Speakers advice

Innocent Bystander posted:

Octa_dyn posted:

Any way of getting an in home demo?

It's been asked on many forums where you measure distances from. The consensus is from the tweeter whether from distance between or to the back or rear walls.

Distance of speaker front baffle from back wall is what counts - and hence is irrespective of speaker depth. However, many people cleary quote the distance between back of speaker and  back wall, e.g. 20cm - few speakers are thin enough for the front baffle ever to be that close unless recessed into the wall! 

for side reflections it is indeed primarily the distance of tweeter that counts.

I had no idea, that's great news. I've been beating my self up over these distances, as my room is small to medium size. I have Spendor A5's at the moment, which are rear ported and need space (Minimum of 20cm) from the back wall. I've been measuring from the actual back of the cabinet to the rear wall, and the side of the cabinet to the side wall. Thanks for that valid info.

When it came time for my speaker decision, I chose Focals.  Have not regretted it for one minute. Sometimes it not practical to demo several speakers. However, in your case try and demo the bookshelf and the floor standing speakers at the same time using the same music.  Music memory is not always accurate.  Different songs can make or break a system.  For example, listen to Zeppelin “Kashmir” then “When the Levee Breaks”.   If the speakers are too bright, “Kashmir” will let you know.  To determine if the bass is too much, try Post Malone’s “I Fall Apart” or Adele’s “I Miss You”, you will see right away.  Good luck in your decision, as for Focal speakers, they were good enough for Naim.

Zackwater posted:

 Music memory is not always accurate.  Different songs can make or break a system.  For example, listen to Zeppelin “Kashmir” then “When the Levee Breaks”.   If the speakers are too bright, “Kashmir” will let you know.  To determine if the bass is too much, try Post Malone’s “I Fall Apart” or Adele’s “I Miss You”, you will see right away.  Good luck in your decision, as for Focal speakers, they were good enough for Naim.

I don’t know those pieces of music, but surely if you want to know if bass is too much you need to use a piece of music with well balanced bass? (Maybe those are?)

However, I agree that music me,ory is not always accurate, and you need a reference if you are auditioning something, especially in a different location, when I think you need to take your own existing system if in a different room.

I had demo both and here is my humble personal feedback on both spkrs:

Diablo:

live to what is describe in reviews, fast pace and details and its mid range is something i cant describe, unique n imo, hv a slight edge over sopra 2. Pace is also slight edge over the sopra. However, some songs i played had very low end bass in the beginning of the song n it reveals the limitation of 2 ways spkr n its freq response range. No fault of Diablo though.

Sopra 2:

Beside the pace as compared to the Diablo, it has the edge over Diablo when comes to low end bass n indeed a tight n weighty bass to remind me this is a full range spkr.

I had no so much of a struggling when i was deciding btw 282/250dr over SN2. But this time round, a real struggle as both hv slight edge over the other in diff field. In the end i still go for full range Sopra 2. Im nw using my dealer sopra 2 till my stock arrive. Till then it would be another review as i had ordered Gaia I to be fitted on my Sopra. Lets see the diff Gaia can provide.

Your dealer only stocks one make of speaker!?

Lolz (sorry)!

I changed from ProAc columns to ATC SCM19'S  due to moving into a smaller listening room They sound brilliant.

I'm told that ATC were the providers of units to NAIM when NAIM where knocking out their own speakers...

Just saying.

• Mike1951 posted:

...

I'm told that ATC were the providers of units to NAIM when NAIM where knocking out their own speakers...

Just saying.

Both ATC (DBL) and Mordaunt Short (SBL) amo

The price mark up on Focal speakers in the UK compared to France is quite staggering. Anyone know why their prices Uk v France are so different?

Gary

Dynaudio have some wonderful speakers in that price range

fathings cat posted:

The price mark up on Focal speakers in the UK compared to France is quite staggering. Anyone know why their prices Uk v France are so different?

Gary

May i ask whats the price in UK and in France?

fathings cat posted:

The price mark up on Focal speakers in the UK compared to France is quite staggering. Anyone know why their prices Uk v France are so different?

Gary

Exchange rate hedging pre Brexit ?

.sjb

4000 Euro’s (c£3600) for the Focal Kanta (£6999 in the UK).

Not sure if you would have to pay taxes but at that level of saving you could drive to France and have a holiday and still be quids in (would customs even know if you had new speakers in the back of your car....)

I don’t  understand why the difference in price is so large.....

Gary

fathings cat posted:

4000 Euro’s (c£3600) for the Focal Kanta (£6999 in the UK).

Not sure if you would have to pay taxes but at that level of saving you could drive to France and have a holiday and still be quids in (would customs even know if you had new speakers in the back of your car....)

There are no customs. We are in the ‘single market’ for the time being, so in this respect France and the UK are the same.

fathings cat posted:

4000 Euro’s (c£3600) for the Focal Kanta (£6999 in the UK).

Not sure if you would have to pay taxes but at that level of saving you could drive to France and have a holiday and still be quids in (would customs even know if you had new speakers in the back of your car....)

I don’t  understand why the difference in price is so large.....

Gary

I believe there is currently NO import duty on goods imported into UK from EU, though if you import yourself (and I don’t think there is any restriction on so doing) you will pay the VAT rate applicable in the country of origin, while if imported by a business and then sold to you you would pay UK rate (and the business claims back the foreign rate so it is not additive).. Last time I bought something directly from France I think their VAT rate was the same as UK anyway.

The only issue if you were to import yourself would be in terms of warranty or repairs etc, for which UK suppliers have no responsibility. And arranging a home demo might be difficult.

True, that makes the price differential even more mysterious. 

Gary

fathings cat posted:

4000 Euro’s (c£3600) for the Focal Kanta (£6999 in the UK).

Not sure if you would have to pay taxes but at that level of saving you could drive to France and have a holiday and still be quids in (would customs even know if you had new speakers in the back of your car....)

I don’t  understand why the difference in price is so large.....

Gary

Well, if you need one kanta, 4000 Euro is quite right.

You possibly need 2, then it will be Euro 8000 and that is close to the uk price.

Oh I see the 4K Euro’s is per speaker  (not sure who is buying one speaker!) That explains it!

cancel the “jolly boys outing” to France then! 

Gary

fathings cat posted:

Oh I see the 4K Euro’s is per speaker  (not sure who is buying one speaker!) That explains it!

cancel the “jolly boys outing” to France then! 

Gary

Ah yes - I remember being very confused many years ago when I was living in Amsterdam and saw a pair of JBL speakers that thought might do me, and the price seemed OK, until I found that they always quoted for one speaker.  I found that very odd.

Beachcomber posted:

fathings cat posted:

Oh I see the 4K Euro’s is per speaker  (not sure who is buying one speaker!) That explains it!

cancel the “jolly boys outing” to France then! 

Gary

Ah yes - I remember being very confused many years ago when I was living in Amsterdam and saw a pair of JBL speakers that thought might do me, and the price seemed OK, until I found that they always quoted for one speaker.  I found that very odd.

Nice usage of the word 'odd'. 1 == odd, 2 == even.

UK Dealers are in general like an English breakfast. It is what you need.

fathings cat posted:

 (not sure who is buying one speaker!) 

 

One time member George Fredrick Fiske, who last I heard had reduced his listening to mono woth one Quad Electrostatic (Heinz variety) and was very happy with it.