Small speakers for Nap 300

Posted by: Bob the Builder on 29 October 2017

I'm looking at trying a small stand mounted speaker with my 300 this is only a bit of an experiment and so I would be looking to buy used.  I have seen that PMC 21, 23,  Proac Signature 8 reference and some of the small ATC's can be had used for not too much money and at prices that could be sold for not much loss if the experiment fails.

So any advice from anyone who has tried small speakers with Naps 200, 250 or 300 would be great.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by MangoMonkey

The harbeth C7s come to mind..

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Robert Burgess

MarkAudio/SOTA Viotti1

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by The Strat (Fender)

Kudos S10s?  I think they were voiced with the NAP 300.  If not Neat?  

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Bob the Builder
Robert Burgess posted:

MarkAudio/SOTA Viotti1

Never heard of these but a google search reveals a very interesting design.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by jsaudio

Don't know your price limitations but Sopra-1 sound great with Naim 250 or 300

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Bob the Builder
jsaudio posted:

Don't know your price limitations but Sopra-1 sound great with Naim 250 or 300

As stated in my opening post this is an initial experiment to see if smaller spekers suit me so 1 - 1200 is my budget used of course.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Gazza

Have to agree, they can sound very special, if it is how you like music to sound. It as always is a personal preference

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by rightcoastants
The Strat (Fender) posted:

Kudos S10s?  I think they were voiced with the NAP 300.  If not Neat?  

I've been a happy Kudos S10 owner for a couple of years now. Have paired them with 272/200, a 272/XPS-DR/200-DR, then a 272/XPS-DR/250-DR and just recently with a 272/XPS-DR/300-DR and they just continue to give more. However, one of the more significant improvements was by placing them on a pair of Trak Audio stands. 

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Robert Burgess

THe MarkAudio/SOTA Viotti 1 work very well in my 272/250DR based system. New, and only available online, but 30 day return policy. Very highly recommended.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Chalshus

A friend of mine uses a Bauer DPS /Aro/ DV XX2 pu / 552/300 with IBL mk2. Plays stellar in a 30m2 living room. 

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by james n

How small do you want to go and what about placement ? As you are looking at used, i'm thinking along the lines of something like the Neat Petite could be fun on the end of a 300...

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Pcd

Whilst not stand mounts I use a pair of Neat Iota Alpha’s in a second system but did run them in on the end of a 250dr since changed to a 300dr and have tried them in on the end of the 300dr quite amazing sound from these small speaker the bass is staggering.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by spurrier sucks

Totem Model 1 Signature is a great little speaker. 

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by jon h

Atc scm11

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by joe9407

i haven't heard them, but the Proac Tablette 10s seem to get a lot of love on here.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by seakayaker

There was a recent thread regarding the ProAc Tablet 10 which can be found here.  A lot of love in the thread regarding the Tablette 10's.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by GraemeH

Not too much money and a potential for no loss resale suggests s/h for the OP.

G

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by kuma

If you can find a pair of Wilson Audio WATT6, they work wonderful with 300. I've been using them for many years.

Head units for WATT/PUPPY used to be sold as a separately up till 6s. They work particularly well in small space and without their bass modules, placement is very easy. They disperse the sound wonderfully no matter where I place them and only speakers that I know of the imaging stays fixed in the center even tho when you sit way off axis.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by cat345

I think the ProAc Ref 8 sig.  would be a great match for your 300. The problem with the Tablettes is that at one point you will probably want better bass extension so you may spend the rest of your life trying to find a speaker with the same imaging properties but with deeper bass...

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by French Rooster
Bob the Builder posted:

I'm looking at trying a small stand mounted speaker with my 300 this is only a bit of an experiment and so I would be looking to buy used.  I have seen that PMC 21, 23,  Proac Signature 8 reference and some of the small ATC's can be had used for not too much money and at prices that could be sold for not much loss if the experiment fails.

So any advice from anyone who has tried small speakers with Naps 200, 250 or 300 would be great.

i have asked the same question as you some months ago: for precise and accurate sound, but maybe a bit cold:  atc scm 11 or 19.  More “ natural” but a bit soft: harbeth hl5 or sonus faber stand month.    If i had the cash, i would go for the tad.....

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Innocent Bystander

As you're looking secondhand, I'm surprised no-one has suggested nSat yet. There was a lair advertised in Sweden a couple of weeks ago for about £750, so within budget with shipping - still showing though that doesn't mean still available.  Scope to add nSub some time later if desired.

I've no idea what they sound like, but they seem well regarded on the forum.

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Innocent Bystander

lair = pair!

Posted on: 29 October 2017 by Dungassin
Innocent Bystander posted:

As you're looking secondhand, I'm surprised no-one has suggested nSat yet. There was a lair advertised in Sweden a couple of weeks ago for about £750, so within budget with shipping - still showing though that doesn't mean still available.  Scope to add nSub some time later if desired.

I've no idea what they sound like, but they seem well regarded on the forum.

As I’ve said elsewhere, I use nSats with NAP300DR, and find them excellent. Also worth considering are Royd Edens and Royd Sorcerers.  All rather rare, though.

Posted on: 30 October 2017 by Halloween Man
French Rooster posted

i have asked the same question as you some months ago: for precise and accurate sound, but maybe a bit cold:  atc scm 11 or 19.  More “ natural” but a bit soft: harbeth hl5 or sonus faber stand month.    If i had the cash, i would go for the tad.....

Accurate, yes. I've never considered ATC cold, they simply reflect the music, if the music is warm then they are warm, if the music is cold then they are cold.

Posted on: 30 October 2017 by hungryhalibut

Which is exactly how all good speakers should be. My SL2s are just the same. I’m not sure what the OP’s motivation to try small speakers is, but it’s worth mentioning that a small wall hugging stand mounted speaker can consume less space than a small speaker on a stable stand, which inevitably had quite a large footprint. A pair of SBLs would be well under budget and would work brilliantly with a 300. 

All that said, the ProAc Tablette 10 looks hugely appealing and has had very positive reports on the Forum from those who have bought them. 

I used nSats briefly on the end of a 300 and they were very good indeed, though that was with an nSub. Without the sub they were less satisfactory, with something of a slightly congested sound, which gets worse as they get closer to the wall. At 12cm out, the congestion disappears, but then so does a lot of the bass. They certainly wouldn’t be my top choice for reggae. They are hugely engaging though and worth a punt, though they really need their dedicated stands to perform as they should.