Question Substantial upgrade or just swap the amp??

[MrPenkwin]

So currently due to my living room size I have stepped down from floorstanders to some Mission 751 being driven by an AL 8000A.

I missed my floorstanders so recently I got the bug again and started hunting speakers. Initially the Focal Aria 926 paired with my Roksan Kandy K3 seemed like a good shout to replace my floorstanders, though far too big for my listening area which is roughly (excluding the door area/window bay) 4.4m wide with ears about 2.15m from the cones. So not very big at all. This led me to the Aria 906.

Would I better better off getting the Aria 906 and running with my Roksan Kandy K3? Or would I be better off keeping the 751 but changing the amp to something like an Arcam Alpha 5 which is said to be a bit warmer and possibly a better pairing with the 751?

The quest here is for an upgrade, though given my room size, I do realise I'm limited greatly. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[record_spot]

I haven't heard them for years, but I always thought the Mission 751 was a fantastic speaker. I had a pair in the 90s and they were terrific. They did indeed go with an Arcam Alpha 5 at the time, but I'd suggest you keep an eye out for a Sansui AU-217 or 317 if you can get those at a good price. I used a 217 with the original 752s and that was a great pairing. Detailed, clear, but never harsh.

Some have said in the past that the 751 was bright thanks to its mesh-dome tweeter, but I never experienced that. They were light years ahead of their successor in the 751 Freedom which added a silk-dome tweeter and killed the speaker in fell swoop. Dull, woolly sounding and best avoided.

IMO, the 75 series was Mission's finest hour. Incredible range.

Check any Sansui amps you might consider buying that they've been properly serviced and especially if you go for one of the bigger models. The build with some of those are pretty complex, sealed volume pots, circuit boards with long dried glue residues, etc.

As to whether that's better than the Arias, that's up to you to decide. Your room, system and ears ultimately.

 

[MrPenkwin]

I haven't heard them for years, but I always thought the Mission 751 was a fantastic speaker. I had a pair in the 90s and they were terrific. They did indeed go with an Arcam Alpha 5 at the time, but I'd suggest you keep an eye out for a Sansui AU-217 or 317 if you can get those at a good price. I used a 217 with the original 752s and that was a great pairing. Detailed, clear, but never harsh.

Some have said in the past that the 751 was bright thanks to its mesh-dome tweeter, but I never experienced that. They were light years ahead of their successor in the 751 Freedom which added a silk-dome tweeter and killed the speaker in fell swoop. Dull, woolly sounding and best avoided.

IMO, the 75 series was Mission's finest hour. Incredible range.

Check any Sansui amps you might consider buying that they've been properly serviced and especially if you go for one of the bigger models. The build with some of those are pretty complex, sealed volume pots, circuit boards with long dried glue residues, etc.

As to whether that's better than the Arias, that's up to you to decide. Your room, system and ears ultimately.

Thanks for your reply, I've heard good things about the 70-80s era Jap stuff. I'll keep them on my radar 🙂

Would you have some cheap but effective treatment suggestions for my room too maybe?

 

[Integralista]

So currently due to my living room size I have stepped down from floorstanders to some Mission 751 being driven by an AL 8000A.

I missed my floorstanders so recently I got the bug again and started hunting speakers. Initially the Focal Aria 926 paired with my Roksan Kandy K3 seemed like a good shout to replace my floorstanders, though far too big for my listening area which is roughly (excluding the door area/window bay) 4.4m wide with ears about 2.15m from the cones. So not very big at all. This led me to the Aria 906.

Would I better better off getting the Aria 906 and running with my Roksan Kandy K3? Or would I be better off keeping the 751 but changing the amp to something like an Arcam Alpha 5 which is said to be a bit warmer and possibly a better pairing with the 751?

The quest here is for an upgrade, though given my room size, I do realise I'm limited greatly. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi, I think you have nice balanced system. I am also fan of old Audilab amps and Mission speakers (they used french Audax tweeters, midbas etc. so sounded very good). Focal is in different league (Champion's League) very demanding speakers and showing shortcommings. Aria 926 will need amp caliber like Rega Elicit-R or new Elicit or Naim Nait XS 2, 3 or similar. Look for Focal, when you are ready to upgrade whole your system, my advice. Aria 906 is also very good, balanced speaker. And with proper bass, even bookshelf. Roksan Kandy will work here. Even your older Audiolab can be musical in this combination. Combination with Arcam I will advice to test with speakers. Arcams are very detailed, crear treble, more commanding, less "musical" than before, different from your old Audiolab. This can be too much of "good things" combined with detailed Focals for example. Use your ears as final arbiter. BR.

 

[record_spot]

Thanks for your reply, I've heard good things about the 70-80s era Jap stuff. I'll keep them on my radar 🙂

Would you have some cheap but effective treatment suggestions for my room too maybe?

Not really mate, I just go with mine as is - I like to keep it more like a living room than a recording studio. All I ever do is get the speakers dialled in right and that's it. Hasn't really let me down yet - you can get down some right rabbit holes with the hobby and I think that's kind of where I drew the line for me.