Speakers at Bristol Show

Posted by: Shropshire Hills on 25 February 2018

Hello

I planned to go to the Bristol Show this year for a first look and listen to several speakers. I am considering buying new ones to replace my well-loved n-Sats which I have owned from new 9 years ago. Unfortunately a nasty chest infection prevented me going so I am seeking comments from anybody who went and heard any of the speakers below or others that impressed them. Next step will be shop dems and finally home trial

The speakers will be attached initially to a Nova/250DR sited in a small 3m x 3.5m dedicated hifi room. The ones I particularly wanted to hear were the ATC SCM 11, Dynaudio Special 40 and PMC 25/23.

Outside my price range but not my interest are the new Iota Xplorer and the Kudos 505 and I would also be particularly interested in views on the ATC SCM40A active setup.

Lastly were there any other speakers there that impressed.? All contributions gratefully received?

Bob

Posted on: 17 March 2018 by nigelb

Not the same I know, but I heard a demo last year of the Kudos 707s passive with a 300DR and active with 2 X 250DRs. To these ears the active version won. Of course there may not be the same outcome (active vs passive) with the S10As or C10As, but it at least indicates it is worth keeping an open mind, although I accept the box count for active is a drawback.

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by Shropshire Hills

Mike - Did your dealer recommend the Partington Dreadnought Broadsides? I have been recommended Atacama HMS 2.1 stands or, alternatively, Custom Design FS 206. I’m not sure whether to go with one of these or get some Partingtons

Nigel - I think a listen to active C10As may be tempting in the future if any Naim dealers have a suitable Snaxo to try out. Both the Snaxo and Hicap are half width which helps space wise and secondhand 250s seem fairly common. Anyway for now I will just enjoy the speakers for a few days in passive mode before a final decision on whether to keep them or to listen to one or two alternatives first

Bob

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by TK421

If this is of interest and for your info....

Ceritech Audio in the Forest of Dean have a Kudos demo day including the 505's on 24th March 2018.

I'm looking forward to hearing their combinations.

http://ceritech-audio.co.uk/kudos-speakers-open-day/

 

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by Clive B
TK421 posted:

If this is of interest and for your info....

Ceritech Audio in the Forest of Dean have a Kudos demo day including the 505's on 24th March 2018.

I'm looking forward to hearing their combinations.

http://ceritech-audio.co.uk/kudos-speakers-open-day/

 

Thanks for introducing me to Ceritech Audio - I see they are able to supply PMC too as I would like to arrange a back to back demo of Kudos 707 and PMC Fact 12. Having heard both separately, and on different amplification (Naim and Bryston respectively), the Fact 12s, whilst being less impressive, gave a far more realistic and musical presentation. 

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by TK421

Happy to be of assistance Clive.

I haven't been to them as yet, so Saturday will be the first time.

From what I see on their website it looks like a very professional set up.

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by Shropshire Hills

Unfortunately I am away on 24/3 but Kudos are at the Acoustica show in Chester in mid April and I hope to be there on the Sunday 

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by cyclo
Shropshire Hills posted:

Mike - Did your dealer recommend the Partington Dreadnought Broadsides? I have been recommended Atacama HMS 2.1 stands or, alternatively, Custom Design FS 206. I’m not sure whether to go with one of these or get some Partingtons

Nigel - I think a listen to active C10As may be tempting in the future if any Naim dealers have a suitable Snaxo to try out. Both the Snaxo and Hicap are half width which helps space wise and secondhand 250s seem fairly common. Anyway for now I will just enjoy the speakers for a few days in passive mode before a final decision on whether to keep them or to listen to one or two alternatives first

Bob

Hi Bob, I have had a pair of  walnut C10s since 2008 (just posted on certain auction site if anyone wants a peek). At that time the choice appeared to be between the Partingntons and Kudos stands. Partington have been bought out since and apparantly you can only mass load the central column now and not the four tubes. I don't know if there is a truth to this but if there is it would make them less viable. Worth checking if you are considering them. Of course ideally my Super 10s would be on Track Audio stands but that would be some more saving up!

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by Shropshire Hills

Mike - Yes I read somewhere that Kudos favour the Track Audio stands for their higher spec stand mounted speakers although when I asked them for advice on more affordable stands somebody there suggested the Custom Design FS 206. These have a central column which can mass loaded and 4 satellite stands to aid rigidity. The alternative suggested by my dealer is the Atacama HMS 2.1 which has 4 columns that can all be mass loaded.

You are a long-term Kudos fan and I assume you have found the C10As to be a worthwhile improvement over the C10s which are themselves well respected 

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by The Strat (Fender)

My S20s are in natural oak.  Had them now for 15 months and whilst I appreciate the Titan range will do more but in my room the S20s are just sweet.    Going active...........let’s not go there!

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by rainsoothe

For the record, I heard the JBL 4312se with 202 200, and I think they are amazing speakers. I even like their looks. If I had the space for them, they would be in my system. I kept laughing like an idiot during the audition, that's how much fun they are. And, to previous posters, they're available in lots of countries in the EU.

