Speakers that work close to a back wall

Guru Juniors, highly recommended if you need to have speakers close to the wall.

According to their UK  website Guru speakers are not currently available.

jon honeyball posted:

Dibbles. The answer to all known speaker questions.

Next! 

:-)

Arf.

The only question with Dibbles is how am I going to fit a pair of wardrobes in the livingroom?

yeti42 posted:

The only question with Dibbles is how am I going to fit a pair of wardrobes in the livingroom?

Come on, don't be negative! Actually, although DBLs are undoubtedly large-ish, they're only a cm or so deeper than SL2s. At least ,that's what I told SWMBO...

Neat Motive 2's are also pretty easily placed close to the back wall. They have their bassport at the bottom of the speaker so they're quite forgiving in that respect. Soundwise they're sort of comparable to PMC's (GB1). Also they're supersmall, so good WAF. If you're looking for monitor speakers I'd try something with frontside bass ports. I have a pair of Acoustic Energy Classic monitors in my secondary system (I use them mainly for reference listening when mixing in my home studio), they work pretty well close to the wall. Also, adjusting the speaker size/type to the room you're gonna use them is always going to make placement easier.

2nd hand SBLs would make the most sense here. I understand HH's point about the source being a bit light for the rest of the system. If you can see yourself buying the XP5XS or upgrading to the NDX then that would make for a more balanced result, but the ND5XS on its own is pretty good already and the result should work well.

If new is really what you're after, Rega's speakers work rather well close to the wall.

Frank.

I currently have a pair of Larsen 6.2 speakers on a home dem from MCRU, I'm very impressed - they seem to do everything very well - very deep and tuneful bass from a fairly small speaker, they are very revealing and they do the PRAT thing too. I may have found my new speakers....

Wild Rumpus posted:

I currently have a pair of Larsen 6.2 speakers on a home dem from MCRU, I'm very impressed - they seem to do everything very well - very deep and tuneful bass from a fairly small speaker, they are very revealing and they do the PRAT thing too. I may have found my new speakers....

Interesting - having recently suffered an unintended toddler/speaker interaction i may need to consider changing speakers to flat to back wall friendly items.

Doesn't seem to be many UK dealers at the moment though 

No, there aren't many dealers - but MCRU posted them to me for a home demonstration (they are around 200 miles from my house).

Wild Rumpus posted:

No, there aren't many dealers - but MCRU posted them to me for a home demonstration (they are around 200 miles from my house).

 

Ok thanks for that. I'll take a look at MCRU's website (bought stuff from them before). Enjoy the rest of your demo.

James

Excellent on the Larsen 6.2's, I really enjoy my 4.2's every day, works very well with my Uniti.

I would try a set of SBLs , I have a pair of mk2 against a solid wall and they work great , I was advised by plenty of people (non Naim owners) that they are crap and I would be disappointed , what do they know , one of the best speakers I have heard for the price , my friend is running some twenty series PMCs and the SBLs give a much more engaging sound IMO

Naim SBL and Larsen design are as far as possible speakers from each other with their very different performance

Funny but I do like both 

Interesting idea Jamesie although i suspect finding a decent pair would be difficult - did most of them come in black ash too. The Larsens do look very interesting though. Will investigate a bit further on the Larsen speakers and see if i can get a demo 

b_lund posted:

Naim SBL and Larsen design are as far as possible speakers from each other with their very different performance

Funny but I do like both 

 

Could you elaborate a bit? I'm guessing the SBLs need no further description here, but not many people here will likely have had a chance to hear the Larsens.

A review of the 8s I just found made them sound good, but possibly a bit excessive in the treble. Any idea about the 6.2s?

Pretty handsome (IMHO) - liking the look of the 6 

Running some new Rega RX3's right up to the wall, slightly toed in. Just need to be sure to have plenty of room either side for the side firing drivers. Sound amazing. Factory seconds for $1300. 

My dealer has Larsen's as well, but my wife thought those and the Neat Alpha's looked like waste bins, so that was that....

Dave***t posted:

b_lund posted:

Naim SBL and Larsen design are as far as possible speakers from each other with their very different performance

Funny but I do like both 

 

Could you elaborate a bit? I'm guessing the SBLs need no further description here, but not many people here will likely have had a chance to hear the Larsens.

A review of the 8s I just found made them sound good, but possibly a bit excessive in the treble. Any idea about the 6.2s?

There' s a similar thread on PFM forum where someone describe Larsen performance pretty well

They paint a large soundstage and wall behind speakers sort of dissapear

I noticed none analytic  tweeter excessives, on the contrary, many standmounts will reveal harshness etc more I guess.

Whats lacking is the pin point focus ordinary speakers provide, bit like how some Shahinian plays, Making Larsen very interesting for those wanting this kind of reproduction on lower budget.

They are based on the old Swedish Carlsson design, chiefdesigner was part of that era, hope he gets all the success deserved. Carlsson did not.

I heard Larsen Model 6 at a dealer recently, within a foot or so of the back wall, and was taken with their musicality/PRaT. Outstanding imaging and soundstage though maybe not the nth degree of clarity. The higher Model 8 is one I'm intrigued to get home for a demo, but they are rather costly in the US. It's tough to put a price limit on the value of PRaT, or for that matter the unconventional look of the Larsens.

Interesting - thanks chaps. What's the base of the Larsens like - just a plinth, spikes ? . Not really clear from any photos i've seen. 

James

Naim SBLs were on my list, but I have plasterboard walls and a suspended wooden floor and there is a consensus of opinion on Hi-Fi forums that they don't work well in such an environment.

james n posted:

Interesting - thanks chaps. What's the base of the Larsens like - just a plinth, spikes ? . Not really clear from any photos i've seen. 

James

 

No spikes or plinth - they just sit on the floor, it doesn't seem to hold them back, though...

Ah thanks for that Wild Rumpus. That works fine for me as it means they are even harder to push over. Checked out MCRU's home demo arrangement which makes things very easy so looks like i'll be giving them a go. Out of interest, how far do you have them apart ?

James