Spec me a good pair of speakers please!

[gEd]

from looking at Acoustic Solutions amps, they are at (to be kind) budget entry level. The clipping you heard may be been because the amp just doesn't have enough oomph, rather than it being a speaker issue (amps clip, not speakers).

Big, heavy (a curious requirement that one) speakers generally need a lot of power (unless you go for uber-efficient horns). It's basically impossible (or makes no sense) to recommend any such speakers that can be driven by a weedy old 40W budget amp.

There's no point in saying you have an unlimited budget as there is virtually no limit on what you can spend. Your idea of unlimited might be 2K,5K,10K,20K but there is always something more expensive available. However, this is meaningless whilst you still want to hang onto a cheap, underpowered, budget amp as even if you bought a 10K pair of speakers, the amp would a) not be able to power them and b) probably damage them.

 

[Curlyriff]

tbh I skipped to suggesting high end fronts after saying about unlimited budget etc. However what gEd has said is very true. You really want to budget for a proper AV Receiver and maybe even a pre-amp as well to get the best out of the high end speakers we are all talking about.

Saying that if you are driving just two fronts from what you said then maybe a stereo amp is best, so something like this would be my suggestion if you went with the golds.

http://www.audiblefidelity.co.uk/pr...qYhZVnVWgG4WIqkVqN6jhbCD1UZVzlJWYOxoC4urw_wcB

Of course you will need the blu-ray/sky/cd player all hooking up to it for the source content. Did you say what you are using it for other than music?

If you are a CD person then this is also a good shout. The previous amp linked is better but this is a lovely package and will still drive the speakers very well. Again a demo of anything at these costs are needed.

http://www.audiblefidelity.co.uk/pr...300a-integrated-amplifier?variant=16559358401

So depending on what you are hooking up and what you want out of the system will depend on where you go with this but I would say for floor standers that you are looking at you want to budget at least 50% again for the amp/receiver & then any other item on top of that.

 

[Curlyriff]

Oh and this has a good review and people say it pairs nicely with the MA Gold's although I haven't used myself.

http://www.whathifi.com/rega/elex-r/review

Again and I think for the third time of me saying though get down to your local audio specialist and test them and come back with how it went, thoughts and opinions. If you not 100% happy with anything then walk away for a while.

Make sure to try the same source material as you want to play so for instance if you like particular music they may not have take the CD with you or the movie you want etc.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

With a big budget, some potentials:
- Quad 2912 if you fancy electrostratics
- Living Voice Vox Olmpians if you like horns
- ATC300s for active
- A full on Westlake setup

Back in the real world, a budget would be helpful.

 

[joeyjojo]

These look good, first Google hit got me them for £100. Amp only has L/R outputs though, will they work?

Considering OP has expressed the most interest so far in the ever-popular Wharfedale Diamond 9.1s, and likes his current 40 W amp, I think that's a clue he's not looking to spend thousands.

OP - I understand the sentiment of "unlimited budget" but it's got people overly excited. A bit like when "spec me" threads in GH with "unlimited budget" result in totally overkill computers.

 

[Kei]

If you like big and heavy, look at the likes of used celestion Ditton 66, kef concerto or 104aB, wharfedale E90, tannoy monitor gold or super red monitors.

For modern new speakers that are on the large side, I'd look at spendor classic and the tannoy dc series or the gold reference series. For a more limited budget, tannoy, kef, wharfedale, monitor audio etc all do a fair range.

 

[joeyjojo]

Oops forgot to give my suggestion.

You could do worse than some Q Acoustics - either the 3020 (bookshelf, £200) or 3050 (floorstander £500) are good choices.

My old man got himself some 3020s for Xmas and they are very good if positioned correctly (too close to a wall makes them very muddy being backported). They're reassuringly heavy too. (4.6 kg each, over twice the weight of a Wharfedale 9.0 for those wondering.)

 

[Richeh]

Bad thread. Budget and get down to your local Hi-Fi specialist. Without fail if you are actually going to spending £1k+ on speakers, unfortunately your earlier reply regarding the Kef £20k speakers makes it very hard to know if this is actualy a serious thread if you then consider sub £1k speakers :s

 

[BF-Bert]

His £80 Argos special amplifier isn't going to drive half the speakers people are suggesting let alone sound good.

 

[thelonecrouton]

If you like big and heavy, look at the likes of used celestion Ditton 66, kef concerto or 104aB, wharfedale E90, tannoy monitor gold or super red monitors.

For modern new speakers that are on the large side, I'd look at spendor classic and the tannoy dc series or the gold reference series. For a more limited budget, tannoy, kef, wharfedale, monitor audio etc all do a fair range.

