Time for new speakers?

[admin_exported]

Currently running:

• Musical Fidelity X-Ray v3 CD Player
• Musical Fidelity X-150 Amp
• Mordaunt Short MS25i Spkrs
• Chord Silver Siren Interconnect
• Chord Carnival Silver Plus Spkr Cable

More than happy with CD/Amp combination but feel that spkrs don't do justice in light of improvements over last 4 years!

Currently living in a bit of a hi-fi desert when it comes to decent shops (hence would have to travel) so would appreciate any suggestions before I work out the best way to listen to them. Standmounters would be my preference.

Thanks,

Colin

 

[drummerman]

Fantastic speakers, especially the 20i pearls, as I have mentioned many times but yes, you can do better but not without spending substantially more than today's budget boxes at around £200.

Just depends how you like your music. More attack, try Rega's R floorstanders. The R3's are especially nice and have a very small footprint. Kef's iQ7 take up more space, are more transparent yet somewhat more 'distant' than the R3's. They sound like quality standmounts but take up more room. If it has to be a standmount, I'd audition Epos'es M12 (or i version). They are somewhere between the two afromentioned speakers, look good and sound lovely. For more bass add a good, small sub.

regards

 

[Anonymous]

Budget, music preferences, room size and acoustics? Brands to check out are PMC, ATC, Dynaudio and Spendor, but it will come partly down to what you can audition without driving for hours.

 

[Anonymous]

Oops! Nothing like asking half a question - must be the surfeit of xmas stodge (and probably the drink destroying a few brain cells!)

Room is 6 x 4m - typical lounge furnishings. Listening tastes varied - pretty much anything except modern (c)rap but tend towards rock (in all its forms) and female vocalists. Budget <£800. I like it relatively loud and 'feel' the music however, my good lady has rather more sensitive hearing so clarity at low volumes essential.

Regards

 

[Anonymous]

Well the B&W 685s on a pair of Partington Super Dreadnoughts might work rather well. They're good all rounders and would suit the MF rich sound in my opinion. If you can spend some more then PMC DB1+ or DB1i are superb all rounders too that would sing with the MF kit. That's where I'd start. Good bookshelf speakers with good stands can work wonders

 

[Anonymous]

igglebert - many thanks - curiously enough I've been reading up about the 685s & the DB1s along with the Epos m12is. Have booked a listening session for next Tue to audition the 685s and DB1s - just need to find somewhere close (ish) for the m12is!.

Cheers

 

[Thaiman]

Spendor would be my first choice and PMC a close 2nd. Nice set of electronics

 

[JoelSim]

Some ProAc Studio 110 speakers perhaps?

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Spent an interesting 2hrs listening to the 685s & DB1is. Took all my kit along and warmed everything up first to get a 'feel' for how the current system sounded in the audition room. First up were the 685s - clearly a leap up from my MS25is - more detail and louder for the same volume on the amp. However, not all was perfect - to my ears it all seemed 'too much of everything' and on occasions clearly failed to control the bass. Next up; the DB1is - talk about St Paul on the road to Damascus and a revelation! Incredibly superior to the 685s (even allowing for the cost increase). Total control at all frequencies and a beautiufully effortless, neutral sound - I was hearing things I'd never heard before. As an experiment, also tried changing my Chord Charnival Silver Plus bi-wire for a single run of Chord Rumour - I've got to get some! How can such a (comparatively) flimsy looking cable sound so good? The final nod of approval came from her indoors - she was amazed at the sound and also liked the looks of the DB1is - don't laugh, after all when you're going to share a room with your new speakers for a few years, aestheticse do come into play! So that's it, decision made. Now waiting for delivery.