looking to change Kef speakers with Nova

There’s a lot of floorstanders that carry a bass/mid driver high on the baffle and the nova seems remarkably capable. SL2s spring to mind but that’s just prejudice on my part and you need a solid wall and floor, you might find Ovator 400s too, then there’s Kudos and all the usual suspects. Is the dealer who supplied the Nova any good? He would be good place to start.

Make a base (aka a plinth) for the speakers by sandwiching concrete blocks between two 450mm square ceramic tiles, all held together with glue from a sealant gun.  This will raise the speakers and (unless you have solid floors) also provide a better mechanical support for them.  It's also (enormously) cheaper than new speakers!

Using excessively tall speaker stands (more than about 750mm) also poses mechanical problems in the selection of stands that are good enough (most aren't).

Huge posted:

Make a base (aka a plinth) for the speakers by sandwiching concrete blocks between two 450mm square ceramic tiles, all held together with glue from a sealant gun.  This will raise the speakers and (unless you have solid floors) also provide a better mechanical support for them.  It's also (enormously) cheaper than new speakers!

Using excessively tall speaker stands (more than about 750mm) also poses mechanical problems in the selection of stands that are good enough (most aren't).

Thanks Huge

i will certainly give the bases ago. I am also thinking of taking the opportunity as an excuse for an upgrade however! Ha

100% Huge re high speaker stands,  high & not wobbly means pug ugly. 

I would consider a change of speaker to something like a PCM (other brands are available) the 5-Twenty series (as an example) are around the same height as the KEF 500's but do not have a low positioned driver,  the PCM's are transmission line & the floor level port only produces the lowest frequencies & its not that affected by your sofa.   And dare I say they might sound better than your KEF's

Popeye posted:

Huge posted:

Make a base (aka a plinth) for the speakers by sandwiching concrete blocks between two 450mm square ceramic tiles, all held together with glue from a sealant gun.  This will raise the speakers and (unless you have solid floors) also provide a better mechanical support for them.  It's also (enormously) cheaper than new speakers!

Using excessively tall speaker stands (more than about 750mm) also poses mechanical problems in the selection of stands that are good enough (most aren't).

Thanks Huge

i will certainly give the bases ago. I am also thinking of taking the opportunity as an excuse for an upgrade however! Ha

Or try a pair of granite kitchen boards from your local supermarket or kitchen shop - worked a treat for my PMC 20.23’s.

Has also worked for others on the forum as that’s where I found the idea - somewhere in System Pics.

KR, J

Dr_J posted:

Popeye posted:

Huge posted:

Make a base (aka a plinth) for the speakers by sandwiching concrete blocks between two 450mm square ceramic tiles, all held together with glue from a sealant gun.  This will raise the speakers and (unless you have solid floors) also provide a better mechanical support for them.  It's also (enormously) cheaper than new speakers!

Using excessively tall speaker stands (more than about 750mm) also poses mechanical problems in the selection of stands that are good enough (most aren't).

Thanks Huge

i will certainly give the bases ago. I am also thinking of taking the opportunity as an excuse for an upgrade however! Ha

Or try a pair of granite kitchen boards from your local supermarket or kitchen shop - worked a treat for my PMC 20.23’s.

Has also worked for others on the forum as that’s where I found the idea - somewhere in System Pics.

KR, J

But that is just giving stability, not height like Huge’s suggestion.

You actually asked for stand mounted speakers that fitted your budget and would be an upgrade...if I'm not mistaken!!!

Although it's very kind of others to offer their recommendations for keeping what you already have...may I suggest

Russell K red 100 ( in a choice of finishes) up to approx £1800

Rest of budget on stands to choice

This will fit the bill and give a massive upgrade in speed and timing and clarity (I M O )

3 suggestions for the audition list:
Kudos C10 stand mounts
Proac D2 stand mount
Dynaudio Special Forty stand mount

All excellent speakers that deserve (and need) very good stands.  They will all work very well with the Uniti Nova.

Hope this helps, FT

N-Sats plus sub driven by my Nova work very well for me in a similar sized room which also has the sofa problem. 

Suggest you consider/Google MarkAudio-SOTA Viotti One stand mount speakers. Relatively new, and favorably reviewed by Audiophilia and others. I love ‘em in my 272/250DR based system.

Robert Burgess posted:

Suggest you consider/Google MarkAudio-SOTA Viotti One stand mount speakers. Relatively new, and favorably reviewed by Audiophilia and others. I love ‘em in my 272/250DR based system.

Are they available in the uk?

If going to a bookshelf speaker I really like Dynaudio, so the Special 40 would be a good match as I think someone mentioned above. 

I once had a Boston Acoustics sub-sat I quite liked in the Living Room.  Funny thing was the sats sounded more pleasing and realistic firing from a shelf one-lower than the normal ideal — resulting in firing into the back of/around a pair of plush armchairs.  The room was fairly hard-surfaced; many compromises here, including bookcase speaker location, admittedly.

Just saying I never predict sonic outcomes with any confidence any more.  Listening is the only way.

Nick

Popeye.

