Old amp with new speakers?

[Stilolos]

So I have a Sony STR DA2400ES that I don't want to get rid of. It's currently paired with a full set of Jamo A102's. My wife has strangely said she want some floorstanders as we are moving house and wants the speakers as an added part of the interior... I've not changed my set up or purchased speakers in ages and I have no idea what to look for. She wants something "nice looking and not too bulky". Budget is upto £1000 but that's a ridiculous amount so just a reasonable price will do.

I've been looking at the Focal 716v and Dali Zensor 5. Both just over £500 and I think both look great. However, would they pair up ok with my old amp? Any suggestions are great. As I said again, I have no clue what to look for anymore. Also the speakers will never be pushed to anywhere near their limit so a high end speaker is not needed. Just something mid range and "nice looking" lol. Thanks for your help.

 

[Al ears]

Nothing wrong with the 2400ES...

However suggesting speakers is going to be tricky as I haven't a clue as to what your wife considers to be 'nice looking'.

Both of your suggestions should work just fine with the amp. I might also suggest the more expensive PSB Imagine X1T or perhaps Tannoy DC6T SE's but don't know if you want them mainly for stereo or more home cinema. Which is it?

Do you need them in white, wood, or will plain black do?

 

[peterpiper]

what about tannoy prescision 6.2 , nice looking enough with the grilles off and a 'satin walnut finish' curved cabinets, these are £1799 speakers and WHF gave them 5 stars tested at that price, richers have them discounted at £799, yes thats a grand cheaper !! overkill though ? is your amp good enough to make them shine,

 

[Leeps]

Do you intend to use your set-up in purely stereo mode with your new floorstanders or are you planning on keeping some of your current speakers for surround duties? If you were going to be using surround, I'd strongly recommend having the front 3 speakers using the same drivers.

The centre channel is a very important speaker to get right as it's heavily used in most movie mixes.

So if I was in your situation I'd be considering floorstanders that also offer a matching centre. For example, the Monitor Audio Silver 6 uses the same tweeters and midrange drivers as the silver centre. They will tonally match with one another so that effects pan nicely without sounding odd as they pass from speaker to speaker. You also need the centre channel to be able to compete properly with your new floorstanders, otherwise speech could be overwhelmed by other sound effects. It's not all about volume either, but how full a sound the centre speaker can offer.

Many other floorstanders will offer matching centres, but not all of them do, so it's something to watch out for. Of course, if you only intend using your amp in stereo only mode, the above doesn't apply.

 

[Stilolos]

Nothing wrong with the 2400ES...

However suggesting speakers is going to be tricky as I haven't a clue as to what your wife considers to be 'nice looking'.

Both of your suggestions should work just fine with the amp. I might also suggest the more expensive PSB Imagine X1T or perhaps Tannoy DC6T SE's but don't know if you want them mainly for stereo or more home cinema. Which is it?

Do you need them in white, wood, or will plain black do?

The only problem is that we are moving into a town house so having loud music isn't going to please the neighbours... They will be used mainly for music though as I am happy with the Jamo's for home cinema. Color wise, she wants white, yet I feel it just doesn't look right. We have walnut flooring and then a gloss black and white TV stand. So color we are undecided. I've never heard of PSB but I will look into those. The Tannoy's don't get the approval of my wife lol. I'll keep looking thanks.

 

[Stilolos]

Thank you for the reply, the floorstanders will be used purely as stereo speakers for music and will never be pushed to anywhere near their limit.

 

[Stilolos]

I'm liking the 6.2s but maybe they are overkill as they will never be used to their full potential. As for my amp, it must be like 8 years old now so I don't know if the performance fades after so long. Again, it have never really been pushed so I guess it should still be ok.

 

[plastic penguin]

Deffo Tannoy. The bro-in-law has a Sony multi-channel, and his Tannoys work a treat.

I would also consider Wharfedale. Did hear the combo some years ago and they sounded good IIRC.

 

[Stilolos]

Deffo Tannoy. The bro-in-law has a Sony multi-channel, and his Tannoys work a treat.

I would also consider Wharfedale. Did hear the combo some years ago and they sounded good IIRC.

I know Tannoy are a decent brand because we had a set of old Tannoy's and a denon amp years and years ago. They kicked some serious bass! The DC6T just look a bit old fashioned and for sure my wife hates the look of them. The Dali Zensor 5 comes in white, which my wife wants, and seems to get a positive review. Does all the compatibilty stuff have any issues like the ohms and stuff? Thanks.

 

[plastic penguin]

Deffo Tannoy. The bro-in-law has a Sony multi-channel, and his Tannoys work a treat.

I would also consider Wharfedale. Did hear the combo some years ago and they sounded good IIRC.

I know Tannoy are a decent brand because we had a set of old Tannoy's and a denon amp years and years ago. They kicked some serious bass! The DC6T just look a bit old fashioned and for sure my wife hates the look of them. The Dali Zensor 5 comes in white, which my wife wants, and seems to get a positive review. Does all the compatibilty stuff have any issues like the ohms and stuff? Thanks.

