272/250DR speakers

The 272/250DR needs some serious speakers to show what it is capable of. Might it be possible keep the Ovators? If not, and you need something cheaper and smaller, and with a bit of zip, I suggest you get a really nice pair of late SBLs. I'm using SL2s with mine and it's just great, so SBLs should be the next best thing. Certainly don't strangle the amps with the Spendors. 

I recommend caution with any 'bass reflex' rear ported standmount design in a small room - you should trial them in the room with your kit for a good while. They tend to be intolerant of positioning, so can sound lovely sitting in the dealer's listening room, with well-controlled bass, but can be bloaty and boomy in situ. Of course, you could well find ones that work brilliantly, but I had to audition an awful lot of speakers.

I came down only to TL and sealed designs: basically PMC or ATC. I chose the ATC SCM11 because they were superbly musical, fast and shockingly neutral - shockingly because it does take a while to get used to that neutrality. And the looks are an acquired taste, although they're very well built. I think they are truly excellent speakers for Naim amplification. 

The Ovators have to go need something slimmer hence the PMCs, it seems counter intuitive as I have a set of S400s but their size, the new place etc just not feasible right now.

Tannoy XT 8F are scratching an itch right now I do fancy something with tremendous bass response, the neutrality of those S400s was exceptional but I am in the mood now for a little bit of bass flavour.

How were those Twenty.23s HH see they went but they are also appealing to me for now.

Need to demo, but has anyone found a great bass speaker, tight, bottom end drive but not too bloomy (please don't say the S400s :-)

Also just fancy a change, I can see in a few years as things change again going for NDS 2, S600 and used Statement, but for now for this place a well driven hard bass speaker is appealing (I like my Rock/Metal)

+1, find a dealer who'll allow this or simply keep the S400's. I'm currently looking to scratch my speaker itch to go with my recently acquired 172/155 combo. I won't order anything without home dems as my RX2's are doing the do perfectly, I simply want to try more to see if there is in fact more to gain, otherwise these'll stay put.  

Thanks Solid Air, my reply landed as yours came in.

The LS50s were quite shocking in my other demo, really severe bloated/bloomy/flowery bass. Tried bungs at the back but no good, so they went back, so backs up your comment.

I have PMC DB1i for now but do feel like the 272/250 will need a bit more to drive, PMC are looking good like HHs Twenty.23 or the cheaper Twenty.21. ATC SCM40s are slightly out of price range but will look deeper.

Audio Physic - Virgo 25 plus+ & Avantera plus+ spring to mind.

If rock/metal is your musical preference, mine too, then take a listen to Dynaudio. Focus 160 or 260 would be a great start. The Focus line is being discontinued so there may be a deal to be had too.

I used the PMC twenty.23 for a week before packing the system up so we could have the room replastered. They worked very well With the 272/250DR. Do bear in mind that they need 20cm behind them. Before getting the 23 I tried the 21, but while very good I found it too limited in bass extension to portray the double bass in jazz as I would like. 

I recommended the SBL because I think it will do exactly what you want, with tight fast bass that is there when you need it. And it hugs the wall, which is the reason I went for the new speakers. 

One thing I've noticed is that the Naim speakers are way more involving than the PMCs in terms of subconscious foot tapping - the PMCs lay everything out beautifully, whereas the Naims just draw you in. Either would be great I think, just choose the presentation you'd like. 

A slim floorstander which might suit could be the ProAc D18. To fit your budget, it'd have to be used though.

Really like the Kudos X2 myself too.

The PMC 20.23s were nice and very well balanced - but ultimately boring.

The Kudos X2 have been with me since several years. (Maybe 4 years now?)

No wonder you liked the SU - it's a good partner for the boring PMC 20.23. 

Adding KEF R500 to the list.

Visited local dealer, very helpful, but left feeling more confused about choices, so many.

Home demos coming up, the dealer likes PMC 20.23 and KEF R500, so trying those first.

They have 272/250DR in demo room so a good start certainly.

I don't think Spendor are one of the more popular choices here, but I think my A9s sound fantastic with the 272/250DR Combo (although my new boxes are still in warm up stage).

I ran demo 272 and non DR 250 for about 3 weeks and by the end of the period it was sounding amazing.

I can't speak for some of the smaller floor standers but might be worth a listen as used A6 might be in your price range.

Would it even now be possible to describe PMC speakers as broken? 

I see this is going to be a Forum joke from now on! Being serious, I still think the PMC speakers are super and would recommend them strongly. 

Dan, if you are in my bit of Hampshire, and even if you are not, you'd be welcome to visit to hear the 272/250 with Naim speakers and no dealer to confuse you. 

Thank you HH, Portsmouth based at the moment.

Neat XS2, Focal Aria 926 now on the list. Good deals on KEF right now with their month promotion this October.

Demo R500 next week and will go from there. 272/250DR due at the end of this month.

Well, if you fancy popping over to sunny Emsworth, let me know. You can mail me at my forum name at gmail.

Hi Dan

I was convinced I was going to buy the KEF R700's with my Uniti2, to the extent that I took them home to try for a week with the serious intention of buying them. However, I really couldn't live with the metallic treble and realised it was giving me a headache - though I didn't want to believe it as I liked the look of the speakers.

So I took them back and asked my dealer to get the 926's and 906's in for me to try, along with the Uniti2 offer at the time. This was much more than I was intending to spend at the time as I was going to run the KEF's at first with my old Quad44/405 setup, before moving on to a Naim all-in-one box.

The difference with the 926's was extremely marked to my ears, and it took me less than a day to know I'd now got the right kit for my room and ears. With the 20% off offer at the time to mark the merger of Naim and Focal then I knew I'd not get this opportunity again for a while so just brought the whole lot.

The 906's sounded brilliant too, but once I'd heard the extra bass extension from the 926's there was no competition. I've got NACA5 connecting the two so I now essentially have the system that Naim setup, as they apparently voiced the 926's for the Uniti2.

I also went through the PMC's 21 to 23 range, and the then new Spendor D5 before settling on the 926's which are best described as 'eager' compared to the PMC and Spendors, which sound much more 'relaxed' to my ears. I think this emphasises the importance of listening for yourself in your room, and trusting your own ears, as I'd guess most of the members on this forum would take the PMC's instead of the 926's.

However, I know at least one other forum member, Dayjay, has the same hearing defect as me and owns 926's, so I don't feel too bad :-)

Thanks Penarth Blues, 

Really liking some of the Focal 926/936 reviews and thoughts online. Its funny that my desire for a much fuller and better driven bass (I had S400s before so happy to get a set of speakers that drive the bass further, even with a little extra bass colour if good enough) while retaining some high end, from dealers, has all resulted in R500 being the recommend, but almost no recommend from many actual user :-)

Agree with the room, tried some LS50s and they were just dreadful in my room, so that has a clear effect.

Seeing my new local dealer, they have a very good overall selection, plus a 272/250DR on demo, and can try out as many as I like and take home some pairs also.

Just been to local dealer looking at KEF R500 and PCM 20.21 to start with.

Found the R500 came across as very much loud hifi, just everything louder please, very little of any nuance, to me. Bass wasn't defined enough.

PMC 20.21 was much better and more defined bass, tighter in every respect. Felt the high end was sounding like treble was turned up, like an old amp, and too swishy (like hi-hats on drums, all swishy and tinny) in that high end.

Feel like I need more drive so next is 20.23 and 20.24.