New speaker advice

I am thinking about changing my speakers and have a loan of some Neat Motive 1 speakers.I like them very much good detailed sound with a pretty good soundstage and tight bass. Only concern I have is the fact I am using a 12w SE 300b and although there doesnt appear to be any driving issues I feel that power wise they are maybe not the most synergistic(is there such a word) speaker. I like or have had a tendency in the past to go for slim floor standers as I quite like the sound they produce but another alternative is a Living Voice, any thoughts on Totem I always think they sound good at shows or when I have heard them.Opera were another company I may look at.

 

Also look at Coincident ( Canadian company I think)

http://www.coincidentspeaker.com/

 

The LV's will probably work very well. The Totems need something with real grip and grunt to give of their best - although you may be fine. The only way is to listen.

Having had Totem's at home for a while on home dem I have to say there is something very seductive about the sound they make

 

Thanks I have seen the coincidents speakers before but a bit pricey for me.I did think about the Gemme 104 and there has been a pair for sale.Proac were another speaker as I know they are relatively benign loading.

 

i like totem spks tons but your amp will not be able to push them around !!!

try to hear some revolvers , living voice or something very benign in the crossover and with reasonable ( above 88 db 1w-1m ) efficiency to allow your amp to work well.


maybe a dali or a rega or a pair of quads els.

 

I used to have dalis and the precusror to the Living Voice I may look out some Dalis.

 

Reference 3A's ??
No crossovers, and all 89 - 92 db.
My PrimaLuna's are making mine sing, and they sound brilliant.
I too liked the Totem sound but was warned off them because of the inefficiency issues. 3A are another brilliant little known Canadian speaker manufacturer with radical ideas ( no crossovers etc).

 

As you mentioned opera, my speakers are Opera Callas SP, their slim floorstander, and they sound great, co-incidentally, powered by my Audion Sterling at 12w.

Look great too, beautiful solid cherry finish. Think i can point you in the direction of a pair for £995

 

The Dali 104 was the speaker 'behind' living voice, and can be found for not too much money.

The family resemblence goes beyond coincidence!
http://www.prisjakt.nu/bilder/bild.php?st=2&p=18461

Also consider Tannoys (anything with a 15" dual concentric) , and Audionote speakers for a start.

A pair of Audionote E's (or Snell speakers which proceeded Audionote) I prefer personally to the LV's, also the bigger Tannoys I personally prefer.

Single cone speakers worth a look too, for example fostex/lowther based speakers. Very communicative, but not an 'all rounder' by and large.

There are lots more. For example Coincident speakers imported from the US - http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1207513183

IPL do a pretty wide range high efficiency speaker http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/ipl_high_efficiency_shielded_a3_.htm

Loth X, vintage vitavox or Altec .. there are just loads to look at these days.

With 12w SET, I'd be looking for something sensitive though for sure.

 

Why are they called Coincident, when not one of their speakers is coincident?

 

Thanks for all input,not a huge fan of Tannoys,and yes I had a pair of 104ms that Kevin modified and I did like them,I'll investigate all the suggestions.Was imprssed by the Audionote E s and it is a possible but would prefer a slim floor stand but I will keep my options open.Funny what Tenson said as thats exactly what I thought when I looked at the Coincident website.I am really impressed with the Neat but feel my amp is working a little too hard and dont want to be replacing 300b's every 6 months

 

Acoustic Zen Adagio, the only right choice, they just produce beautiful music

 

there is no such a thing as the only right choice in audio.

and especially not something called acoustic zen.

 

Meant to be ironic perhaps.....or just a coincidence. y daugthers school mate has a white dog called Sooty. Her dad thinks its funny.

 

Did you check it, so that you can state something like that. I mean about AZ.

And that there is no such a thing like the only right choice, well, I admite, you are right

 

You should also consider ART Emotions. I use mine with a 16W SET. Previously used LV's and the ART's blow them away.

 

Also the BC Acoustique speakers are very nice, with a slim front baffle.

Nice dynamics from the compression driver.

http://www.bc-acoustique.fr/listtechnologies.asp?Langue=DE

 

Hi Colin,

Deprending on how much you want to spend, why don't you look at Horning loudspeakers. These have a fairly slim baffle and are horn loaded. They use Lowther drivers with rear bass drivers. They have an easy load and high sensitivity. They do a range from the £2700 Zeus to the £3700 Aristoteles to the £3900 Aristoteles Ultimates. They do more expensive models.

Older versions of the Agathons crop up for under £1500 which are worth a look.

http://www.realhi-fi.com/products/horning_zeus.html

http://www.horninghybrid.com/

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