Help me decide

C

CJMB

New Member
Hi all,

I've been doing a lot of reading on here but this is my first post.

I'm due for a speaker upgrade and I'm struggling to make a call on which direction to head.

It's going in a wide living room 8m (26.6t) wide/left-right and 4m (13.3ft) from back wall where the couch is to the wall where the tv/entertainment is. Would be beneficial if the speakers can sit relatively close to the wall, I probably can't have the front face much further than about 50-55cm (20-22") from the wall without my girlfriend telling me off.

The primary source is a 1990 Pro-Ject 6.1 TT into a similar era Technics 8 ohm 100W per channel amp. I want to keep it 2 channel, no sub. I'll also run the TV through it but I'm less concerned about the sound there, music is the priority.

I've been scouring ebay, gumtree and other classifieds here (Melbourne, Australia) and I've found a few speakers that might be alright to accomplish the above. I haven't/can't organise to hear them all due to distance/time/etc. If anyone has any opinions on them or other recommendations that would be greatly appreciated.

The speakers I'm currently looking at are a mix of older and newer models but they're typically sort of large bookshelves or smaller floorstanders and all within about 30% of the cost of each other. That being said there is a fair bit of variety in the following list of used speakers I have my eye on:
  • Paradigm 9SE (mk1)
  • KEF iq30
  • JBL HLS810
  • B&W DM620i
  • Marantz Imperial 5G
  • EMI T/E 100
  • Arcus Tm-65 3 way
  • Boston Acoustisc A70
  • some 2 way speakers made in Melbourne (Peerless drivers, 70W, 40-20,000Hz, rear port, HWD: 490x260x260) - about 25% the price of the other speakers mentioned
What's everyone's preferences? I'd prefer something with a fairly flat response, a reasonably detailed mid through high end without being harsh or fatiguing and that will provide enough clean low end that I'll be happy. Just good general all round, balanced speakers. The better they look probably helps me on the significant other front too. Any advice for me?

Cheers,

Cam
 
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The A70 are designed to go against a wall, I don't believe the 5g will go low enough but do sound nice. Haven't heard the others.
 
That's an EPI TE 100, not an EMI. EMIs are british, usually with an elliptical woofer, and underappreciated. The EPI TE series is bigger, brasher, and cheaper than the EPIs that built their reputation, but aren't bad, if cheaply gotten.
The problem with what you are asking is that you are probably going to get opinions like mine, based on some experience, but without having heard many of your possible choices, and without any knowledge of local market conditions or the actual condition of the specific speakers. Probably any of those speakers might please you , but how will you know if you don't listen to them? That, of course, raises the question, how can you hear them all before they are sold, and so on. If you can find a cheap pair that please you well enough, and cost little enough that you don't care if the expense is a dead loss, get them and then make a point of listening to speakers in any venue you can. At some point you'll find what you want, and you'll know it. (Of course, the next week you may find another thing you want, but there is no way to avoid that.)
 
Thanks, CopperWizard and Nat.

I'm going to let a few go through to the keeper (as ebay auctions draw to an end) and try and take a look and listen in person (if the sellers will allow me) to the Paradigms, the A70s, the Arcus and a set of what I believe might be IMF compacts that just appeared.
 
The IMFs would be a run and get them kind of situation for many people here. The mid ranges may need the surrounds redone, which is not very difficult as long as you have the right size foams.
 
The speakers that are made in Melbourne, are they Interdyn or a Trevor Lees special? Also if you have pics of them that would help too.
The reason why I ask is that I have a pair of the Interdyn speakers with SEAS drivers ( think of it as an AS A-25 ) that sound very nice to my ears anyway.
As always, it’s best if you can listen to any or all of the speakers before purchasing.
 
Boston A70 we're designed to be placed close to the back wall but I found the tweeters to be a little fatiguing at higher volumes.

The JBL HLS 810 are a very nice sounding speaker that image very well and should work well just a few inches out from the wall.

The Paradigm 9SE is another nice sounding speaker but beware of foam separation as the surrounds on several pairs of Paradigm's I have owned have come unglued from the cone's. Difficult to see without very close inspection but bass is almost non-existent if they have failed. An easy, if tedious, fix.

EPI TE100's are another good choice but don't go very low in the bass region.
 
I ended up picking up the 9SEs for a decent price. They're in pretty good shape and pass the all important significant other visual test (the old A70s with woodgrain vinyl didn't do so well on that front) so they're all good to set up in the living room.

Gave them a quick test over the weekend and they're going alright. Will play around a bit with placement to see what works best in the room. Next up is a cartridge upgrade on the turntable so I can always use that selection to shape the sound I'm after once I've got the speaker placement right...
 
I have owned three of them:
- EPI T/E 100: A lot of sound from a small box if space is an issue. Very pleasing sound but I think the bass rolls off above 40hz.
- Boston Acoustics A70: One of my all-time favorites for jazz music. Tall but don't take up a lot of room.
- Marantz Imperial 5G: Of these three, my 1st choice. Full sound with very neutral presentation. Big box but the most beautiful, with furniture-grade walnut when refinished.

You can't go wrong with any of these if the drivers and caps are all up to spec. That said, the latest speaker designs are pretty amazing in comparison. If I was going to buy anything right now, I'd get a pair of ELAC B6.2 Debuts.
 
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