Ok,

I have been listening to these for the entire night, but not critically. I was listening to a friends MP3 collection all encoded at 128kbs so its not that great. I have decided to hold off for a little while on my write up because the switching of cables is inefficient right now and also I need to build some new stands. I also want to wait until I recieve my Marantz reciever, which may be this weekend, so I can evaluate the system as it should be.

But so far I am loving them, the one fault I have found is that the treble can be just a touch harsh, but I believe that I need a cable upgrade all around. The interconnects coming from my soundcard to the Nikko right now are anything but good (two cheapy (RCA and the cheapest Street Wire I could have found)interconnects, joined by a coupler to increase the length), and the speaker cables, from use with the Missions, are brighter and a little thin sounding than usual. I used these with the Missions because I felt that they were a good match, opening up the top end a bit and getting rid of a little boom and midrange shoutiness. The Monitor Audios are a different kettle of fish though and I need some more neutral, smoother sounding, and natural cables, which I believe I have in the CableTalks I have. I just need some bananas to make switching the speaker cables between speakers quick and easy.

So once these things are done, I will post an update then.

D

I haven't dabbled enough with cables to really know what that's all about. I use cheap optical cable as interconnects from the DVD/CDP and PS2. For the analog line level connections I use inexpensive Profigold interconnects. They have nice pictures on the package that show you how the cable is made, so you feel like you know what you're buying. Speaker cable is standard 2.5mm OFC.

Also keep in mind, these speakers need some good burn-in.

....... with some credentials, so don't worry Headphony, you are ok with cables.

Profigold is good stuff and highend compared to what I have. I have heard of them and remember that they get ok to good ratings, so you should be fine in that area.

D

I'd say put 50-100 hours on them first before really judging them. Speaker break-in makes a bigger difference than headphones IMO

The B1's are not known as bright harsh speakers. They shouldn't sound as bright as your NHT's

hey warpdriver

The modern NHTs are seemingly quite mellow up top. I have heard this statement levelled at the older NHTs but not these. Of the three brothers (myself included), One with Dynaudio Audience 50s one with B&W CDM7NTs and me with myST4s, The least bright of the lot are mine. They are not bright in the least or harsh at all. The only thing is that you realise that the NHTs top end is quite rolled off especially compared the the B&W of my brother, which has some of the cleanest extended highs that I have ever heard. I know I havent heard much so don't knock me

But As I said I dont think that they are harsh at all, I just feel that they are showing up my cabling and source more than the Missions I have right now. They have been playing for about 30 hours straight now, as since I put them on yesterday, I havent taken them off, so by weekend, keeping the same system I should have close to 100 hours on them. Perfect timing as I hope to get my Reciever at the same time as well.

So Don't worry, they have not been judged as harsh at all, just more revealing of its ancillaries over the Missions.

D

cool. I remember listening to the subzero, and it was pretty thin and bright. I guess their larger speakers don't have that problem.

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Hey just your luck! I use the MA Bronze B4s up front and the B1s in the back and run them with the Panny SA-XR55 and love it! I would characterize the Monitor Audios as slightly bright especially in a lively room (hardwood floors) like mine with their metal domes, but very detailed. The midrange is a little more laid back which i like. The upper end was a little harsh on my previous receiver (Panasonic SAHE75) with CDs not with SACDs (Sony 595 does a great job with SACDs). However, with the SAXR55, CDs are no longer harsh at all with digital into the XR55 (analog in is not as good - so now my SACDs aren't as great sounding, oh well two step forward one step back ) The sound may be a little on the bright side for some, but overall very smooth sounding and detailed without being harsh (i really hate harsh digital sound). I have a Behringer DEQ2496 that i add a slight treble rolloff to lower the upper range without losing to much detail. However, a simple tone adjustment of -1 or -2 db is equivalent. I mainly have the DEQ to fix the bass. The B4s boom like crazy in my room. The DEQ with the parametric and graphic digital EQ clears that up nicely. Overall, fear not the Monitor Audios with the Panny XR55. If you have a lively room, you can just adjust the treble down a notch or two. I love the XR55 - great little receiver. Believe the hype!

