Recommend some speakers?
Posted by: Top Cat on 24 October 2000
I'm looking for a new pair of speakers. I have on loan a pair of old Audio Physic Virgos, which are superb speakers, and I have first refusal on them, but I want to find out what else there is at around the same price which might suit my ideal sound better.
First up, budget - AP Virgos (6yo) £1200 (new cost is £3500) - grey imports, though. These are Stereophile Class A speakers (FWIW), and are very nice, but the age is my only concern. I would prefer to spend less, but am prepared to hang off until I've saved some more if there are much better speakers just outside my price ceiling.
I like a clean, detailed sound more than a live sound; PRaT are important, as is imaging, slam, high end 'air' and resolution. My listening room is small, but I won't always be living where I am, so the listening room will hopefully be much bigger within a couple of years.
I'll add at this point that I've discounted all Linn speakers, and SBLs. These just don't do it for me, although I'm not knocking them. I may upgrade my amps to Mana Stealth within the next couple of years, but that's just a maybe, so I want a speaker that is basically happy with more modest amps as well as bigger brutes...
Bass is not an issue - I'd rather I had an ultra-high resolution speaker with less bass (as I have a pair of heavy duty REL subs already).
Any pointers would be welcome...
TC '..'
I have first refusal on the (borrowed) Audio Physic Virgos, but before I part with 1200 notes, I thought I'd ask again to see if there is anything around at that price which can
touch these speakers for their versatility and musicality.
My biggest quibble with the speakers is their rather unusual requirements on placement - i.e. they like to be as far away from any wall as possible, spaced wide-apart, with the listener
sitting against the back wall. Odd. It does, however, work very well. Still, in a small room, I'd like to ask once more if there is a speaker out there which can provide me with a similar (or better) sound in a smaller package or with a much
more room-friendly position requirement, and at around the same price or less.
I know that I'm not likely to find a better speaker for detail and imaging and other round-earth qualities at this price, and it has the speed, resolution and timing to carry off the PRaT thing with ease also. However, I'm willing to have a 'last-gasp' look around and see if there are any 'easier-to-live-with' options. After all, my room is too small to have muckle great speakers planted in the middle of it... 
Any last minute advice, or should I just go for it?
To date, these are the best speakers I've ever heard (including ATC50s, Living Voice, Naim SBL, Kans, my old Castles, etc.), but I'm everso cautious when it comes to the final push, as I don't intend ever upgrading again (famous last words )
Cheers,
John
quote:
like a clean, detailed sound more than a live sound; PRaT are important, as is imaging, slam, high end 'air' and resolution.
Ah... Only this? That's easy...
There are two speakers strongly recommend for some auditioning that are smaller cost less and can deliver astonishing sound quality. I know the Virgo's quite well.
First, Sonus Faber Signums. Good PRaT with holographic imaging with bags of air and transparency. And, although a matter of taste, they look gorgeous as a bonus. I have it's predecessor Electa and still haven't found a replacement worth the investment.
Second, and this may surprise a few, The PMC LB1 or FB1. Yes, PMC stands for Professional Monitor Company. I've always been VERY sceptical towards PMC but I had a good listen to them a few weeks ago and I must say 'NOT BAD AT ALL!' Immense PRaT. Better than Sonus Faber in this respect. Imaging is a bid less holographic and airy but still very good. The have a very natural and coherent kind of sound that just makes you to put on disk after disk. The bigger floorstanding FB1, being a full-range transmission line adds trouser-flapping yet taut and detailed bass as if it's the most simple thing in the world. Impressive.
Richard.
People who like what they do frequently describe JM Labs as an excellent combination of flat and round earth speakers. i.e. big expansive soundstage, very detailed, good tonality + good PRaT and musicality. Obviously people who don't liek them describe them as lacking the attirbutes of both flat and round earth speakers.
AFAICT they like a bit of space but don't have to be right out in the room like your current speakers.
Not sure about your price range given that the Virgos you are looking at are s/h but the better JMs are very pricey. You really want one of the Utopia models - there is a standmount Utopia for about 4k GBP or the very highly rated Mezzo Utopia for about 7.5k (a big floorstander with the air moving ability to compete with NBLs and ATCs). There is a cheaper range -- the Electras -- which may be worth checking out but are not as generally well received as the Utopias. Electras come is all sorts of prices and in standmount and floorstnding flavours.
I wouldn't give much for your chances of finding any s/h as they are relatively rare in the UK. If you want to know more or hear a pair you might want to contact Audio Counsel in Manchester who sell them. I'm not aware of any other dealers who sell them.
>> even if I think they look a bit odd <<
They are horrible aren't they. French speakers are as dodgy as thier beef 
Matthew
quote:
The Sonus Faber Signums offer a wider & deeper soundstage with more transparency and air (SF hallmarks). They give more insight on what is happening 'on the stage' so to speak with unbelievable detail.
I think Richard must have believed he was posting on the Krell forum for a minute ;-)
