I rushed off to a local Sevenoaks in my lunch hour today as I'm looking at upgrading my speakers. I've been told at home that gloss black will show up all the dust and is therefore a no no. This has not helped me in my quest. All the speakers I saw on show (there were not that many to be fair) apart from Monitor Audio and gloss black, were sharp edged and basically not that great to look at. I have been looking at Spendor, B&W, Proac, Dynaudio, Sonus Faber and PMC for potential new speakers and today I only saw some Spendors (the SA1's looked lovely but I want floorstanders) and the CM range of B&W. They both looked very chippable! My RS6's are so well made that maybe I've been spoiled. Basically I want my speakers (apart from obviously sounding great) to look the part and not to have razor sharp edges. I'm hoping that the other brands (I know the SF speakers will) have the look I'm after.
Quality of finish - speakers in the £1k - £2k range
- Thread starter Gerrardasnails
- Start date
Sonus Faber should fit the bill in terms of style, looks and finish quality.
I also remembr seeng some Tannoy range (Revolution? Definition?) that looks very neat. Not sure of prices though.
Audio Physic are nice, check them out.
Chario?
Neat?
Totem?
What kind of look are you after?
I also remembr seeng some Tannoy range (Revolution? Definition?) that looks very neat. Not sure of prices though.
Audio Physic are nice, check them out.
Chario?
Neat?
Totem?
What kind of look are you after?
plastic penguin
Well-known member
Gerrardasnails:I rushed off to a local Sevenoaks in my lunch hour today as I'm looking at upgrading my speakers. I've been told at home that gloss black will show up all the dust and is therefore a no no. This has not helped me in my quest. All the speakers I saw on show (there were not that many to be fair) apart from Monitor Audio and gloss black, were sharp edged and basically not that great to look at. I have been looking at Spendor, B&W, Proac, Dynaudio, Sonus Faber and PMC for potential new speakers and today I only saw some Spendors (the SA1's looked lovely but I want floorstanders) and the CM range of B&W. They both looked very chippable! My RS6's are so well made that maybe I've been spoiled. Basically I want my speakers (apart from obviously sounding great) to look the part and not to have razor sharp edges. I'm hoping that the other brands (I know the SF speakers will) have the look I'm after.
Gerrard, it's an easy solution. Clearly you love the RS6s: GS20
Or even Quad 22L2
http://www.superfi.co.uk/popup.cfm?product_name=QUAD%2022L2%20SPEAKERS%20%28PAIR%29&image_name=quad-22lii-bk-ang-pair.jpg
Gerrard, it's an easy solution. Clearly you love the RS6s: GS20
Or even Quad 22L2
http://www.superfi.co.uk/popup.cfm?product_name=QUAD%2022L2%20SPEAKERS%20%28PAIR%29&image_name=quad-22lii-bk-ang-pair.jpg
plastic penguin:
Gerrardasnails:I rushed off to a local Sevenoaks in my lunch hour today as I'm looking at upgrading my speakers. I've been told at home that gloss black will show up all the dust and is therefore a no no. This has not helped me in my quest. All the speakers I saw on show (there were not that many to be fair) apart from Monitor Audio and gloss black, were sharp edged and basically not that great to look at. I have been looking at Spendor, B&W, Proac, Dynaudio, Sonus Faber and PMC for potential new speakers and today I only saw some Spendors (the SA1's looked lovely but I want floorstanders) and the CM range of B&W. They both looked very chippable! My RS6's are so well made that maybe I've been spoiled. Basically I want my speakers (apart from obviously sounding great) to look the part and not to have razor sharp edges. I'm hoping that the other brands (I know the SF speakers will) have the look I'm after.
