The best speaker match for NAD325BEE in a small room

[admin_exported]

I appreciate that this topic has been covered before but a couple of years has passed and some recommended matched speakers are discontinued now. Basically I would welcome suggestions as to which sub £500 speakers would be a good match for the NAD. My old system was a NAD 3130 and Heybrook HB1s, which I loved. Unfortunately both have demised, hence the replacement amp. It would be wonderful to get that sound back without breaking the bank. I hear Mordaunt Short's work well with this amp, although I have the opportunity to get a pair of HB2's currently on eBay.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

I appreciate that this topic has been covered before but a couple of years has passed and some recommended matched speakers are discontinued now. Basically I would welcome suggestions as to which sub £500 speakers would be a good match for the NAD. My old system was a NAD 3130 and Heybrook HB1s, which I loved. Unfortunately both have demised, hence the replacement amp. It would be wonderful to get that sound back without breaking the bank. I hear Mordaunt Short's work well with this amp, although I have the opportunity to get a pair of HB2's currently on eBay.

Hi andyh2451

What do you generally listen to?

Is anyone else likely to also use the system? if so, their listening preferences?

Room placement of the speakers?

If the speakers are to bookshelf designs then will these be stand, shelf or wall mounted?

Listening distance?

Will anything be in the way of the speakers?

Is the room lightly or heavily furnished?

Your source component/s?

The cabling?

Is there a particular kind of presentation you would like the system to achieve?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply. In answer to your questions -

What do you generally listen to? Classic Rock and sometimes some bluesjazz

Is anyone else likely to also use the system? if so, their listening preferences? no

Room placement of the speakers? one in the front facing left hand corner and the other in the rear right corner

If the speakers are to bookshelf designs then will these be stand, shelf or wall mounted? stand

Listening distance? less than 10ft

Will anything be in the way of the speakers? no

Is the room lightly or heavily furnished? heavily

Your source component/s?Technics SL3200 and Marantz SA7001

The cabling? not sure but its good quality biwire cable

Is there a particular kind of presentation you would like the system to achieve? tight controlled bass and clear natural highs. The NAD is on the warm side so I guess a brighter speaker would be best

 

[plastic penguin]

Thank you for your reply. In answer to your questions -

What do you generally listen to? Classic Rock and sometimes some bluesjazz

Is anyone else likely to also use the system? if so, their listening preferences? no

Room placement of the speakers? one in the front facing left hand corner and the other in the rear right corner

If the speakers are to bookshelf designs then will these be stand, shelf or wall mounted? stand

Listening distance? less than 10ft

Will anything be in the way of the speakers? no

Is the room lightly or heavily furnished? heavily

Your source component/s?Technics SL3200 and Marantz SA7001

The cabling? not sure but its good quality biwire cable

Is there a particular kind of presentation you would like the system to achieve? tight controlled bass and clear natural highs. The NAD is on the warm side so I guess a brighter speaker would be best

Hi Andy

The best match for the Nad would be Monitor Audio RX1s. They retail at around £400, but they may kick out too much bass - try and audition a pair and decide for yourself.

If you're open to s/h stuff look at MA GR10, Dali Ikon 2 (or Lektors) and even Focal 706V.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Thank you for your reply. In answer to your questions -

What do you generally listen to? Classic Rock and sometimes some bluesjazz

Is anyone else likely to also use the system? if so, their listening preferences? no

Room placement of the speakers? one in the front facing left hand corner and the other in the rear right corner

If the speakers are to bookshelf designs then will these be stand, shelf or wall mounted? stand

Listening distance? less than 10ft

Will anything be in the way of the speakers? no

Is the room lightly or heavily furnished? heavily

Your source component/s?Technics SL3200 and Marantz SA7001

The cabling? not sure but its good quality biwire cable

Is there a particular kind of presentation you would like the system to achieve? tight controlled bass and clear natural highs. The NAD is on the warm side so I guess a brighter speaker would be best

Hi Andy

Thanks for your reply.

I have now used the C325bee extensively for nearly four years and it is a superb amp. Speakers which i've happily used the C325BEE include Monitor Audio's Silver RX1's, Dynaudio's DM 2/6 and ATC's SCM7 monitors. Therefore i'll highly recommend any of these speakers. From what you said though i feel the SCM7 monitors with their (amongst other qualities) neutral, uncoloured and natural prestation should do the trick.

