Speakers; What to try?
Posted by: ebirah on 10 March 2002
A friend who has just got CDI/72/hi/250 wants some speakers to replace his old Mission bookshelfs.
Im going to go along to the dem cos Id like to hear whats about and he wants some advice. We'll be trying SBLS, Allaes and Shahinian ARCS (my own favourite tipple). What else should we listen to? Ive not heard PMCs, Neats, Royds, BW etc as Ive almost always used SBLs or ARCS when in dealers. he has up to 2K to spend, perhaps more of he can be pursuaded to. PS he's as catholic as can be i.e. chamber music to thrash metal.
Thanks for the advice.
Steve
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by phil. S
Definately give the JM Lab 906 Electra's a try.
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by billyj
You have to try the B&W 805,S theu are sweet onece they are run in, they need there own BW STANDS ,so total cost £1800.Its as easy as that .
Enjoy
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by billyj
You have to try the B&W 805,S they are sweet once they are run in, they need there own BW stands,so total cost £1800.Its as easy as that .
EnjoyBilly j
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by Boz
I auditioned loads of speakers before settling on a pair of Royd Abbot floorstanders with my Naim CDX/92/hi/90.3 set-up
Royd don't make them anymore but the dealership where I got mine from Infidelity in Kingston Upon Thames is selling a used pair just like mine for about £395 in walnut , not too far for you to travel from St Albans to audition them they are classic !!
Their website is:
http://www.infidelity.co.uk/altsalesf.htm
Good Luck
Boz
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by ebirah
...keep them coming in!
Boz, the dem will be in Cardiff, where my friend lives. However, I must say that if he ends up spending 395 rather than 2K then he's gonna pay my train fare! I'll try and audition them along with the other suggestions. Thanks.
Steve
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by Scott Mckenzie
My usual suggestion goes out to the Contour 1.1/1.3/1.3SE and even the baby Confidence ones, as the new Confidence range really do look the dogs danglies IMO....
Scott
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by Regis
Don't........listen to the Neat Vitos.;-( Everything else will be second best.....;-)
I'm running 'em w/a 140 & the damn things have been amazing. They'ed slide into your friends setup like 'a seal on an iceberg', oh so natural....
Regis
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by Steve Toy
The Rega ELA 2000s should work well in this particular setup.
They have all the tune and PR&T to make them worthy of being on the end of such classic Naim kit, but without the hard edges.
Regards,
Steve.
The proof of the pudding...
Posted on: 10 March 2002 by Chris Metcalfe
..seconded.
I preferred the Dynaudio Contour 1.8/II over both the Allae and the SBL in almost all respects - most especially the sumptuous midrange.
Posted on: 11 March 2002 by redeye
OfficialRoyds are wonderful...musical as hell and very easy to live with. A 2nd hand pair of Doublets will cost naff all and bring a big 
to your face.
Posted on: 11 March 2002 by Alex S.
If you think the B&W stands work with the N805s you obviously haven't heard them on hne granite ones!
Alex
Posted on: 11 March 2002 by Alex S.
Its not easy thru lack of dealers, but I would not think of buying speakers again without checking out the Living Voice range (Auditorium 1.5K, Avatar 2.5K AFAIK).
There is some debate how well these work with bigger Naim amps (since they are very sensitive and its believed that 250 or 135s don't work hard enough to drive them). Must be worth finding out though.
As you may know, I chose the O'Heocha ISO5s ahead of Arcs - they've gone up to 3.3K, but the one below in the range AL2(?) might be worth checking out if the appearance doesn't put your friend off.
The other option is a pair of Briks - good system to front them with, and at around £650, must still be one of the great hi-fi bargains (partnered with Mana stands).
Alex
Posted on: 11 March 2002 by Rico
Good as the 72/Hi/250 is as a combo (and indeed, good as the 72 is as a preamp), and undoubtedly good as many of the speakers you've all suggested are! - I would not recommend expenditure of £1200-£2500 on
speakers when the preamp (at least) could be improved. What about an 82, or 102 (both used or maybe ex-dem, or new even!) and the change from the budget put into some reasonable speakers?
Sorry to rain on the parties - but I think you've all got somewhat carried away with these fab, expensive speakers, which appear to be the domain of CDSII/52-fronted systems when following the source-important lines of thought.
Just my 2p worth.
Rico - SM/Mullet Audio
PS - as first suggestion how bout used SBL's (second series, normally around a grand - shouldn't be hard to locate from a reputable dealer) and a new 102+NAPSC? With the change from the 72 should see you come in under two grand.
Posted on: 11 March 2002 by redeye
Bit harsh Rico
The little 72 has had a remarkably civilising effect on my Fb1's. Despite the fact that various people suggested I must be cracked not to go for the 102. Wonderful organic sounding little box.
Posted on: 11 March 2002 by ebirah
Thanks one and all - I'm clearly going to have a good time as I haven't heard the majority of you reccomendations; I'll call the local dealer and see what they can get their hands on (I think they're Audio Excellence?).
Rico, to be fair to the 72, I used one with SBLs and ARCS and replaced it with an 82/hi (for a short while) and then 52/super (my current pre-amp). I didn't for one second think the 72 was outclassed; quite the opposite given the price. Sure, its a little brash around the edges but IMHO it is as able as the 82 to convey musical emotion and inflection - the 82 is clearly a better hi-fi amp however; goes deeper, tighter, better soundstage etc.
Incidentally, my friend, who's not a hi-fi nut, heard the difference between my 52 and 82 and commented that it was one of the least significant upgrades he'd ever heard! Hes not going to spend more on a pre-amp at this stage, believe me. He also came along to the Grosvenor Linn CD12 LP12 demo and chose the LP12 every time (I gave Madonna the CD12) so hes not deaf!
Thanks, Steve
Posted on: 11 March 2002 by Rico
quote:
The little 72 has had a remarkably civilising effect on my Fb1's. Despite the fact that various people suggested I must be cracked not to go for the 102. Wonderful organic sounding little box.
quote:
Rico, to be fair to the 72, I used one with SBLs and ARCS and replaced it with an 82/hi (for a short while) and then 52/super (my current pre-amp). I didn't for one second think the 72 was outclassed; quite the opposite given the price. Sure, its a little brash around the edges but IMHO it is as able as the 82 to convey musical emotion and inflection - the 82 is clearly a better hi-fi amp however; goes deeper, tighter, better soundstage etc.
Gents
I appreciate your responses! Please note - I'm not bagging the '72 - I am in fact using mine with hicap on my 250 at the moment while the 82/Super is languishing in boxes for anothe rweek or two - but pointing out that it can be a limiting factor in systems of a certain budget level where a quality source is concerned. The 72 is indeed a cracking preamp. But I suspect that in the FB1 case if a 102 or 82 did not significantly improve the system, the 72 would be employed as "fault masking" device. That said, a CDX as you suggest should be a most appropriate and enjoyable source. IMHO the 72 has a certain sonic signature lacking with the later pre's, and misses a little of the superior detail of 102/82 etc.. That said, it's nice and fun to listen to, and (this is the real kicker) considered as a whole preamp along with a HiCap, it is a very, very good preamp! And man, does it play music!
The suggestion of SBL + NAPSC assumed no increase over £2k your mate was interested in spending... I suggest it would be useful to demo and decide on what his ears say than to dismiss it out of logic, amongst the other more obvious speaker choices. HTH.
Rico - SM/Mullet Audio
