Recomend me some floorstanding speakers

[Ray Singh]

Being a Richer sounds child - I have a Marantz CD-63, NAD 720 Amp and Mission bookshelf speakers. I purchased stands for these speakers but they have taken a bit of knocking over the years and dont look as good as they once did. I could spend the money of re-spraying them again, but then half of me thinks buy some second hand floorstanders.

I really like Mission speakers and would like to stick with these and love the beech and cherry coloured wood which mission use to enclose their speakers. I am a little confused by the models, but would like floorstanders with as many speakers in them as possible.

If i buy these, would i need to buy a new amplifier?

[myles1972]

What is your reason for 'as many speakers as possible'? I would recommend the Mission 753 Freedom floorstander, if you look around you'll find a set for around the £80-100 region and they are a very good speaker, although obviously secondhand. See if you can demo them at the sellers house.

[P700DEE]

No your amp will pretty much drive any speaker. Better speakers are just more revealing but guessing your budget this will not be an issue with Mission / similar floor standers. Please avoid cheap multi drive unit speakers. The quailty of the drive units is more important for good sound, multi driver systems seem built to appeal to those who think more drivers, more power equals better

[telecat]

The 752 Mission has quite a following as well. It's a simpler drive unit arrangement than the 753 but may be an easier drive for the amp.

[matt3001]

Totem Arros.

[kingston12]

Ray Singh said:

I really like Mission speakers and would like to stick with these and love the beech and cherry coloured wood which mission use to enclose their speakers. I am a little confused by the models, but would like floorstanders with as many speakers in them as possible.

If i buy these, would i need to buy a new amplifier?

The number of drivers in each speaker does not usually mean you need a more powerful amplifier, nor does it always mean that you get a better sound.

My current system sounds better with a tiny pair of 500 B&W standmount speakers than it ever did with massive floorstanders costing twice that much. The main reason for that is that my room is only 16 x 11 so smaller speakers work better and that the amp and speaker match is much better.

What is it that you like about Mission speakers particularly and how much are you looking to spend on a new pair?

[Ray Singh]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I like the build quality and look of Mission. They are a sensible budget too. My budget is probably around £250 max, and I am happy to buy second hand.

Would you suggest that I stick with my Mission bookshelf on speaker stands?

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Not Mission I accept - but as an alternative choice, my Kef Q-35 floorstanders are exceptionally good for your budget.

Single mid / bass driver, with a central tweeter.

A good choice if you're running a single amp - if you buy cabinets with millions of drivers in as you suggest, then a single amp will not drive them well, and the sound quality and phasing will suffer. Less is usually more, if you want decent quality.

My setup is two Arcam amps - one driving the tweeters and one driving the mid / bass unit. That way, I have really nice sound, perfect clarity and no chance of overworking the amps.

HTH

[Crackie]

These http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mordaunt-Short-Alumni-8-... fit the brief of "loads of drivers for 250 quid" perfectly but imho these will sound better http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SINGLE-KEF-iQ70-FLOORSTA...
KEF do beech and cherry too............

[Autopilot]

Crackie said:

These http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mordaunt-Short-Alumni-8-... fit the brief of "loads of drivers for 250 quid" perfectly but imho these will sound better http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SINGLE-KEF-iQ70-FLOORSTA...
KEF do beech and cherry too............

I can sort of endorse the KEF's. I have a set of IQ50'(bookshelf) and IQ90's (Floorstanders and bigger brother of the IQ70) and they both sound excellent. Some people don't like KEF's as the sound is sometimes referred too as being a bit too 'clinical', but I love the sound. The ones in the link don't come with the plinth which I would have slight concerns over. On my IQ90's the plastic plinth attaches to the base of the speaker and then the spikes go in to plinth. I'm sure the spike could probably screw in to the base of the speaker (but you'd want to check this if you liked them), but using the plinth means the spikes are out further than the base of the speaker so can stand relatively securely. The 70's aren't that big so would probably be ok but with my uneven floor boards in my house and the additional size of my speakers (the 90's are pretty chunky and are very heavy), I don't think I could use mine without the extra base the plinth gives them.

[bullies180]

I got a set of Mission MX3's for christmas and would highly recommend them! I believe they can come in the colour you like as well!

[telecat]

As well as the 752's I'd recommend any Tannoy Dual Concentric within your budget. I like the Impulse Speakers as well and the Lali can be found at around $500-£700.

[Crackie]

telecat said:

As well as the 752's I'd recommend any Tannoy Dual Concentric within your budget. I like the Impulse Speakers as well and the Lali can be found at around $500-£700.

Impulses are superb but very rare. Some of the Castle floorstanders ( Chester, Harlech, Howard ) used the same quarter wave bass loading as Impulse used and are much easier to find.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Castle-Harlech-Loudspeak...

Sorry for the off topic but PS Telecat - I know you love your Impulse Lalis; very little would make you want to change right ?. These might though http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/JA8008.htm . 2 way simplicty like the Lalis but 95dB efficient and deeper bass than H2s. 600 quid + the cost of sorting cabinets. Incredible bargain imho. I've just finished a very long project building 4 way digital active versions of the bigger ones and they sound stunning.

Edited by Crackie on Wednesday 20th March 08:07

[telecat]

Crackie said:

telecat said:

As well as the 752's I'd recommend any Tannoy Dual Concentric within your budget. I like the Impulse Speakers as well and the Lali can be found at around $500-£700.

Impulses are superb but very rare. Some of the Castle floorstanders ( Chester, Harlech, Howard ) used the same quarter wave bass loading as Impulse used and are much easier to find.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Castle-Harlech-Loudspeak...

Sorry for the off topic but PS Telecat - I know you love your Impulse Lalis; very little would make you want to change right ?. These might though http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/JA8008.htm . 2 way simplicty like the Lalis but 95dB efficient and deeper bass than H2s. 600 quid + the cost of sorting cabinets. Incredible bargain imho. I've just finished a very long project building 4 way digital active versions of the bigger ones and they sound stunning.

Edited by Crackie on Wednesday 20th March 08:07

I'd love to have a listen as the Aspira's the designer went on to are way out of my price range. I'm not that good at that type of DIY either but could be tempted by a built pair.

[Crackie]

telecat said:

I'd love to have a listen as the Aspira's the designer went on to are way out of my price range. I'm not that good at that type of DIY either but could be tempted by a built pair.

My cabinet making skills are shocking so I asked Wilmslow Audio to build the cabinets for me; 19mm birch ply laminated with 9mm solid oak.