Speaker Upgrade - Compact Designs

[Vladimir]

I'm not so sure the neighbours would vote for the CM1's.

They thunder a little too well.

The Harbeth's are brighter, leaner and with more presence in the upper midrange. They will appeal to those listening at lower volumes in smaller rooms.

Few pointers. IME CM1 sounds best with solid core cables. You get sound a class above with their B&W FS700/CM stands, fastened down and on spikes. They don't react to bi-wiring, the stock links are excellent and there is no need replacing them with wire links.

Enjoy the experience and learn from it, not just shop worrying about buying the wrong speakers.

:cheer:

 

[CarlDW]

+1 for trying the Iotas on home demo. You might be suprised...
.

 

[the record spot]

Thanks Vladimir, but I've been at this game for a while now.

I'm sticking with my multi-strand OFC cables, single wired, which are better than the Audioquest Type IV I ditched back in 2010. I still have the Type IV, but never use it. The difference was so small as to be negligible. They need to perform with my setup, not the other way around really. Thanks for the tips though.

 

[Diamond Joe]

I've always had a soft spot for the Dali Mentor Menuets in cherry, gorgeous little speakers. Could be worth a listen, I'm guessing they're still available.

 

[Vladimir]

Thanks Vladimir, but I've been at this game for a while now.

I'm sticking with my multi-strand OFC cables, single wired, which are better than the Audioquest Type IV I ditched back in 2010. I still have the Type IV, but never use it. The difference was so small as to be negligible. They need to perform with my setup, not the other way around really. Thanks for the tips though.

Good man. I trust your judgment.

 

[the record spot]

I've always had a soft spot for the Dali Mentor Menuets in cherry, gorgeous little speakers. Could be worth a listen, I'm guessing they're still available.

They probably are, just not locally alas!

 

[the record spot]

Thanks Vladimir, but I've been at this game for a while now.

I'm sticking with my multi-strand OFC cables, single wired, which are better than the Audioquest Type IV I ditched back in 2010. I still have the Type IV, but never use it. The difference was so small as to be negligible. They need to perform with my setup, not the other way around really. Thanks for the tips though.

Good man. I trust your judgment.

No worries; apologies too for the abrupt tone of my earlier reply Vladimir. Re-reading it, I think it comes across that way, albeit unintentional. Cheers again.

 

[Vladimir]

Never apologize for using the fanboy repelant spray. It's procedure.

 

[the record spot]

:clap: :cheers:

 

[jimmylee73]

If you're after a small bookshelf speaker with a big sound, Leema Xero's are great little speakers.
Great PRAT and can follow a baseline although do not go that deep as they're only dinky little boxes.

 

[the record spot]

Yeah they looked like great little speakers. Bit Marmite in terms of design, not as attractive with that big logo stuck at the bottom, but otherwise they'd have been a good option. If they'd been available locally...!

 

[the record spot]

Got the B&W CM1s home. Not completely sure they're a big upgrade. This is the demo pair and should be well run in. They sound somewhat boomy in my room, and that's with the foam bungs in place. A little bit too 'hifi' as well I suspect. Not convinced, but will give them a fair run.

 

[BigH]

Got the B&W CM1s home. Not completely sure they're a big upgrade. This is the demo pair and should be well run in. They sound somewhat boomy in my room, and that's with the foam bungs in place. A little bit too 'hifi' as well I suspect. Not convinced, but will give them a fair run.

They are boomy, some of the worst bass I have heard, targetted at a certain market no doubt., its a pity because the midrange and high freq, seemed very good. Also not easy to drive.

 

[matt49]

I'd second Dave's suggestion of the Martin Logan Motion 15s.

I have the Neat Iotas and like them very much, but I don't think they'd give you that extra bit you want.

Matt

 

[Vladimir]

I don't use the foam bangs, I just use DSP to solve the room FR boom. Much easier than with floorstanders I used to own.

http://i61.tinypic.com/1zl9bnq.jpg

My room is 16x14 ft.

 

[the record spot]

Got the B&W CM1s home. Not completely sure they're a big upgrade. This is the demo pair and should be well run in. They sound somewhat boomy in my room, and that's with the foam bungs in place. A little bit too 'hifi' as well I suspect. Not convinced, but will give them a fair run.

They are boomy, some of the worst bass I have heard, targetted at a certain market no doubt., its a pity because the midrange and high freq, seemed very good. Also not easy to drive.

No problems driving them here. Pretty easy load for the Onkyo. Don't sound too bad now they've been used for a few hours. Suspect they hadn't been used for a while and just needed to loosen up a bit. Still not a big gulf between them and the DC4 though!

 

[plastic penguin]

When I heard the CM1s on the end of a Rotel they produced a huge sound for the cabinet size - a little too much. It almost sounded a 'forced' LFs. Great, I suppose, if you have a largeish room, otherwise they weren't quite the full ticket.

 

[hoopsontoast]

Honestly, Harbeth P3ES are a great choice. Easy to drive (although lowish efficiency), nice tight bass, superb transparency and just all round great speakers. Sort of wish I had tried a pair ages ago.

I did not go with a pair in the end after borrowing some for a short while a week back as I went for some Rega R9s (another story) but the Harbeths were 2nd on the list, probably with a small subwoofer in my room.

As an ATC fan, and possibly fan boy, the Harbeths are probably the only small speaker I would really recommend as great overall speakers, although the little Harbeths probably suit more peoples listening preferences IME.

 

[the record spot]

Aye, they're in the list! As are some Spendor boxes. The S3/5R2 is on the radar too.

 

[Vladimir]

No interest in the Roksan TR-5? They sing brilliantly in small rooms that have bass issues.

 

[the record spot]

Too tall I think. need to check.

Edit: yes, 37cm tall. 28cm deep. Too big.

 

[ID.]

These are some nice, smooth compact speakers, and I noticed they are now selling them outside Japan.

http://www.scvdistribution.co.uk/product/hifi-and-consumer/fostex-gx100ma-hifi-speaker-dark-brown/

The MID controller is interesting. It's something I'd want to try out at home, because fiddling with it at an audio store made it a little hard to see how effective it could be.

I wonder what the price is. Going by most Fostex products sold overseas they'll probably at least double the price, which is a shame.

The limited edition is even nice, but much pricier.

http://www.scvdistribution.co.uk/product/fostex-hifi-speakers/fostex-gx100-limited-bookshelf-speakers/

 

[Al ears]

Nice speakers but very inefficient. He's going to have a hard time driving them I'd imagine.

 

[ID.]

More than the sensitivity, I think it will be an issue of them not being very widely distributed in the UK so it might be completely impractical to audition them, and they may have an outrageous mark up. I only know the Japanese pricing, which suits the quality of the speaker, but if they double the price, then it might be much harder to consider them.

 

[the record spot]

Which ones? My Pioneers are 83db - no issues on that score. Sound good, well controlled. The Fostex ones are 82db, so this wouldn't be a problem for the Onkyo.