British Speakers

I'm surprised the SL6s are in there, I found them totally lifeless and with an rather 'odd' quality in the HF.

I never really got on with any LS3/5a design either, except for true near field use (i.e. up to 1.2m max).  I tend to think of them as long range headphones!

Depends what they were driven from and partnered with. The problems with the SL6 was they were the top of a range that got sold in all manner of outlets - not just specialists which meant they could be driven by some quite unsuitable components and were just an open window on a poor source.

Huge, Care to enlighten us with a more positive contribution, by suggesting  any other British speakers that AussieSteve might like in his Salon of Sound?   

Chris

I seem to recall that they were connected to a Mission Cyrus 2 with a PSX and a matching CD player.

Swapping for a set of Mission 770s brought life to the music, but at the expense of any mid range clarity (a very strong point of the SL6s) and a tweeter response that was lethal at twenty paces.

Ah yes - classic Mission systems of old. Lively . 

Depends how far back he wants to go - Classic ARC101's, Monitor Audio MA4's, various Celef models, RAM 150/200 - lots following the same sort of mold of Dalesford bass driver(s) and peerless tweeter. Something different how about the Meridian M2 / M3 with the 101 pre. 

All good stuff James, but where are the pics?! Let's keep this fantasy thread bright and fun.

chris

Depends entirely on his criteria...

KEF Reference 104 - Expensive, very good, horrible impedance characteristics, so needs an exceptional power amp.

KEF Q35 - too recent?  Excellent value, relatively easy to position, easy load to drive.

Whafedale Denton? - by no means the best sounding speaker, but introduces a LOT of people to HiFi

Castle Tyne? - did everything the Denton did (except for the popularity bit), but did it better?

Rogers Studio 1?  - very good in the classic BBC monitor vein, but too expensive.

BBC LS5/9?  - another good BBC monitor but very critical of partnering equipment and room positioning.

So, what are the criteria?

From Huge:

"So,  what are the criteria?"

They're laid out in AussieSteve's first post. I've failed on 2 of the 5 examples I've put  forward. But Steve doesn't appear to mind ;-)

C.

For the Museum of Speaker Cabinetry(!), I'd propose all the Spendor SP 'Classic' range SP2, SP1 and SP100.  All thee have fully matched veneers across the pairs, symmetrically placed on 5 of the six sides.

The SP3 could also be included is a smaller speaker was required for contrast.

Referring back to Steve's original post, naim did have a standmount - the n-Sat. An excellent little speaker which was somewhat overlooked as it was seen more as an AV speaker (more due to the name and it's appearance around the time of the n-Vi) - i liked mine and they did love a 300 up em .

There is a gap that is not filled by the Ovator series at the moment to produce a little stand mounter to fit with the entry level electronics. Saying that though there are plenty of non naim options around so perhaps the market isn't there for naim.  

No, no no...

Wharfedale Denton? Celestion SL6??  

I'm choking on my tea here!

How about starting off with a nice pair of JR149s? - some of you may recall the promo literature; a picture of Jim Rogers in his lab with prototype JR149s and a Naim NAP120...

Or one of Robin Marshall's designs; the EPOS ES14 is probably his best known.  Also a very nice match with Naim, as it happens...

Or perhaps the delightful Heybrook HB2?  These absolutely sang on the end of a Sondek and Quantum pre/power - probably even better with Naim amps.  

That's just for starters.  All stone cold classic brits, all fairly widely available for less than the cost of a new half-decent budget pair of speakers, all work well with Naim, and nothing too rare or esoteric should you need service or parts.

Or...

...a nice pair of n-Sats.  Not yet a classic, but surely destined to be so.  A gorgeous speaker to both see and to hear.  Works well with Naim kit too...

I've always fancied hearing the larger ATCs, e.g EL150, the B&W Nautilus (the snail), big PMCs such as the BB5 SE (also Fact 12 just to see if a small speaker can actually deliver), and the long-lusted-after diminutive Tannoy Westminster Royals as already pictured, so I suggest these for a start (two TL designs in there, and one horn).

