New Speakers for my system

[basshead]

firstly, thanks for all previous suggestions which have led to me finding the right stuff for me so far. - changing my CA 540a v2 amp for a NAD 325bee, a beresford DAC for my laptop and most importantly the suggestion of a BK monolith sub 🙂 i had never heard of it before and, WOW!!!

all that's left for me to do is change my main speakers. i currently have a pair of Mordaunt short 916i's. in some ways i like these, they are great for well produced accustic or ambient electronic music and really good for films, but for rock or faster dance music (anything with bass) they just are no good. they are too revealing in some ways too, making poor recordings or mastering really show up. i find my self avoiding certain types of music as i know it wont sound good. i dont like this, my music should dictate my equipment, not visa versa. i also find the speakers horribly bright, the NAD has tamed them a bit but i feel a change of speaker is the only way to get the sound i want.

so, can any1 reccomend any floor standing speakers that will match my current system? (i want floor standers as i do not want to rely on the sub for the higher bass frequecncies, i have to set crossover to over 100 hz at present and on higher notes i can detect the source of the sound) I am looking for fun speakers mostly with impact. most of the music i listen to is quite high tempo with rolling bass lines.

thanks for any suggestions 🙂

 

[Anonymous]

Glad you like the monolith its an absolute monster of a sub for the price theres nothing that even gets close imo

 

[SteveR750]

I would have thought that the change from the Cambridge to the NAD is a sideways step? Might it noit have been better to keep tha amp and spend all your money on upgrading your speakers to some that you like the sound of - after all the CA is hardly poor (though I personally prefer the NAD).

 

[basshead]

SteveR750:
I would have thought that the change from the Cambridge to the NAD is a sideways step? Might it noit have been better to keep tha amp and spend all your money on upgrading your speakers to some that you like the sound of - after all the CA is hardly poor (though I personally prefer the NAD).

i kept the Cambridge aswell, it's paired with some dimond 9.1's as my bedroom set up. got the nad 2nd hand at a really good price so wasnt much of an outlay. the NAD is far louder than the cambridge too, so was an upgrade in that way.

 

[Anonymous]

how much did the 2nd hand amp cost you? if you dont mind me asking?

 

[basshead]

Manchesto:how much did the 2nd hand amp cost you? if you dont mind me asking?

was £120 (ish), with delivery and a chord interconnect thrown in for free

 

[crusaderlord]

i just bought a NAD C320BEE for just under £100 as i needed an amplifier in my small cellar which acts as a office

i like NAD so at this kind of price it seemed like a good purchase

personally i think NAD has a much better presentation and sound to Cambridge at the under £400 level

 

[matthewpiano]

To my ears the C325BEE is a significant upgrade over the Cambridge 540A, and I've had both. I'm not a fan of the lower range Azur amps. For me Cambridge only really come into their own, amp wise, with the 740 and 840 series and even then I find the 740 a bit clinical sometimes (though the 840 is a different and altogether more musical beast).

 

[John Duncan]

Aaanyway...do we have a budget to work with?

 

[basshead]

preferably under £400, but if i have to spend more to get the sound i want then i can stretch to £550. also happy to go second hand (obviously the cheaper the better 🙂 )

 

[plastic penguin]

basshead:

firstly, thanks for all previous suggestions which have led to me finding the right stuff for me so far. - changing my CA 540a v2 amp for a NAD 325bee, a beresford DAC for my laptop and most importantly the suggestion of a BK monolith sub 🙂 i had never heard of it before and, WOW!!!

all that's left for me to do is change my main speakers. i currently have a pair of Mordaunt short 916i's. in some ways i like these, they are great for well produced accustic or ambient electronic music and really good for films, but for rock or faster dance music (anything with bass) they just are no good. they are too revealing in some ways too, making poor recordings or mastering really show up. i find my self avoiding certain types of music as i know it wont sound good. i dont like this, my music should dictate my equipment, not visa versa. i also find the speakers horribly bright, the NAD has tamed them a bit but i feel a change of speaker is the only way to get the sound i want.

so, can any1 reccomend any floor standing speakers that will match my current system? (i want floor standers as i do not want to rely on the sub for the higher bass frequecncies, i have to set crossover to over 100 hz at present and on higher notes i can detect the source of the sound) I am looking for fun speakers mostly with impact. most of the music i listen to is quite high tempo with rolling bass lines.

thanks for any suggestions 🙂

For that sort of money, consider Kef IQ5SE, Monitor Audio RS5's (although not tested by WHFI, I can seriously recommend them). But you are limited on brand new stuff, albeit s/hand will give you additional options.

Look out for monitors such as RS6, Focal 714V's (£600 new), or maybe something like Q Accoustics.

 

[matthewpiano]

Certainly audition Q Acoustics 1050i.

 

[the record spot]

matthewpiano:Certainly audition Q Acoustics 1050i.

Ditto that - I'm glad someone else is recommending them round here...!! Great box for the money.