Gerrard, it's an easy solution. Clearly you love the RS6s: GS20
Or even Quad 22L2
http://www.superfi.co.uk/popup.cfm?product_name=QUAD%2022L2%20SPEAKERS%20%28PAIR%29&image_name=quad-22lii-bk-ang-pair.jpg
I will look at the GS range PP. However, I think I'm leaning towards Vienna Acoustics and Sonus Faber now. They are just beautiful and supposedly excellent too.
This won't happen just yet but it's fun looking!
Gerrardasnails:I rushed off to a local Sevenoaks in my lunch hour today as I'm looking at upgrading my speakers. I've been told at home that gloss black will show up all the dust and is therefore a no no. This has not helped me in my quest. All the speakers I saw on show (there were not that many to be fair) apart from Monitor Audio and gloss black, were sharp edged and basically not that great to look at. I have been looking at Spendor, B&W, Proac, Dynaudio, Sonus Faber and PMC for potential new speakers and today I only saw some Spendors (the SA1's looked lovely but I want floorstanders) and the CM range of B&W. They both looked very chippable! My RS6's are so well made that maybe I've been spoiled. Basically I want my speakers (apart from obviously sounding great) to look the part and not to have razor sharp edges. I'm hoping that the other brands (I know the SF speakers will) have the look I'm after.
Gerrard, it's an easy solution. Clearly you love the RS6s: GS20
Or even Quad 22L2
http://www.superfi.co.uk/popup.cfm?product_name=QUAD%2022L2%20SPEAKERS%20%28PAIR%29&image_name=quad-22lii-bk-ang-pair.jpg
I will look at the GS range PP. However, I think I'm leaning towards Vienna Acoustics and Sonus Faber now. They are just beautiful and supposedly excellent too.
This won't happen just yet but it's fun looking!
plastic penguin
Well-known member
Gerrardasnails:plastic penguin:
Gerrardasnails:I rushed off to a local Sevenoaks in my lunch hour today as I'm looking at upgrading my speakers. I've been told at home that gloss black will show up all the dust and is therefore a no no. This has not helped me in my quest. All the speakers I saw on show (there were not that many to be fair) apart from Monitor Audio and gloss black, were sharp edged and basically not that great to look at. I have been looking at Spendor, B&W, Proac, Dynaudio, Sonus Faber and PMC for potential new speakers and today I only saw some Spendors (the SA1's looked lovely but I want floorstanders) and the CM range of B&W. They both looked very chippable! My RS6's are so well made that maybe I've been spoiled. Basically I want my speakers (apart from obviously sounding great) to look the part and not to have razor sharp edges. I'm hoping that the other brands (I know the SF speakers will) have the look I'm after.
Gerrard, it's an easy solution. Clearly you love the RS6s: GS20
Or even Quad 22L2
http://www.superfi.co.uk/popup.cfm?product_name=QUAD%2022L2%20SPEAKERS%20%28PAIR%29&image_name=quad-22lii-bk-ang-pair.jpg
I will look at the GS range PP. However, I think I'm leaning towards Vienna Acoustics and Sonus Faber now. They are just beautiful and supposedly excellent too. This won't happen just yet but it's fun looking!
Isn't it just... fun is always auditioning. Get it home, and after a few months, you tend to get itchy fingers (I do, anyway).
Gerrardasnails:I rushed off to a local Sevenoaks in my lunch hour today as I'm looking at upgrading my speakers. I've been told at home that gloss black will show up all the dust and is therefore a no no. This has not helped me in my quest. All the speakers I saw on show (there were not that many to be fair) apart from Monitor Audio and gloss black, were sharp edged and basically not that great to look at. I have been looking at Spendor, B&W, Proac, Dynaudio, Sonus Faber and PMC for potential new speakers and today I only saw some Spendors (the SA1's looked lovely but I want floorstanders) and the CM range of B&W. They both looked very chippable! My RS6's are so well made that maybe I've been spoiled. Basically I want my speakers (apart from obviously sounding great) to look the part and not to have razor sharp edges. I'm hoping that the other brands (I know the SF speakers will) have the look I'm after.
