Hi guys

Over the last 6 months I have been upgrading my HiFi bit by bit. I have purchased a CD5 and a HiCap. My current setup is CD5/FlatCap 92/HiCap/90.3 Linn Helix/Kustone NACA5. I am very pleased with the way it all sounds, the addition of the CD5 and the HiCap has been simply superb, however I now feel the need to change my Linn Helix. I have had them since 1989, they were part of my previous system.

I am thinking of a price range of about £700 for some new speakers. Last year I had a listen to some Quad 12L and PMC DB1, both sounded good, but both also did not blow me away either, to be honest I would rather have my Linn Helix.

I had thought of getting some Neat Petit but I hear they can be a hard load to drive, also what about the Linn Katan or any others ?

Thanks.

Ian Marsh

Think what your could get s/h for that!
Kans, briks?

Paul

Ian

Before asking for recommendations, you need to say if your speakers will be up against a wall or plonked out in the middle of nowhere.

Regards

Mick

Regardless of Micks valid point about placement, I think that the 90.3 will not be a great partner for the Petites.

Buying new gives you the luxury of being able to suggest to your dealer that the all important home demo is needed - buying s-h opens up a wider choice of speaker.

You may get more suggestions if you offer up ideas as to why you feel you want to upgrade?

ag

Thanks guys

Good point, why do I feel the need to upgrade ?, well thats an easy one, (reading this forum too much), no seriously, I have lived with the Linn Helix 14 years now, so I guess its fair to say I am in need of a change as well as an upgrade. I do still enjoy them, but I get the feeling they are a little long in the tooth and a change is needed.

As for the positoning of the speakers, well its pretty flexable to be honest. I have the room to plonk them in an open space, or up close against a wall, I can accomodate both options.

I know I have to listen to the speakers for myself, and I will probably do a home demo if I buy new. But I had not thought about second hand ones to be honest. I sometimes think second hand speakers are not always in good condition compared to CD players and Amplifiers, I guess they are a bit more prone to marks and stuff.

I just wanted some general advice on some speakers around the £700 mark that would sing nicely on the end of my system.

Thanks again.

Ian Marsh

Ian

This is not for public consumption, so e-mail me (as in my forum profile) and I'll tell you a tale about some Linn speakers.

check out the (ls35a size) Harbeths.

Dynaudio 52 (Wood)

Kabers.

I have just picked up a late/final spec pair on eBay for £515.

I nearly always say Kabers, though.

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

quote:

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Originally posted by mike lacey:
Kabers...

I nearly always say Kabers, though.

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

---

Yes, its not a pretty sight.

Mike sits in the corner, dribbling down the front of his shirt, playing his latest Japanese pressing of an early Beatles album muttering 'Kabers, Kabers' whilst contemplating how to spend even more money on things he doesn't need.

The last attempt to rid himself of this foul blight on his life led to the needless purchase of a 252...

I wish I could argue against that....

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

For that money, you could pick up any of the following and have good results:

Ex-dem Naim Intros

Older second hand SBLs (more difficult to drive than Intros - may induce you to upgrade the power amp). The latest SBLs are more forgiving, but they go for around £900 - £1000.

Linn Katans on Linn stands (around £785 new, a more refined and transparent view than Helix)

Dynaudio Audience 52 Wood on Masterstands (around £750) Bit difficult to drive but great presence.

Dynaudio Audience 42 Wood on Masterstands (around £600). Easier to drive than 52s, not as much refinement or presence but a lot of fun.

Focal JMLab Chorus 716S (around £650 or so). Nice sounding floorstander. I'm not a fan of the Cobalt and Electra series but the Chorus is good fun. Worth a look.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Try a Epos M12 or M15.It sounds very well with Naim,trust me

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2

I would go for Neat Mistiques just coming in at £795! Lots of rounded bass and very top end too.
Kid

..Life has just got better

Second hand has got to be a good shout as you shouldn’t be paying more than 50-60% of the new price.

I’d also echo the Harbeth recommendation – I picked up an immaculate second hand pair of Compact 7 ES-2’s a couple of weeks back for £850 (£1500 new). Very special speakers. You should almost certainly be able to get the pre-ES-2 version i.e. plain vanilla Compact 7 model for £700 or less.

There are literally dozens of options and you can always buy second hand from a dealer – there are even a number of specialist second-hand dealers out there – hifiguy, central audio etc.

Some other models I saw (when I was looking for the Harbeths) at around your budget included – Dynudio Contour 1.1’s, Kef Reference 1-2, Monitor Audio Gold Ref 20, Spendor SP2/3e and many, many more.

Basically, if you take the used route then for £700 you’ll be playing in the £1200-£1500 league.

Matt.

Yes I can endorse the Epos range and I think they have a good offer on at the moment.

Thanks for all the good advice and ideas.

I now have a better idea of what will go with my system. I also agree that the Neat Petite may not be a great match for my amplifier, but I am sure most of the speakers that have been mentioned here will be.

Thanks again.

Ian Marsh

Ian,
You have a pt,

regards,

andy c!

Try Ruark Etudes @ £650. Superb speaker.

Speedo loves the Neat Mystiques, which he had a chance to hear at fellow naim member's, Emil of L.I. Great speaker for little scratch.

Speedo

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Speedo likes speakers!!! Speedo says say NO TO BUSH and speedo ain't talking about the female kind, but the YEE HA, gun toting kind that's leading Speedo's country!