"Rob" wrote in message
eb.com...
On 06/03/2012 07:37, Woody wrote:
wrote in message
eb.com...
On 29/01/2012 11:45, Rob wrote:
I'd like some speakers for a small room/office, and they'll
be
tucked
into a bookshelf. The room is about 10'x8'x7'(H). I'm not
looking to
spend very much - up to £100 second hand. Amplifier 20WPC
SS.
Any
recommendations?

Thanks, Rob



Many modern small bookshelf speakers are rear ported so
putting
them on a shelf and presumably thus close to a wall will make
them very boomy and muddy in sound. You would be better to go
for
one of the older infinite baffle designs.


The KEFs are front ported - but I take your point. I haven't
had any good experiences of hifi speakers close to walls.

As you are in a relatively small room and will probably not
need
much volume you want a speaker that doesn't need a lot of
driving. I would suggest you look at a pair of Wharfedale
Dentons
or Shiltons. Yes a 30 year old design but both are speakers
that
are very easy on the ear and have well made drivers. Also
consider perhaps some of the smaller and older Mission,
Monitor
Audio, or Celestions, or if you want probably the best look
for
some smaller Castles. Also look out for almost any of the
smaller
KEF units - they will never let you down. A rare-ish but very
compitent small speaker was the TDL NFM (Near Field Monitor)
but
they tend to be few and far between.

*Sheltons* :-) - I used to have a pair, and a friend had the
Dentons. Good I seem to remeber, but shrill by today's
standards. And I've had some DL4s - but again - not close to
walls.

If you want more modern then something like the small Tannoy
or
Quad products of the last few years but they may exceed your
budget. Older Gale (now I think a brand owned by Richer
Sounds)
were also solid little units.

For the creme de la creme the BBC-designed LS3/5A which were
made
by several manufacturers - Goodmans, Rogers, Chartwell, etc -
but
you will be paying hundreds for them! (Probably the only
speakers
you will buy secondhand that cost now more than they did new
15-20 years ago - they are that good.)

£700 I gather. Just too much for the intended use.


Whatever you do (a) get speakers that have rubber driver
surrounds - as against foam which rots - and (b) make sure
those
surrounds are not cut. I saw a pair of reasonable TDL's
yesterday
for £40 but one surround had a small cut in it and TDL are no
longer in business.


Ahem - the surround of some some fairly new Dynaudio speakers I
have came away -cost a fair bit to put right. But yes, take
your point again.

I have assumed in the above that you listen to a decent spread
of
music types - pretty well none of the above will handle heavy
rock very well!

Apart from fleabay, look at what Richer Sounds have even new,
and
also look at some of the specialist secondhand hi-fi outlets
such
as Fanthorpe in Hull and Steve's Hi-Fi in Hastings both of
which
have web sites.


May well just pop in to RS as you say. Proving to be a bit of
hassle. Although, on the 'near field' idea, presumeably they're
designed to be pushed against walls and into corners. How about
the likes of:

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/B2030A.aspx

Active's not a problem.




I have seen comments in this NG about Behringer - generally
favourable ISTR.

However be aware that if you have not had serious experience of
European designed loudspeakers you may be a bit disappointed.
They are undoubtedly very detailed - some would perhaps say
excessively so - but tend to be rather 'dry' and 'unmusical.'.

Remember that UK-made/designed speakers are regarded as some of
the best in the world - even the Japanese buy them! It is also
interesting to note that branded speakers such as Sony and Denon
amongst others have been designed and made in the UK (Denon had
some specially made by Mission.)

Given the choice I would stay with British - not least of which
is customer support if you have any problems.

Have you considered building your own, possibly from a kit? Have
a look at www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk - the name was bought when the
original (Wilmslow-based) owner retired and emigrated; they are
in Hinckley, Leics.


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

On 14/03/2012 19:43, Woody wrote:
wrote in message

.. . . on the 'near field' idea, presumeably they're
designed to be pushed against walls and into corners. How about
the likes of:

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/B2030A.aspx

Active's not a problem.


I have seen comments in this NG about Behringer - generally
favourable ISTR.

However be aware that if you have not had serious experience of
European designed loudspeakers you may be a bit disappointed.
They are undoubtedly very detailed - some would perhaps say
excessively so - but tend to be rather 'dry' and 'unmusical.'.


Quite a bit too much experience of European speakers :-) Probably 20-odd
pairs. Now I'm old and have a little more money I've bought some (second
hand - not quite flush enough for new) ATC and Dynaudio speakers - a
nice sound and they work well in my home.

Enormous diminishing returns with speakers - as with most other aspects
of hifi IME.

Remember that UK-made/designed speakers are regarded as some of
the best in the world - even the Japanese buy them! It is also
interesting to note that branded speakers such as Sony and Denon
amongst others have been designed and made in the UK (Denon had
some specially made by Mission.)

Given the choice I would stay with British - not least of which
is customer support if you have any problems.


I've got a Behringer power amp that I've used for a few years now -
excellent. No fuss at all, and a fraction of the cost of 'hifi'. Had a
tweeter go on one of the small ATCs - about £80 but they had them in
stock for a model that hasn't been made for about 10 years.

But if I'm paying £150 I'm not going to lose sleep over failure outside
warranty. Is it naive to think that low-end pro equipment will be better
supported than say low end British hifi?


Have you considered building your own, possibly from a kit? Have
a look at www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk - the name was bought when the
original (Wilmslow-based) owner retired and emigrated; they are
in Hinckley, Leics.


Handy for me but too pricey - would love to build my own but never quite
seen the point, beyond the enjoyment/fettling.

Rob