British Speakers

I've aways had a liking to aesthetics of Ruark Equinox 

But i've never actually heard them, or even seen them in the flesh.

And never purchased them because a audition would involve travelling too far.

Going by the rear port and need for room space, they'd probably disappoint in my home.

But i still say, although a bit dated they still look fabulous and funky.

Anyone ever heard them on naim amplification?

Debs

To Christopher_M - I had a pair of BC1's in regular use from 1975 right up to last year (when a 'friend' blew them for me whilst house-sitting).  I really miss them - there are still some things they do which are unmatched by modern speakers (at least at real world prices).

To Huge - My cat used to sit on the coffee table in front of me facing the speakers and listening to music.  Not only that - he would sit in the EXACT stereo sweet spot.  I know because I checked!  I don't believe that was just a coincidence.

Unfortunately BC1s did have limited power handling and fairly low sensitivity, which made them vulnerable to abuse.  If you can try, listening to a pair of Spendor SP2s, however they need to be the right ones...

SP2 (mk1), SP2/3e and SP2/3R2 are usually considered the best of the series, although the R2s do have a subtly different balance that you might not like so much.

Sp2/2s are best avoided

SP2/3 (non -enhanced) offer little over the mk1s (just a small increase in bass extension and wider HF dispersion) but are not as clean in the crossover region as the SP2/3e

SP2/R (as opposed to R2) was an attempt to make the speaker sound faster and more modern that unfortunately robbed it of the best of it's classic presentation.

I am planning a two pronged attack: -

1. I'm going to see if i can acquire a second-hand pair of the bextrene bass units for the BC1's and have a go at fixing them myself.  and
2. Drag myself kicking and screaming into the 21st century.  The Spendor D7's seem as if they might be the spiritual successor to the BC1.  I will, of course, need to have a proper listen to them.  But even at a noisy show I gained the impression that they might be the sort of speaker that I would be happy to live with.  Part 2 will have to wait until I've finished sorting out the electronics though.

in the meantime I'm using (and enjoying) a pair of KEF LS50's which actually seem to be strong in some of the same areas as the BC1.  I miss the bottom octave though.

The current stuff is also pretty nice - my big Harbeth Monitor 40.1s

Yeah - those are really nice - solidly out of my price range unless I score a Lotto win...

Me too DrMark, but ooh they are very nice. The Spendor SP100R2 look awesome as well, although they don't have the bottom end of the Harbeths apparently. Either way, both would be nice!

I use the Spendor SP100R2s, selected in preference over the Harbeth 40.1s, in a biamped configuration - an SN2 driving the upper registers and a 250.2 the lower registers. Source is mainly a Marantz NA-11S1 streamer, which I preferred to an NDX. All gear are fed by a PS Audio P5 power regenerator that in turn is fed by a dedicated electrical line. Cables are by Naim.

I'm very happy with the results.

I know you say you are happy but according to received Naim lore, it's worth trying the better amp on the tweeters. Only a suggestion.

Chris

I would politely disagree on that, the 250.2 is better served powering the bass drivers and lower frequencies which require the most power. Personally I bi-amp as well however I use the 200 for the top end which allows for transients and a seamless blend.  It is vital both amps have identical gains. Cheers

Thanks Chris. I did try it that way but wasn't too happy with the results.

Fair enough. My own style of Naim-a-holicism demands pre and power even though my speakers are bi-wirable   :-)

C.

I think that may be the way forward for me at some stage in the future..

AussieSteve,

Along with the BC1s, you are going to want some of these:

Cheers,

Chris

Chris, great stuff! What are the horn speakers?

Thanks. No horns there. From the top:

Quad ESl 63

Kef 105

Celestion SL6

Linn Kan

Talking of horns, you'd probably want a pair of Tannoy Westminsters too:

C.

Gorgeous, but are these designed to replay anything but Elgar?

Elgar  !!!  you cannot be serious

Siritland, a London club, has them.  

Well worth a visit,  ab-so-loot-ly awesome .

.......   Crosby Still & Nash, PF, you name any band,  rock, metal, acoustic, folk, even rap,  then add any/all smooth jazz, classical, baroque ,  whatever,   the Westminsters do it better than any other.  

  http://spiritland.club/

There's something that looks just right about the Kans on their dedicated stands. Clean and simple. 

I wasn't being, in fact! It's just that they look a little Elgarian... Or perhaps just Victorian.. But I have heard them once, wonderful, even with large and bluish Macintoshes..

(Again not serious)

I always thought it was Box Only Sound Extra.