Which Speakers ?
Posted by: ChrisM on 27 December 2003
I have recently purchased the following system (bought secondhand kit over the last year) and would like any opinions as to which speakers I should consider:
CDS / NAC52 + PS / 250 and biwired Naim cable.
I currently have Linn Keilidhs and whilst enjoying the sound would like to realise more of the systems performance.
I am interested in the sound being smooth but big, dynamic and life like.
Could anyone recommend speakers that I should audition (again I would rather that they could be obtained secondhand to keep costs down).
Thanks to you all.
CDS / NAC52 + PS / 250 and biwired Naim cable.
I currently have Linn Keilidhs and whilst enjoying the sound would like to realise more of the systems performance.
I am interested in the sound being smooth but big, dynamic and life like.
Could anyone recommend speakers that I should audition (again I would rather that they could be obtained secondhand to keep costs down).
Thanks to you all.
Posted on: 28 December 2003 by ChrisM
Thanks for the advice.
I was hoping to shortlist secondhand speakers in the following ranges;
up to £1500.00 (probably £2500 when new) and
£1500.00 to £2200.00.
The speakers are to be placed in a large room (24 feet x 12 feett) about halfway down the room and about 1 foot from side walls.
Any more thoughts / advice ?
Regarding the Naim speakers how good are old SBL's and NBL's. Do they rate as highly as the newer replacements Naim now offer ?
I was hoping to shortlist secondhand speakers in the following ranges;
up to £1500.00 (probably £2500 when new) and
£1500.00 to £2200.00.
The speakers are to be placed in a large room (24 feet x 12 feett) about halfway down the room and about 1 foot from side walls.
Any more thoughts / advice ?
Regarding the Naim speakers how good are old SBL's and NBL's. Do they rate as highly as the newer replacements Naim now offer ?
Posted on: 29 December 2003 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisM:
I currently have Linn Keilidhs and whilst enjoying the sound would like to realise more of the systems performance.
Thanks to you all.
Chris
My thoughts are that a set of late Kabers would be worth a go - althought they look like Keildhs, they are a much more capable speaker having a bigger, better crossover and generally a more sophisticated construction. The latest sets have a tweeter with two vertical bars on them. The Ku Stone ( polymer ) stands are a must. I would expect that they cxan be obtained for £6-700 or so, but as people are beginning to realise how good they are, prices are edging up and they go quickly.
SBLs are a standard response to speaker requests - many people swear by them. I just like Kabers!
Let us know what you decide and why, would you?
Regards
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and happy
Posted on: 29 December 2003 by Rockingdoc
SBLs 
Posted on: 29 December 2003 by JonW
Hi Chris,
I think you should consider Pro Ac. I auditioned these with the Nait 5 / CD5 and they sounded really detailed and balanced, the soundstage was great and they sounded so smooth that you wanted to listen to them all day.
I auditioned the reference series but i notice that vickers hi fi are selling an ex demo set of response 1.5 floorstanders for £1695 (RRP 2140).
These would definatley be worth checking out.
Jon.
I think you should consider Pro Ac. I auditioned these with the Nait 5 / CD5 and they sounded really detailed and balanced, the soundstage was great and they sounded so smooth that you wanted to listen to them all day.
I auditioned the reference series but i notice that vickers hi fi are selling an ex demo set of response 1.5 floorstanders for £1695 (RRP 2140).
These would definatley be worth checking out.
Jon.
Posted on: 29 December 2003 by Frank Abela
I would defintely consider late SBLs. A set of the latest variant would put you back around £1200 or so. SBLs have fantastic speed with no bass overhang (causing many to suggest they have no bass - until a real bass note rumbles through the floor). They must be placed close to the rear wall and they have the pain of the gasket kit etc. But in many ways they're unbeatable.
The later SBLs are better than earlier ones. There was a change of cabinet maker toward the end of the SBL's life and although there was no change in spec, soemthing about the newer cabinets made them magical. I sometimes wish I had a pair.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
The later SBLs are better than earlier ones. There was a change of cabinet maker toward the end of the SBL's life and although there was no change in spec, soemthing about the newer cabinets made them magical. I sometimes wish I had a pair.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 29 December 2003 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Chris
Another thought has sprung to mind - it may be worth spending some of your budget (£1200 or so ) on upgrading your 52PS to a Supercap.
Regards
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and happy
Another thought has sprung to mind - it may be worth spending some of your budget (£1200 or so ) on upgrading your 52PS to a Supercap.
Regards
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and happy
Posted on: 29 December 2003 by effinity
Chris M,
Presumably you intend the spkrs to fire across the 12' width? Some good recommendations in previous posts, mine would be find some Isobariks, put them on M*** stands, use the rest of your budget for some 135's to gain all the benefits mentioned previously.
You should be able to find some briks for 600 ish plus M stands at around 350 (or less) SH. Having done that and got a taste of what briks can offer with your 250 you might then be tempted to move on to 135's having held on to a good portion of your budget in the meantime.
Your components, cds, 52, ps etc are classic and timeless and will fit suberbly well with the brik/135 combination.
Your room is the deciding factor as mentioned by others, Shahinians would also work well because of the upward firing drivers similar to briks giving you convection although I have no personal experience of Shahinians in a home environment i've fancied the sound having heard Obelisks and Arcs at a dealers.
Money outlay will be much greater if going for Shahinian but will give you lots of style as well as content.
No arguments with SBL either, fantastic when set up right, I just think briks are a no brainer and will hold their value in the short term in the unlikely event they don't work in your room. Consult people on here as to the best type of brik to go for (dms, vintage, s/n etc)
You'll never really know until you've paid your money and got it all set up in your room, thats the exciting bit is'nt it?
Steve
Presumably you intend the spkrs to fire across the 12' width? Some good recommendations in previous posts, mine would be find some Isobariks, put them on M*** stands, use the rest of your budget for some 135's to gain all the benefits mentioned previously.
You should be able to find some briks for 600 ish plus M stands at around 350 (or less) SH. Having done that and got a taste of what briks can offer with your 250 you might then be tempted to move on to 135's having held on to a good portion of your budget in the meantime.
Your components, cds, 52, ps etc are classic and timeless and will fit suberbly well with the brik/135 combination.
Your room is the deciding factor as mentioned by others, Shahinians would also work well because of the upward firing drivers similar to briks giving you convection although I have no personal experience of Shahinians in a home environment i've fancied the sound having heard Obelisks and Arcs at a dealers.
Money outlay will be much greater if going for Shahinian but will give you lots of style as well as content.
No arguments with SBL either, fantastic when set up right, I just think briks are a no brainer and will hold their value in the short term in the unlikely event they don't work in your room. Consult people on here as to the best type of brik to go for (dms, vintage, s/n etc)
You'll never really know until you've paid your money and got it all set up in your room, thats the exciting bit is'nt it?
Steve