Speaker match with 272/250

Northto posted:

About the room/speaker interaction thing, it's somewhat counter-intuitive, but it would seem entirely possible that a lower-range speaker can yield superior overall performance.  Higher specs in isolation don't necessarily translate into better sound in real-world systems and room.

That is sooo true.

C.

Of course if you take that to the extreme you would never consider putting large, full range speakers in a small room. Therefore reducing the size, output and frequency range of a speaker should have a positive impact in small to medium size rooms. So I can quite understand how a smaller, lower range (and cheaper) speaker might sound better in a room of restricted size.

Bigger and more expensive is certainly not always better. So there is absolutely no reason to be concerned (or have reservations) if Motives sound better (more controlled) than Momentums in certain rooms. It would be good though to give the Momentums a fair fight and use the correct stands if at all possible.

Thanks Nigel. I have moved the Momentums into another room and they seemed happier there. Another factor to consider is that these are all brand new speakers, so not run in yet. That does apply to all of them.

later today I will be conducting A/B testing for the first time and tomorrow (Monday) is decision day.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Any chance of trying the Elite? It's better than the Motive and doesn't have that silly leaning back thing going on. 

Silly leaning back thing? Wasn't that all well and good in the past year with your Twenty.23's?

Well I think my wife and I have made a decision.

we selected three groups of music all on the Cdx2.

group one was

Young Man in America by Anais Mitchell, Magnolia by Lucinda Williams and Banks of the Nile by Sandy Denny/Fotheringay

group two, chosen by my wife, was

Your Mama by Frank Zappa, Awaken by Yes and Xanadu by Rush

group three was

Mahler Symphony 9 (BPO/Karajan), Schubert Trout Quintet (Schiff/Hagen quartet) and Mozart Violin Concerto 3 (Anne-Sophie Mutter)

We swapped between the Motives and the Momentums, which we placed on my old Kan stands sitting sideways as they seemed to prefer that in their warm up session.

Both produced some great results and Neat should be proud to have these speakers in their range. The Motives produced a lot of lovely rhythm and timing, just a little extension on the bottom end which never felt overbearing and a very sweet tweeter. When driven hard in group two they did begin to get a touch muddy and in group three they did not have the grandeur or scale of the Momentums, hardly a surprise. The Momentums seemed to have run in very nicely and certainly enjoyed the wider spaces of my new hifi room. Timing and rhythm was much improved and the level of detail is simply amazing. Hard driven in group two = No problem and group three produced simply the best sounding non-live classical music I have personally heard (I am sure there is potential for better, but that is for the next upgrade, or hopefully proper stands and a bit more run in).

So, the decision... The thunder monsters, sorry I mean Momentums will be staying in Chez Belfast Taxman. Bad luck Motives, a lovely speaker.

Now that is how to conduct a home demo.

This also shows the value of an extended and logical demo in your own system to ensure one is making the right decision. As you mention, things are likely to improve further as the speakers settle in and when sat upon the correct stands.

I am sure you will have years of enjoyment from your system complete with Momentums.

Happy to hear that the journey has ended satisfactorily. 

Enjoy!

And to finish, I have opted for the single wire rather than the bi- wire, which was extra.

Hurrah!

HH - I only did it for you