New speakers small listening environment

[hoopsontoast]

SCM7 in Black Ash then, sorted :cheers:

 

[Electro]

PMC DB1i in black ash

They are brilliant little speakers that work superbly well in just about any situation and with a very wide range of equipment. They sound just as good at low or high volumes and are equally good for near or mid field listening .

Perfect ?

 

[poldo]

I will summarize my posts:

-standmount speakers

-1000-1500 pounds budget, new no demo or 2nd hand.

-exposure 3010s2 amp + 2010s2 dac + unitiserve (Chord Company cables)

-max 50cm from rear wall

-listening distance front of 1 speaker to ears 2.30 meters

-finishing: black ash, gloss black or gloss white

 

[poldo]

I did listen to the db1i's a year ago, I quiet liked them, what is the difference between db1i and twenty 21?

 

[Electro]

I did listen to the db1i's a year ago, I quiet liked them, what is the difference between db1i and twenty 21?

I have heard the DB1i's many times but not the PMC 21's , but judging from the comments and reviews of people who have heard the 21's I would say in general they are more mid/ top forward and have slightly less bass power but might sound more detailed because of the upward balance shift .

The best thing would be to try both and see which you prefer but I would say that you won't go far wrong with either .

 

[Al ears]

Harbeth P3ESR's then. Superb monitor and excellent in the near field. I used to run a pair in a room smaller than yours.

You might think so but Id be aware that according to Harbeth themselves these speakers are, and I quote "Designed for 'free-field' use, the optimal bass-mid-top balance is achieved when the speakers are away from walls". I would assume that meant well away from walls. Oh, and they are slightly over OP's budget

Yes they do indeed but the word 'optimal' is the point. Unless you have an anechoic chamber handy of course. I was making the point on the basis of actual real live experience (I know, shocking isn't it) and not just something I read on a website. And given that he'll be using them in the near field the issues off wall proximity are reduced too. Anyway, I'm sure Mr Poldo is more than capable of doing some research and auditioning of his own having asked for suggestions.

And I'm not sure how they're over budget. Plenty of retailers I can see offering them at £1500 or less.

I stand corrected over the budget, for some reason I thought thre OP had stated £600 - not correct.
Regards the Harbeths I have run these ( and many other makes in my time) and do not spend most of my day just quoting from websites as you imply.
I wouldn't use the P3's anywhere near a rear wall but the OP has now qualified that by 'up to 50cm' which would, in fact be fine I am sure, only he will know. It is as you say all down to your own hearing and the only way to shortlist is to get out and listen to whatever you can find available (or even better bring it home and audition it there).
I do not think Harbeth do the finish that OP requires now.

 

[alchemist 1]

I will summarize my posts:

-standmount speakers

-1000-1500 pounds budget, new no demo or 2nd hand.

-exposure 3010s2 amp + 2010s2 dac + unitiserve (Chord Company cables)

-max 50cm from rear wall

-listening distance front of 1 speaker to ears 2.30 meters

-finishing: black ash, gloss black or gloss white

Maybe not the right finish- but what about acoustic energys ref 1's.

 

[poldo]

I think the p3 ser is in black ash, M30 is not.

Acoustic energy is a very nice speaker but why on earth only 1 finishing? So it is a no.

 

[chebby]

Spendor SA1s are available in gloss black...

Harbeth P3ESRs are available in black ash veneer...

 

[AEJim]

I think the p3 ser is in black ash, M30 is not.

Acoustic energy is a very nice speaker but why on earth only 1 finishing? So it is a no.

Hi Poldo,

We are going to offer gloss black as an option but sadly I don't think it will be in time for your purchase. Demand for the one finish has caught us off-guard so we're working hard just to keep up with that at the moment! Good luck in finding something that suits your needs!

Cheers,

Jim.

 

[poldo]

I think the p3 ser is in black ash, M30 is not.

Acoustic energy is a very nice speaker but why on earth only 1 finishing? So it is a no.

Hi Poldo,

We are going to offer gloss black as an option but sadly I don't think it will be in time for your purchase. Demand for the one finish has caught us off-guard so we're working hard just to keep up with that at the moment! Good luck in finding something that suits your needs!

Cheers,

Jim.

