ProAc D20R Speakers

Personally I find Proac's as one of the finest sounding speakers. I don't own any of them any longer, but I have owned four pairs through the years, starting with the D1.5 through to D25's. I also had a pair of Tablette Reference 8 Sigs I had paired with a Nait 5i and a CD 5i. Just a great sounding combo, what a  transparent, see through, sounding speaker. The only speaker I have ever heard besides Quads that can completely disappear.

I have the D40R and they are pretty good.   I have used the Nordost jumpers in their diagonal configuration and have been very happy with the setup.     The D40R's require more power than you think and can sound thin without it.   The ribbon tweeter is very good.  I actually replaced the ribbon on one of mine over the holidays and it was a great experience to take the unit apart and put it back together successfully.   We have gotten nothing but compliments on ours. 

Pyrrhon posted:

Try 24" from the wall if you can.

Like stringerbell said you'll have up and downs for a while. It's very important to not judge now. Expect very weird sound. They happen at first. Even naim amps sometimes fall off and need time or replug. I always keep a openness for those odd days. I usually reconcile on mornings when In  a good mood. That's when magic gets back and naim wit proac is mind blowing. 

I notice in the members photo section of the forum that a lot of speakers are sat right against the wall.  Mine are 12" at the moment and it does not seem to make a big difference if I move them closer or further out.

Might be different in a month or so.

staffy posted:

Pyrrhon posted:

Try 24" from the wall if you can.

Like stringerbell said you'll have up and downs for a while. It's very important to not judge now. Expect very weird sound. They happen at first. Even naim amps sometimes fall off and need time or replug. I always keep a openness for those odd days. I usually reconcile on mornings when In  a good mood. That's when magic gets back and naim wit proac is mind blowing. 

I notice in the members photo section of the forum that a lot of speakers are sat right against the wall.  Mine are 12" at the moment and it does not seem to make a big difference if I move them closer or further out.

Might be different in a month or so.

Hum 1 foot is an in between, try 2 foot vs right at the wall first to train your ear. Play a bass heavy song and turn up the volume. Once you ear it there is no room to argue, youll see, its obvious. Concerning the other on this forum, maybe we can give them a free big smile once they know what gains can be had for free.

Your speakers are bottom ported, so it shouldn't make as much difference as say a back ported design.

Proac designed the speakers specifically that way so room placement wouldn't be so critical.

Thats interesting Badlands, as ProAc in there instruction/warranty leaflet that came with the speakers say, 24" from a rear wall is recommended.

As a ProAc owner (D28s) I use the "F" connector and keep my tweeters to the inside.

I know some on this forum dislike ProAc intensely, but I have had these, Response D2 (with the ProAc sub) and Tablette 50 Sigs and enjoyed them all.

staffy posted:

Thats interesting Badlands, as ProAc in there instruction/warranty leaflet that came with the speakers say, 24" from a rear wall is recommended.

I didnt know that proac camme with that number too, but all I can tell is that I got this notion from playing around with my older spendors s6e. They where back ported, now I have proac 148 bottom ported and its even more true so the rule that bottom ported can be placed along a wall is false. Speaker meant to be placed on a wall have a completely different design: look for Totem Tribe as a good exemple. We could argue for years but one only needs to try the extremes like 24'' and right at the wall with the volume up and a bassy song to train his ear. Once the ear is trained then you start to notice inch by inch. When you enter a room with speaker against a wall you know without looking. But its not only something you know like an abstract notion its really a better sound where its gets quicker, refined and detailed rather then blurred and you and up enjoying a lot more your system.

Sorry I made a mistake.  ProAc say 18" from a rear wall.  I was quoting a members distance.

staffy posted:

Thats interesting Badlands, as ProAc in there instruction/warranty leaflet that came with the speakers say, 24" from a rear wall is recommended.

That's interesting staffy!

From the Proac website:

The new plinth and vent design arrangement not only produce a quality of bass found in much larger speakers, but also offer a better interaction with the listening room, making cabinet placement less critical.

I have my D30R's about 24 inches from the back wall and the side walls. It is true that the bottom vented bass port does make them more forgiving from a positioning standpoint, but they still like to be able to breath, and in my opinion sound better when allowed to do so.

I now have a 100 hours listening on my D20's.   All of a sudden I am falling in love with music again.  They are still  11" from the rear wall and toed in .   This is due to the proverbial house decorating taking place, so it will be a week or so before I can move them 24" out.

The sound stage is spot on and clarity of vocals is very good.  I am hearing things that I never heard in the past on both vinyl and cd's.

Not sure how to describe bass.  ??   Its not so much boomy, but not tight and snappy either.  More of a thud than anything else.

I would be really happy if it were not for that 5-1 thrashing by Chelsea.

