In article ,
"Arny Krueger" wrote:

"RPS" wrote in message


Newbie wrote:

Friends have suggeted Spendor, Proac and Dynaudio.

Lesser-known in the US, better-known in Europe.

Those are well known names by now but I remember when each was news to
me and I suspected the salesman was trying to pull some trick.

Anyway, does anybody know any unknown / less well known speaker brands
that are of equal or better quality and much better value (ie, less
expensive) than these?

Given that many consumer loudspeaker brands include several models that
pretend to be recording studio monitors, consider learning about the real
thing. In many cases the real thing costs no more, and can easily outperform
the imitations.

Brands of true-and-genuine recording studio monitors:

Mackie, KRK, JBL Pro, Alesis, Tannoy, Dynaudio, Behringer, Event, M-Audio,
NHT Pro, Samson, Roland, Tapco, Nady, ART, Fostex, Yamaha Pro, Wharfdale,
Fostex.... Note that this is an inclusive list, not a list of speakers that
all equally merit serious consideration.

Many of these speakers include power amps, providing a convenient way to
build a minimalized system.

Based on recent listening evaluations, the bang-for-buck leader in studio
monitors could easily be the Behringer B2031A. They would make very gutsy
but nice-sounding speaker/amplifiers for use with a computer system and/or
CD player.

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.

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

Stephen

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.

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

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

Ross Matheson wrote:

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?

Well... I thought he had the 104/6s. For $1200-$1500, he can find
mint pair with dual terminals and then get them re-foamed for
good measure. Few things will sound as good for the money.

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 17:26:52 GMT, 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.

I had 104s, and I can assure you that he will have no troble at all in
this regard. Given our new knowledge of his budget, I'd suggest a hard
look at the B&W N804, the Spendor S9 and the JMLab Elektra range. Also
of course the incomparable Quad 988/989 for a completely different
experience.

--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

: I had 104s, and I can assure you that he will have no troble at all in
: this regard. Given our new knowledge of his budget, I'd suggest a hard
: look at the B&W N804, the Spendor S9 and the JMLab Elektra range. Also
: of course the incomparable Quad 988/989 for a completely different
: experience.

Hello Stewart. I appreciate your suggestions. However, I live a small
(expensive but tiny!) big-city apartment. The Quads are out of the
question! I suppose the speakers could be tall, but must have a small
footprint.

One general question I can't even articulate well goes like this: If
you have very good speakers of this age (my KEF's, or BC-1s, Rogers,
etc.), with no obvious breakdown, just old age, is it better to get
them "reconditioned", or has the speaker technology improved so much
that one should replace them?

Anyway, what are the best "sleek" speakers that don't need much floor
space?

In article , Newbie
wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

: I had 104s, and I can assure you that he will have no troble at all in
: this regard. Given our new knowledge of his budget, I'd suggest a hard
: look at the B&W N804, the Spendor S9 and the JMLab Elektra range. Also
: of course the incomparable Quad 988/989 for a completely different
: experience.

Hello Stewart. I appreciate your suggestions. However, I live a small
(expensive but tiny!) big-city apartment. The Quads are out of the
question! I suppose the speakers could be tall, but must have a small
footprint.

One general question I can't even articulate well goes like this: If
you have very good speakers of this age (my KEF's, or BC-1s, Rogers,
etc.), with no obvious breakdown, just old age, is it better to get
them "reconditioned", or has the speaker technology improved so much
that one should replace them?

Are you dissatisfied with the sound? There could be a simple fix by
repositioning them or using room treatments. Maybe you could tell us
about the room: hard floors, high ceilings, square footage, that kind of
thing.

Anyway, what are the best "sleek" speakers that don't need much floor
space?

The Magneplanar 1.6 are tall but only 19" wide and 2" deep.

Stephen

MINe 109 wrote:

: Are you dissatisfied with the sound? There could be a simple fix by
: repositioning them or using room treatments. Maybe you could tell us
: about the room: hard floors, high ceilings, square footage, that kind of
: thing.

No, not realy dissatisfied, the condition would be better described as
"20 year itch". Just wondering if there are much better deals out
there now.

You have to appreciate that I can't do what one can in most Americans
cities: throw my speakers in the car and take them to a high-end dealer
for side-by-side comparison. That's a little difficult when you depend
on NYC subways and buses for getting around. Hence all this research.

When I bought these speakers I really wanted the Quads but my room
couldn't take them. It is ironic to find myself in the same situation
many years later.

In article ,
Newbie wrote:
You have to appreciate that I can't do what one can in most Americans
cities: throw my speakers in the car and take them to a high-end dealer
for side-by-side comparison.

If that's what they do, they're wrong. You should borrow speakers from
your dealer and check them at home. The room has a vast influence on the
final sound.

--
* What do they call a coffee break at the Lipton Tea Company? *

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