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i second the XR55 recommendation. i set my father-in-law up with the panny and a pair of Athena bookshelves. bright at first, but dialing the treble down -3dB smoothed it right out. i was very impressed (and surprised) with the smoothness of the tone controls.

i've been looking at picking up a set of these, (and $150 is a steal!!!) but the only problem is i'm a conplete newb in terms of matching an (affordable) amplifier to them

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i can't seem to find this (in australia).....are there any other recommended options?

EDIT - just found the panasonic XR55....very nice. and would be good for when i eventually get a 7.1 setup going.

but are there any 2 channel amplifiers that go well with these?

OK,

I have been running these speakers for about 50 hours. I have listened to audioslave, Gorillaz, A Tribe Called Quest, The Streets, Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, Jamie Cullem, Jack Johnson, Sting, Jet, Dave Brubeck, Kruder and dorfmeister, Moby, Seal, Maroon 5 and more, and I havent found a genre that put them down.

So My cabling is crap, my room is blah (tiny and overcrowded with cheap wooden crap) and I am loving these speakers. The highs are extended, they are open and have a quite nice bass for their size. The are also dynamic and fresh, something the Missions lacked. The instruments are quite clear and these just sound open and free compared with the missions. I cant wait to seriously listen to them and compare toe to toe, on stands to the Missions. I really hope I get the Marantz this weekend.

The harsh treble seems gone for the time and seems more pronounced when the speakers are pushed hard, which is what I was doing for about 20 of the 50 hours. I had to give the amp a break today as the daily temperatures here are high (33 degrees celsius) and I usually have to lock my room for security purposes. So the heat buildup in the amp could not have been pleasant pushing these speakers quite hard for two plus days straight.

More to come when I get these things settled in this room properly.

d

Thanks for all the input guys, I think I'm sold on the B2s. Just need to find a store near me that carries them, and has a decent return policy should I (for some reason, but I kind of doubt it from what you've stated) want to return them for another speaker.

Well the Marantz is finally here. I havent gotten the banana plugs yet, so the comparo with the Missions is delayed.

Here is a pic of my current setup.My Setup

Its simple. I am enjoying this system as it is. I think I will make a cable upgrade in the near future, especially when i either purchase a DVD player, or bring down the one I have in my main setup. This is a great second system. The only thing I cant decide about is the issue of the sound quality between the old Nikko and the Marantz. They both sound good, with the marantz being cleaner sounding, but the Nikko may have had a slightly fuller sound to it, and one feature that I will miss, a subsonic filter. It was good to have the protection for the Monitor Audios. But all in all it is progress in terms of convenience. At least I can be a total couch potato, if i only had a couch!!

I have only one other question; with my budget being as miniscule as it is, is it absolutely necessary for me to get the matching center channel speaker, or cn i get by with a different brand mainly for movie watching? the B center seems out of my price range, so that is why I ask. Would it be better to stay in 4.1 than to use a mismatched center? All advice would be welcome.

In the meantime, i will enjoy 2.1

D

I'd rather go phantom (4.1/2.1) than get a mismatched center. Having a center anchors your image down better. You don't want to skimp on the center because most of the content comes out of the center.

I really like my Bronze center. Movies and dialogue are good, but music is excellent. If you play surround music i would highly recommend it. I think i got mine off e-bay for around $150. They show up every once in a while.

I tell you what. I see alot of the Silver Series on e-bay now. The Silvers are being replaced by the Silver Reference. I really fell in love with the S2s but couldn't afford them a couple of years ago. I could probably afford them now though with e-bay. I love my bronze though. They fit more my style. Silver and Golds are more for the refined, classical and jazz, style. I can rock out nicely with some Sabbath or similar on my Bronzes and not feel bad about it.