This months mag! Style 5.1 speaker test

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I know there's a style speaker test in this months issue. I need to make a decision on a style 5.1 set but am limited in my choices as I'm exchanging goods at a shop.

I'm not asking for a sneak preview of the results (altho that would be great :-D ) but could you say whether any of the following sets are included in the test - or if you've any views on them!

Acoustic Energy Aego T

MJ Acoustics Xeno

B&W MT-20 (altho I'd change the sub in this)

Cheers,

Rob

 

[Simon Lucas]

Alright there?

The mag's in the shops on Thursday, so I'll build the tension a little for you.

Acoustic Energy Aego T and B&W MT-20 are both in the test, alongside Arcam, Canton, KEF, Monitor Audio and Tannoy packages.

The MJ Acoustics Xeno played to a four-star First Test in the 2007 Awards issue.

Not long now. Keep your powder dry.

 

[Anonymous]

That'll be useful as I'm getting the new speakers on Friday! I've listened to the MT-20 and the Xeno but not the Aego T.

I enjoyed both but preferred the sub on the MJ As and the satellites on the B&W. Five of the B&W M-1s are £625 so I'm tempted to go for those with a separate sub from Velodyne/REL/SVS/BK at the moment. If you say both the KEFs and Tannoys are miles better than anything else I may just cry instead

Rob

 

[Anonymous]

I'm waiting for the test as well. I want to see how the tannoy lites compare to the kefs because you can pick them up for 800 and there's some good package deals on them at the moment

 

[Anonymous]

Also, the price 'only' goes up to a £1400, is this because if it went to £1500, the MT-30 would run away with?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Wow! Not even published yet and people are already looking for subtexts. No, I think the plan was to see how some never arrivals stacked up against the KEF KHT3005SE package, and that's just the pirce band that resulted.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Well exactly! We know the B&W MT30s are better than the KEF KHT3005SES - that's why they won the Award in the next price-band up from the KEFs: if they hadn't been better, the KEFs would have been named the best speakers in an even bigger price-band than they were.

What we haven't tested the KEFs against is all the newer options in their price band - which is (as this thread proves) a key consideration.

 

[Anonymous]

I'll wait and have a good nosy at the mag tomorrow ) but am currently thinking about 5 of the B&W M-1 satellites and the BK XLS200 sub (having been impressed with one recently).

When pairing small style sats with a different sub are there any special considerations?

Cheers,

 

[Anonymous]

Well I've read it cheers!

Because I'm exchanging products at a store I'm fairly limited in choice. I'm looking at the KEF 3005 (not SE) and the B&W MT-20. Based on all the review/forum searching I've done, most people seem to rate the satellites in both systems but if they have criticisms it's of the subs.

If I was buying a separate decent sub, how would you rate the M1 satellites from the MT-20 (£625 for 5) vs the KEF3005 centre/sats (£450 for 5)? The KEFs are obviously discounted whereas the B&Ws are still full price (altho getting to discount age next year maybe..?)

Thanks for any help.

Rob

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, I'd like to know what the opinion is on the MT1s too please? I have just purchased an Onkyo SR-605 and Toshiba HD EP35 and am massively impressed with both. I'd now like to upgrade my MS902i/905 speakers with the MT1s but wondered how much of a sound difference/improvement there would be? I want to downsize but am looking for better sonic ability than the MS902s/905. I have only read the MT30 reviews but is it the PV1 sub which makes it so good? I can only afford to replace the main speakers and will have to keep my Paradigm PDR10 sub for the time being. Maybe i should replace them all and get the Tannoy Arena's? Hopefully have my WHF mag in the post today so will read the feature but specifically wanted to know how to get a better sound than currently achieved with the MSs? All help/advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="natsait"]

Hopefully have my WHF mag in the post today so will read the feature

[/quote]

Got mine yesterday somehow . It does make it sound like the M1s are good and it's the sub that lets the package down. Given how highly thought of the MT-30 is, I'm guessing the sats must be pretty good? I'm just wondering about them vs the KEFs (especially as the KEFs have a more meaty looking centre) to partner my Onkyo 705.....I need stands and the B&O ones are annoyingly expensive...

 

[Anonymous]

Which ones do you think you will get? I guess the only way to tell is to hear them but I do value other people's opinions on this too. (Onkyo 705) - nice one. Wish I could have stretched to this, just for the blue light around the volume control;-) The B&W stands are pricey but they really do make the (already good looking) speakers look even better.

 

[Anonymous]

Not sure. Listening is obviously the best test but I'm demo'd out. I compared the MJ set, Wharefdale 9s, Quad L-ites and Linn Komponent. The Komponents won for me (not the sub) but when I got them home they were too big for the room or my better half's tastes!

Hence the switch to something smaller which I'll probably back up with something like a Vel, SMS or BK sub.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi ,

i am about to buy a speakerpackage. I am doubting between the Monitor Audio BR2 pack and the KHT-3005 from KEF. I am having a test with the MA speakers soon at home, but i would like to know if anyone can tell me if they have had any experience in testing these 2 sets and what the major quality differences is.

Would appreciate it to see some reply.

Pim Kobben