best standmount speaker for naim 252/300 ???

Rael

I heard the Wilson Benesch Arcs At the end of CDX / 82 / Hi / 250 a few years ago, and they sounded fantastic, so I'm sure would be even better on the end of your system. They're pretty tiny, but sound wonderfully clear and pure. Maybe not the most "round earth" qualities I know, but I played some Martin Simpson acoustic guitar through them, and they were stunning. (They look pretty lovely too).

IIRC, they cost about £2500, and this includes the integral stand to which they are bolted. This is compulsory i think, as they are ported downwards, and the stand is shaped around these ports.

I'm sure some other people will ask why stand-mounts are the choosen route, as if you've got room for the stands, then you should have room for a compact floor-stander. You could pick up a 2nd hand pair of SBL's for under £1,500.

Just a thought!

Cheers

Matt

Rael,

Why not try one of the "bigger" ProAc's?

Reto

Rael,

The Craffts are very difficult to drive. You can try them, but bear this in mind when you do since they absolutely suck power.

Another speaker that is also difficult to drive, but very good is the Totem Mani-2. This has a ported Isobarik arrangement and so gives great bass, but difficult to drive!

The Wilson Benesch Arc is a great little speaker that is beautifully made too. Well worth a look if possible since it's an easy load.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Rael,

I would like to encourage you to give a pair of Wilson Benesch Arcs a serious home demo.
I have a pair of them at the end of my NAC 112/FC 2/NAP 150-amplification for one year now. And every evening they please me with their clear and natural sound ... I'm sure that your much much stronger amplification is no waste of money with them ... definitely.

As Frank Abela pointed out they are an easy load at 88 db and my humble 5-series has no problems to drive them. But to me it seems equally true that a stronger amplifier will really make them sing.

So again: give them a try.

To all: have a nice weekend

Martin

Rael,
I am using the Dynaudio Special 25 Anniversary, a very nice standmount spk, it has a 8" woofer but it's sensitivity reaches 88db, my nap150 handles it without much problem. Its a fast and neutual spk,worth a try.

happy listening
ys

Thanks to all for your input.

The Neat MFS and Wilson Benesch Arcs look like likely candidates to audition and certainly the SBL is an interesting option as a floorstander, which I was however trying to avoid due to space limitations.

Cheers

Rael

Alex

I hear your point reference the footprint it is not simply the space but the my room size/shape is more likely to lend itself to standmounts IMHO.

I have tried with the Proac Signature 8's standmounts ( RRP approx 899 ) and Proac D15's ( RRP approx 1795 ) and in alot of ways the Sigs sounded better and this was on atacama SE6 stands which I am also looking to improve.

I still have the Sig 8's but am keen to upgrade to a much better standmount.

Thanks again for your input

Rael

I had N805s - the S805s had better be a whole lot better in the bass and treble!

I demmed WB Arcs - icy cold in the wrong room but a very nice speaker (I'd also dem Shahinian Arcs for something different).

I demmed Craffts with a 250 - I don't think the drive units actually moved; Frank's right, real pigs to drive.

All in all, another vote for the MFS.

Alex

I've never heard the MFS. I nearly ended up with a pair, but before I had a chance to hear them I was seduced by a s/h pair of Audio Physic Virgo III floorstanders, which utterly blew away my Neat Petite/Gravitas.

Anyway, what I want to say is that Neat are quite possibly the best hifi company I've yet dealt with - in terms of product, customer service and just their general attitude. So, what with sterling recommendations on the sound of the MFS, favourable reviews and the fact that they are a wonderfully friendly company to deal with, I can't see any reason for looking further*.

John

* I feel a bit hypocritical given my defection - but that was for s/h speakers at a fantastic price, so it's maybe a little defence???

TC '..'
"Sun went down in honey. Moon came up in wine. Stars were spinnin' dizzy, Lord, the band kept us so busy we forgot about the time."

Obviously Kans are great speakers, but they may not be expensive enough for you.

Paul Rowlands

Paul

You need Kabers.

Think how nice the walnut would look as you gaze through your French Windows onto your garden....

Regards

Mike

On the Yellow Brick Road and happy

quote:

---

Obviously Kans are great speakers

---

Cough, splutter, you made me snort tea through my nose when I read that... behave

John

TC '..'
"Sun went down in honey. Moon came up in wine. Stars were spinnin' dizzy, Lord, the band kept us so busy we forgot about the time."

The issue for me is not standmount v. floorstander, its freestanding v. wall-hugger (is there a snappier name for that?).

Kans on stands and my Allaes each go very close to the wall and so do not intrude into our living room. My ProAc Response 2's need to be at least 3 feet from the rear wall and so are very (read: not gonna happen) intrusive.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Mike - still got the kabers then? (Probably not for me, but I don't understand why you're having trouble shifting them.)
TC - Not a Kan fan then? (Mine have slightly too much bass at the moment .)

Paul Rowlands

quote:

---

TC - Not a Kan fan then?

---

Not really. I've tried, really I have - after all, many rave about them. It's just that, in every single moment I've ever spent listening to Kans on the back of systems great, good and bad, they've always sounded screechy and very coloured. Sure, they time well and there's no bloat, but it's not a sound I could live with as to my ear their sound keeps reminding me of that time I connected a Denon amp to the speaker in an Alba radio alarm clock... and I am not kidding with this!

It's not a question of 'hating' Kans - too many people love them for me to write them off entirely - it's just that, in every system I have heard which had Kans, they were unpleasant speakers. Ironically, every time I hear systems with Briks, I like what I hear. Must be the fact that Kans don't have any useful bass fundamentals, only bass harmonics, and therefore I find it difficult to live with.

ANother irony is the fact that many regard Neat's Petite as the true heir to the 'modern Kan' throne. I really, really rate Petites and think they are vastly superior to Kans in most every way, especially frequencies from 45Hz up...

John

PS. If anyone wishes to let me hear their Kan-based system, I would be delighted to try to like these little ba*ds. After all, I have a Nait 2 which could do with some speakers, and Kans are an obvious and inexpensive choice...

TC '..'
"Sun went down in honey. Moon came up in wine. Stars were spinnin' dizzy, Lord, the band kept us so busy we forgot about the time."

Hi !

Don't know about you, but on your place I will take a listen to Naim SL2 or Quad 989, because nothing else will be interested me if I would have electronics like you.

Ozren