"Cool" speaker suggestions

[Murph7355]

For a little while I've wanted to try out Scandyna (nee Blueroom) pod speakers (initially Minipod, now Micropod). However, it's been difficult finding anywhere that has them to try, and reviews I've read aren't too gushing. They're also expensive so not something I'm keen to take a punt on.

Has anyone tried them? Or can anyone recommend a pair of cool looking speakers as alternatives? (I know, I know. Sound is key. But they're going somewhere where boring speaker boxes won't do!).

They shouldn't be any bigger than "normal" bookshelf speakers. I don't mind having to have a sub. Ideally they'd be powered, or if not I'll have to also find a small amp. I'm not going to be audiophiling through them - they'll be plugged into an Airport Express or similar to play streamed music. They should cost as little as possible, but sub-600 quid all up is about the max I'm prepared to go for.

TIA

[PJ S]

Eclipse spring to mind.
If you want something fairly left field, then Artcoustic is worth researching.
Then there's also Geneva Labs.

I can picture a couple of others, but they might be high-end desktop speakers, so aside from design, speaker units size might not cut the mustard - can't remember the names though.
Time for google to see if it jogs my memory.....

[hughjayteens]

http://www.fergusonhill.co.uk/

Have heard some of the big ones and they were quite nice.

[CRACKIE]

Waterfall speakers spring to mind for me and Oheocha speakers are raved about by some.

http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source=im...

http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&biw=1020&...

I'll get my thinking cap on........

[Peter Empson]

The larger Minipod speakers aren't actually that bad, you just need to remember that underneath they're a much more basic speaker - you're paying a lot for the enclosure and whilst it should bring benefits (non parallel sides etc) they don't really seem to bring any advantages sonically. Think of them as a reasonable £200 pair of speakers to get an idea of what they compare to.

The Micropods aren't really what I'd call hifi speakers, but for such a stylish design at a low price I cannot think of any alternatives if you want to get away from a traditional box shape - I guess you just need to decide if aesthetics are more important than sound. These speakers should really be used nearfield (close up - so probably ideal as PC speakers), and really require a bass box/sub of some kind.

I've supplied some Artcoustic speakers in the past, not an audiophile speaker, but discrete, tad pricey though. Ditto the Waterfalls, but I really didn't get on with their sound.

Personally I'd go for a more conventional box in a high gloss paint finish (lots available), they'd be much less compromised and still look great. I'd also recommend going with a seperate amp if you have space, tends to give much better sound and for your budget you should be able to get something very good.

[CRACKIE]

There's a very slim chance you could get hold of a pair of B&W Emphasis for £600 second hand. They must be somewhre high on the Cool-o-meter.

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&...

[Peter Empson]

CRACKIE said:

There's a very slim chance you could get hold of a pair of B&W Emphasis for £600 second hand. They must be somewhre high on the Cool-o-meter.

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&...

Definately ultra cool, but they really are rarer than hens teeth. Have they really appeared on the market that cheaply? I'd have guessed they'd be worth somewhere in the region of a couple of grand or more (but will freely admit this isn't really a market I know much about).

[PoleDriver]

I've got a Celestion system with:-

These at the front;


And these for the rest;


Not only do they look funky, they sound pretty good too!

[Peter Empson]

Good call! I used to sell those ones too and there were lots made so should be quite cheap to pick up now. The wood ones were nice too (and sounded slightly different). Would recommend adding a sub to these too.

[PoleDriver]

Peter Empson said:

Good call! I used to sell those ones too and there were lots made so should be quite cheap to pick up now. The wood ones were nice too (and sounded slightly different). Would recommend adding a sub to these too.

If you're talking about the Celestions, there's a sub in the picture!

I've actually turned mine into a 7.1 system now. Total cost... £650 new! Thank god for Richer Sounds!

[Peter Empson]

PoleDriver said:

If you're talking about the Celestions, there's a sub in the picture!

I've actually turned mine into a 7.1 system now. Total cost... £650 new! Thank god for Richer Sounds!

Yes I was, I only mentioned it as many were bought without them (they were circa £600 at launch, but towards the end of production were very heavily discounted everywhere). I couldn't live with them without some additional bass as the 'enclosure' is tiny, so just advising the OP he might need to budget accordingly.

[Murph7355]

Thanks for the ideas fellas.

Still can't help casting my eye back to Minipods. 500 quid a pair is a bit stiff though.

Has anyone tried Anthony Gallos? Again, not cheap. And possibly a bit dull looking...

CRACKIE said:

There's a very slim chance you could get hold of a pair of B&W Emphasis for £600 second hand. They must be somewhre high on the Cool-o-meter.

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&...

My other half would shove at least one of those up my arse if I bought them. And would probably have to be physically restrained to prevent the second going up!

They're interesting, but the room they're going in is nowhere near big enough to cope I fear...

[PoleDriver]

There's always the B&W Nautilus, just wish I could afford a set!

[bogie]

ive got a Gallo reference setup, but always been impressed with their original Micros and Divas (4" or 5" balls with sub)

http://www.anthonygallo.co.uk/

often turn up refurb or used on their site or fleabay...defo more "hi fi" than most wife friendly setups

[PKLD]

A pair of used B&O beolab 4000 speakers would be ideal for that kind of use - pick colour wisely though!!

They're active so no need for amp and they have a line-in so perfect for the airport/i-pod etc

Really big full sound from them - better than alot of floor speakers...

Eta: http://wap.ebay.co.uk/Pages/ViewItemPic.aspx?aid=1...

They still make them so if you can get to store have a listen! Tbh the beosound 8 iPod/i-Pad dock is what I'm looking at in lust : ) that's definately worth a listen

Edited by PKLD on Friday 4th March 23:24

[PoleDriver]

Genelec used to make some pretty funky speakers, you may be able to pick some up at a good price!

[anonymous-user]

bogie said:

ive got a Gallo reference setup, but always been impressed with their original Micros and Divas (4" or 5" balls with sub)

http://www.anthonygallo.co.uk/

often turn up refurb or used on their site or fleabay...defo more "hi fi" than most wife friendly setups

I picked up a pair of Gallo A'Diva Tis and a TR1 sub from the Gallo outlet for a sum within your budget. I run these off a Cam Audio amp and a Sonos. Impressed. The Gallos are the only speakers MrsG66 positively encourages me to buy, so they must have something on the aesthetics ...

[slomax]

PoleDriver said:

There's always the B&W Nautilus, just wish I could afford a set!

I was just about to suggest these!

How about the Curvi speakers. Heard these in a store in warrington IRRC. Sounded awsome considering they only have one drive unit! Think they are circa £4k per pair.

[Sneaky Schnell]

I have a pair of original Blueroom Minipods in black. I have them about 12 years and think they are excellent. I bought them as a studio monitor speaker based on a review in Computer Music magazine which IIRC gave them 96%. I believe Blueroom was set up by ex B&W engineers but could be wrong.

Take a chance. I doubt you will be disappointed.

Edit to add crap phone photo:

Edited by Sneaky Schnell on Monday 7th March 21:40

[PoleDriver]

slomax said:

I was just about to suggest these!

How about the Curvi speakers. Heard these in a store in warrington IRRC. Sounded awsome considering they only have one drive unit! Think they are circa £4k per pair.

If they're based on the design I think they are they will sound awesome, but £4K is a bit excessive!