Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) › Speaker Suggestions Sought, Towers and Bookshelves
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Speaker Suggestions Sought, Towers and Bookshelves

post #1 of 7
10/24/10 at 2:26am
Thread Starter 

So, I went out today to try the first round of speaker hunting, heard a few things, and am still not ready to make a purchase, but would really appreciate suggestions.

 

I'd foremost like suggestions for bookshelf speakers to replace my current M-Audio DX4s (and source Creative X-Fi Surround 5.1).  Lately I've been returning home from a day at work listening through my Audio Technica ATH-M40FS, try to start my computer playing through the the DX4s, and just find them too much a disappointment in comparison and switch to the ATH-900s I keep here.  I'd like something I was happier listening through for speakers.  I'm looking with a budget of $1500 pre tax max for the bookshelfs, and additional $750 pre tax max for a receiver/amp if not active. Optical in for receiving straight from my motherboard would be appreciated for receiver/amp suggestions.

 

Bookshelf speakers I tried today: Vienna Acoustics - Haydn, Monitor Audio - RX1, B&W - CM1, and a Paradigm - Studio 20 at a used shop.  Of the four I decided without question the CM1s were my favorites.  The Haydn carried more bass impact, and were generally nice, but the CM1s still had plenty of punchy bass, and also opened to my music just better overall.  The RX1 my ears just told me fairly quickly they didn't like as much, and to move on to the others, so I did.  Didn't like the studio 20 at all really, just didn't seem to keep up with the music.  It seems at this price point Adam A7s and Dynaudio BM5As and MC 15s get a good bit of mention.  I was wondering if either of these might be worth considering.  I don't have a location where I could trial the Adams, and it would take an appointment to trial the Dynaudios, so I'd like to know first.  I'm looking for a nice clean, neutral, sound that keeps up with my music.  Most of my listening is to progressive rock/metal.  Also, any other suggestions that might come up given that I liked the CM1 the best would be appreciated.  Preferred amp/receiver pairings welcome, but second priority.

 

 

Second, I'm seeking some tower speakers for the common TV area.  They need to be full range as I didn't originally consider a subwoofer, and it would be a trick to fit one into the room now.  Budget is $3000 max (prior to sales tax) for towers and an additional $900 max for receiver/amp if not active.  This was my main thing in mind at the used shop, so of the things I heard there:

 

Dahlquist M-905   -   Not very good, probably my least favorite of the bunch.  Not worth explaining
Energy C-8     -      Favorite of the bunch.  Very responsive.  Smoothest sound.  My ears just knew they were happier listening to it without me even thinking, and that's great.
Kef 103-4    -     Runner up for favorite.  But just a tad muddier on things the C-8 was able to clearly reproduce.
Mirage OM-10     -     Might have been the right general signature, but just sounded muffled in everything I tried to play through it.  Also seemed to slightly distort the sounds that seemed more intricate (symbols, harsher vocals)
 
Then at the other store I heard:
B&W CM8 and CM9  -  It's weird.  While there was no room to mistake these being the same sound signature as the CM1, I felt the CM1 managed to pack more punch.  The physical impact of the beats were just there while the towers didn't seem as able to do it.
Martin Logan -  Purity   -   This is the only one I heard that seemed able to keep up with the music like the Energy C-8 did.  Also, it seemed to just fit every type I threw at it with about the same level of adeptness while the Energys seemed to have a slight edge with rock.  The thing is, everything just had this sort of washed out (almost hollow) feeling even as I couldn't pinpoint anything it was really failing to reproduce.  I'm wondering if there are speakers like this that might close in on that feeling.
 
So given these feelings I'm looking for towers I might like more that I should try auditioning.
 
 
Thanks to anyone that has read this far and double thanks for any recommendations (even if it's just based on price range and has no relation to the above post).  I'm open to answering any questions that may help with recommendations.
Reply
post #2 of 7
10/26/10 at 6:47pm

If you liked the Martin Logans, did you think about auditioning a Magnepan setup?  You could pull off quite a nice one for $4,500.

Reply
post #3 of 7
10/26/10 at 7:47pm
Was the Paradigm Studio 20 you listened to an older model? The v5 (newest) version ought to be a strong contender given your stated preferences.

And what do you mean when you say some of the speakers "couldn't keep up with the music?" do you mean a lack of dynamics or visceral impact? Or something else?
Reply
post #4 of 7
10/27/10 at 9:30am

x2 on the Studio 20, the new one sounds very good IMO. I didn't fancy any of the B&W speakers except their top tier stuff which is very expensive.

 

For in store auditions, you might be able to find some Focal and PSB speakers. See if you can listen to those.

Reply
post #5 of 7
10/27/10 at 11:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by islewind View Post

And what do you mean when you say some of the speakers "couldn't keep up with the music?" do you mean a lack of dynamics or visceral impact? Or something else?


has probably to do more with the sound signature than anything else. afaik (not much) engineers tune their speakers in certain ways. I read somewhere that Paradigm's are tuned in a kind of laid-back way. I've to say I find them kind of laid-back for my taste. the same way some people find Senn's slow (me), and rather choose Grado's. doesn't mean Grado's are better. I wouldn't quite categorize Paradigm's signature as slow, but not fast either.

 

I never liked B&W sound signature either - the few budget speakers I heard were too bright, almost harsh, yes forward, but also fatiguing, unpleasant, and overpriced.

 

PhantmShado, maybe you could combine the budget and give the latest B&W 805 Diamond a listen - they may produce everything you seek, and blow you away

Reply
post #6 of 7
10/27/10 at 1:52pm

I like the Monitor Audio RS6 as a floorstander.  I was able to listen to them at a now defunct audio shop several years back, and loved them in my system.  I have changed to a set of Zu Audio Essence speakers, with tubed amps. 

 

I guess I prefer the "laid back" variety, as I prefer Senn to Grado. 

 

I have chosen "brighter" speakers for a couple of home theater setups and usually prefer Klipsch, or Boston Acoustic in those roles.

Reply
post #7 of 7
10/27/10 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 

It sounded kind of like the notes weren't getting cut off, so the result made it seem like there was a beat, but a far more generic one than my preferred speakers portrayed.  Kind of falls into the same family as muffled playback.

 

Does that help?  I'll admit it's a hard thing to describe. 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) › Speaker Suggestions Sought, Towers and Bookshelves