Gerrard, it's an easy solution. Clearly you love the RS6s: GS20
Or even Quad 22L2
http://www.superfi.co.uk/popup.cfm?product_name=QUAD%2022L2%20SPEAKERS%20%28PAIR%29&image_name=quad-22lii-bk-ang-pair.jpg
I will look at the GS range PP. However, I think I'm leaning towards Vienna Acoustics and Sonus Faber now. They are just beautiful and supposedly excellent too. This won't happen just yet but it's fun looking!
Isn't it just... fun is always auditioning. Get it home, and after a few months, you tend to get itchy fingers (I do, anyway).
Wait till you see the new MA GX range they look just like the platinum models.
http://avcat.jp/avnews/2010/magx.htm
http://avcat.jp/avnews/2010/magx.htm
Frank Harvey
Well-known member
The problem for manufacturers is that they have a budget for parts and R&D for speakers. Some will blow huge amounts on the finish of the speaker which will visually impress people. Others might put the majority of that into the quality of parts, which will impress more in demos than sitting on the shop floor. Or, they can split it and have half decent looking speakers that are nothing spa ail in terms of sound quality. Some manufacturers get this right occasionally and get a great balance, some don't. But square boxes keeps that budget down and allows for a better braced cabinet, or better drive units to be used.
If a speaker had a slightly dodgy looking vinyl wrap, but blew away a pair of speakers that used real wood veneers, which would you choose? There's no single answer there as we're all different.
If a speaker had a slightly dodgy looking vinyl wrap, but blew away a pair of speakers that used real wood veneers, which would you choose? There's no single answer there as we're all different.
FrankHarveyHiFi:The problem for manufacturers is that they have a budget for parts and R&D for speakers. Some will blow huge amounts on the finish of the speaker which will visually impress people. Others might put the majority of that into the quality of parts, which will impress more in demos than sitting on the shop floor. Or, they can split it and have half decent looking speakers that are nothing spa ail in terms of sound quality. Some manufacturers get this right occasionally and get a great balance, some don't. But square boxes keeps that budget down and allows for a better braced cabinet, or better drive units to be used.
If a speaker had a slightly dodgy looking vinyl wrap, but blew away a pair of speakers that used real wood veneers, which would you choose? There's no single answer there as we're all different.
Obviously I would go for the better sounding speakers. Are you saying that Sonus Faber for instance don't make a £2k speaker that's comparable to the leading £2k speaker?
If a speaker had a slightly dodgy looking vinyl wrap, but blew away a pair of speakers that used real wood veneers, which would you choose? There's no single answer there as we're all different.
Obviously I would go for the better sounding speakers. Are you saying that Sonus Faber for instance don't make a £2k speaker that's comparable to the leading £2k speaker?
What is the leading £2k speaker? I'm hoping the answer is Dynaudio or Chario because that's what I have my eye on at the moment.
FrankHarveyHiFi:The problem for manufacturers is that they have a budget for parts and R&D for speakers. Some will blow huge amounts on the finish of the speaker which will visually impress people. Others might put the majority of that into the quality of parts, which will impress more in demos than sitting on the shop floor. Or, they can split it and have half decent looking speakers that are nothing spa ail in terms of sound quality. Some manufacturers get this right occasionally and get a great balance, some don't. But square boxes keeps that budget down and allows for a better braced cabinet, or better drive units to be used. If a speaker had a slightly dodgy looking vinyl wrap, but blew away a pair of speakers that used real wood veneers, which would you choose? There's no single answer there as we're all different.
While I agree with the basic principle of what you're saying about allocating budget between appearance and performance, I wonder if it is really as simple as that...
If it is just a matter of spending as much money on quality parts and as little on appearance as possible, then I'd expect all the pretty speakers (Monitor Audio, etc) to sound like utter rubbish and the really ugly stuff to be the only good sounding gear... Clearly that is not the case for everyone, many very attractive products are loved by fans and reviewers, while some ugly ones are disliked by everyone...