Maybe I missed the word 'small' in the original post...

in in which case add Wison Benesch's Torus sub to whatever you have...

I have been doing some research and WOW! I didn't realize so many UK makers have made so many very cool speakers!!!  There is so much history here, and some beautiful designs. I didn't realize KEF had such a history. I love JBL, and I find British sound to compliment them as well as the whole British sound in general. My Marshall amp, built in the UK, has that famous sound that the Americans have copied well but not exactly. The large driver monitors from ATC and PMC look awesome. I have to revise my original plan, I now require a custom built 20,000sq/ft facility where I will house my museum of monitors. I will employ 4 people to work full time restoring and maintaining it. Did I mention tonight here in Oz we have a $30Million Lotto, which I am going to win! For interest, check out the room built by George Massenburg in Nashville for Blackbird Studios (Studio C) It is wild!

How about something ultra-modern looking (actually almost invisible despite its huge size), though still needing that Wilson Benesch sub: the Ferguson Hill FH001. (They do have their own matching subs as well, the FH002.)

Following that up, for a 20,000 sq ft listening, erm, room, an emphasis on efficiency using horn designs like the FH001 and the previously mentioned Tannoy Westminsters would seem very appropriate, so that also suggests the Lowther TP1 (corner-positioned of course).

Following this to its logical conclusion, my next suggestion is from the wrong side of the Atlantic, but i think the OP's own inclusion of the American JBL gives me licence to do so: how about something from Altec Lansing's "Voice of the Theatre" range? I'd suggest the A4, or maybe even the A2...

For complete contrast, in style, but from the same era, if more older British speakers are needed to fill the vintage section, it may be worth considering Leak 2075 and Celestion Ditton 66, and maybe the (original) Wharfedale Airedale.

Classic British speakers? Would the Epos ES14 qualify? I used them for years with a Naim NAC72/NAP140. Lovely match, made even better when I eventually added a Hicap.

Another candidate might be the ProAc Response 1SC. 

@ Richard Dane.

Great to be reminded of Quantum amps Richard. A very early audio memory of mine, back around 1980, was hearing a friend of my Father's system which consisted of an LP12/SyrinxPU/SupexSD900/QuantumPre/Power into Gale 401, playing Dark side of the moon. The amps kept blowing fuses, probably due to the volume.... but it was an amazing experience for a 15yr old, and one i've not forgotten.

My father back then ran a Hifi shop, so i guess i had no chance..... The mention of 'Gale' is enough for me, and should be on anyone's classic British speaker list.

Ah the old Quantum amps - I wanted an IA100 to go with my Heybrook TT2 - the appeal of something that looked like it was made from components sourced mostly from RS by some chap in a domestic garage could be easily overlooked in my teenage years 

Two Brit Classics. The Gale's are staggeringly good at recreating a Marshall Stack in my living room

Mr Tibbs

Still one of the most interesting threads on the fishy place. Fantastic workmanship and attention to detail on the rebuild of those 401's 

I remember listening to the 401s in mid 70s, when I settled on IMF TLS50s.  I rejected the Gales very quickly because the bottom end rolled off too much, and if I remember correctly, a rather harsh top end, too - the unusual appearance with the chrome ends fixes the sound, or rather my assessment of it, in my memory better than most of the speakers I auditioned then, most of which were instantly forgotten.

Thanks James for the kind comments. It was a lot of fun to do a 'diary' of the 401 restoration project and good that it helped a little to raise the profile of these marvellous 'speakers.

Re: IBs thoughts; 401s are like Naim 'speakers - they need to be close to a wall to give proper bass depth (its a sealed box thing). In fact the 401s are actually designed to work properly in a corner or on a bookshelf! I used mine for years placed on shelves in alcoves and they worked brilliantly there. Minimal impact on the room space into the bargain. It surprises me you thought the top end was harsh, since the tweeters (the venerable HF2000) are actually really quite refined, given a decent amplifier of course. The 401s really do seem to be a great match with Naim amps by the way.

Mr Tibbs