Speaker upgrade to suite Cambridge Azure 540 amp and 640 CD player

[admin_exported]

Hi guys......I am looking to get some advice on upgrading my current Cambridge S30 speakers. Got these as a freebee when I bought the amp and cd player from RS. They are pretty good but I want something that will give me a better bass response and a more detailed sweeter sound. I have a pair of Atacama 24 stands so I am sure they are OK.

I have very eclectic (sp) music tastes....anything from SRV, contemporary jazz through to opera and classical.

Listening levels used are not high....about 10 o'clock on the dial so I want something that will give good detail at reasonable listening levels. Is it worth spending 250 - 350 or will that be a bit of an overkill bearing in mind the quality available from the amp and cd.. There are some good deals available on Epos M5 and also some Quad 11Ls (both in that range at the moment). I understand that B&Ws need to be driven quite hard to get good detail so I suppose they are out of the equation.

Apart from RS we only have 1 other hifi shop in Plymouth so lots of good stuff is just not available for demo.......a problem for a lot I expect.

All replies appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I would be wary about buying the epos or the quads.I am not sure your amp will be able to drive either properly.They both need a fairly powerful muscular amp to sound at their best.What about mon audio BR2's?

 

[Andy Clough]

The original Quad 11Ls were great in their day, and the newer 11L2 is good if you like rapid, detailed and ruthlessly focused speakers. We've also just tested the Quad 9L2s (£250) in our April Group Test of £200-£300 speakers, so you might want to pick up a copy of the latest issue to find out how they performed against the likes of B&W's 686 (£286) and Acoustic Energy's Aegis Neo One (£200).

But with your system I'd go for the MA Bronze BR2s.They may have been around for a while, but they're still hugely impressive.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies so far......would I be wasting my money going for something in the upper price range with a view to a possible upgrade in the future. If I did would I notice the difference with the kit currently available. Do you have any views on Usher 520s.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I took previously aired opinions on board and visited my local store.......auditioned the MA BR2, Kef IQ1 and just for fun the BW 685 (in case of a possible future upgrade). They were auditioned through a Primaire amp and Cyrus CDP. A few steps up from my kit I know. I came away with the BR2. Didnt like the Kef and the BW 685 just sounded dull almost as if there was a blanket over them.I never expected that considering the positive rewiews and price difference. Maybe I just dont have BW ears. I was quite surprised at the difference. The BR2s were no disappointment when I got home either. If they sound this good now.....I am lookng forward to when they are fully run in.

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="raym87"]the BW 685 just sounded dull almost as if there was a blanket over them.I never
expected that considering the positive rewiews and price difference[/quote]

Yes.thats exactly what i thought.Unless they are played at ear shattering volumes with a good muscular amp they sound cr*p.Same with 686's.really makes me wonder how what hi fi came to the decision they did about giving them a product of the year.Did they only listen with them at high volume i wonder?

 

[Anonymous]

As for spending more on your speakers, I would recommend it. I've got the piddling little 340 (I love it) and I'm running Totem Rainmakers (1000 Dollars, no idea the UK pricepoint.)

I know someone's going to think me a fool but I vastly prefer the sound off my CA kit to the Arcam A90 that was running it when I auditioned. Good bass response even, they actually go down to 42Hz, I didn't really believe that claim in store.

 

[John Duncan]

[quote user="raypalmer"]As for spending more on your speakers, I would recommend it. I've got the piddling little 340 (I love it) and I'm running Totem Rainmakers (1000 Dollars, no idea the UK pricepoint.)

I know someone's going to think me a fool but I vastly prefer the sound off my CA kit to the Arcam A90 that was running it when I auditioned. Good bass response even, they actually go down to 42Hz, I didn't really believe that claim in store.[/quote]

Not at all, I've been banging on about this for a while. Quite tempted by Totem actually - you like?

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah I really do, they don't have a "totem sound" though, each speaker set is very much it's own animal owing to their design process. They select what they feel to be the best drivers on the market for their purpose, then construct the enclosure specifically and hand design a custom XO for the whole arrangement. End result is a lot of speakers that only barely sound like they were made by the same company.

I listened to the mites (amazing value for the coin), rainmakers (same) and the Staffs. The latter had some of the best, if not the best imaging I've ever heard under 2000, only problem is there's no bottom end...

Long story short... Rainmakers are definetly worth an audition. (if you haven't already)

 

[Anonymous]

I was @ a friends the other day and he has the Totem Sttaf hooked up to onkyo. They sounded fab, wish I could afford them though

 

[fatboyslimfast]

[quote user="raym87"] came away with the BR2. Didnt like the Kef and the BW 685 just sounded dull almost as if there was a blanket over them.[/quote]

That's really interesting to hear - I've got a dem booked with my local dealer on Saturday to listen to BR2, BR5, 685 and iQ5SE...will report back on my findings!!!