Also, I wonder whether having the most expensive (highest quality) parts guarantees that one design will sound better than another... I suspect that a well designed product with modest parts could sound better than a poorly designed product with very high quality parts...
While I agree with the basic principle of what you're saying about allocating budget between appearance and performance, I wonder if it is really as simple as that...
If it is just a matter of spending as much money on quality parts and as little on appearance as possible, then I'd expect all the pretty speakers (Monitor Audio, etc) to sound like utter rubbish and the really ugly stuff to be the only good sounding gear... Clearly that is not the case for everyone, many very attractive products are loved by fans and reviewers, while some ugly ones are disliked by everyone...
Also, I wonder whether having the most expensive (highest quality) parts guarantees that one design will sound better than another... I suspect that a well designed product with modest parts could sound better than a poorly designed product with very high quality parts...
FrankHarveyHiFi:The problem for manufacturers is that they have a budget for parts and R&D for speakers. Some will blow huge amounts on the finish of the speaker which will visually impress people. Others might put the majority of that into the quality of parts, which will impress more in demos than sitting on the shop floor. Or, they can split it and have half decent looking speakers that are nothing spa ail in terms of sound quality. Some manufacturers get this right occasionally and get a great balance, some don't. But square boxes keeps that budget down and allows for a better braced cabinet, or better drive units to be used. If a speaker had a slightly dodgy looking vinyl wrap, but blew away a pair of speakers that used real wood veneers, which would you choose? There's no single answer there as we're all different.
Well put, IMO.
Obviously, real-wood veneers are a 'feature' of the speakers, and without this feature the money could be spent elsewhere. I have RS6s too, and as they meet my partner's standards for living room furniture, I'd have been happy if they sounded slightly less impressive than the price-comparable competition. That I actually preferred them was a bonus.
We may be relocating soon, and if so I'm taking the electronics with me but the speakers will be sold. Haven't a clue what I'm going to buy which will again meet the sound quality+attractive build requirements, other than RX6s.
If that is indeed the new MA Gold...
Well put, IMO.
Obviously, real-wood veneers are a 'feature' of the speakers, and without this feature the money could be spent elsewhere. I have RS6s too, and as they meet my partner's standards for living room furniture, I'd have been happy if they sounded slightly less impressive than the price-comparable competition. That I actually preferred them was a bonus.
We may be relocating soon, and if so I'm taking the electronics with me but the speakers will be sold. Haven't a clue what I'm going to buy which will again meet the sound quality+attractive build requirements, other than RX6s.
If that is indeed the new MA Gold...
Alot of hifi manufacturers are now doing all the R&D work in their native countries and then assembling the components in places like China to keep the cost of their products competitive while delivering superb finishes.
Monitor Audio and Apple are good example's
Monitor Audio and Apple are good example's
I think that you,ll find the quality of finish in most speakers up to £2000 is very good, but it,s cheap thin veneer that is used for it,s so called quality. Up until about 8 years ago ART made a floorstander that was constructed out of solid cherry i think and it looked and sounded better than anything i have heard or seen since. Think it was about £2800. They say that trees that give good quality wood are becoming more expensive, but the popularity of using MDF as a construction material is growing every year. You can buy a complete kitchen out of Ikea that has a quality veneer on all its faces for the same price as 2 floorstanding speakers in the price range we are talking about. I think too many people use the old R&D excuse when justifying retail prices.
I'm sure I remember Spendor telling me that the SA1s took a couple of years to develop. Wonder how many man hours of effort it was.