Btw, Dynaudio speakers can only be single wired.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for the feedback everyone. Much appreciated. I hooked up a pair of Heybrook HB1 2000 series to the NAD last night and loaded up an old Ozric Tentacles CD on the Marantz. Always a good test for a HiFi setup, with its prominent bass, attacking drums and high sweeping synths. Not to mention the constant key changes and tempo. I was, unfortunately, slightly dissapointed that although the sound was good it had, to my ears, slightly too much warmth (colouration?). Less so than with a pair of Wilmlsow Audio Vogue's, but it was there just the same. I am slightly concerned that I have bought the wrong amp. My old NAD 3020 was warm but not as much as the 325BEE. I will certainly try to demo some of the suggested speaker options but can someone re-assure me that the over warm sound of the NAD can be tamed?

 

[Cold Roses]

Thank you for your reply. In answer to your questions -

What do you generally listen to? Classic Rock and sometimes some bluesjazz

Is anyone else likely to also use the system? if so, their listening preferences? no

Room placement of the speakers? one in the front facing left hand corner and the other in the rear right corner

If the speakers are to bookshelf designs then will these be stand, shelf or wall mounted? stand

Listening distance? less than 10ft

Will anything be in the way of the speakers? no

Is the room lightly or heavily furnished? heavily

Your source component/s?Technics SL3200 and Marantz SA7001

The cabling? not sure but its good quality biwire cable

Is there a particular kind of presentation you would like the system to achieve? tight controlled bass and clear natural highs. The NAD is on the warm side so I guess a brighter speaker would be best

Hi Andy The best match for the Nad would be Monitor Audio RX1s. They retail at around £400, but they may kick out too much bass - try and audition a pair and decide for yourself. If you're open to s/h stuff look at MA GR10, Dali Ikon 2 (or Lektors) and even Focal 706V.

I haven't heard them, but noticed that the Dali Ikon 2's are on special at Sevenoaks Hifi in Brighton: http://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/store/southeast/brighton/3443/content.aspx

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Thanks very much for the feedback everyone. Much appreciated. I hooked up a pair of Heybrook HB1 2000 series to the NAD last night and loaded up an old Ozric Tentacles CD on the Marantz. Always a good test for a HiFi setup, with its prominent bass, attacking drums and high sweeping synths. Not to mention the constant key changes and tempo. I was, unfortunately, slightly dissapointed that although the sound was good it had, to my ears, slightly too much warmth (colouration?). Less so than with a pair of Wilmlsow Audio Vogue's, but it was there just the same. I am slightly concerned that I have bought the wrong amp. My old NAD 3020 was warm but not as much as the 325BEE. I will certainly try to demo some of the suggested speaker options but can someone re-assure me that the over warm sound of the NAD can be tamed?

Hi Andy

The C325BEE is a superb amplifier however if you want to minimize colouration then ATC's SCM7 monitors with their flat and honest balance should do the trick :bigsmile:

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Another option apart from new speakers, is to get your old setup back. Do you still have your NAD 3130? Or have you binned it? There is a lovely guy on eBay who fixes amps (under the name canfixamps) who will fix your 3130 no problem, and also at a very nice price (I've used him several times, never disapointed). Buy another set of HB1's (the original, not 2000 series) and NAD amp if need be. Stick with what you liked, not expensive new speakers, seeing how you liked and preferred the sound of your old system, just do that instead. NAD amps are generally warm amps, but I don't feel current (or slightly older) amps do your Heybrook speakers justice (I use lots of Heybrook speakers with NAD amps, the older ones are alot better). If you can demo some NAD amps (or your NAD) with new speakers as a last resort. You could probably get a NAD 3130 and Heybrook HB1 or HB2 speakers for about 200 pound, and also you could sell the NAD 325BEE (is a good amp but not better than say, NAD 306, C350, C370) for a not bad price (say about 100-150) and would have only spent 50 pound or so in the process. So it's up to you what you do, but I know what I'd do (coming from a long time NAD/Heybrook user), there's better choices to be made out there!