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by rightcoastants
cyclo posted:

Of course ideally my Super 10s would be on Track Audio stands but that would be some more saving up!

I've owned a pair of Super 10s for a few years now and have had Naim and non Naim gear paired with them over this time. If you intend on keeping these speakers long term, placing the Super 10s on the Track Audio stands will offer a very worthwhile and very revealing upgrade.  Other than adding a 555 PS to my 272, these stands made an immediate and significant difference. In my case, both of these changes offered the biggest upgrade. 

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by cyclo
rightcoastants posted:
cyclo posted:

Of course ideally my Super 10s would be on Track Audio stands but that would be some more saving up!

I've owned a pair of Super 10s for a few years now and have had Naim and non Naim gear paired with them over this time. If you intend on keeping these speakers long term, placing the Super 10s on the Track Audio stands will offer a very worthwhile and very revealing upgrade.  Other than adding a 555 PS to my 272, these stands made an immediate and significant difference. In my case, both of these changes offered the biggest upgrade. 

And they look fantastic of course. I probably need to make auditioning these stands the next on the list.

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by nigelb

Not sure if Kudos are developing new stands for the S/C10s but they certainly are for the new 505s. This new stand may also serve the S/C10s, or a derivative of it. Indeed that is how Kudos started like, making speaker stands. Might be worth checking with Kudos.

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by bluedog
The Strat (Fender) posted:

My S20s are in natural oak.  Had them now for 15 months and whilst I appreciate the Titan range will do more but in my room the S20s are just sweet.    Going active...........let’s not go there!

Snap - mine are in light oak and I believe one of the earliest production pairs from the man in Leics.  Very big step up in performance, particularly bass, when I moved from Olive 250 to 2 x 135 - others have suggested they were "voiced" with the 300.  I'd love to hear the 505 or 606 in my fairly compact sitting room but I'm afraid I would be unable to let them go

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by bluedog

Meant to say 606 or 707 - prefer floor standers!

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by Phil the Geezer

The issue with the 606 is that once you have heard them in your room you cannot live without them. I have owned a pair for a month now and am in heaven. 

Posted on: 18 March 2018 by Monster
rainsoothe posted:

For the record, I heard the JBL 4312se with 202 200, and I think they are amazing speakers. I even like their looks. If I had the space for them, they would be in my system. I kept laughing like an idiot during the audition, that's how much fun they are. And, to previous posters, they're available in lots of countries in the EU.

I had the 4312SE at home for a month and they were fantastic. I could have lived with them for many, many moons. Prior to buying though, I ended up listening to a set of 4429s which are in a completely different league. I now have a set of 4429s on the end of an LP12/52/250/Fraim setup breaking in at home. Couldn't be happier. Lifetime speaker...

BB

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by kevin J Carden
Clive B posted:
TK421 posted:

If this is of interest and for your info....

Ceritech Audio in the Forest of Dean have a Kudos demo day including the 505's on 24th March 2018.

I'm looking forward to hearing their combinations.

http://ceritech-audio.co.uk/kudos-speakers-open-day/

 

Thanks for introducing me to Ceritech Audio - I see they are able to supply PMC too as I would like to arrange a back to back demo of Kudos 707 and PMC Fact 12. Having heard both separately, and on different amplification (Naim and Bryston respectively), the Fact 12s, whilst being less impressive, gave a far more realistic and musical presentation. 

Thanks for the heads up TK. I’ve just booked a ticket. Maybe see you guys there I hope. 

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by nigelb
Phil the Geezer posted:

The issue with the 606 is that once you have heard them in your room you cannot live without them. I have owned a pair for a month now and am in heaven. 

Phil, would you mind saying what source and amplification you use with the 606s?

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by TK421

Kevin

It will be easy to spot me as Stormtroopers aren't that common in the Forest of Dean. My AT-ST will be in the car park!

See you Saturday.

Mike.

Posted on: 22 March 2018 by Phil the Geezer

My current system is composed of CD555DR/552DR/300DR/Kudos 606 and am in Heaven.

Posted on: 24 March 2018 by kevin J Carden
TK421 posted:

Kevin

It will be easy to spot me as Stormtroopers aren't that common in the Forest of Dean. My AT-ST will be in the car park!

See you Saturday.

Mike.

Really nice to meet you today Mike. Did you get to hear the 505’s with the main 272/555PS, 250 system? I thought that sounded pretty darn good and might be worth you trying with your 200 in power role. 555PS will have had an effect of course but I’d guess these speakers might work well in a smaller room. Ceritech also have PMC and I’ve heard 272/250 combo sound sensational with Fact 8. In your position I’d give that a listen too. 

Kevin

Posted on: 24 March 2018 by TK421

Hi Kevin,

It was good to meet up with you too.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to listen to the 505's as SWMBO was ready to leave, although I would have quite happily stayed longer.

I was very impressed with the friendly welcome at Ceritech and as they are only about an hour away, I will definitely arrange a demo as per your suggestions.

I will keep you posted on how I get on.

ATB,

Mike