On a purely observational basis, if I was in you position I'd be looking at a speaker that has the woofer above the tweeter. Since these are very thin on the ground at present, perhaps a coincident driver. Such from KEF. 

Or the Tannoy DC8..

Mike-B posted:

100% Huge re high speaker stands,  high & not wobbly means pug ugly. 

I would consider a change of speaker to something like a PCM (other brands are available) the 5-Twenty series (as an example) are around the same height as the KEF 500's but do not have a low positioned driver,  the PCM's are transmission line & the floor level port only produces the lowest frequencies & its not that affected by your sofa.   And dare I say they might sound better than your KEF's

 

 

+1 for the PMC Twenty5.23. RRP a bit higher than 2.5K, but from my very own experience I know one get these new for 2.5K. 

Popeye posted:

Robert Burgess posted:

Suggest you consider/Google MarkAudio-SOTA Viotti One stand mount speakers. Relatively new, and favorably reviewed by Audiophilia and others. I love ‘em in my 272/250DR based system.

Are they available in the uk?

They sell direct through their website with a 30 day return policy and I believe are available in the UK

Does anyone have any experience with the new Dynaudio Special 40's and the Totem Sky's?

[@mention:65907191339557814]

has a pair with his naim setup. 

+1 for theDynaudio S40. They're on my must buy list for 2018 to go on the end of my 202/200 but I'm sure they would float my boat on the Nova too. 

Olly

Popeye posted:

Does anyone have any experience with the new Dynaudio Special 40's and the Totem Sky's?

Hi Popeye

Callas is right,I have Dyn special 40s,since mid September,although I use Core272/Xpsdr/250dr/Naca5/Special 40s.I am extremely happy with the speakers,but my room is bigger,probably 4x6 meters.They just disappear and music floats through the air,I have been stuck on Dynaudio for quite a while,having owned excite12s,focus 160s,C1 mk11’s,XD 600s,and the special 40s.Great pairing with my current set up.and I believe What Hi-Fi did a review of the Nova with the special 40s,you can look that up.One thing that I really like about them,is low volume listening is superb,I am currently living in an apartment building,so that is a must.They also crank up loud when called upon,but sadly,I have to limit that to the daytime.I have not heard a Nova myself,but I think it would be all anyone would need to to run the 40s,they are 6 ohm,unlike most other Dyns,which are usually 4 ohm.Not long ago,there was another guy on here that demo’d the 40s with a Nova over Christmas,he chose them over PMCs,and 2 different pairs of Neats,so maybe you can find that with the search feature too.I say yes...go for the special 40s!

Popeye posted:

... looking at stand mount speakers ... room is approx 5m by 3.5 and the speakers fire across the shorter length. With a budget of about £2500 ...

With those room dimension, likely speaker positioning and budget, I'd also be looking to add the non ported ATC SCM19 to my shortlist - it can be positioned close to the wall. I've not heard the Tannoy DC8, which looks interesting, so can't compare. I've heard the Dynaudio Contour 20 but much preferred the SCM19 although your preference may differ of course. If you wanted it really tall, the SCM19 case looks the same on the bottom as the top but as Huge mentioned that might pose stability issues on very tall stands.

Some don't like the look of the ATC but I like it, and what's more to the point, so do my wife and granddaughter who both consider it to be a very modern looking speaker  

Not to start another cable war but FYI, after trying a number of different speaker cables, irrespective of price, I prefer NAC A5 with the SCM19. No doubt you and others will have your own strong opinions though! 

NewNaim16 posted:

Popeye posted:

... looking at stand mount speakers ... room is approx 5m by 3.5 and the speakers fire across the shorter length. With a budget of about £2500 ...

With those room dimension, likely speaker positioning and budget, I'd also be looking to add the non ported ATC SCM19 to my shortlist - it can be positioned close to the wall. I've not heard the Tannoy DC8, which looks interesting, so can't compare. I've heard the Dynaudio Contour 20 but much preferred the SCM19 although your preference may differ of course. If you wanted it really tall, the SCM19 case looks the same on the bottom as the top but as Huge mentioned that might pose stability issues on very tall stands.

Some don't like the look of the ATC but I like it, and what's more to the point, so do my wife and granddaughter who both consider it to be a very modern looking speaker  

Not to start another cable war but FYI, after trying a number of different speaker cables, irrespective of price, I prefer NAC A5 with the SCM19. No doubt you and others will have your own strong opinions though! 

ATC SCM 19 I beleive have a six year warranty which is sort of gives a reassuring feeling of purchasing with good back up..

Romi posted:

ATC SCM 19 I beleive have a six year warranty which is sort of gives a reassuring feeling of purchasing with good back up..

And 20 years, I think, with PMC.

Hi Popeye

i was the guy who had the demo on neats PMC and special 40s, do try and take a look at the DYnaudios they are superb, home demo would be a good idea. I also use these through a Nova. If I knew how to post a picture I would show you mine sitting proud in the living room. I also went with the Dynaudio stand 6, solid stands they sit well on them.

scott 

I guess no more new speakers for the Nova -- bye bye Nova...

Re the above mentioned PMC 25.23, in the What Hifi review, the Supernait 2 is recommend as a good match, if my recollection is correct.