Speaker upgrade :)

I don't think you need to blow the whole £500 if looking at used. Maybe start with a search on Ebay for completed listings so you start to get a feel for selling prices. Peg your aim at £200-£300 as a rough guide for something from the last 10 years or newer that would have sold for £500-£800 new. Older speakers it's very much about what gained a following. For example, some of the Mission models. With everything condition is a prime requirement.

Your amp tilts slightly towards bassy, with an understated treble. KEF IQ5SE would counter that quite nicely. Monitor Audio Bronze BX5 or BR5 would be a touch more strident. Focal Chorus 714/714V2 might be a decent shout too. Castle Conway 3 are excellent but perhaps a touch laid back in the treble for your Marantz amp.

The beauty about all of these used speakers is they tick the "well-made cabinets" box and there's plenty written about them on the web.

If new is the only option for you then there's a lot of love for Q Acoustics 3050. They were £500 rrp so the build standard is decent, but you can pick them up for considerably less now. Audition against Dali and Monitor Audio at £500/pr
 
lucid said:
I don't think you need to blow the whole £500 if looking at used. Maybe start with a search on Ebay for completed listings so you start to get a feel for selling prices. Peg your aim at £200-£300 as a rough guide for something from the last 10 years or newer that would have sold for £500-£800 new. Older speakers it's very much about what gained a following. For example, some of the Mission models. With everything condition is a prime requirement.

Your amp tilts slightly towards bassy, with an understated treble. KEF IQ5SE would counter that quite nicely. Monitor Audio Bronze BX5 or BR5 would be a touch more strident. Focal Chorus 714/714V2 might be a decent shout too. Castle Conway 3 are excellent but perhaps a touch laid back in the treble for your Marantz amp.

The beauty about all of these used speakers is they tick the "well-made cabinets" box and there's plenty written about them on the web.

If new is the only option for you then there's a lot of love for Q Acoustics 3050. They were £500 rrp so the build standard is decent, but you can pick them up for considerably less now. Audition against Dali and Monitor Audio at £500/pr
Click to expand...

I am fine with used. My problem being unable to walk I can't get to places to try/listen so I have to get opinions.

I am looking for whatever I get to be in black.

I suppose given your knowledge. If it was your money what would you get? I know its subjective. :)
 
jetpaczx said:
Thanks again Lucid - Would you consider the Kef Q500s for a good price too?
Click to expand...

They're excellent speakers but very bass-lite. When I say bass-lite, I mean that there are standmount speakers that feel like they put out more bass. Surprising really for 2-way + 2x ABR design, but that's the way of it. What bass there is is fast, tight and clean. There's no bloat or boom or overhang. The bass notes start and stop as fast as synapses firing. The midrange and top end is exceptional. They remind me of a politer version of Rega Alya's. They're bass-lite too but god they're exciting to listen to.

While I can forgive the Alyas their bass deficiency - after all, it's a single 4.5"~5" bass driver in a very small floorstander - because they're just so much fun to listen to, the KEF Q500's look like they should shake the world, but they don't. I think you have to really want what the Q500's do with sound to live with them. I respect what they do, but they don't get my blood pumping.
 
lucid said:
If new is the only option for you then there's a lot of love for Q Acoustics 3050. They were £500 rrp so the build standard is decent, but you can pick them up for considerably less now. Audition against Dali and Monitor Audio at £500/pr
Click to expand...

You can sometimes get them used off the bay. I own the Q acoustics q3050 and use it with Marantz amps. The combo is is easy going on the ear and very forgiving. It also has a lot of bass. Marantz amps are well known for having a warmer sound than most. Easy going treble with bloomy style bass.

I was suprised how much bass the combo had. It's quite a bit. Althoguh I must admit I am a basshead and when I audtioned them originally a while back I prefer the overall sound over the Dali just because when I auditoned them it was with a Cambridge audio amp the ax60. The Dali with the cambridge audio was not a great combo. So I asked about the Q acoustics 3050 as I read a lot about them.

The Dali with the cambridge audio sound lean, too clean for my tastes. Had the Dali been partnered with something to complement it sound signature like a Marantz or any tonally warm/dark sounding amp then the combo would have excelled.

And even though I have since upgraded I do miss those 3050 for bass fun. I do think they represent excellent value for money.
 
jetpaczx said:
I am fine with used. My problem being unable to walk I can't get to places to try/listen so I have to get opinions.

I am looking for whatever I get to be in black.

I suppose given your knowledge. If it was your money what would you get? I know its subjective. :)
Click to expand...
If they have to be black then I'd rule out the Focals and Castles.

Probably some Missions, I'd say. Maybe the KEF IQ5SE if you can find the SE rather than the plain IQ5, and in black. The Missions though come from an era where black ash style finish was the most popular choice. The other advantage with the Missions is you can buy; try; and sell with little or no loss. If you can get someone to go collect for you then try out a pair of Mission 752 perhaps?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom