₤370 Standmounts?
Hello everyone.
Thank goodness I waited a while after I purchased my Rotel RA-04, with which I am very happy, as I can now afford speakers which are slightly higher up the food chain than my originally-intended Bronze BR2s.
I am considering speakers in the higher 300 Pound range, such as the B&W 685s or the MA RS1s. Unfortunately, Epos is not imported into South Africa. Virtually all other brands are available here, so please recommend any similarly priced standmount.
Kind thanks
zimble01
Hello, and thank you.
Hmmm. I understand (from WHFSV and others) that the RS1s are mildy bass-shy, but, I must admit, I am more drawn to them for their good looks and their genuine veneer (instead of plastic). Are there any other speakers in this price range worth considering with the RA-04?
zimble01
I'd definitely hear the B&W 685s - with the family connection to Rotel (part of same company), they're good partners for the RA-04, and if it's bass you're after, they've got bags of the stuff for their size and price.
Hi Clare.
Thank you for your help. Any suggestions apart from the RS1s or 685s that you could think of, please? I am sure that there are other good standmounts in this price range...
Thanks
zimble01
Hi, I have always been a fan of Mission speakers (well for the last 25 years anyway). If they are available in South Africa, I would definately add the appropriately priced model to my shortlist. Sorry I can't be more specific, but they don't do Hi - Fi in Saudi. I have got a Mission home cinema system in the UK though. And before home cinema took over from my hi fi system, I always had a pair of mission's (either on stands or floor-standing). As a brand I can highly recommend them, for sound, built and aesthetic quality.
Hope that helps, Don.
Hello everyone.
After some internet sniffing, it was revealed to me that the Quad 11L2 is also I contender in this price-range. Currently, my auditioning list is composed of the following standmounts:
1) Monitor Audio RS1
2) Bowers & Wilkins 685
3) Quad 11L2
I have seen that some other, less favourable looking 'speakers floating somewhere in the £300+ range, but am sure I have missed some worthwhile options. Please recommend some, Andrew, Thaiman, or anybody, should you think of something unbeknown to me. Most unfortunately, as I have said before, I can't hear the Epos M5s as there is a lack of a distributor at this end of the world. These are to be paired with a Rotel RA-04 amplifier.
Thanks once again.
zimble01
hi there.
I had a pair of Quad 11L's for 18 months,loved them,they coped with Death in Vegas well enough.
Hello, Mohawk.
Thank you for your reply. Hopefully the short duration of your ownership of the 11Ls was only due to your need for an upgrade, not a failing on their part. I'm assuming Death in Vegas is a band... How did the 'speakers perform in terms of bass, noting their small bass/mid driver?
zimble01
Try the Usher S520, won the group test in Hi-Fi World against a few competitors, including the MA RS1...wondered why WHFSV never tested this interesting model from Usher..
Or the AVI Neutron IV mini monitors
Cheers....
Hello, Mohawk.
Thank you for your reply. Hopefully the short duration of your ownership of the 11Ls was only due to your need for an upgrade, not a failing on their part. I'm assuming Death in Vegas is a band... How did the 'speakers perform in terms of bass, noting their small bass/mid driver?
zimble01
hi,short duration was indeed because of upgrade,I sold them to a dear friend who is delighted with them.
I mentioned DIV because they are bass heavy,the 11's performed well.
Hi Clare-
Would B&W 685 match with RA-06 or RA-1062 ? thx... cal
Hello, all.
I listened to the B&W 685s today, along with a pair of Quad 11L2s, both with my RA-04. The Quad loudspeakers impressed with their warmth, detail, and bass-reach, while, IMO, the 685s sounded like a someone playing with chalk on a blackboard. They appeared to have an extremely harsh treble, and very little oomph. I was unable to hear the RS1s, as the dealer was out of stock. However, I did listen to a pair of RS6s, which were simply astounding. The 685s were run-in, and I think their unpleasantness may be attributed to the (acoustically engineered) listening room.
This dealer also stocks Paradigm, which looks gimicky, and Vienna Acoustics, which is expensive. Should I listen to these at all? Any further suggestions would be most welcome!
Many thanks
zimble01
The 686's are a much closer match to the RS1 than the 685's are. i demod the 2 and found the 686 to have a sound that was more free from the speaker and a little more punch and drive. the bass from the 686 was equal to the RS1. Are you sure the rotel amp was driving the 685's properly? i know its a bit late to respond but i am new to the forum!
I went through a similar process as you two years ago. I instantly fell in love with the RS6s coupled to the Roksan Kandy III and Rotel RA-03, but didn't have the room for them. The RS1s were indeed a little bass shy, but more than made up for this shortfall in their mid and upper. The solution - I bought the RS1s and a REL Quake sub. Now I can tune to any room I like, to any music or film, and I get the advantages of standmounters and _very_ low bass extension. If the budget doesn't allow, get the RS1s and a sub later on when you've got used to them. Good luck!
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hi
IU have never actually heard the 685s but brought a pait of rs1's last week. The speakers are amazing. I heard them along with epos m5 and dynaudio 42s but found these to be superior to the other 2.