Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

"Sander deWaal" wrote in message
...
Roger McDodger said:

Pink Triangle

Really. It's the gayest domestic hi-fi brand I've ever seen.

I once had a PIP II preamp with accumulator supply.
Flaky build quality, but one of the best sounding preamps I've ever
heard, especially on MC.


Wonder how it 'measured'...??? ;-)

PT were way ahead of the game with a lot of their thinking - MDF plinths,
acrylic platters, non-suspended tts with 'shock absorption'....

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

"MINe 109" wrote in message


Studio monitors would be a bad choice for the OP. He wants a
floorstander roughly equivalent to his KEF 104s and prefers classical
music.

Agreed.

Monitors are often meant for tabletop positioning

But a number of manufacturers on my list such as Dynaudio, JBL Pro, and
Tannoy also make floorstanders.

and have frequency responses bumps to exaggerate recording/production
flaws

Given that my list included about 20 different brands, some do have
intentially peaked up response, most don't.

One exception (of many) would be the BBC monitors available in the UK
by various makers: Rogers, etc.

Like you say, there are many exceptions to the idea that all studio monitors
aren't floorstanders, or that they have deliberately peaked up response.

For example, I've heard the Behringer B2031A speakers that I mentioned,
mounted on speaker stands. They sounded warm and well-balanced, like many
floorstanders. They are also reasonably smooth.

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

I run an original Pink Triangle--these days as backup for Garrard idler
wheel drives. The suspension is fiddly, but I set it up the other
night--with a Decca unipivot that I was playing with--and was struck
again by its precision and neutrality. I like the directness and punch
of the Garrards, but I respect the Pink for directing the attention away
from itself to the music. Got my last belt for it from them a while
before they closed, also on a "here it is, please kindly send us ...
when you have a moment" basis. I agree with Keith that the acrylic
platter is a pleasure to use.

On the topic, I have just today received some small French manufactured
mini monitors (Jean Marie Reynaud, Twins Mk3) to review. They are not
yet properly run in, but I my first impression is very positive.

David

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

In article ,
"Arny Krueger" wrote:

"MINe 109" wrote in message


Studio monitors would be a bad choice for the OP. He wants a
floorstander roughly equivalent to his KEF 104s and prefers classical
music.

Agreed.

Monitors are often meant for tabletop positioning

But a number of manufacturers on my list such as Dynaudio, JBL Pro, and
Tannoy also make floorstanders.

Dunno if the floorstanding studio monitor is a big market segment.
Haven't noticed any in the pro shops.

The OP has already investigated Dynaudio. IIRC, Tannoys, depending on
the model, favor near-wall placement.

and have frequency responses bumps to exaggerate recording/production
flaws

Given that my list included about 20 different brands, some do have
intentially peaked up response, most don't.

But of course.

One exception (of many) would be the BBC monitors available in the UK
by various makers: Rogers, etc.

Like you say, there are many exceptions to the idea that all studio monitors
aren't floorstanders, or that they have deliberately peaked up response.

For example, I've heard the Behringer B2031A speakers that I mentioned,
mounted on speaker stands. They sounded warm and well-balanced, like many
floorstanders. They are also reasonably smooth.

I enjoy an inexpensive pro-style monitoring system for casual listening
in a room that requires bookshelf positioning, but I doubt that
Behringer would be an improvement over the KEF 104. It's too bad he
isn't interested in electrostatic or planar speakers.

Stephen

PS I forget Focal-JM Lab!: "The beryllium dome represents a quantum
advance in tweeter technology".

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

"MINe 109" wrote
PS I forget Focal-JM Lab!: "The beryllium dome represents a quantum
advance in tweeter technology".

Duhhh, didn't the seminal Yamaha NS-1000M use a beryllium tweeter?

(Still remember listening at nearly top volume to Metallica "One" on
NS-1000Ms with a Quad 606 in the late 80s in the dem room at Chatham
Sevenoaks Hi-Fi, where I had a part-time job back then, after we'd
shut the shop. Our ears nearly bled!)


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

MINe 109 wrote:
In article ,
"Arny Krueger" wrote:


"MINe 109" wrote in message



Studio monitors would be a bad choice for the OP. He wants a
floorstander roughly equivalent to his KEF 104s and prefers classical
music.

Agreed.


Monitors are often meant for tabletop positioning

But a number of manufacturers on my list such as Dynaudio, JBL Pro, and
Tannoy also make floorstanders.


