new speakers/amp/dac for rock/blues 3000 pound range

[admin_exported]

Dear readers,

my room is divided in a 3,8 mtrs by 5,2 (living room) + a 4*3 mtrs (open dining room/kichen).

The speakers will be placed against the 3,8 mtrs wall.

I can only have max 70cm from back wall to speakers.

I listen to blues, rock music (clapton, cale, stones, springsteen, pixies, the cure, metallica, tindersticks, cave, pj harvey, opeth, madrugada, the veils, 16 horsepower etc.)

I want a new stereo set to replace my B&W 684 5.1/Onkyo home cinema setup, I don't want home cinema anymore because stereo is much more important. I already sold my cinema set because i don't like the b&w in stereo (too boomy) and not enough detail.

I want to use my apple tv +imac as source so I need speakers, amp + DAC.

budget is 3,000 pounds

any advice for me from you guys?

 

[chebby]

Given your musical preferences, this is an instance where I think ATC SCM11/19 speakers are going to shine. They can go to insane levels of volume without cracking up and thrive on really powerful amps.

Somebody called Rick (from Musicraft) will probably be along with a questionnaire quite soon 🙂 He gives the best advice on all things ATC.

 

[lindsayt]

Altec Model 19's, or EV Sentry III's, or Urei 813's, or Klipschorns. (Approx £1500 to £500 depending on cosmetic condition for any of these). They are all speakers that would be quite happily placed right in the corner of your listening room, with the front panels being about 70cm from your back wall. Use either your existing amp - as these are not amp fussy speakers, or get SET power amplification with a passive pre-amp. Something like a modded Behringer DAC (£250 new) would be fine.

 

[Anonymous]

Given your musical preferences, this is an instance where I think ATC SCM11/19 speakers are going to shine. They can go to insane levels of volume without cracking up and thrive on really powerful amps.

Somebody called Rick (from Musicraft) will probably be along with a questionnaire quite soon 🙂 He gives the best advice on all things ATC.

Is the ATC very analytic? I don't like analytical speakers, I want them to make music and not hifi.

 

[Anonymous]

I was looking for ATC dealers in Holland but I can't find one, so ATC is a nog-go unf.

 

[Anonymous]

I did demo the exposure 2010s2 + the Musical Fidelity M3 and both gave a pleasant performance with my music range, I did audition the Monitor audio rx6 because I demoed them before (last year) and I know how it sounds.

The MF was a little bit warmer, exposure little bit more forward but both nice with rock music.

The only problem is that the rx serie has a bit too much bass output in my room, if had a bigger and more "dressed" room they would be perfect.

Could anyone give me some speaker advice for the exposure/MF amps in my room + my music pref?

thnks in advance

 

[Anonymous]

So, having heard both Monitor Audio and B&W, what are your impressions how they both sound? I'm asking because they are very different sounding, and giving more information as to what sound you're looking for might lead to more targeted advice. In my experience MA can sound analytic, so I'm wondering why you chose to demo with those speakers.

Speakers that are similar to Monitor Audio in character include Focal, Dali and Kef, in that order. Dali might not be energetic enough for your heavier music (Opeth, Metallica), and I'm not particularly impressed with Kef's latest offerings. Then again, others have found the Focals to be too forward. YMMV.

Non-analytic speakers with a character closer to B&W include Dynaudio and Spendor. Dynaudio could be a very good match, but in general they are fussy about positioning.

I'm going to add Polk Audio in the mix as a dangerous outsider. I've found them to be quite balanced and capable, they could be what you're looking for if they mix well with Exposure.

 

[lindsayt]

Is the ATC very analytic? I don't like analytical speakers, I want them to make music and not hifi.

In that case I strongly recommend that you check-out high efficiency speakers which make conventional coned and domed speakers seem like Lazarus speakers: dead unless prompted to life by a miracle.

 

[Anonymous]

i choose the Rx6 because i was testing the Exposure against the MF and I did know the sound of the rx6, because I had it on home trial last year.

B&W was too muffled and Monitor Audio is ok but I got tired after a couple of days, so I want something in between.

Open, dynamic, no monster bass that is overpowering the mids and it does not need to impress at once, because in the long term I got tired of those speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

i choose the Rx6 because i was testing the Exposure against the MF and I did know the sound of the rx6, because I had it on home trial last year.

B&W was too muffled and Monitor Audio is ok but I got tired after a couple of days, so I want something in between.

Open, dynamic, no monster bass that is overpowering the mids and it does not need to impress at once, because in the long term I got tired of those speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

hi,

I can get the Spendor A6 for a very good price.

1.Does the Spendor A6 fit in my room (+70cm wall distance)

2.Is the A6 able to sound right with rock /blues

3.What amp in 1000-1500 pound range is compatible?

 

[Anonymous]

the harmon kardon hk990 will drive any speakers, it's got an inbuilt dac too, it's £795 here. might be worth a look as it would free up money for some serious speakers 🙂

 

[the record spot]

Yep, Nick 'n' the team at the HCC in Edinburgh - well worth a visit. A fine shop and great facilities. You might even get the HK990 amp I'd ordered a while back (assuming it's not sold yet)!