No. The Tannoys will be a really good match for the Sony.

I like Focal, MA and a load of other speakers but can't comment on the synergy with the Sony. You'll need to dem a few brands and decide for yourself.

 

[Zax89swe]

A speaker that got good ratings from Whathifi is Q acoustics 3050 for 500£ its seems to be a good buy and comes in white to, seems to cost twice here in sweden.. I would never go for the Tannoy revolution dc6tse, the bass are weak and not so clear sound but the new Tannoy xt 8f will probebly sound a lot better.

 

[Stilolos]

So much choice! For the mean time though I will have to rule out the Tannoy range as my wife doesn't think they look modern enough...

I did have a look at the Q Acoustics 3050 and they do have a good rating. Does no one rate the Focal and Dali speakers I posted originally? All are similarly priced but of the three, I think the Focal looks the most stylish. Then again, style doesn't always mean the best so please tell me what you guys think. Cheers everyone.

 

[BigH]

So much choice! For the mean time though I will have to rule out the Tannoy range as my wife doesn't think they look modern enough...

I did have a look at the Q Acoustics 3050 and they do have a good rating. Does no one rate the Focal and Dali speakers I posted originally? All are similarly priced but of the three, I think the Focal looks the most stylish. Then again, style doesn't always mean the best so please tell me what you guys think. Cheers everyone.

The Tannoy 6.2 not modern enough, really, I think they look better than the Dali, you can get them in gloss black, not sure about white. Dali 5s seem to get mixed reviews.

 

[peterpiper]

the tannoy precision 6.2 seem to have been taken off the richers website, have they all sold ? , a high end speaker that retails for £1799 normally selling at £799 , it would not be surprsing ?

 

[BigH]

Probably, but you can get them at Audio Express for £799.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Comparing Q Acoustics v Tannoy Precision is not even a comparison........

Whats important to you, looks or sound - believe me up close the q acoustic looks cheap compared to the precision range even without the gloss. they are not in the same league.

 

[Stilolos]

So much to take in! I guess the main reason I'm not considering the Tannoy range is their looks, but also as a previous poster said, my amp may not be able to give the speakers what they need to function to their best. I respect what you guys are saying that the Tannoys are very very good but my wife definately wants to put looks over sound. There are many cheap white floorstanders but I'd rather spend that bit more to try and get a balance of both.

 

[peterpiper]

the only comprimise to make is dump the wife*blum3*

 

[stevee1966]

Would you / your wife consider Monitor Audio RX6. What Hi-Fi 5 star review :-

http://www.whathifi.com/monitor-audio/silver-rx6/review

I've a pair to sell - £450

 

[stevee1966]

So much to take in! I guess the main reason I'm not considering the Tannoy range is their looks, but also as a previous poster said, my amp may not be able to give the speakers what they need to function to their best. I respect what you guys are saying that the Tannoys are very very good but my wife definately wants to put looks over sound. There are many cheap white floorstanders but I'd rather spend that bit more to try and get a balance of both. 

White ia a fashion thing that will pass when the next colour comes along (probably next year).

Wood veneer will always look the part.

 

[Al ears]

Would you / your wife consider Monitor Audio RX6. What Hi-Fi 5 star review :-

http://www.whathifi.com/monitor-audio/silver-rx6/review

I've a pair to sell - £450

I think his wife might baulk at the 'ungainly plinths'.

 

[Stilolos]

the only comprimise to make is dump the wife*blum3*

Thats one option I suppose... Whether it's the right one I don't know...

 

[Stilolos]

Would you / your wife consider Monitor Audio RX6. What Hi-Fi 5 star review :-

http://www.whathifi.com/monitor-audio/silver-rx6/review

I've a pair to sell - £450

Thanks for the suggestion but I think the only colour choices will be black or white to match with the rest of the decor of our lounge and furniture. Thank you though.

 

[Zax89swe]

Some time ago I compared Tannoy revolution dc6tse and Jbl studio 290 and It was a easy win for the Jbl with its clearer and more powerful sound. Now I took for fun my grandmas small plastic bookshelf speaker from late 70s and compared it to the Jbls and I found out that the vintage speaker sounds more open, little more fun and very slightly more clear but the bass is almost none but still old speakers can sound good indeed..

 

[Stilolos]

So it's been a while and things have finally been agreed. I was going to stick to my tried and tested Jamo's and was going to wall mount the 2 rears. I picked my spot and started drilling... All of a sudden... Psssshhhhhh!!!!!! Oh fffffffffffuuuuunnnnkkk! It's a massive wall and I managed to drill dead centre through a tiny 10mm plastic central heating pipe. Wife told me off and no more wall drilling.

we have however decided together that we want floorstanders and I will put the Jamo's to bed. I've found a set of Kef R500 or monitor audio 6 silver that our budget can stretch to. It will still be the old Sony amp that will be the source of its power so I need advice whether the speakers are compatible or again, better recommendations. Budget around £1k or maybe more. Less is fine too! Speakers will have to be available in white though as it will not match the rest of the decor. So fussy.

Thanks everyone.