Warm-Smooth bookshelf speaker

[Cycleman]

Goodmorning to everyone.

I am looking for speakers for such a long time. I want to upgrade the B&w 685 but i can't find a speaker for my taste.

I have had heard many speakers and i fall in love with focal electra. I find the electras in local shop at 2500euro. I send a mail to the focal and unfortunately they told me that is too big for my 16 m2 room. They suggest me aria 906 but isn't an upgrade for me.

I like also dali menuet and rubicon but i think is suitable for movies than music. I want to go away from the companies such as B&w,dali,monitor audio etc cause i think are for hifi begginers. As i see most of them here prefer english speakers...but i know that some people here they have big experience in order to help me.

I liked very much the hardeth p3esr but the only thing that i fear is the darkness. Also i find spendors with more darkness!pmc,atc,proac i don't like at all....are very dry at midrange. The focal sound is that i want, so i am searching something like that.

finally i listen the vienna acoustics haydn but they are very difficult speakers. 4ohm and they want max 180watt and i don't want to spend a fortune in amplifier.

thanx in advance.

 

[lpv]

Goodmorning to everyone.

I am looking for speakers for such a long time. I want to upgrade the B&w 685 but i can't find a speaker for my taste.

I have had heard many speakers and i fall in love with focal electra. I find the electras in local shop at 2500euro. I send a mail to the focal and unfortunately they told me that is too big for my 16 m2 room. They suggest me aria 906 but isn't an upgrade for me.

I like also dali menuet and rubicon but i think is suitable for movies than music. I want to go away from the companies such as B&w,dali,monitor audio etc cause i think are for hifi begginers. As i see most of them here prefer english speakers...but i know that some people here they have big experience in order to help me.

I liked very much the hardeth p3esr but the only thing that i fear is the darkness. Also i find spendors with more darkness!pmc,atc,proac i don't like at all....are very dry at midrange. The focal sound is that i want, so i am searching something like that.

finally i listen the vienna acoustics haydn but they are very difficult speakers. 4ohm and they want max 180watt and i don't want to spend a fortune in amplifier.

thanx in advance.

what’s your amp?

 

[Cycleman]

I will upgrade the amp also ....so it doesn't matter. Just because you asking is the nad 326bee

 

[Macspur]

Goodmorning to everyone.

I am looking for speakers for such a long time. I want to upgrade the B&w 685 but i can't find a speaker for my taste.

I have had heard many speakers and i fall in love with focal electra. I find the electras in local shop at 2500euro. I send a mail to the focal and unfortunately they told me that is too big for my 16 m2 room. They suggest me aria 906 but isn't an upgrade for me.

I like also dali menuet and rubicon but i think is suitable for movies than music. I want to go away from the companies such as B&w,dali,monitor audio etc cause i think are for hifi begginers. As i see most of them here prefer english speakers...but i know that some people here they have big experience in order to help me.

I liked very much the hardeth p3esr but the only thing that i fear is the darkness. Also i find spendors with more darkness!pmc,atc,proac i don't like at all....are very dry at midrange. The focal sound is that i want, so i am searching something like that.

finally i listen the vienna acoustics haydn but they are very difficult speakers. 4ohm and they want max 180watt and i don't want to spend a fortune in amplifier.

thanx in advance.

I was going to suggest the Harbeth P3's, but you say you fear the darkness... can you explain what you mean by this?

Mac

www.realmusicnet.wordpress.com

 

[CnoEvil]

Maybe try Usher and Elac.

I wouldn't describe them as warm and smooth, but I wouldn't describe Focal like that either....but they might give you the sound you are looking for.

 

[Nelis87]

So you want to avoid 'beginners hifi' (?) like Dali, Monitor Audio etc. but at the same time you start to mention Focal.. which to me and most dealers is displayed/categorized right between the Dali's and the MA's. Yes Focal has some high end stuff but so do the other brands like the Dali Epicon.

Anyway, if you want to be real exclusive and pro at this the Buchardt audio s300 mk2 seems to be right up your alley considering your needs.

Btw this mainly is an English forum so yeah English speakers are popular. Go to AVS forum and they all love SVS Ultra and Klipsch.

 

[Cycleman]

I was going to suggest the Harbeth P3's, but you say you fear the darkness... can you explain what you mean by this?

Mac

www.realmusicnet.wordpress.com

all bbc speakers have that character. A little bit of mist.

Maybe try Usher and Elac.

