Settled on a Brio-R - Now speakers...

[admin_exported]

The amazing offer of a Cyrus 8XPdQX fell through

Not impressed at all as it would have reduced box count (MF M1DAC would have been sold on) but now that's gone stale I've decided to buy a Brio R I've been offered in mint condition, 2nd hand

Going to demo the usual suspects with it:

MA RX1's

B&W 685's and CM1's

KEF R100s

Rega RS3's (dont like the RS1's - too boxy for my tastes)

Possibly Dynaudio X12's if I can find somewhere that has them close to where I live

Are there any other speakers I should try to listen to within the budget range of £750 MAX. Ideally a decent standmount but will look at small floorstanders.

ATC, Spendor are already ruled out as no one has them close to me. I dont like Tannoy, Misson or Mordaunt Short

 

[drummerman]

There are plenty of other brands of speakers out there rather than the usual suspects always mentionend. It may be not possible to hear them locally but it may be worth to travel a little considering you'll be not just spending a fair amount of time listening to them but also looking at them.

Maybe an Usher S520? With the right amplifier they are easy to listen to for long periods but certainly not boring. Spend a bit more and you may be able to pick up a ProAc Tablette, Elipson Planet etc etc.

regards

 

[Etymotic]

Hi there

Regards another brand of speaker you should be listening to at that price point are the Epos Epic range. The Epic 2 can be had for around £450.Coupled with a decent set of stands should come well in below your £750 threshold. If your room can accomodate them then the Epic 5 floorstander model is in a different league and has to be heard if you are looking at speakers around that price. It can be had for £750,right on your budget. Its not overly large but not that small either but as I say if you can fit it in to your room its well worth the effort. They has a natural way with music which is rare in speakers below £1500 let alone £750. They are very sensitive at 92 DBSPL, so will be a good match for the brio.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions..

Should have added that I've already ruled out EPOS; not the speaker for me plus I think they're fairly ugly/boxy! Demo'd them a few times and thought I'd like them seeing as I've got EPOZ powered speakers (EPOS speaker/Creek amplification) but I just never seemed to gel with them at all

Re the Ushers; heard them when SightandSoundUK were still in business; didnt like them at all. Sounded fairly flat and dull at times with most of the music I listen to bar some older vocal stuff...

If I can I'll try and demo the Neat Motive 3s. I loved the Motive 2's I had for a few months... Just can never find them 2nd hand and at a decent price

 

[empacher]

I really liked the Neat Motive 3 with the Brio-R. Based on all the feedback I read, Dynaudio X12 seem to be a great match as well.

 

[CnoEvil]

What about Focal 806VW / 806V

 

[stevebrock]

A demo pair of Neat Motive 3 were my 1st choice, sounded great with the Brio R in the shop, when I got them had too much bass - settled with the RS1 lovely speakers but not for everyone...... the RS3 would be very good with the Brio R. Im moving house soon so looking for a pair of used RS3 in piano gloss prefably!

 

[Coll]

I have a Rega Brio R with Audiolab 8200 cd player. My original speakers were MA RX1 and I was very pleased with the system.
I recently had the opportunity to upgrade the speakers to floorstanders and ended up with guess what MA RX6 s which in my opinion work really well with the Rega. The list price for the RX6 is £800 but I managed to get the dealer down to £720 which is within your budget.

 

[Ambrose]

I really liked the Neat Motive 3 with the Brio-R. Based on all the feedback I read, Dynaudio X12 seem to be a great match as well.

Hi empacher,

Can I ask how well you rate the totem model 1? I am considering either a second pair of standmounts with more focus to listening to rock or if i can find something to surpass the motive 3s save and upgrade to petite or model 1 or similar. I really love the motive's but interested to find out what extra scale / speaker driver could deliver over what I have.

Cheers

Ambrose

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Rega Brio R with Audiolab 8200 cd player. My original speakers were MA RX1 and I was very pleased with the system. I recently had the opportunity to upgrade the speakers to floorstanders and ended up with guess what MA RX6 s which in my opinion work really well with the Rega. The list price for the RX6 is £800 but I managed to get the dealer down to £720 which is within your budget.

As per my post I'm after a decent standmount or small floorstanders. RX6's are too big sorry plus already had them in the past.

 

[plastic penguin]

I have a Rega Brio R with Audiolab 8200 cd player. My original speakers were MA RX1 and I was very pleased with the system. I recently had the opportunity to upgrade the speakers to floorstanders and ended up with guess what MA RX6 s which in my opinion work really well with the Rega. The list price for the RX6 is £800 but I managed to get the dealer down to £720 which is within your budget.

As per my post I'm after a decent standmount or small floorstanders. RX6's are too big sorry plus already had them in the past.

PMC DB1is should fit your brief. Fabulous speakers.

 

[BigH]

Think the PMC DB1s are over £1,000.

 

[Anonymous]

Yup.. PMC's are way outta budget unfortunately

If there were I'd have gone for the GB1i's by now!

 

[empacher]

I really liked the Neat Motive 3 with the Brio-R. Based on all the feedback I read, Dynaudio X12 seem to be a great match as well.

Hi empacher,

Can I ask how well you rate the totem model 1? I am considering either a second pair of standmounts with more focus to listening to rock or if i can find something to surpass the motive 3s save and upgrade to petite or model 1 or similar. I really love the motive's but interested to find out what extra scale / speaker driver could deliver over what I have.

