New setup KEF LS50 with NAD D3020 or B&W 685 S2 with Rotel RA-12

[raiders4life12]

New setup KEF LS50 with NAD D3020 or B&W 685 S2 with Rotel RA-12

What would offer a better value and sound for the price: KEF LS50 with NAD D 3020 or B&W 685 S2 with Rotel RA-12

I have a large room and listen to mostly classical with some blues and rock. I don't need a lot of bass and I plan on listening at medium levels.

My budget is between $1500 and $2000

Also any suggestions on good integrated amps for the 685 or the LS50 within my budget would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Frank Harvey]

Based on the fact you have a large room, I would be leaning more towards the Rotel/B&W combination, despite preferring the sound of the LS50s. I think the NAD may struggle with the LS50s at higher volumes - although you don't say just how big your room is...

 

[rainsoothe]

Rotel+bw. Or, even better, Arcam a19 or croft phono integrated + focal aria 906. Imo the focals are amazing for scale - at their price. And so is the Arcam.

 

[raiders4life12]

unfortunately those products you mentioned are outside of my budget...

 

[rainsoothe]

The A19 is 1000$ new I think, but you can have it for quite less if you buy it used or ex-dem. And it should be ok, and it would free up a bit of budget for the speakers.

 

[wilro15]

Haven't heard those particular B&W/Rotels, but I have heard other models of B&W and Rotel and it usually sounds pretty good.

I used to own the LS50 and they need a much better amp than the NAD D3020. They may be small, and relatively inexpensive, but they need some serious grunt to get the best out of them.

 

[knaithrover]

As previously said I think the LS50's are a bit over the top for the NAD very talented though it is. That said I have just tried mine with some very power hungry Boston Acoustics M25's and it seems to be managing admirably pushing out quite a bit of grunt without losing much in the way of finesse.

 

[raiders4life12]

Some other speakers and amps I have been considering are

Monitor Audio Silver 2

Totem Dreamcatcher

Dynaudio Dm 2/6

Peachtree D5

Focal Chorus 706V

Amps:

Marantz PM7005

Cambridge CXA80

Peachtree nova125se or 65

NAD C356DAC

NAD D 7050

What are your opinions on these and how they would work together?