom end, but not boomy. They are even cheaper but still weel build and i could get the piano gloss version for the same price as the standard RX2's. And i dont need stands.

But before i order the Q acoustic i could use a confirmation on that i make the right choice. I cant get to a shop and hear the 2050i, but i could get to one that have the RX2's. But if the choice is a no brainer and the Q acoustic is the better speaker, then i do not want to drive on my winter motorbike for an hour in this freezing cold and icey roads.

Any advice. Should i go with the Q acoustic?

PS. My best friend got a pair of Dali Zensor 7. Nice speakers, but i want something else, just to try something different. Havng the same is a little boring. So no need to recommed them

 

[Arsukfjorden]

Sorry for the wall of text.. I did make a lot for line spacing and a nice easy-reading layout, but for some reason the forum mehcanics deleted those?

 

[chebby]

I preferred the RX1s to the RX2s when I heard them a couple of years ago. The RX2s seemed uncontrollable. (And I preferred the Castle Knight 2s to either of them!)

 

[drummerman]

Karl Heinz Fink of ALR Jordan fame (amongst other brands he helped develop) had his hands in the development of several of Q Acoustics models. He knows a thing or two about speakers and whilst that is no guarantee you will like them it gives the brand a little added gravitas. Seem good value too ... if you like them.

regards

 

[Exoticsounds]

You are looking at making some compromise at that price point.

I am personally prefer floorstanders so would slightly favor Q Acoustic 2050i.

But you should try to get an audition of the mentioned speakers before deciding.

Since you are in Denmark, maybe you should also look at local alternatives from Dynaudio, Dali or Audiovector.

 

[ear]

you wont get warm sound with either 2050i or rx2. rx1 are warmer.

 

[plastic penguin]

To avoid harsh treble I'd stay clear of Monitor Audio altogether. For a balanced sound I would be looking in the region of Wharfedale Diamond 121 as a minimum, and further up the scale Epos Epic 1 or the older M5i or M12i. Also I'd look at Dynaudio DM 2/6.

 

[Cypher]

Maybe the new Q Acoustics Concept 20 speakers are an option...................but you have to wait a month or so before they are in the shops.

 

[Arsukfjorden]

#Thanks for the comments. Here's some answers. Please do keep commenting ray:

#2/5 yeah i have read that the RX1 are a better speaker than RX2, but i really doubt that the RX1 can deliver the kind of power that i like. Precision sound is nice, but it just aint what i am looking for.

#3 Well that is a point for the 2050i's

#4I am well aware of that i only get the sound im paying for. Nothing more. And i am fine with that.

As mentioned i can not get a audition of the 2050i's. The closest dealer is around 3-4 hours of driving away. While that may seem like a short distance compared to the benefit of a audition, please note that i am on a motorbike. And not a fast, smooth CBF600 or some crusiser. No its a small 13-14hp XT250 with a off-road riding position and a one rough cylinder engine that struggles to get the bike over 100km/h. Its a great little winter and town bike that cant be destroyed but a 3-4 hour trip? In the winter? No way :wall:

Dynaudio and Audiovector is too expensive and, Dali's only iterresting speaking in the price range is Zensor 7(reason mentioned above), which i wont buy. Besides they arent any cheaper here in Denmark than in the UK.

 

[BigH]

I would not have floorstanders unless you have lots of room, esp. if you want to avoid boom. If siting near a wall the Epos Epic 2s would be my choice.

 

[Arsukfjorden]

#9 I do not have a large room. Defiently not, so that could be a problem yes, but on the other hand i am willing to, move around the furniture to favorize the speakers position, plug reflex port in the speakers, eventually put up carpets on the wall and stuff like that.
And i also expect to move to something larger in half a year, so i rather wonna have some boom for 6 months, than have unsatisfying speakers for the next 5 years or so that i will be keeping the speakers.

Besides my buddy with the Zensor 7's got an even smaller room, and the sound is still enjoyable enough. And he havent even plugged the reflex port.

 

[Arsukfjorden]

#6/8 I am sure that it is great speakers you are recommending and i am aware that you get a better standmount speaker than floorspeaker for 500 pounds, but i am willing to compromise some sound quality for the power. I want something that can rival my buddy's Zensor 7 speakers(in bottom end and power) and i just dont think that the mentioned bookshelve speakers can do that.

But thanks many times for the comments

 

[BigH]

By power I guess you mean bass?

Smaller room more bass!

 

[Arsukfjorden]

#12 Yes and no. I intentionally avoided the word "bass" since i dont want to sound like someone whos only concern whether or whether not his speakers are able to shake the walls to rubble - because i aint that person.

Let me put it in a another way then I want a set of speakers that can produce the same pressure as my friends Zensor 7. That is why i chose to look at a 2 x 6,5" floorstander and a 1 x 8" bookshelve speaker. A 1 x 6,5" bookshelve probably wont do the trick

 

[BigH]

#12 Yes and no. I intentionally avoided the word "bass" since i dont want to sound like someone whos only concern whether or whether not his speakers are able to shake the walls to rubble - because i aint that person.

Let me put it in a another way then I want a set of speakers that can produce the same pressure as my friends Zensor 7. That is why i chose to look at a 2 x 6,5" floorstander and a 1 x 8" bookshelve speaker. A 1 x 6,5" bookshelve probably wont do the trick

But that has to do with the amp and speaker sensitivity, not to mention room?

 

[manicm]

To avoid harsh treble I'd stay clear of Monitor Audio altogether. For a balanced sound I would be looking in the region of Wharfedale Diamond 121 as a minimum, and further up the scale Epos Epic 1 or the older M5i or M12i. Also I'd look at Dynaudio DM 2/6.

I had the BX2s for a couple of months and did not find them harsh or fatiguing at all - from the first day I had them. A big deal has been made about the C-CAM tweeters, but MA would have obviously refined them over the years. I just sold the pair because they did not engage me musically as much as the B&W 685s which I'll return to for a long time to come, and possibly keep them for a new system late this year...