6th.replicant
Well-known member
Amphion Argon 3L - made of real tree wood (beech), with excellent fit 'n' finish and look even better in the 'flesh' IMHO - they're real 'room furniture'
Five-star rated by 'another leading monthly hifi mag'
If you demo a pair, make sure you use 100% copper speaker cable without the merest whiff of any silver in its makeup. I demo'd a pair of 3Ls with a silver/copper cable (Chord) and they sounded very bright at the top end (awesome subwoofer-esque bass, though); subsequently been advised that I should have used 100% copper cable...
plastic penguin
Well-known member
FrankHarveyHiFi:The problem for manufacturers is that they have a budget for parts and R&D for speakers. Some will blow huge amounts on the finish of the speaker which will visually impress people. Others might put the majority of that into the quality of parts, which will impress more in demos than sitting on the shop floor. Or, they can split it and have half decent looking speakers that are nothing spa ail in terms of sound quality. Some manufacturers get this right occasionally and get a great balance, some don't. But square boxes keeps that budget down and allows for a better braced cabinet, or better drive units to be used. If a speaker had a slightly dodgy looking vinyl wrap, but blew away a pair of speakers that used real wood veneers, which would you choose? There's no single answer there as we're all different.
Based on a slightly dodgy hypothesis, and given Gerrard has a Moon amp, which speakers would you recommend?
Based on a slightly dodgy hypothesis, and given Gerrard has a Moon amp, which speakers would you recommend?
Grottyash:What is the leading £2k speaker? I'm hoping the answer is Dynaudio or Chario because that's what I have my eye on at the moment.
If it's a floorstander, my money's on the ProAc D18...
If it's a floorstander, my money's on the ProAc D18...
plastic penguin
Well-known member
Singslinger:
Grottyash:What is the leading £2k speaker? I'm hoping the answer is Dynaudio or Chario because that's what I have my eye on at the moment.
If it's a floorstander, my money's on the ProAc D18...
This is the problem with hi-fi: one persons heaven can be anothers hell, regardless of reviews and recommendations.
Grottyash:What is the leading £2k speaker? I'm hoping the answer is Dynaudio or Chario because that's what I have my eye on at the moment.
If it's a floorstander, my money's on the ProAc D18...
This is the problem with hi-fi: one persons heaven can be anothers hell, regardless of reviews and recommendations.
plastic penguin:Singslinger:
Grottyash:What is the leading £2k speaker? I'm hoping the answer is Dynaudio or Chario because that's what I have my eye on at the moment.
If it's a floorstander, my money's on the ProAc D18...
This is the problem with hi-fi: one persons heaven can be anothers hell, regardless of reviews and recommendations.
Yes, totally agree. Best advice is to take all recommendations on board, then audition before buying.
Grottyash:What is the leading £2k speaker? I'm hoping the answer is Dynaudio or Chario because that's what I have my eye on at the moment.
If it's a floorstander, my money's on the ProAc D18...
This is the problem with hi-fi: one persons heaven can be anothers hell, regardless of reviews and recommendations.
Yes, totally agree. Best advice is to take all recommendations on board, then audition before buying.
plastic penguin
Well-known member
Singslinger:plastic penguin:Singslinger:
Grottyash:What is the leading £2k speaker? I'm hoping the answer is Dynaudio or Chario because that's what I have my eye on at the moment.
If it's a floorstander, my money's on the ProAc D18...
This is the problem with hi-fi: one persons heaven can be anothers hell, regardless of reviews and recommendations.
Yes, totally agree. Best advice is to take all recommendations on board, then audition before buying.
Absolutely - this is why advice is really good, but hearing them for yourself is the ultimate answer on which ones are hot while others are rot.
Grottyash:What is the leading £2k speaker? I'm hoping the answer is Dynaudio or Chario because that's what I have my eye on at the moment.
If it's a floorstander, my money's on the ProAc D18...
This is the problem with hi-fi: one persons heaven can be anothers hell, regardless of reviews and recommendations.
Yes, totally agree. Best advice is to take all recommendations on board, then audition before buying.
Absolutely - this is why advice is really good, but hearing them for yourself is the ultimate answer on which ones are hot while others are rot.
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