one of those 'what speaker' posts.....

Inevitably I would add Kudos S20 to the list, but also Neat and Dynaudio.  

Regards,

Lindsay

I would echo Lindsay's recommendation for the Kudos S20, which I heard at Cymbiosis on the end of a top flight LP12/552/500 system. Tremendous sound from what is a relatively small floor stander. 

I would suggest trying the 700 series B&Ws, I’ve only heard them at a show, but they sounded very musical there. I use 10 year old 800 series and think they work really well on the end of a Naim rig.

I've heard 25.23 and really liked those. I currently use Dynaudio Contour C20 with 272/XPS DR/250 DR that I would also recommend. 

It is difficult to recommend speakers as they all sound so different and it depends what you like in terms of sound - perhaps it would be worth describing what characteristics you’re seeking, or what you feel needs improving over your present soeakers. Meanwhile, if I were looking I’d only consider secondhand or ex-dem to maximise buying power. 

Your room would take decent floorstanders - however bang in the centre of the room is a bad place acoustically, though near it can be very good -an oft suggested theoretically ideal position is 38% of the length of the room (from the wall behind the speakers or (second best) from rear wall).

No idea of whether they would vpbe of interest, but there was a pair of PMC EB1i speakers advertised on the salmon trouty media site a week ago within your budget.

Innocent Bystander posted:

No idea of whether they would vpbe of interest, but there was a pair of PMC EB1i speakers advertised on the salmon trouty media site a week ago within your budget.

I gather these are reasonably high impedance - would they be happy driven by the 272/250DR, do you know?  They look like quite a speaker.....

2md hand/ex-demo is where I'm looking, tbh. As for room, not ideal but it's a multipurpose family room, and I suppose listening is mostly 40% from speakers so ok.  Off sweet-spot performance is also key as kids playing/eating/cooking happens in same room in different places.....

You're going to find that a huge number of members have a 250DR and that among them there is enormous variation in speakers. And since no one has your ears or room, recommendations that mean anything are hard to come by.

The good news is, the 250DR works pretty well with most speakers within it's driving capabilities. The bad news that doesn't narrow down your choice. The GBP 3K area is really crammed with excellent speakers. I couldn't even begin to recommend anything (including my own). In situations like this, the easiest way to make a shortlist is:

• List up anything in your budget you can reasonable travel to demo and hear with your amp.
• Remove all those that have placement requirements incompatible with your room.
• Remove those you aesthetically can't live with due to size, finish options, just plain ugly.

Then listen to what's left.

xcentric posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

No idea of whether they would vpbe of interest, but there was a pair of PMC EB1i speakers advertised on the salmon trouty media site a week ago within your budget.

I gather these are reasonably high impedance - would they be happy driven by the 272/250DR, do you know?  They look like quite a speaker.....

2md hand/ex-demo is where I'm looking, tbh. As for room, not ideal but it's a multipurpose family room, and I suppose listening is mostly 40% from speakers so ok.  Off sweet-spot performance is also key as kids playing/eating/cooking happens in same room in different places.....

Unfortunately I can’t comment on 250DR suitability as I don’t know. If I was looking for a Naim amp to drive them I don’t think I’d look lower than a 300 - which isn’t saying a 250 wouldn’t work, but I doubt it would improve on my Bryston, based on transient power capability. They’re actually low impedance, nominally 4Ω.

40% is not far from 38, and certainly better than either dead centtre of right against a wall.

Ruarks work great with Naim, I’d check to make sure the drivers are tight before you do a change.

Innocent Bystander posted:

It is difficult to recommend speakers as they all sound so different and it depends what you like in terms of sound - perhaps it would be worth describing what characteristics you’re seeking,

Musical, engaging, foot-tapping involvement.  Not overly bright.  Good soundstage and separation, decent but not overly imposing bass. Clear vocals.

Mixture of music from rock to pop to female vocalists to classic: Cohen to Queen, Amy Winehouse to ZZ Top, Carmina to Mozart..... Beautiful South to Northern Soul; Shakey to So Solid.....

You can do much better than your current speakers and I am not keen on any of those on your wish list too.

Russel K, Wilson Benesch or PMC would be my suggestion. 

D7 if  they are in your budget.

I heard a paid of Q Acoustics Concept 500 connected to a N272+ NAP250 at my dealer and they sounded really nice....  but they were placed in a more 'traditional' positioning....

As other have said - you really need to try and gt to listen to what ever speaker you narrow down to in your room to make sure that they are delivering what you are looking for 

Kudos S10 on expensive stands, Kudos S20, Russell K Red 150, Proac D30RS and Q Acoustics Concept 500 would be a pretty comprehensive shortlist.  I've heard the first 4 on the end of a 250DR and they are all very good indeed.  There is no clear winner though.  Your room and your taste will determine which one suits you best.

Happy auditioning, FT

At that price range as said there are many speakers to suit taste... my listening room is just slightly smaller than yours, and therefore I suggest the ATC SCM19s on wooden open frame stands are worth an audition... the Russel K speakers are definitely worth an audition too... although can sound a little tiring after a while with some electronics and lack of appropriate dampening  in room.... but they offer an extremely engaging, insightful, if perhaps not totally tonally natural, presentation of the recording,

Hi Xcentric,

I did a similar exercise recently. Your system (especially if you consider NDX2 and dedicated pre) is very good, so I would aim for a bit better loudspeakers. I auditioned Q Acoustic 500 and these are very good, but if you go to the likes Sonus Faber Olympica, Kef Reference or Focal Kanta/Utopia, you will be impressed. Your system deserves this quality. B&W 700 series - to my ears - do not match this level. 

xcentric posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

No idea of whether they would vpbe of interest, but there was a pair of PMC EB1i speakers advertised on the salmon trouty media site a week ago within your budget.

...... Off sweet-spot performance is also key as kids playing/eating/cooking happens in same room in different places.....

If they are available near you, I would look at Duevel Enterprise speakers. No need to sit in a sweetspot with these and a very engaging sound.

Second that ATCSCM19 suggestion...