ProAc D2 v Studio 118

I went from Proac to Dynaudio, and they tick all the boxes that you're looking for, try to listen to a well run in pair because the overall transformation from new is really incredible.

Take a listen to the Special Forty,  Excite X series, or if you're looking to spend a little less check out the Emit series.

They are expressive, dynamic, punchy, and have the finest tweeter on the planet!

Adam, are you locked into a standmount only speaker ? Because the D20R with the ribbon tweeter may sway you otherwise. Also ProAc have just released the DT8 within the last week or so and may be worth a look. 

I loved my Response D2s, but when I moved to my current location where the room was quite large I had issues  - more on the low end. I tried the ProAc sub, but I am not crazy about subs in general, and never did feel like I got it dialed in correctly; what seemed to work for rock/jazz just wasn't right for orchestral and other "classical" recordings. Were I to move to a smaller listening space, I would seriously consider another pair.

But in my current space I am running D28s, and am very pleased with those.

I only heard the D2s with tube gear and they sounded great. I still own a pair of 115s and am looking towards the new RDB3s as an upgrade. Unfortunately Proac have become nearly impossible to demo where I live.

As Badlands mentioned you could give Dynaudio a try. I preferred them to Proac in a Simaudio Moon demo but did not get along with a pair of Excite X12 that I owned. Hooked up to a 65w Cambridge they sounded muffled with thumpy bass. With the exception of the fine tweeter I preferred a pair of $350 PSBs.

I would give ATC a try if only to confirm your preconceptions.

Yes, an amplifier with high current is definitely needed, otherwise they will sound like Iconoclast describes. Proac's also do better with high current amps, but are a little easier load on an amplifier than Dyn's.

badlands posted:

I went from Proac to Dynaudio, and they tick all the boxes that you're looking for, try to listen to a well run in pair because the overall transformation from new is really incredible.

Take a listen to the Special Forty,  Excite X series, or if you're looking to spend a little less check out the Emit series.

They are expressive, dynamic, punchy, and have the finest tweeter on the planet!

Sounds like a good bet to me. Worried they would be too smooth but I'll try them. Cheers

crackie posted:

Adam, are you locked into a standmount only speaker ? Because the D20R with the ribbon tweeter may sway you otherwise. Also ProAc have just released the DT8 within the last week or so and may be worth a look. 

I am. My room is too small 3mx4x for a standmounter at that size... but you are right... great speakers the D20R. Much better than the D2.

DrMark posted:

I loved my Response D2s, but when I moved to my current location where the room was quite large I had issues  - more on the low end. I tried the ProAc sub, but I am not crazy about subs in general, and never did feel like I got it dialed in correctly; what seemed to work for rock/jazz just wasn't right for orchestral and other "classical" recordings. Were I to move to a smaller listening space, I would seriously consider another pair.

But in my current space I am running D28s, and am very pleased with those.

Fine speaked. The D2 are good don't get me wrong... just a bit cagey for my tastes.

alanbass1 posted:

I would give ATC a try if only to confirm your preconceptions.

Maybe I should. SCM19 would probably be the room max.

So I'll try some Dyns and ATC.

Looks like ProAc might be releasing a new Studio range soon also. 

Many recording studios use ProAc Studio100's, SM100's and other makes for monitoring but not Response series.  There must be a reason for this.

cat345 posted:

Many recording studios use ProAc Studio100's, SM100's and other makes for monitoring but not Response series.  There must be a reason for this.

Probably because they want speakers that are as flat as possible for hearing as faithfully as possible whats in the mix. Not necessarily what everybody wants.

cat345 posted:

Many recording studios use ProAc Studio100's, SM100's and other makes for monitoring but not Response series.  There must be a reason for this.

The Response range are quality but they seem to dip in the mids to me.

Whereas studio range are seemingly flatter.

I don't know about the SM100 - I hear they are more revealing and critical than the consumer Studio range; 110/115/118.

Maybe it's worth looking into but they only come in horrid black. 

Look like product have a new Studio consumer ranged coming. 

ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

cat345 posted:

Many recording studios use ProAc Studio100's, SM100's and other makes for monitoring but not Response series.  There must be a reason for this.

The Response range are quality but they seem to dip in the mids to me.

Whereas studio range are seemingly flatter.

I don't know about the SM100 - I hear they are more revealing and critical than the consumer Studio range; 110/115/118.

Maybe it's worth looking into but they only come in horrid black. 

Look like product have a new Studio consumer ranged coming. 

I think you can have the SM100's in cherry too, just like the Studio100.

ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

cat345 posted:

Many recording studios use ProAc Studio100's, SM100's and other makes for monitoring but not Response series.  There must be a reason for this.

The Response range are quality but they seem to dip in the mids to me.

Whereas studio range are seemingly flatter.

I don't know about the SM100 - I hear they are more revealing and critical than the consumer Studio range; 110/115/118.

Maybe it's worth looking into but they only come in horrid black. 

Look like product have a new Studio consumer ranged coming. 

The Proac Studio SM100 in black looks better than the D2 in whatever finish including the premium finishes.