Dunno if the floorstanding studio monitor is a big market segment.
Haven't noticed any in the pro shops.

The OP has already investigated Dynaudio. IIRC, Tannoys, depending on
the model, favor near-wall placement.


and have frequency responses bumps to exaggerate recording/production
flaws

Given that my list included about 20 different brands, some do have
intentially peaked up response, most don't.


But of course.


One exception (of many) would be the BBC monitors available in the UK
by various makers: Rogers, etc.

Like you say, there are many exceptions to the idea that all studio monitors
aren't floorstanders, or that they have deliberately peaked up response.

For example, I've heard the Behringer B2031A speakers that I mentioned,
mounted on speaker stands. They sounded warm and well-balanced, like many
floorstanders. They are also reasonably smooth.


I enjoy an inexpensive pro-style monitoring system for casual listening
in a room that requires bookshelf positioning, but I doubt that
Behringer would be an improvement over the KEF 104. It's too bad he
isn't interested in electrostatic or planar speakers.

François-Yves Le Gal has just made a comment on a french NG about :
http://www.behringer.com/B2031A/index.cfm?lang=FRE
An exiting experience.


Stephen

PS I forget Focal-JM Lab!: "The beryllium dome represents a quantum
advance in tweeter technology".

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

Joseph Oberlander wrote:


MINe 109 wrote:

Studio monitors would be a bad choice for the OP. He wants a
floorstander roughly equivalent to his KEF 104s and prefers classical
music. Monitors are often meant for tabletop positioning and have
frequency responses bumps to exaggerate recording/production flaws.


Honestly, he's going to have to look really really hard to find
a better speaker than his 104s. He might look into large planars
or move to full-range electrostatics.


The higher ProAc ranges are VERY nice with the ribbon tweeters, though I
am quite happy with my Studio 125's, I actually prefer them to the lower
response series, I found them a bit "shouty".

You may also want to consider the Living Voice range (not the horns).

--
Nick

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

Joseph Oberlander commented

: MINe 109 wrote:
:
: Studio monitors would be a bad choice for the OP. He wants a
: floorstander roughly equivalent to his KEF 104s and prefers classical
: music. Monitors are often meant for tabletop positioning and have
: frequency responses bumps to exaggerate recording/production flaws.
:
: Honestly, he's going to have to look really really hard to find
: a better speaker than his 104s. He might look into large planars
: or move to full-range electrostatics.

You guys are getting off on a tangent here. The OP (and my virtual ears
pricked up, because I own exactly the same model) specifically mentioned Kef
104*ab*, not Kef 104 the much later reference model. Mine are marked "1972"
on the back of the bass drivers ... but I can't afford to upgrade *yet*.

Indeed, no-one has mentioned the later (or latest) Kef models as contenders
until now, I think. Surely they would be a suitable & obvious upgrade?

I've certainly liked the few later (Reference & Q series IIRC) ones I've
heard, and they still seem to take R&D work as seriously as ever.

RdM

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

In article ,
MINe 109 wrote:
For example, I've heard the Behringer B2031A speakers that I
mentioned, mounted on speaker stands. They sounded warm and
well-balanced, like many floorstanders. They are also reasonably
smooth.

I enjoy an inexpensive pro-style monitoring system for casual listening
in a room that requires bookshelf positioning, but I doubt that
Behringer would be an improvement over the KEF 104. It's too bad he
isn't interested in electrostatic or planar speakers.

If Behringer have produced a pair of speakers to equal the 104s at their
usual budget price, I'd be amazed. My limited experience of their products
is that it's decent value for money, but little else.

--
*I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Any great unknown speaker brands?
 

In article ,
"Fleetie" wrote:

"MINe 109" wrote
PS I forget Focal-JM Lab!: "The beryllium dome represents a quantum
advance in tweeter technology".

Duhhh, didn't the seminal Yamaha NS-1000M use a beryllium tweeter?

This one's new. ;-)

I assume the Focal is a new driver. The quote's a little out of context.

(Still remember listening at nearly top volume to Metallica "One" on
NS-1000Ms with a Quad 606 in the late 80s in the dem room at Chatham
Sevenoaks Hi-Fi, where I had a part-time job back then, after we'd
shut the shop. Our ears nearly bled!)

I've seen them, but have never heard them.

Stephen