Which Nait are you using with them?

Nait XS2

My next purchase will be the Naim CD5XS, before the prices go up.  At present I am using a 16 year old CD5.

staffy posted:

My next purchase will be the Naim CD5XS, before the prices go up.  At present I am using a 16 year old CD5.

It was the CD5XS that brought Naim to my attention. I love mine.

staffy posted:

My next purchase will be the Naim CD5XS, before the prices go up.  At present I am using a 16 year old CD5.

Staff if you want a good advice stop buying blind.

The same i told you about amplifiers applies to sources.

You won't need replacing the cd5 -if in order- for a CD5XS, you'd better consider a higher model for a real upgrade and matching to the excellent speakers, thinking about CDX2. 

Also, have you  a dedicated rack for the electronics with individual shelves?

You posted earlier that you had no bass slam - just a thud, which is why I asked about your amplifier. In my view, you aare over speakerds and when you get into this position, it's expensive to get out of. You really should be looking at a CDx2 with XPS, and a bigger amplifier - Supernait 2 at least. This sort of electronics upfront will kick the speakers into life and hopefully give you what you are looking for. I certainly wouldn't be going for a CD5xs, good as it is. 

Usually when speakers have a tweeter that's not set centrally, the crossover has been designed to favour one way more than the other, though it's always worth trying out swapping over, maybe ones room will favour having tweeters on the outside and another room will favour having tweeters on inside.. Nice to have the choice, as bass and imagery can change.

Antonio1 posted:

staffy posted:

My next purchase will be the Naim CD5XS, before the prices go up.  At present I am using a 16 year old CD5.

Staff if you want a good advice stop buying blind.

The same i told you about amplifiers applies to sources.

You won't need replacing the cd5 -if in order- for a CD5XS, you'd better consider a higher model for a real upgrade and matching to the excellent speakers, thinking about CDX2. 

Also, have you  a dedicated rack for the electronics with individual shelves?

Toni, all I have ever owned over a 16 year period is Naim. LOL  I am not buying blind and hoping it all works out.   Yes I do have a good rack, solid oak all round with 4"x4" solid oak legs a top shelf for the turntable thats 2" of solid oak.   Must get a pic up some day.

Hungryhalibut posted:

You posted earlier that you had no bass slam - just a thud, which is why I asked about your amplifier. In my view, you aare over speakerds and when you get into this position, it's expensive to get out of. You really should be looking at a CDx2 with XPS, and a bigger amplifier - Supernait 2 at least. This sort of electronics upfront will kick the speakers into life and hopefully give you what you are looking for. I certainly wouldn't be going for a CD5xs, good as it is. 

Sorry HungaryH, not quite sure what you mean?? I am over speakerds?   The reason I fancied the CD5XS is that after demoing the player with my speakers the overall ambiance was much better.  THEN when a Chord Qute was connected to the CD5XS (which I cannot do with the old CD5)  it sounded sublime.

I am hoping that when the speakers are moved a little more into the room and fully run in, I will get the sound I want.

Thanks for taking an interest HH, Toni and Tobyjug.

IF I don't like it I don't buy it.

Hi Staffy, My name's Antonio.

A good rack definitely helps.

Anyway as you listened to the equipment and sounded fine , buy the cd5x and replace the older, not only it will sound great on its own and provide a nice step up but that's definitely going to cure the thump too. 

staffy posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

You posted earlier that you had no bass slam - just a thud, which is why I asked about your amplifier. In my view, you aare over speakerds and when you get into this position, it's expensive to get out of. You really should be looking at a CDx2 with XPS, and a bigger amplifier - Supernait 2 at least. This sort of electronics upfront will kick the speakers into life and hopefully give you what you are looking for. I certainly wouldn't be going for a CD5xs, good as it is. 

Sorry HungaryH, not quite sure what you mean?? I am over speakerds?   The reason I fancied the CD5XS is that after demoing the player with my speakers the overall ambiance was much better.  THEN when a Chord Qute was connected to the CD5XS (which I cannot do with the old CD5)  it sounded sublime.

I am hoping that when the speakers are moved a little more into the room and fully run in, I will get the sound I want.

Thanks for taking an interest HH, Toni and Tobyjug.

IF I don't like it I don't buy it.

Sorry - it's the autocorrect on iPad! It's supposed to say 'overspeakered' i.e. your speakers are in a class above your source and amplifier. Hopefully what I wrote will now make sense. 

Antonio1 posted:

Hi Staffy, My name's Antonio.

A good rack definitely helps.

Anyway as you listened to the equipment and sounded fine , buy the cd5x and replace the older, not only it will sound great on its own and provide a nice step up but that's definitely going to cure the thump too. 

Apologies Antonio