Speaker Advice Need For system Upgrade Please

[airliebird]

I am in the process of upgrading my system from a Denon DM37 DAB to the well reviewed Marantz PM6003 amp and CD6003 cd player. I have been looking at upgrading my speakers too and at the moment it is between the B&W 685's and a pair of Dynaudio DM2/6's. I have a small listening room and my only concern about the 685's is that in the WHF review it says that they can come across a bit boomey if not placed correctly. As I do not have alot of space to place them more than 6 inches off the back wall I have reservations if they are the right ones for me. I hope that i could get a pair to trial at home first but any advice from anyone who has these speakers would be helpful.

As for the Dynaudio DM2/6's would the Marantz set up be a good match or would I need a better source to get the best out of them

They will be placed on Atacama 6i stands. I mainly listen to Tom Petty, Dylan, John mellencamp, Steve Earle etc.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Anonymous]

airliebird:
I am in the process of upgrading my system from a Denon DM37 DAB to the well reviewed Marantz PM6003 amp and CD6003 cd player. I have been looking at upgrading my speakers too and at the moment it is between the B&W 685's and a pair of Dynaudio DM2/6's. I have a small listening room and my only concern about the 685's is that in the WHF review it says that they can come across a bit boomey if not placed correctly. As I do not have alot of space to place them more than 6 inches off the back wall I have reservations if they are the right ones for me. I hope that i could get a pair to trial at home first but any advice from anyone who has these speakers would be helpful.

As for the Dynaudio DM2/6's would the Marantz set up be a good match or would I need a better source to get the best out of them

They will be placed on Atacama 6i stands. I mainly listen to Tom Petty, Dylan, John mellencamp, Steve Earle etc.

Many thanks in advance.

Can you get Floorstanders?

If so, maybe look at Rega RS3's, great speakers, will work well with your proposed gear and due to side firing bass driver can be placed right up to a wall if necessary. If not, used Rega R3's would also sound good i think.

 

[d_a_n1979]

IMO from those 2 speakers I'd personally be going for the B&W 685's but better still, for your tastes in music and the future Marantz system have a look at the Dali Lektor 2's

Very good speakers and suit the Marantz gear down to a tee. The B&W 685's are superb speakers but they need to bew driven hard to get the best out of them and the Marantz set-up is just a little too mellow for them IMO

The Dynaudio DM 2/6's are also superb speakers but again they need a solid amp to drive them and I dont feel the Marantz would be up to that job as well as others such as the NAD C355BEE or the likes of a 2nd hand Arcam Alpha 10 integrated or a 2nd hand Creek Evo

Try and get a demo with the Marantz gear and the Dali's and B&W's and see how you go

 

[Anonymous]

The Dynaudios are better speakers than the B&Ws and will sound so. If you choose them you would only need to upgrade the amp later rather than amp+speakers.

However, do listen first. The Dynaudios can be hard to drive, and the Marantz isn't the most powerful amp out there.

 

[airliebird]

I have set my heart on the Dynaudios to be honest. I could possibly stretch my budget to something like the Arcam FMJ A18 Amp. I will have to have a rethink. Thanks for everyones replies.

 

[Anonymous]

How small is the room?

With the music you listen to a good mid range as in a studio monitor style type small speaker might be just the job.

BBC/Rogers/Spendors/Yamaha might be just the ticket. Yamaha are the king in recent years, built in amplification as well.

They will make the back of your hair stand on end with the performance they give.

 

[the record spot]

airliebird:I have set my heart on the Dynaudios to be honest. I could possibly stretch my budget to something like the Arcam FMJ A18 Amp. I will have to have a rethink. Thanks for everyones replies.

I think Arcam have enjoyed their finest hour elsewhere from the A18, which is by all accounts capable, but unspectacular. Get an Alpha 10 for half the price and twice the performance. Failing that, you could snag an Audiolab 8000S/8000P pairing for £649 and be in with a terrific partnership for very decent money.

 

[matthewpiano]

Agree entirely with RS. I have extensively auditioned the A18 on two occasions and though I found it competent I don't see it as anything better than decidedly average at its price point.

I'd be looking for either an Arcam A85 with an Arcam power amp or something based around the Audiolab equipment suggested by RS. Either of these would give the Dyns much more than the A18.

 

[Anonymous]

Just to make you aware if you weren't already, the Dynaudio's are rear ported and can be picky close to a wall (six inches as you mentioned). I have B&W 685's with Nad setup, and they are close to wall. These are front ported so are ok close to a wall. Just not recommended close to corners of rooms. They don't sound boomy at all, and they are supplied with two different foam plugs to fine tune the bass ports to your liking. They do have a distinct sound though, which isn't TOO dissimilar to B&W 685, the midrange is slightly smoother, and treble a tad better controlled. The Dyns' are physically a lot smaller aswell. BUT, they are one ugly speaker aesthetically.

Please Please Please Please; AUDITION before you buy, and go in with an open mind. hi-fi is so subjective its unbelievable. One mans pleasure to listen to is another mans pain.

 

[airliebird]

Once again thanks for everyones replies. I have sometime of next week and have some auditioning planned. I have had a think about my budget aswell and am planning to audition a few more Cd players and amps to build my upgrade. I think I have been swayed too much by reviews in WHF instead listening for myself.

 

[Anonymous]

I was close to buying a pair of DM 2/8 speakers. People suggest that the Dyns require a powerful amp, but Dynaudio created the DM line in part to be easy to drive. They suggest you can use just about any amplifier with satisfactory results. Take that for what it's worth, I'd hate to suggest the PM6003 is fine and then you find it's not, but it comes straight from the horse's mouth (Dynaudio itself).

 

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

Recently bought a Marantz PM6003 and hooked it up to a pair of Quad 21L2 speakers. They are not very well known, a bit hard to find but their sound is fantastic. Full bass, smooth midrange and crisp highs. You can find a pair for around £600-700.

One good review can be found here: http://www.twochannelaudio.com/Quad21L2speakers.html - don't bother spending hours reading reviews as your ears will tell you what is best.

Good luck!

GM