Speakers for Rega/Arcam Dac + Nait XS

[admin_exported]

I've ordered the Nait XS, should be arriving at my doorstep any day now. I'm thinking of running these with either the Arcam rDac or maybe the Rega Dac (getting a loaner next week).

In terms of speaker choice, I'm thinking of the Rega R5, the Naim nSats or the Monitor Audio Rx6.

Any comments?

 

[Anonymous]

For some reason, I've heard disapproval of the MAs with Naims. Not sure if the objection is still valid, since the Naims aren't as bright as they used to be. The Rega R5 gets universal approval, but that speaker is very 'forward' too, and so's the MA. The MA is bright...

Audition and find out, I guess.

No clue about the nSats.

The MAs are the cheapest... Gives you more money to get better cables, or get the Rega Dac instead of the Arcam Dac.

Have you heard the Rega Dac yet?

 

[Anonymous]

The naim guy will be coming over to my place so I can do a comparison. Awesome store !

Any tips on what to listen for when I'm comparing the three speakers?

Kind of trying to learn how to audition. I've heard these combinations before and they all sound swell. Need help deciding what I like better, I guess. 🙂

 

[Anonymous]

Tha Naim will expose the weakness of the MA, to whit sloppy bass and a difficult treble. It's not a happy combination.

The N-sats you're either going to like or loath. They displayu each instrument with a kind of ruthless efficiency that I, for one, and apparently many other Finns given how long these speakers have remained unsold in the shop, couldn't live with.

Haven't heard the Regas, but my feeling is you'd be far listening to speaker further up the line.

Obviously I thought the Sonus Fabers were good, and I'd heartily recommend the Minima Vintages. Wasn't so happy about the Liutos, but thought the Cremonas excellent if unaffordable.

The Vienna Acoustics Haydns or above are also a good match, as are Totem, though you'd probably want better than the Arro I heard them with.

Whatever you decide, my instinct would be to spend double on the speakers as you have spent on the amp. It's a fine amp, so why saddle it with less than adequate speakers? Yes, the extra money might cause some pain (in my case, lots of it) but it's better to take the hit once than waste it. In my opinion, of course.

 

[chebby]

MangoMonkey:In terms of speaker choice, I'm thinking of the Rega R5, the Naim nSats or the Monitor Audio Rx6.

I have used Rega R3s and Naim nSATs with my Naim system and enjoyed them both in different ways.

A lot depends on room size, furnishings and preferences in music.

I found the nSATs suited my taste for BBC radio (mostly speech and drama/documentary) and Bebop Jazz, Reggae, retro pop, light classical etc. Probably not the best choice for high energy, bass-laden music or heavy metal. They really do match superbly with Naim amplification and sources and exhibit great immediacy and presence. Beware that there is a lot of 'lore' about nSATs that is passed on without scrutiny or the benefit of personal experience. Use them within their parameters in a small or medium room, very near the walls, away from corners, on good stands, with no furniture between them, and I think you might 'get' what they are about. Expect them to do the same job as a big floorstander and you will be dissappointed.

The Rega R3s (and probably the R5s given the commonality of the mid and treble drivers and basic design) are more 'fruity' and have more bass - obviously - but they do a 'workmanlike' job. No shocks, no suprises, just a consistently good job. A comfortable 'fit and forget' type speaker with no particular vices. If you analyse the bass you'll find the same - very slight - tendency to one-note monotony common to a lot of ported floor-standers, but this is not usually a problem if you are used to ported designs already, and it suffers from the tendency much less than others.

 

[Anonymous]

Pmc work very well with the naim xs.

something like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PMC-DB1i-Speakers-Walnut-/260712714152?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item3cb3b04fa8

with some good mass loaded stands would be a good bet.

or these http://www.thehomeofhifi.com/speaker_display_bargains_pmc_tb2i_cherry_pmc_fb1.html

as always demo at home if possible.

Happy New Year!

 

[plastic penguin]

Outside the usual suspects (PMC, Neat, Spendor, ATC) perhaps EB Acoustics EB2s could give a viable alternative.