standmount speaker choice

[paulsue38]

Looking for speakers for a second system in a smallish front room.

Condsidering Rega RS 1, ATC SC11, Quad 12 , Epos 12i, Dynaudio Excite 12 or Proac Tablette 8 / studio 100.

Looking for great voice and midband qualities and must be unfussy about placement in room. Nothing too bright though.Does any one out there own one of these or have I missed out an obvious contender?

Many thanks

Paul

 

[d_a_n1979]

Welcome to the forums

It'd be handy to know what music you generally listen to and also what your budget is.

It will also be handy to know what amp and source you'll be using.

Other standmount speakers to consider would be:

B&W 685's, CM1's and the CM5's; Monitor Audio RX1's, RX2's and the GS10's.

 

[plastic penguin]

paulsue38:

Looking for speakers for a second system in a smallish front room.

Condsidering Rega RS 1, ATC SC11, Quad 12 , Epos 12i, Dynaudio Excite 12 or Proac Tablette 8 / studio 100.

Looking for great voice and midband qualities and must be unfussy about placement in room. Nothing too bright though.Does any one out there own one of these or have I missed out an obvious contender?

Many thanks

Paul

Welcome

I've noticed the price bracket on the speakers you've mentioned runs from about £200 - £900, so what sort of budget do you have allocated?

 

[crusaderlord]

You missed the Neat Motive 3's
Here was my review of a few good standmounts if it helps

http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/123242.aspx

 

[Anonymous]

Spendor s3e as well. Not fussy with placement etc. Although the Proac are fantastic for the money 2

 

[paulsue38]

Thanks for the replies everyone. The budget could stretch to £750 , but hoping for less if I can pick up some ex dem. Seen the ATC for £650 for instance. Music is varied so must be an all rounder was going to power with a Roksan Kandy 2.

Paul

 

[d_a_n1979]

In that case, more so with your amp, I'd definitely take a look at the M/A RX2's and possibly the B&W CM5's.

Both are superb with solid, taut bass, a superb midrange and crsip, clear treble. Dont forget you'll have to budget for stands (unless you've already got them).

The B&W CM1's would be worth looking at as well IMO

 

[Anonymous]

The ATC's at that price would be very hard to beat.

 

[RCduck7]

Hyperion HWS-585.

http://www.hyperionsound.com/hws-585.htm

Hyperions speakers are popular in the US and get very good reviews every time. I found they have weight to the sound, a bit of a bloomy midrange and sweet treble without a hint of brightness when run in. They were certainly night and day difference to my previous Wharfedale Diamond's.

I have the slightly bigger HWS-586 model wich is slightly out of your budget (2nd hand they will do), so i can't share personal experiences for the smaller HWS-585 model. But i don't see why they wouldn't also be good. I have Hyperion speakers for my main system and i'm so pleased with them that for my 2nd bedroom system i also choose Hyperions. 2nd hand though, to keep it affordable.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

paulsue38:

Looking for speakers for a second system in a smallish front room.

Condsidering Rega RS 1, ATC SC11, Quad 12 , Epos 12i, Dynaudio Excite 12 or Proac Tablette 8 / studio 100.

Looking for great voice and midband qualities and must be unfussy about placement in room. Nothing too bright though.Does any one out there own one of these or have I missed out an obvious contender?

Many thanks

Paul

Hi Paul

ATC's SCM11 will do the trick nicely.

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[paulsue38]

How would you describe the ATC'S Rick?

 

[Anonymous]

If you want something pretty, compact, smooth and a little less mainstream, the AE radiance 1's serve me well.

They sound good with any music I throw at them, bouncy and musical. Might be worth an audition, available for around the £400 mark.

 

[Anonymous]

The ATC's are neutral, but do not add anything to the music. They show you exactly what is on the CD, so do not butter up bad recordings etc.

Saying that, they are fantastic speakers, listened to a pair 2 weeks ago, and quite a few up the range, and all of them sounded great.

They are sealled box design, so can go very close to the wall, and you will not get boomy bass responce.

 

[Craig M.]

paulsue38:How would you describe the ATC'S?

better then everything else mentioned so far.

 

[Diamond Joe]

Anyone ever tried the ATC SCM7s? Could be ideal for a smaller room.

 

[paulsue38]

Not thought about the 7,s to be honest. Not seen any reviews.

At less than £400t he Rega RS1 seems to be the value option from a respected maunfactrer so I am leaning towards these at the moment. Will go and have a listen.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

paulsue38:How would you describe the ATC'S Rick?

Hi Paul

The SCM11's are a closed box design and more importantly are flat and honest which greatly helps with room positioning without the the bass in paricular getting itself into a twist.

The ATC's have (amongst their other qualities) a clear, precise, uncoloured, natural and powerful presentation that will allow the qualities of your components to shine through by enabling them to breathe.

ATC SCM - Studio Control Monitor

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[RCduck7]

Craig M.:

paulsue38:How would you describe the ATC'S?

better then everything else mentioned so far.

ATC is defenitly more popular.

I know people that went from ATC to Hyperion and are happy with the switch.

But i have to say they were talking about the floorstanding 938 models, not sure how the bookshelfs of Hyperion would fare against ATC bookshelfs, fair is fair, i have not heard or know anything about these models so i won't and can't say wich is better. The 586 is still very good but the 938 is in an other league though.

 

[Craig M.]

i have to say i've never seen a hyperion speaker for sale in any hifi shop i've ever been in.

having just done a quick google, i'm not sure you can even buy them in the uk.

 

[RCduck7]

Craig M.:

i have to say i've never seen a hyperion speaker for sale in any hifi shop i've ever been in.

having just done a quick google, i'm not sure you can even buy them in the uk.

True, they are certainly not to be found in every hifi shop. I know of one dealer where i live in Belgium and a handful in the Netherlands. In the UK only "Real Hifi" is an offical dealer i know of.

http://www.realhi-fi.com/

The dealer page from the Hyperion website

http://www.hyperionsound.com/dealers.htm

It is not a niche product, it just that in the US they are a lot more popular. There was a UK review on a setup featuring the speakers in Hifi Choice. though. I believe the What Hifi forum rules don't allow to post links to reviews.

 

[bay24]

paulsue38:
Not thought about the 7,s to be honest. Not seen any reviews.

At less than £400t he Rega RS1 seems to be the value option from a respected maunfactrer so I am leaning towards these at the moment. Will go and have a listen.

If you are looking at something around the £400 price point you need to check out the AVI neutron 5. when I got mine I heard them compared to the Quads and the EPOS you mentioned in your first post and they blew them away. There are people on this forum who have compared them to speakers worth a bit more as well although I have not really heard speakers in the price bracket up from that. Not sure how they would fit in your system though.

 

[the record spot]

paulsue38:
Looking for speakers for a second system in a smallish front room.

Condsidering Rega RS 1, ATC SC11, Quad 12 , Epos 12i, Dynaudio Excite 12 or Proac Tablette 8 / studio 100.

Looking for great voice and midband qualities and must be unfussy about placement in room. Nothing too bright though.Does any one out there own one of these or have I missed out an obvious contender?

Many thanks

Paul

Yes, a couple: Audiosmile's Kensai diminutive standmount (circa £1500) and the Quadral Pico, once around the £700 mark a couple of years or so ago. Would seriously look to get these on the list.

 

[Anonymous]

Concur with Rick and the ATC SCM 11s. First hand experience.

 

[Anonymous]

opera mezzo mate

 

[Anonymous]

Having been down the same road myself, I ended up with the ATC's. As you require speakers that need careful placement the ATC's can't be beaten.