Cheers

Ambrose

I really like them, but I bought them so take that with a grain of salt ;-) Are they worth the upgrade? Hard to say. As i'm sure you know, price to upgrade v resulting improvement is never linear and sometimes not even directly proportional - particularly when you have something as nice as the Motive 3s. I spent quite a bit of time going back and forth between a few pairs and I almost went for the 3s (and the Totem Rainmakers and small Harbeths). It is not like there were earth shattering differences (actually quite different from Harbeths) but at the end of the day I felt the 1s were the right compromise for me and something that I would be able to grow with. Compared to the Rainmakers they were not quite as bright with a slighly fuller and more transparent sound. I felt the 3s were similar to the Rainmakers but I never did a side by side so can't say with authority. Anyway, at the end of the day it was a tough call because there is a lot of good stuff out there.

BTW Totems go very well with Naim...

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I really liked the Neat Motive 3 with the Brio-R. Based on all the feedback I read, Dynaudio X12 seem to be a great match as well.

Hi empacher,

Can I ask how well you rate the totem model 1? I am considering either a second pair of standmounts with more focus to listening to rock or if i can find something to surpass the motive 3s save and upgrade to petite or model 1 or similar. I really love the motive's but interested to find out what extra scale / speaker driver could deliver over what I have.

Cheers

Ambrose

BTW Totems go very well with Naim...

And Rega as well !!! Never tried the Rainmakers with the Brio R but would like to ear the Brio R with them...

 

[Anonymous]

I run a Rega Brio-R with RX2's and love it.

I had RX2's first, and trialed the Cyrus 6, Brio and the new Arcam A19. For my 1p's worth, the Cyrus, with my RX2's, was like the tax man - neat, efficient and completely without any character. So if you're thinking of the RX1's, you're better of leaving the Cyrus out of it (I too was tempted by the 1 box thing for the Cyrus).

The Rega was by far the most musical - the only amp of the three to actually make me smile.

 

[Anonymous]

I run a Rega Brio-R with RX2's and love it.

I had RX2's first, and trialed the Cyrus 6, Brio and the new Arcam A19. For my 1p's worth, the Cyrus, with my RX2's, was like the tax man - neat, efficient and completely without any character. So if you're thinking of the RX1's, you're better of leaving the Cyrus out of it (I too was tempted by the 1 box thing for the Cyrus).

The Rega was by far the most musical - the only amp of the three to actually make me smile.

All sorted now thanks; see sig

 

[Rick1979]

Bit late now but in my house I currently have an arcam alpha 10, brio r, cm1's and rs6's. By far and away the best combo is rs6 and brio r, it sounds fantastic. I only bought the cm1 last week but they are way too boomy for both amps so they are being returned tomorrow. I heard them in the shop with an a19, my setup beats it hands down.

 

[plastic penguin]

Bit late now but in my house I currently have an arcam alpha 10, brio r, cm1's and rs6's. By far and away the best combo is rs6 and brio r, it sounds fantastic. I only bought the cm1 last week but they are way too boomy for both amps so they are being returned tomorrow. I heard them in the shop with an a19, my setup beats it hands down.

Must say I'm surprised to hear the CM1s have more boom than the RS6s. Are you saying the CM1s have a more extended bass? or is there something else that's causing it?

 

[Ambrose]

Bit late now but in my house I currently have an arcam alpha 10, brio r, cm1's and rs6's. By far and away the best combo is rs6 and brio r, it sounds fantastic. I only bought the cm1 last week but they are way too boomy for both amps so they are being returned tomorrow. I heard them in the shop with an a19, my setup beats it hands down.

Must say I'm surprised to hear the CM1s have more boom than the RS6s. Are you saying the CM1s have a more extended bass? or is there something else that's causing it?

I remember hearing CM1 and the bass was over powering in room and as compared to Dyn Dm 2/6 and RX1 monitor Audios. Female vocals were beautiful on CM1s however.

 

[Ambrose]

Bit late now but in my house I currently have an arcam alpha 10, brio r, cm1's and rs6's. By far and away the best combo is rs6 and brio r, it sounds fantastic. I only bought the cm1 last week but they are way too boomy for both amps so they are being returned tomorrow. I heard them in the shop with an a19, my setup beats it hands down.

Must say I'm surprised to hear the CM1s have more boom than the RS6s. Are you saying the CM1s have a more extended bass? or is there something else that's causing it?

I remember hearing CM1 and the bass was over powering in room and as compared to Dyn Dm 2/6 and RX1 monitor Audios. Female vocals were beautiful on CM1s however.

 

[Rick1979]

Yeah cm1 are far and away more boomy than rs6's. Maybe they need a brighter amp. They do sound beautiful with certain music however but with these two amps it all unravels when the bass kicks in. I didnt think there was much between the alpha 10 and brio r, until I plugged the alpha back in after listening to the brio for an hour. Huge difference!!!

 

[BigH]

Yeah cm1 are far and away more boomy than rs6's. Maybe they need a brighter amp. They do sound beautiful with certain music however but with these two amps it all unravels when the bass kicks in. I didnt think there was much between the alpha 10 and brio r, until I plugged the alpha back in after listening to the brio for an hour. Huge difference!!!

So are you saying the Alpha 10 is better than the Brio?