I wouldn't describe them as warm and smooth, but I wouldn't describe Focal like that either....but they might give you the sound you are looking for.

Ribbon speakers like elac don't have character. i agree about smoothness but they lack in sound stage (intruments aren't so seperated). i don't know anything about usher.

the Buchardt audio s300 mk2 needs 200watt in 4ohm...so isn't for me.

 

[CnoEvil]

like elac don't have character. i agree about smoothness but they lack in sound stage (intruments aren't so seperated). i don't know anything about usher.

the Buchardt audio s300 mk2 needs 200watt in 4ohm...so isn't for me.

You might also try Triangle....but don't match with with bright, or forward sounding amp.

 

[insider9]

A number of things that I hope will help. I would not narrow my own choice because of the way I see specific brands. Why do you think MA, Dali and B&W are for begginers? Begginers in what? Look at their serious ranges and listen to them and you will know they're certainly not for beginners.

I appreciate you want a substantial upgrade but going up the ranges you will get more refinement and speakers will generally veer towards neutrality while keeping some brand specific traits. This can almost be at odds with the brief of warm and smooth sounding. That's why don't dismiss anything without listening.

Ribbon speakers like elac don't have character. i agree about smoothness but they lack in sound stage (intruments aren't so seperated)

*shok*

What ribbon designs have you heard to formulate this view? That's not my experience on other ribbon based designs. I've not heard any Elac.

Finally quoted specs

the Buchardt audio s300 mk2 needs 200watt in 4ohm...so isn't for me.

This isn't what it means. Power recommendation is 40-200W. These can be run with a quality 40W according to the website.

 

[Nelis87]

the Buchardt audio s300 mk2 needs 200watt in 4ohm...so isn't for me.

This isn't what it means. Power recommendation is 40-200W. These can be run with a quality 40W according to the website.

And a sensitivity of 88dB, nothing fancy. No extraordinary amp needed here.

 

[Cycleman]

A number of things that I hope will help. I would not narrow my own choice because of the way I see specific brands. Why do you think MA, Dali and B&W are for begginers? Begginers in what? Look at their serious ranges and listen to them and you will know they're certainly not for beginners.

I appreciate you want a substantial upgrade but going up the ranges you will get more refinement and speakers will generally veer towards neutrality while keeping some brand specific traits. This can almost be at odds with the brief of warm and smooth sounding. That's why don't dismiss anything without listening.

Ribbon speakers like elac don't have character. i agree about smoothness but they lack in sound stage (intruments aren't so seperated)

*shok*

What ribbon designs have you heard to formulate this view? That's not my experience on other ribbon based designs. I've not heard any Elac.

Finally quoted specs

the Buchardt audio s300 mk2 needs 200watt in 4ohm...so isn't for me.

This isn't what it means. Power recommendation is 40-200W. These can be run with a quality 40W according to the website.

thanx for the answer.

we say the same thing in other words. so i will say some things in other way.

Some speakers haven't real voices such as B&w is a little bit hard at top end. This is becauce the tweeter isn't made with paper-wood-soft dome.The same triangle and monitor audio.

Dali have very real voice....very natural....but for 2000euros that i want to spend there isn't any bookshelf dali. Only the rubicon is at 1400euro and i think i can take better speakers in 2000euros. I think that harbeth p3esr is much better from rubicon.that i mean is for begginers. Some companies makes cheap speakers that is for begginers...but this is another story.

focal also is in the same way but...but...but....they have very good speakers for the middle models.Neither B&w,monitor audio or dali have a good bookshelf in 2000-3000euros.

now about watts....they don't play the same in 40watts as in 180watts my friend....either in low volumes. They don't have the control,solid sound.Like atc....if you listen for example atc....with 100watts amp and another qmp with 300watts you will see that i mean. When in the specs they tell you that you can play from 40 to 300....and you put a 40watt amp you don't take the maxinum sound.for me is marketing.

So i want an easy speaker to take the maximum of it with warm-natural sound. Harbeth is good solution until now.maybe with naim amp.

 

[BigH]

want to upgrade the B&w 685 but i can't find a speaker for my taste.

They suggest me aria 906 but isn't an upgrade for me.

