Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

In article , Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
Personally, if the poster likes the BC1, I'm sure that he'd find the
current Spendor and Proac ranges to be 'more of the same', ...

I agree. I loved the Spendor BC1 many years ago when I bought my first
audio kit but could not afford them. A recent upgrade had me shortlisting
from the modern Spendor and Proac ranges.

For Spendor the OP may want to think of the "classic" large standmounters
like the SP1/2E (nominally a direct descendent of the BC1 - see
http://www.spendoraudio.com/HISTORY.HTM) as well as the newer more
prominently advertised "lifestyle" S8.

For Proac the Response series (Response D15, D25 ...) is probably the
appropriate range.

I also had a listen to the PMC FB1 and the Quad 22L (both excellent in
their own ways) before buying the Proac Response D15.

... but
generally cleaned up and with tighter bass.

Precisely so. Improved dynamics and imaging too compared to my (possibly
unreliable) audio memory.

--
John Phillips

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
The Dynaudio range is IMHO absolutely superb, but may be a little too
'in yer face' for someone who is happy with the slightly 'rose-tinted'
balance of the BC1.

Too many people have said good things about Dynaudio for me to ignore
it, so I'll add it to my so-far-short-list of Spendor and Proac. Much
as I have loved my BC1's, it was twenty years ago when I did any
serious comparative listening when Dynaudio either didn't exist or I
didn't run into them. Anyway, it is good to revisit old decisions once
in a while.

Ahhhh, the farty city must indeed seem like one of the inner circles
of Dante's Inferno, after the stunning cultural combination of NYC and
London!

You must not like Chicago all that much then? :-) It is quite livable
and pleasant in so many ways. Of course NYC + London had more audio
salons and I took good advantage of that opportunity 20 years ago...

If you don't mind, and if it can be summarized briefly. what has been
your progression with loudspeakers?

Raghu

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
The Dynaudio range is IMHO absolutely superb, but may be a little too
'in yer face' for someone who is happy with the slightly 'rose-tinted'
balance of the BC1.

Too many people have said good things about Dynaudio for me to ignore
it, so I'll add it to my so-far-short-list of Spendor and Proac. Much
as I have loved my BC1's, it was twenty years ago when I did any
serious comparative listening when Dynaudio either didn't exist or I
didn't run into them. Anyway, it is good to revisit old decisions once
in a while.

Ahhhh, the farty city must indeed seem like one of the inner circles
of Dante's Inferno, after the stunning cultural combination of NYC and
London!

You must not like Chicago all that much then? :-) It is quite livable
and pleasant in so many ways. Of course NYC + London had more audio
salons and I took good advantage of that opportunity 20 years ago...

If you don't mind, and if it can be summarized briefly. what has been
your progression with loudspeakers?

Raghu

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

John Phillips wrote:

For Spendor the OP may want to think of the "classic" large standmounters
like the SP1/2E (nominally a direct descendent of the BC1 - see
http://www.spendoraudio.com/HISTORY.HTM) as well as the newer more
prominently advertised "lifestyle" S8.

For Proac the Response series (Response D15, D25 ...) is probably the
appropriate range.

I also had a listen to the PMC FB1 and the Quad 22L (both excellent in
their own ways) before buying the Proac Response D15.

Thank you for your most helpful response. As you have recently compared
the same brands (Spendor, Proac, Quad, etc) that I am thinking about, I
would be most interested to hear about your auditioning experience.

Did you listen to Dynaudios too?

Raghu

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

John Phillips wrote:

For Spendor the OP may want to think of the "classic" large standmounters
like the SP1/2E (nominally a direct descendent of the BC1 - see
http://www.spendoraudio.com/HISTORY.HTM) as well as the newer more
prominently advertised "lifestyle" S8.

For Proac the Response series (Response D15, D25 ...) is probably the
appropriate range.

I also had a listen to the PMC FB1 and the Quad 22L (both excellent in
their own ways) before buying the Proac Response D15.

Thank you for your most helpful response. As you have recently compared
the same brands (Spendor, Proac, Quad, etc) that I am thinking about, I
would be most interested to hear about your auditioning experience.

Did you listen to Dynaudios too?

Raghu

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 23:25:53 +0100, Dave Plowman
wrote:

In article ,
RPS wrote:
PS. Given that speakers are one thing the British (Japanese) have the
reputation of doing (not doing) right, I find it interesting that a
British audiophile should have owned Yamaha speakers; they must have
been quite good!

