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Dali Ikon 2 + Yamaha A-S300 for small room, nearfield stereo setup... too good to pass up?

post #1 of 18
2/3/11 at 3:48am
Thread Starter 

I have the opportunity to acquire a brand new Yamaha A-S300 stereo amp with a new pair of Dali Ikon 2 bookshelf speakers at a greatly reduced price. With a pair of stands I'm probably looking at around $1100 for brand new gear that should cost me in excess of $1800 retail. It will be for a small room (12 x 9 ft) and I'll be positioning these speakers on either side of my L shaped corner desk, 6ft apart angle in, with chair in between. I'll be going line level dac out of my Audio-GD Fun, playing alac through optical from my Macbook.

 

I have no knowledge of speakers and stereo amps other than the reviews I've read of these particular components. The Ikon 2 is generally well regarded and although it's pushing the limits of my budget, they're being offered to me at close to half the retail price (I was originally considering the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 at $300). The A-S300 is the smaller brother of the well reviewed S500 and I'm hoping it'll be more than adequate for my needs.

 

I don't have the knowledge or time to hunt down a second hand bargain (I don't even have access to a good used market). I'll essentially be buying blind and trusting the judgement of people who have told me how great the Dalis sound as well as taking reviews and other impressions into consideration.

 

I'm looking for a warm and musical sound that has good resolve even at low volumes. I don't require sub woofer bass. Should I just settle for the Diamond 9.1 (which is half the price of the heavily discounted Ikon 2)? Or are the Ikons too good to pass up at this price (around $650 instead of $1200)?

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post #2 of 18
2/3/11 at 10:24am

For the $, run and get these... if you like a warm, refined, sound--heck, if you like good sound--the Dali Ikon's are a great loudspeaker. 

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post #3 of 18
2/3/11 at 11:36am

Well AFAIK the Ikon 2's have been going for around 750 ish for a while now. Where are you getting the A-S300 from? I dont think I've seen them in the US so far, but I do see them for around 200 pounds or 250 euros online. Since you said you are getting the Ikon2 for 650 (which is definitely a good price for new), does that mean you are paying 450 for the amp? Thats pretty much regular price if not more from what I can tell. You may be better off getting the speaker alone for 650 if you can and get another amp for 300-400 bucks, there are quite a few choices in that range.

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post #4 of 18
2/3/11 at 2:32pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the advice guys. I keep getting drawm back to the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 as a sensible budget option ($300) for my small room. However the Dalis are clearly a tier above and I couldn't imagine acquiring them new for less than $1200 which is around cost price apparently (maybe a bit less but certainly not $650). The S300 will be retailing for $599 here and I can get it for $350, the rest is for speaker stands.

I'm finding it hard to justify the expense but everything is pointing to this being a damn good deal. I'm assuming the S300 will be as good as the S500 but considering I'm not powering anything bigger and I'll mainly be listening at low levels, it looks like a good option.

I was also looking at the Monitor Audio Bronze BX2, which will probably set me back $650 to have delivered (no discount). Is the Ikon 2 still a tier above the BX2?
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post #5 of 18
2/3/11 at 2:44pm

i assume you cant hear them first? 

 

ive looked ot reviews of them all and the Icons are levels abouve the other 2 but then they cost way more too.  ive no doubt they are all good but the key is finding what suits your taste in sound signature.  what ive read suggests the dalis are middy and have good treble.  the BX2 are a crisp slightly V shaped and the wharfdales more of a thicker warmer slightly V shaped.  however i have heard none of them (deliberately have avoided speakers) so take with a large dose of salt

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post #6 of 18
2/3/11 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 
No I can't demo them. FWIW I love the lush and warm signature of my HD650 when paired with the Moon hdam. However I'm not aligned to this type of sound, as I also enjoy the energy and attack of the MS-1i.

Good resolve at low levels, great mids, tight bass and a musical non analytical sound are qualities I'm looking for.
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post #7 of 18
2/3/11 at 3:00pm

again having not heard them but id be surprised if the Dali's werent easily the best of the 3 since they cost vastly more. that doesnt mean they are best suited to you though.  maybe try asking on http://www.avforums.com/ they are all widely available brands in the UK so ther is likely to be someone on there who has heard them all

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post #8 of 18
2/4/11 at 2:47am
Thread Starter 
Looks like I'll need to pay a bit more for the Ikon 2 than anticipated ($780). This may still be a good deal but it's really stretching the budget now. I may just see if the Diamond 9.1 are adequate.
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post #9 of 18
2/5/11 at 12:35am

I have a pair  of Dali Mentor 2's. Dalis can produce excellent sound, but you have to be careful about what components you match with them. With speakers, I'd stretch the budget and save a bit longer to get the ones I want instead of grabbing a lower grade and always wondering 'what if?' Also, if you buy a high quality pair and get a great price on them, you will lose little to no money if you have to resell them down the line.