I think the Aria will be an upgrade from the B&W 685, IMO these are not very good speakers, some musicians have commented on B&W sound. Some speakers will need careful matching so best to choose amp and speakers together. Are these going to be wall mounted or on stands close to the wall or in free space. Agree room is not that large, some speakers may give you bass problems. You could try Kef LS50s or 100s. PMC is another brand to try, they do good bookshelf speakers for around £1,000+, Hardeth are good speakers but depends what sort of music you play. I don't understand the darkness comment, please explain. I think with your taste, Kef and Harbeth may well suit your ear. Not sure about Naim amp though.

Which country are you in?

 

[insider9]

now about watts....they don't play the same in 40watts as in 180watts my friend....either in low volumes. They don't have the control,solid sound.Like atc....if you listen for example atc....with 100watts amp and another qmp with 300watts you will see that i mean. When in the specs they tell you that you can play from 40 to 300....and you put a 40watt amp you don't take the maxinum sound.for me is marketing.

So i want an easy speaker to take the maximum of it with warm-natural sound. Harbeth is good solution until now.maybe with naim amp.

That's why I said quality. Again don't look at one number and think that a 300Wpc amp will sound better just because it's rated higher. I've gone from 120Wpc into quality 60Wpc and the difference is not subtle in every way.

How about Sonus Faber Venere 2.0?

 

[Cycleman]

I prefer harbeth than sonus. I think harbeth is more musical...is way better in instruments.

 

[Infiniteloop]

I can understand why you fell in love with the Focal Electra Bookshelf speakers. I have used my 1008Be's in lots of different rooms, including bedroom-sized, and they always sound wonderful. Big, powerful and with superb soundstaging and lots of detail, clarity and finesse without ever sounding tiring.

I don't believe you'd have a problem in your room, but the best way to find out is to see if you can audition a pair at home.

 

[gasolin]

How about KEF LS-50 ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN6s1S1cPPE&t

 

[Infiniteloop]

I prefer harbeth than sonus. I think harbeth is more musical...is way better in instruments.

I’d have to disagree somewhat. Sonus Fabers do strings and acoustic instruments including vocals exceptionally well IMO.

 

[Cycleman]

well focal want space my friend.can't play so good in small room.

still i am reaching a good speaker for my taste.

 

[BigH]

I think far too many generalisations are some brands by the OP, I agree with Insider you should hear different speakers with an open mind. Also what you say about tweeters many would disagree about. You can get silk tweeters. Kefs are quite warm, give those a try if you can as a starting point but maybe a bit too dark for you?

What type of music do you play? This can be important for choosing amp and speakers.

How far from the front wall and side walls will these be?

 

[QuestForThe13thNote]

Just go out a listen to a shortlist is my recommendation. Not this one is warm, cold, bright. It’s all how it’s matched, also factor in peoples preferences and whatever anyone tells you might not be right for you, and a huge amount of variation. No 1 eardrum.

 

[Cycleman]

sonus and kef feel like something is missing.

The music that i love hearing is with 3-4 instrumens and usually female vocals....but i am all arround listener. i like tube amps but...i know with 2000euros for amp is difficult to find a good one.

from the front wall i can put it from 0 to 1,5 meter and side walls 0.8m.

 

[BigH]

That space is not so bad. For vocals and acoustic instruments I would have thought Harbeth would be worth trying, but may need a decent amp. B&W are no known for being very accurate. Can you try PMCs?

Which Kefs and with which amps did you hear them?

 

[newlash09]

Entry level brands. Then there is more value to be had buying close to their top implementations, than buying entry level speakers from high end manufacturers at the same price.

 

[rainsoothe]

The fact that metal tweeters sound harsh and paper domes sound smooth is a myth. For instance, Focal Aria 906 are really smooth, even if clear sounding, and they have metal tweeters. Or first gen B&W CM5, which sounded TOO smooth - again, metal tweeters. It has nothing to do with the material (or little to do with it). And yes, Focal Aria 906 are way better than B&W 685, and I used to have them in my 16 m2 room. They also don't require a lot of space, and work very well with ANY amplification. Focal Electra sound very good in demo rooms, but that's mostly thanks to acoustic treatment AND careful system matching - otherwise, they can sound too sharp. Yes, they worked marvelously with Jadis tube amp, but with Naim Uniti2 they were VERY fatiguing.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Just go out a listen to a shortlist is my recommendation. Not this one is warm, cold, bright. It’s all how it’s matched, also factor in peoples preferences and whatever anyone tells you might not be right for you, and a huge amount of variation. No 1 eardrum. 

You gave this guy some good advice!
And you never mentioned Cyrus or PMC!
I'm actually proud of you