 

[Anonymous]

I saw the spendor is closed design, so i does not need lots of space i think?

But I am not right if it sound nice with rock/blues?

Harman look likes a great amp

I can get the spendor for 1300 euros (Holland)

 

[Anonymous]

i choose the Rx6 because i was testing the Exposure against the MF and I did know the sound of the rx6, because I had it on home trial last year.

B&W was too muffled and Monitor Audio is ok but I got tired after a couple of days, so I want something in between.

Open, dynamic, no monster bass that is overpowering the mids and it does not need to impress at once, because in the long term I got tired of those speakers.

i used to own some rx6s, great speakers but i got tired of them too, i also found them a bit boomy, and a touch harsh in the highs, they were also pretty fatiguing in my rather reflective room.

i've since changed to dynaudio dm 2/7s and they are perfect for me, they can be placed very close to walls with no issues, the bass they produce is clean and tight, and the soft dome tweeter means smooth but detailed highs, no fatigue at all.

they are only £600 but worth a look imo, you may love em. as has been said, the rest of the dynaudio range need space.

 

[Craig M.]

hi,

I can get the Spendor A6 for a very good price.

1.Does the Spendor A6 fit in my room (+70cm wall distance)

2.Is the A6 able to sound right with rock /blues

3.What amp in 1000-1500 pound range is compatible?

funny, as i was scrolling down i wondered whether or not you had tried the a6. they'll be happy near a wall i think, they are not monster bass speakers. i think you should also consider avi adm9.1 and matching sub, you'll probably only be able to get them online, but i believe they allow a home dem period. almost a complete system and very good sound quality.

 

[Anonymous]

ADM 9.1 + sub is very cheap I think, but a bit bulky. I don't know where to put the subwoofer.

Could I put a sub in the corner? Or between the speakers? Iam talking about stereo not Home Cinema by the way.

Is there a big difference in presentation between the A6 and the ADM 9.1+ sub.

 

[Anonymous]

iam not mentioning the rx6 i just tested some amps because I "know" the rx6.

I don't want the rx6 because I don't like them.

I never listened to the DM serie but I will never buy them because I think they are ugly, like most speakers in that price range.

I also think when you are in the DM budget you should look at the AVI neutron V, a friend of mine owns the neutron and they sound very very good

 

[Andrew Everard]

the harmon kardon hk990 will drive any speakers

Something of an overstatement, max, and I am sure (once again) that you're not speaking from personal experience.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you should listen to some pmc speakers, i had the db1i's and they were superb, the tb2i's give more bass but didnt image as well as the db1i's in my room, i would seriously consider listening to some pmc's with some good amplification. i listened to alot of blues/guitar through my naim xs & db1i's and thoroughly enjoyed them.

 

[Anonymous]

I saw the spendor is closed design, so i does not need lots of space i think?

But I am not right if it sound nice with rock/blues?

Harman look likes a great amp

I can get the spendor for 1300 euros (Holland)

I only have experience with Spendor standmounts, and they do not need space. I would expect the A6 are the same. If that is a pair price, it's a bargain. Going with the amps you have already heard, I would recommend the Exposure 3010s2 over the MF M3i, but if you can demo both, then try them for yourself.

Alternatively, see if you can get an ex-demo Leema Pulse II. Shops will be wanting to get rid of them (Pulse III is out), I've seen near 50% price cuts. It has a built-in DAC and works well with Spendor. Then again, going with a Leema Pulse III will only go slightly over-budget.

 

[Craig M.]

the a6 is actually ported, iirc. i heard it with exposure 3010 cdp and amp. i think it's the sort of sound you are after, although i found the treble maybe a bit forward. i would still get the adms and sub if it's at all possible to find somewhere to put the sub.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the ADM is too lean without the sub, so I need the sub.

But..Maybe Iam looking for too much high-end?

The reason is that I bought a new headphone and I bought the Grado SR80i, the salesmen let me demo a very expensive Staxx setup and I did not liked it at all, too sterile. I prefered the Grado's.

 

[Craig M.]

i agree, as a main system i would need the sub too.

as regards the headphone demo, could it be the grados sounded more like what you are used to hearing, and if you got used to the stax phones would you still prefer the grados, or would they sound coloured/distorted in comparison? i get to hear adms several times a week, my cousin owns some, and the sound is kinda like you get with headphones - very clean, clear and dynamic. i think this kind of sound can seem 'sterile' at first, but once you get used to it (which could take a while if you're used to a coloured sound) it means other kit can seem muffled and slow, or bright and harsh, in comparison. i happen to think music sounds good enough on its own, and would rather the hifi changed it as little as possible through distortion.

if it's impossible for you to accomodate a sub, then the a6s are very nice speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

you are right about the fact that the Staxx setup is much clearer.

The problem is some albums are so poorly recorded that clearer is worse.

But overall the sound of the ADM is great, The Neutron V are awesome little speakers too. If I had only 600 pounds budget for speakers I would buy them.