The NS-1000Ms were a bit of a rose among thorns. ;-)

Indeed yes, and *not* to be confused with the ubiquitous NS-10M!!
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 23:25:53 +0100, Dave Plowman
wrote:

In article ,
RPS wrote:
PS. Given that speakers are one thing the British (Japanese) have the
reputation of doing (not doing) right, I find it interesting that a
British audiophile should have owned Yamaha speakers; they must have
been quite good!

The NS-1000Ms were a bit of a rose among thorns. ;-)

Indeed yes, and *not* to be confused with the ubiquitous NS-10M!!
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

In article , RPS wrote:

Thank you for your most helpful response. As you have recently compared
the same brands (Spendor, Proac, Quad, etc) that I am thinking about, I
would be most interested to hear about your auditioning experience.

Did you listen to Dynaudios too?

I am a little hesitant to put forward more of my own views since my
preferences at a detailed level may be very different to yours, our
mutual liking for the Spendor BC1 notwithstanding.

Dynaudio range: No, I did not audition any of these. However they have
a tremendous reputation.

Quad 22L: Very transparent and tonally neutral (maybe a little light on
bass). Not as good dynamically as others. Tremendous quality of build
and finish.

Spendor S8 (not S8e which seems now to be the updated model): Very
transparent and tonally neutral with good bass and smooth treble. Good
dynamics. Good imaging. Really excellent all round and something I could
happily live with long-term.

Spendor SP1/2E: I mentioned this one as a possible candidate but I did
not audition it. Domestic arrangements meant I wanted to move away from
an existing large stand-mounter so this form factor was not acceptable
despite some very promising on-line opinions.

PMC FB1: Beautifully controlled and extended bass and extended treble
with a little more "spit" than the S8. Possibly the most neutral "monitor
quality" candidate of the lot but not musically lively at low listening
levels.

Proac Response D15: Not as tonally neutral as the S8s. Good
imaging. Smooth treble, fairly tight bass, very good dynamics and a
sort of dynamic musicality at all volume levels that just appealed to
me above the greater neutrality of the S8 and FB1.

--
John Phillips

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

In article , RPS wrote:

Thank you for your most helpful response. As you have recently compared
the same brands (Spendor, Proac, Quad, etc) that I am thinking about, I
would be most interested to hear about your auditioning experience.

Did you listen to Dynaudios too?

I am a little hesitant to put forward more of my own views since my
preferences at a detailed level may be very different to yours, our
mutual liking for the Spendor BC1 notwithstanding.

Dynaudio range: No, I did not audition any of these. However they have
a tremendous reputation.

Quad 22L: Very transparent and tonally neutral (maybe a little light on
bass). Not as good dynamically as others. Tremendous quality of build
and finish.

Spendor S8 (not S8e which seems now to be the updated model): Very
transparent and tonally neutral with good bass and smooth treble. Good
dynamics. Good imaging. Really excellent all round and something I could
happily live with long-term.

Spendor SP1/2E: I mentioned this one as a possible candidate but I did
not audition it. Domestic arrangements meant I wanted to move away from
an existing large stand-mounter so this form factor was not acceptable
despite some very promising on-line opinions.

PMC FB1: Beautifully controlled and extended bass and extended treble
with a little more "spit" than the S8. Possibly the most neutral "monitor
quality" candidate of the lot but not musically lively at low listening
levels.

Proac Response D15: Not as tonally neutral as the S8s. Good
imaging. Smooth treble, fairly tight bass, very good dynamics and a
sort of dynamic musicality at all volume levels that just appealed to
me above the greater neutrality of the S8 and FB1.

--
John Phillips

Upgrading from an old Spendor BC1
 

"RPS" wrote in message
...
I have been living with a pair of old Spendor BC1 speakers. While I
bought these after careful research and auditions long ago, I have not
followed the market isince then. No doubt, much has changed.

I'd be grateful for your suggestions on what budget is rquired for a
meaningful upgrade, the next step up if you wish, in today's market. If
you can suggest a few names, primarily for classical music, that would
be even better.

A few friends have suggested Spendor's own S6, but I would like to
consider other options as well before choosing.

R

Hi - just followed this thread in an ambling way, and note Dynaudio pops up
from time to time. I have some baby 42s, and they are like no other IMO. I
heard some big new standmount Spendors a short while ago (on the back of
various Naim stuff) and didn't really get on with it - quite restrained,
polite, 'undynamic' to be nasty. The Dynaudios have a punch/kick/slam all of
their own and just soak up power. I auditioned them next to B&W, PMC, AVI
and whatever else Cornflake Shop has at that price. But they can be a little
'relentless', and 'warm' they are not. Give 'em a try!
HTH
Rob