ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Feeling horny?

Folded horns are a better use of space:



Difficult to come by from mainstream manufacturers....most of whom just have bass reflex enclosures.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Horny

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Monitor Audio yet. Love my Studio 20SE's...

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

The only reason I havnt looked at them, is their a tad on the higer price side for what I want.

mart360

The original TDL transmission line speakers (RTL 2 & 3 i think) got very good reviews when they were originally launched. Not sure what they are like now, but i believe there were some changes within the company, and the new type are some way removed from the old. For me its either Tannoy Dual concentrics, 611 series in the office or KEF IQ series - currently in the living room Nothing else comes close And a Rel sub tucked away in the corner mart

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

If I was planning a sub woofer route, then I'd defiantly look at kef, tannoy, tdi and simlar as I know they have very crisp sound (well in the past they did so I expect them to have got better).
But I'm not wanting a subwoofer so that's why my desicion is a bit harder as I'd like an in between.
Tbf the Dali zensor is looking promising the more owners reviews I read on them 'for my needs'

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

That's the problem...logically you shouldn't really need a subwoofer, but it seems with some floorstanders you do. Hence me calling some of them glorified bookshelfers.

I have pair of ancient technics speakers with 10" drivers that will rattle your brains out (especially if placed in a corner). Nothing special either - just a big driver in a infinite baffle chipboard cabinet. Only reason I never use them is the tweeters are rubbish and they need a huge amp to power them to any decent level of loudness - so no good for Hifi (ace for parties though ).

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

This is an interesting read on the Dali compared to b&w 684s

https://www.avforums.com/threads/dal...w-684.1759051/

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

It might be worth seeing what you can find on the used market. I also have a pair of MA800 Gold stand-mounted speakers, which I bought nearly 20 years ago (yikes! that makes me feel old...), and still listen to almost every day.

There may well be better speakers out there by now, of course, but if I've learned one thing about hi-fi, it's that if it's not broken, don't try to fix it. I've been disappointed with new equipment just as often as I've been delighted with it, so now I have a system I like, I'm very hesitant to change it.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

I thought TDL died some time ago... shame.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

I fully hear what your saying, if it's not broke etc, hence me keeping my amp receiver. Yamaha ax2, I still haven't figured it out after 10 years of ownership lol. But it bloody good.

I need to test some out before I make my desicion, I keep frequenting ebay for bargains but I'd like to know what I'm going for first.

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

I did this a couple of years ago and went for the Tannoy's in the end - spent weeks trying different speakers (some at home as free tests and such) and for the price the Tannoy's were/are excellent. Ended up getting Ex-Demo DC6T Signatures for front, and DC4T signatures for side and rear. For Music the DC6T's are excellent, by far the best I've heard/played with at the price and I never liked Tannoy before! For movies/games a sub is needed and something fairly punchy as well.

Unfortunately time to listen to them all, preferably at home first, is needed but often not possible.

Best of Luck.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

What are the dc6t like for low volume bass? Deep?
I take it they are just very musical considering you say it needs a separate sub?

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

With the DC6T the bass is good but it's just a very well balanced and rounded speaker - for music I will just run the fronts in the Onkyo 'Pure Audio' mode which (to me anyway) sounds superb and the speakers are very clear and concise. The bass is quite deep and rich but isn't over the top. A proper sub is required for movies - not only to get the low deep tones required but anything less will be 'weedy' next to the Tannoy's.

I tried all sorts over a month period and could genuinely notice the difference between speakers running the same receiver (an Onkyo 818).

Only thing would be - everyone is different - time and testing is what's needed - 28 hour days required

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

You didn't test out the Dali zensors did you?

Linksfahrer

Hi Busta , like others I also doubt if 500 squids will get you far new. Your best off doing the ebay and traders . I had Kefs Q50 which cost that price in 94 ! although the mid range is fine they lacked Bass response.

So In the used 500 range Id look at used speakers Ruark Talismann / Rogers studio 7 / Castle Avons or Harlech.

Linksfahrer

Oh by the way I use a Yamaha Amp AX 890 and even that cannot drive a poor responding bass speaker.

paulT25

I have Celestion A4 ,for hifi and monitor audiors6 for my av system. with a sub.

Try Bk, electrics for your sub, they are good value and hit the mark!!

are second hand act s within your budget? and spencer???

good luck with your choice. as its more than just one component, that makes thesound.

I love my Celestions, bryston , and audio synthesis combo.!!

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Thanks guys, as I'm sure some of you are aware, I'm NOT getting a sub, I'm pretty confident I can find the right speaker without needing one. On my amp I choose to turn off sub input so it pushes it to the fronts (main speakers). I have cewin vega surround/monitors which are quite powerful (I have some new b&w cones in loft for me to try in my cewin Vega's but just not got round to it)
I'm already probably going to go over my budget but again I'm pretty confident still, but the Dali zensor are around £700+. But after testing and if they are right then I'll spend it, if I find some cheaper that are better then I'll go for them, or if I find some even better ones for my requirments that turn out to be £1k then hell, I may just get them.
I need time to waste at the hifi shops to help me decide with my junglistic bassline at the ready on my iPhone

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

Yes I tried the Dali Zensor's as well - a full setup for movie's (curtesy of RS) and was very good but they just weren't as good as the Tannoy's. Maybe slightly more bass but a bit 'boomier' and not as tight. Generally the Tannoy's just felt more 'musical'. Although I preferred the Dali Zensor Vokal centre speaker and the Dali E12F sub to all others so made a 'Mix and Match' system.

I only ever run music as 2 channel stereo (pure Audio mode on Onkyo which is good) and they sound superb to me but if you like deep deep powerful bass then they might not cut it.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Big up to the Junglist Massive.

I don't claim to be an expert as I'm not desperately into Hi-Fi but I do like my music, also spent a few years installing big in-car systems.

To be honest if your into sound quality and base then you really should re- consider a sub, the only way to have the best of all worlds is to separate the base as your never going to get a really good mid and tops while the speakers are being pressurised by the base in the same cabinet.

I know you say you don't want to go the sub route but I think if your a deep base freak then you will only be compromising in all departments , as soon as you whack the base up you'll lose the quality, just like guys that used to spend thousands on a car system then start the engine, our spectrum analyser at work would squiggle away like it was hearing an old goodmans spindle radio in a metro with bogo paper cone speakers.

Just saying.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Noted ditch.

But these new floorstanders have a separate cabinet built into them that separate the bass, mids and tops etc so you keep that quality sound.
My old mission speakers (bookshelf) are actually very decent sounding coupled with my amp and cerwin vega surround/monitors.

The bass is nice and deep at reasonable volume but once pushed can get a bit rubbish.

If I find the right speaker then I definattly don't need a sub (depends what most people buy a sub for?) I've read some reviews of owners that say the Dali zensor 7 don't actually need a sub, but just need to listen to the clarity of them at pushed volumes.

Thanks henrysmith, I'll look into the dc6t as they do have good reviews to for a compact design, so they are definattly worth a listen.

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

http://www.richersounds.com/package/...014-11-20_2040

Just had an email from RS and they are doing this setup as £999 if you register for the VIP membership and mention it.

Good luck and enjoy either way

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Very good but I don't need a full package, but thanks all the same

warrenm2

Interesting article on speaker design, only slightly off topic! http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07...peaker_design/

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cyrus-CLS-...item2599cb92d3

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

They are probably the best 'floorstanding speakers' I've ever seen!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Oh well, looks like I'm back looking again: There's two pairs of KEF RDM 3's on ebay. Nice speaker in its heyday...

Bidding just gone crazy with snipers though...was £100 a pair all week. I was winning for the best part of today...not anymore though and there's no way am I going over £200 for 15+ year old speakers.

I've got KEF bookshelfers that are newer than these that need the drivers re-foaming...sealed cabinets put a lot of pressure and strain on the drivers, so the foams have just given way, I suspect the mid-bass (sealed) on the RDMs will eventually suffer the same fate - worth the risk/cost of rebuilding if they can be purchased at the right price though.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

lol I'm watching some monitor audio and if they go for a decent price I might buy them, their £700+ new.

Tbh, I'm thinking now that the b&w 684 would be perfect for me, or even the 683 s2 which have glowing awards for punchy powerful ness = heavy weight bass with b&w sound quality.