Floorstanders need amp?

[DrDee]

My sister is after some decent speakers, she plays all of it from her laptop and currently uses a little jbl 2.1 £50 setup.

She likes her dance/house music but only has a budget of around £150.

When she heard my Cambridge Audio + Mordaunt short 902's + 308 sub she preferred the base to be way up to my liking (only got the sub to fill in the lowest of the lows the bookshelf speakers cant do)

I'm wondering, would a pair of floor standing speakers like the TDL Saturn 10s, available for £100 be able to be sufficiently powered by a cheap amp like a Cambridge Audio A1, or would she need something really powerful as the speakers are so much bigger than my bookshelves.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[DJ_Switch]

I would recommend staying away from the new TDL speakers...it's only TDL in name now unfortunately. I think a not to be mentioned here competitor bought them over and sadly they're not anything like they used to be.

My advice would be to go to the bay and look for a second hand set of TDL RTL 2 or 3's. The transmission line design they employ makes for remarkable low end. I have a new B&W set up for home cinema in one room and in another it's all made up of RTL's and they really do sound great. I'd need to check but I'm sure the bottom end on even the RTL 2's is 35hz. Being a lover of TDL's I was unfortunate enough to buy a set of the new ones before I knew about the takeover....they now just sit in the attic as I'd be too ashamed to sell them.LOL

A set of RTL 2 or 3's can easily be had for your budget including delivery. It doesn't take a lot to drive them either. For the money I couldn't recommend them enough.

 

[SoundsGood]

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[DrDee]

Not really wanting to go second hand, simply being able to walk into a shop and purchase all she needs is kind of a must, theres a reason im looking at what she should get and shes not doing it herself. Would a cheap amp be able to power these kind of speakers?

 

[Dr.EM]

A small amp can still power floorstanders yes. In fact floorstanders are often more efficient than thier bookshelf counterparts so require less power to produce a given output. However, you may wish to turn them up louder than you would a bookshelf since the low bass extension will be better and so it should give a more satisfying sound which you might prefer louder.

Can't imagine a girl wanting big PA speakers in her bedroom but its a possiblility! Cheap PA speakers don't usually sound great though.

Second hand will get you far more for your money here, especially if you can pick items up (floorstander postage might be excessive).

 

[DrDee]

Second hand will get you far more for your money here, especially if you can pick items up (floorstander postage might be excessive).

Sure, but I would know exactly what to listen/look out for on the second hand market, let alone my sister. I think the simplicity of walking into a shop and ordering a cheap amp and cheap floor standers will have to do.

Anyone got any recommendations for either, £160 the absolute max budget (although suggest anything, always open minded)

 

[Scougar]

I would recommend staying away from the new TDL speakers...it's only TDL in name now unfortunately. I think a not to be mentioned here competitor bought them over and sadly they're not anything like they used to be.

Being a lover of TDL's I was unfortunate enough to buy a set of the new ones before I knew about the takeover....they now just sit in the attic as I'd be too ashamed to sell them

I happened to be at a friends house sorting out his new home cinema setup and PC last night, and what greeted me there were also a set of beige colour floor standers, yellow cones with silver centres, and TDL at the top. I had to chuckle at the coincidence as he mentioned a discount audio retailer is the place he got them. Any chance these happen to be the 'naff' versions?