Thanks!

Oops forgot to give my suggestion.

You could do worse than some Q Acoustics - either the 3020 (bookshelf, £200) or 3050 (floorstander £500) are good choices.

My old man got himself some 3020s for Xmas and they are very good if positioned correctly (too close to a wall makes them very muddy being backported). They're reassuringly heavy too. (4.6 kg each, over twice the weight of a Wharfedale 9.0 for those wondering.)

Will check these out, thank you!

Bad thread. Budget and get down to your local Hi-Fi specialist. Without fail if you are actually going to spending £1k+ on speakers, unfortunately your earlier reply regarding the Kef £20k speakers makes it very hard to know if this is actualy a serious thread if you then consider sub £1k speakers :s

Yeah I knew the "budget unlimited" thing would annoy some folk. I said it deliberately for the following reasons:
#1. I really am an old fart with some cash to burn.
#2. Some things I have expertise in. Audio is not one of them, so I wanted pointers to what's out there, and the replies so far have been very helpful and have pointed me in some directions that I would not otherwise have considered.

I've tried to make it clear a few times ITT that I value sane engineering and quality materials over sheer noise output. I know my amp is a bit crap...

His £80 Argos special amplifier isn't going to drive half the speakers people are suggesting let alone sound good.

Quite a few folk have expressed similar opinions. I am taking them on board as best I can.



Me and the wife are having an outing this weekend. We will come to the salesmen armed with research very helpfully provided by you lot of wonderful nutters, thank you all, it's very much appreciated.

 

[Richeh]

All well and good but sort out if you want some thing like Q-Acoustic £500 floorstanders or £15k Monitor Audio Golds otherwise any salesman will take you for a ride if you ask to view such different speakers

Honestly if a cheap Amp like you have has been fine for you and you plan on sticking with it then just stick with a couple of floorstanders £500 or thereabouts and stick some bricks in them if they're not heavy enough for you lol

 

[sprite-]

In all seriousness, while I recommended the KEF Blades they're silly expensive considering your other kit. I'd like to therefore revise my previous suggestion and instead point you in the direction of two of these.

 

[FurryLemon]

All well and good but sort out if you want some thing like Q-Acoustic £500 floorstanders or £15k Monitor Audio Golds otherwise any salesman will take you for a ride if you ask to view such different speakers

Honestly if a cheap Amp like you have has been fine for you and you plan on sticking with it then just stick with a couple of floorstanders £500 or thereabouts and stick some bricks in them if they're not heavy enough for you lol

Golds are 6k. I got my PL300 II for 15k.

 

[Richeh]

Golds are 6k. I got my PL300 II for 15k.

Not really the point of my post though was it

I merely meant if the OP goes into a high end AV store and mentions he wants to hear speakers from £500 to £6k(!) or more the salesman is likely to abuse his lack of expertise. Also most high end AV shops won't stock many brands only a certain few they have deals with so will push their own supplied brands more.

 

[Curlyriff]

Golds are 6k. I got my PL300 II for 15k.

Golds are £3k

http://www.audiblefidelity.co.uk/pr...iTj2qgX3_I3elNAPIYTtXzih-D0vXvTDnAaAnjA8P8HAQ

 

[FurryLemon]

Nice!

Bargain at 3k sterling.

 

[Curlyriff]

Nice!

Bargain at 3k sterling.

For what they are I certainly think so, that is the Gold 300's as well not the 200's.

The whole 5.1 kit can be had for £6450 these days which is stella with the gold 300's and the larger 350 centre rather than the 150. What is really good at that is you get 5 year warranty and if brought through audible fidelity then they deliver it with a 2 man team and unpack it for you not a courier.

Shame I just don't have the room for them. Ideally want a 5m x 5m room for a 5.1 like that and my home would have to double in size to get living room to suit those dims.

 

[marl]

They look feeble.

I can deadlift 210kg for 6 clean comp-qualifying reps.

I want speakers that match me in my decrepitude.

Try these http://www.kronosav.com/hi-fi/speak...nce-paris-x-l1000-reference-loudspeakers.html

Available in several colours, very room and amplifier friendly. Look and sound the part (I've heard them), and have rarity value!

 

[Nick1881]

No budget? Magico Q7 MK II

May be a bit heavy at 340kgs but they are only $229,000.

Seriously though, you need a budget and if you have a decent budget then you need to listen to lots of speakers.

I'm running PMC OB1i and I really like the PMC sound. I'm also a big fan of KEF, if the blades really do tempt you then there is a used pair on AVF classifieds.