Tough choice

[paudra]

Hi,

I am currently in the middle of an upgrade of my system and am currently stuck with a choice between the MA GX300 and the KEF R900's. Tough choice as I have them both on loan from my friendly audio retailer (although i did part with about £7k deposit)

I have a Cyrus 8DAC with a Cyrus X Power - high level running from the 8DAC and low level from the X Power with Chord chameleon VEE 3 interconnects and currently Chord Odyssey II speaker cable (soon to be upgraded to Epic).

While I like the musical and deep appeal of the R900's but I also like the clarity and preciseness of the GX300's

I have asked a few people now of what other options I have out there in the £3k budget but nothing has come forward other than these two as I would really like them in Piano White ! If i need to spend a bit more then I would rather know as this is my 5 - 10 year purchase and MIGHT get it past the misses :shhh:

So - i am passing it out to you all to see if there is anything else that you would recommend before I take the plunge?

Thanks

Paul

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Have a listen to Martin Logan and Magnepan. They'll give you precision and a sense of presence you get with few other speakers. Otherwise, try the Neat Elite for something more conventional.

 

[matthewpiano]

If you can get past the white requirement try some Vienna Acoustics speakers. Sound fabulous with Cyrus.

 

[CnoEvil]

What size is your room?.......would you get away with / try R700s, which are probably the sweetspot of the range?

 

[paudra]

Thanks, I have had a look at the Martin Logan and Magnepan and they are a bit to "out there" for my taste. I did like the look of the Momentum 4i but they dont come in white .....

 

[paudra]

Thanks mathewpiano, I have just emailed a disty to see if I can get a loan of some Vienna Beethoven Baby Grand's.

See how I get on !

 

[paudra]

Thanks CnoEvil, i think that I will have the same issue with the R700's as they use the same mid/tweeter combo as the R900's and this is the element that I feel needs improvement

 

[CnoEvil]

Thanks CnoEvil, i think that I will have the same issue with the R700's as they use the same mid/tweeter combo as the R900's and this is the element that I feel needs improvement

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear enough. All I meant was that if the R Series ended up being the winner, the R700s might give most of what you want for £750 less.

For very different presentation, Kef Ref 203/2 can (hopefully) be had for a little over £3k, with their trade-in offer.....and they are supposed to work with the better Cyrus amps.

Edit. It may take more than the X Power to handle the Refs....ie. more like the Mono X 300s.

 

[paudra]

thanks but I think that is pushing my budget a bit too far

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Dynaudio do white, the Focus and the Excite range anyway. Really nice speakers, but you'd need a home demo to check they worked in your room.

 

[busb]

I'm not exactly a Naim fan but recently heard a pair of their Ovator S-400 speakers. They were £3k5 before the yearly price rise. Their front baffle is dark grey as is the aluminium base but come in white for the rest of the cabinets. These speakers are unported, a fairly easy (but 4Ohm) load & supposedly not too fusy regarding positioning. They are 2.5 way but the Xover f is very low so well away from the important vocal part of the audio spectrum.

They didn't favour one frequency band over another so seemed very well integrated with a very agile sound indeed. I also thought the sound stage was pretty deep with good separation of instruments. Good tight bass without overhanging into the midrange. I know these are above your stated budget but worth a listen.

 

[Anonymous]

The Sonus Faber Venere 2.5s are available in white. I haven't heard them, but I'm getting a lot of pleaure running the SF Venere 1.5s off a Cyrus X Power in my study set-up.

 

[paudra]

Ok, an update............

Couldn't get a demo of the Vienna Acoustics - Baby Beethoven's were my choice have tempting offer of a ex demo Cyrus pair for £2200 though......thanks matthewpiano

Took GX300's back first as the KEF R900's were more to my suiting.

Then took back the KEF R900's and the Cyrus X Power as had a feeling that the R900's might be too big for the room - thanks CnoEvil

Collected R700's and two Cyrus Mono X200's

WOW :bounce:

Then added my REL T5 via Neutik cable :dance:

Think I have found my setup........still tempted to try the VA's though........................




Other notes: didnt like the look of the DynAudio's or the Ovator's - Sonus Faber Venere 2.'s, couldnt arrange demo.

 

[CnoEvil]

Glad you are happy, but surprised you need the sub.

 

[matt49]

Collected R700's and two Cyrus Mono X200's

WOW :bounce:

Nice. Will add this combo to my own audition list.

 

[paudra]

Only needed a few clicks on the sub to take the low end from 37Hz down to 30Hz but just added that little bit more to the sound.