A what low end speaker thread

[chrisga]

Have had clearance to buy some new floor standers for our living room as the current really cheap LG ones are sounding worse and worse, distortion and rattling. These were bought as a 5.1 starter speaker set, and would like to replace just the front left and right at the moment. Budget of approx £200-£250 ish, and will be connected to a Marantz NR1506 receiver.

I had a brilliant pair of tannoy floorstanders a few, well many, years ago bought from richer sounds while I was a student which I sold. So would I be disappointed with these:

https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/floors...

Or would these be better? I don’t think these are a better spec but not really sure what I’m looking for nowadays:

https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/floors...

I also found these on amazon. Worth a punt, would I notice the difference or steer clear?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-NSF51-Floorstandin...

[P700DEE]

Looking for decent speakers for £200...... Definitely go second hand. There are so many bargains out there to be had at significant less than retail.

[B17NNS]

Do they 'have' to be floor standing?

I picked a pair of these up from Richer Sounds early this week for £119. Am sure if you wait they'll be on offer again somewhere. Cracking value for money.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acoustics-3020-Bookshelf-...

https://www.whathifi.com/q-acoustics/3020/review

Just add a reasonable pair of stands.

Alternatively if you can up the budget a bit these are floor standers from the same range.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TSET4RE/ref=asc_df_...

[B17NNS]

P700DEE said:

Looking for decent speakers for £200...... Definitely go second hand. There are so many bargains out there to be had at significant less than retail.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kef-IQ5-SE-IQ1-Speakers/282821023739?hash=item41d97257fb:g:FiMAAOSwXf1aaHs-

[snake_oil]

Go into Richers and have a listen.

[chrisga]

Thanks everyone. Wanted floorstanders as don’t have anywhere to put other speakers. Would consider 2nd hand so will have a look around. Might also take a trip over to Richer Sounds.

Just thought new would be easiest, but looks like I need to stop being lazy and do a bit more research and could end up with a decent upgrade.

[InductionRoar]

chrisga said:

Thanks everyone. Wanted floorstanders as don’t have anywhere to put other speakers.

Not sure if I have missed the point here, but bookshelf speakers on stands take up the same space as floor-standers. I accept that speaker stands will eat into the budget, but rarely does a room or system require floor-standers and often bookshelf speakers offer better value for money.

[castex]

Even with Blu-Tac, there's always the house of cards factor...

[chrisga]

InductionRoar said:

Not sure if I have missed the point here, but bookshelf speakers on stands take up the same space as floor-standers. I accept that speaker stands will eat into the budget, but rarely does a room or system require floor-standers and often bookshelf speakers offer better value for money.

No it’s probably me missing the point. Yes speakers on stands would be ok, I just don’t have any shelves near the tv to put them on.

[StescoG66]

What amp are you using?

I would be tempted to look for a pair of Mission 752 Freedom

[FlossyThePig]

Don't forget it's your ears doing the listening, so get them to audition the speakers before you buy.

[Hayek]

You'll find a nice pair of 70's Kef's for around £200. Ought to be good.

[driverrob]

I bought these https://www.richersounds.com/clearance-bargains/on... from Richersounds a couple of weeks ago. Great sound, bargain.

[gizlaroc]

StescoG66 said:

What amp are you using?

I would be tempted to look for a pair of Mission 752 Freedom

Absolutely this!!

Or the earlier 752, but you need to remove the tweeter grille to get rid of the slightly bright top end fizz, but still a superb speaker.

I have a pair of 752s and a pair of Freedoms, the 752s are arguably better for TV viewing, and once that grille is removed (the mesh grille on the tweeter not the speaker grille) they sound amazing too.

It was my favourite floorstander under a grand 20 years ago, now they can be had for under a £100 they are amazing value.


We had a bit of a play around the other week with some nice speakers.
Quad S2, Harbeth P3ESR, B&W 704s2, Mission 752, Spendor A6r, Mordaunt Short MS10i (as they were there) and the 752 did very, very well.

In order my preference was (all with a Rel sub supporting bass)......

1st. Quad S2 - Smooth, open, detailed and amazing imaging and soundstage. (amazing value for £599).

2nd. Spendor A6r and 752 (thought the mid on the 752 was better, but the A6r was nice and a big sound).

3rd. P3ESR - Really really nice with vocals and acoustic, but needs to be in a smallish room or sat near them.

4th. MS10i - Bought from Richer Sounds in 1994 for £49. Such a great little speaker still.

5th. B&W 704s2. Can't say either of us liked anything about it really. Sounded boxy, nasal mid range, sharp top end, flat soundstage and the whole thing pretty unpleasant. I guessed at it being an entry level speaker that looks nice, it retails at £1999!


I liked the old 752s so much I swapped a pair of my Quad S2s with them as they look nicer in my TV room than the S2s on stands......she said.
And bought another pair of Freedoms too and sold the Harbeths.


They really are that good.

Edited by gizlaroc on Friday 9th February 20:36