 

In regards to Dali, I believe it'd be best to pair them with warm-sounding equipment. Another fact is that Dali speakers, the bookshelves at least, are known to be VERY efficient. You don't need a monster amp to power them.

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post #10 of 18
2/6/11 at 12:31am
Thread Starter 

Monitor Audio BX2 are back on the table. This is frustrating. I hate splitting hairs like this.

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post #11 of 18
2/6/11 at 1:42pm

I gather you're splitting hairs over some reviews. magazines reviews, users impressions, and other feedback in general are all very informative, fun to read, and to some extent useful, but audition is ultimately required, imo.

 

based on having audition a few speakers in a similar price range, and own subjective audio taste... it's a no-brainer for me: it's either the Dali's or try my luck buying used at Audiogon. ymmv

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post #12 of 18
2/7/11 at 5:35am
Thread Starter 
Being a noob at all this, I find Audiogon rather daunting. Also, whatever bargains are likely to be had will probably be offset by cost of shipping to Australia.

To the experts out there, how would you spend my $1000 on Audiogon? Keep in mind this is for a small room (9 x 12ft) with little versatility for speaker placement. I'll also be going line level out of my Audio-GD dac, which has a warm sound due to the Moon hdam in the WM8741 output.

Another budget option is to just go the active Audioengine A5. How would this stack up vs a $1000 passive bookshelf + stereo amp setup?
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post #13 of 18
2/7/11 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by olor1n View Post

 I was also looking at the Monitor Audio Bronze BX2, which will probably set me back $650 to have delivered (no discount). Is the Ikon 2 still a tier above the BX2?


I am sorry if I'm adding to the confusion, but I am going to mention an alternative for the Monitor Audio Bronze BX2.

 

I am the owner of a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze B2, which was the predecessor to the BR2, which in turn was the predecessor to the current BX2.  I got the B2 a little over 2 years ago brand-new, and at that time, I was able to do side-by-side comparison with the then current BR2.  There was hardly any difference in sound quality and I was able to pick up the B2 at a substantial discount because it was discontinued (at that time).  I am quite sure the BX2 will also sound very similar to both the B2 and the BR2.  However, in the meantime, Monitor Audio has re-introduced the older Bronze series as the M series.  The Bronze B2 is now the M2.  Dependent on where you are, you may be able to pick up the M2 at a discount, if it is available.  

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post #14 of 18
2/7/11 at 4:19pm

if that's the case then I going to advise the OP not to bother with the BX2. I audition the B2 (or was the BR2?) few years ago after reading rev reviews on What HiFi magazine. they performed the worst out of all the other budget speakers I auditioned with the Totem Dreamcatcher's being the best.

 

I'd hate to give advise on something that I haven't heard - but based on reviews, room size, and price the Dali's seem still a pretty good deal, imo.

 

here's another couple of speakers that you may wanna consider evil_smiley.gif : PSB Image Mini and LSA's .5


Quote:
Originally Posted by soundboy View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by olor1n View Post

 I was also looking at the Monitor Audio Bronze BX2, which will probably set me back $650 to have delivered (no discount). Is the Ikon 2 still a tier above the BX2?


I am sorry if I'm adding to the confusion, but I am going to mention an alternative for the Monitor Audio Bronze BX2.

 

I am the owner of a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze B2, which was the predecessor to the BR2, which in turn was the predecessor to the current BX2.  I got the B2 a little over 2 years ago brand-new, and at that time, I was able to do side-by-side comparison with the then current BR2.  There was hardly any difference in sound quality and I was able to pick up the B2 at a substantial discount because it was discontinued (at that time).  I am quite sure the BX2 will also sound very similar to both the B2 and the BR2.  However, in the meantime, Monitor Audio has re-introduced the older Bronze series as the M series.  The Bronze B2 is now the M2.  Dependent on where you are, you may be able to pick up the M2 at a discount, if it is available.  

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post #15 of 18
2/7/11 at 10:42pm
Thread Starter 
Really appreciate all the input here guys. I've decided to get what I want rather than what I can. Working overtime will finance this, so it'll be a matter of Ikon 2 ($780 + $150 for stands) or going all in with Ikon 6 floorstanders at $1200. My main concern with the floorstanders is that it'll be overkill for such a small room but I'll at least have speakers that should last me while.
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