Hi Jim,

That's a shame, because I think it is a very nice classic standmounter. In gloss or ash black it would be right on the demo list.

 

[poldo]

Another 2 speakers, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand and Audio Physic Step. I have no idea how they sound with Exposure but they look nice.

 

[poldo]

this the room by the way

http://www.avforums.com/forums/speakers/1631712-new-standmount-speakers-max-1500-pounds.html

 

[Macspur]

Have my SHL5's close to wall... no problems, sound fantastic!

 

[shreader]

try PMC DB1i's brilliant detail 26cm's high £1095

 

[batonwielder]

I can attest to the Exposure 3010s2's prowess handling defficult to drive speakers. They really shine with the likes of ATC's.

It will sound clean, not lean, and refined. Didn't know what less distortion meant until I heard ATC.

 

[poldo]

mmm never thought about ATC.

I thought they need monster amps.

I could check out the SCM 7 & 11.

 

[poldo]

Well tomorrow is the first demo day.

PMC db1i vs PMC twenty 21

on thursday:

Guru M20 vs Totem model 1 signature vs Audiovector si1 signature

 

[Macspur]

Well tomorrow is the first demo day.

PMC db1i vs PMC twenty 21

on thursday:

Guru M20 vs Totem model 1 signature vs Audiovector si1 signature

Good luck and enjoy.

Cheers

Mac

 

[bluedroog]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on how they fair against one another.

 

[poldo]

My tracklist for the demo Artist - Song - (Album) :

-Madrugada - Vocal (Industrial Silence)

-Chris Jones & Steve Baker - Long after you're gone (Smoke and Noise)

-Ruben Gonzalez - La Enganadora (introducing...)

-Mark Knopfler - Sailing to Philadelphia (Sailing to Philadelphia)

-Morphine - Buena (Cure for pain)

-Angus and Julia Stone - Black Crow (Down the Way)

-Massive Attack - Angel (Mezzanine)

-Dire Straits - Fade to black (On every street)

-Eddie Vedder - No Ceiling (Into the wild)

-The Who - Behind blue eyes ( Who's next)

:cheer:

 

[Macspur]

My tracklist for the demo Artist - Song - (Album) :

-Madrugada - Vocal (Industrial Silence)

-Chris Jones & Steve Baker - Long after you're gone (Smoke and Noise)

-Ruben Gonzalez - La Enganadora (introducing...)

-Mark Knopfler - Sailing to Philadelphia (Sailing to Philadelphia)

-Morphine - Buena (Cure for pain)

-Angus and Julia Stone - Black Crow (Down the Way)

-Massive Attack - Angel (Mezzanine)

-Dire Straits - Fade to black (On every street)

-Eddie Vedder - No Ceiling (Into the wild)

-The Who - Behind blue eyes ( Who's next)

:cheer:

A good mix... should give those speakers a nice work out!

Cheers

Mac

 

[poldo]

I had a very good demo day.

First were the PMC db1i, very nice speaker, and quite a big sound.

But then..

PMC twenty 21 was in all aspects the better speaker, more neutral sound, better bass and wider soundstage. I think the best mini monitor I have ever listened too.

Later

PMC twenty 22, like the 21 but a more mature sound, deep cabinet (37cm), but because the transmission line they did work very well 30cm from the rear wall.

Maybe I am going to try the 21 and 22 at home and look which one suites my room better.

T'morrow again a demo day.

Kudos, Neat and Totem are on the list.

 

[poldo]

Today the dealer did set up the Monitor Audio GX 100, beter speaker then the GS10, but nothing special, after 3 songs I was getting tired by it.

Next up was the Kudos C1, now this was much better, very similar to the PMC 22, but the only minor problem is the rear bass port, I don't know I any Kudos owners knows how much space to the rear wall they need.

After the C1, I listened to the Kudos x2, very tiny floorstander, but very good, bass reflex port in the bottom of the speaker, but the C1 gave a more mature sound.

They didn't stock Neat anymore and Totem were floorstanders and I didn't like the looks of them.

So right now my 2 favourites are, PMC Twenty 22 and Kudos Cardea C1.

 

[Macspur]

When are you trying the Audio Vectors?

Cheers

Mac