Speaker Recommendations

[SRMcGee]

Folks:

I asked this before but received no suggestions: can anyone recommend a high quality speaker suitable for Gainclones based on BrianGT's PCBs? I am interested in commercial products (not DIY) up to about $600 - $700/pair. I have the money and want to limit my review to the better speakers in that price range, so I'm not interested in off-brand stuff that is hard to find (and audition) or speakers that have never been credibly reviewed.

Your recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Scott

[SRMcGee]

Folks:

Bookshelf-sized speakers are preferred.

Thanks,
Scott

[carlosfm]

Originally posted by SRMcGee
Folks:
Bookshelf-sized speakers are preferred.

B&W 600 or 601 S3.
Only these ones, not the 602. Needs a big amp.

Save the rest of the money for something else.

[percy]

The 602 is 90db, 601 is 88db, yet it needs a bigger amp ?

And how big ?
Have you tried both with BrianGT amp ?

[carlosfm]

Originally posted by percy
The 602 is 90db, 601 is 88db, yet it needs a bigger amp?

Don't look at those simple specs.
All of the are 8 ohms.
The 602 needs a big amp.
I mean, power, current.
That thing has impedance dips to below 3 ohms.
Stay clear of this speaker, or you need to bridge/parallel.
This speaker is a stupid thing because although not expensive, you need to spend lots of $$$$ on the amp so that you can listen to it.
Some people say it has horrible, untight bass.
No, it just needs power and current.

The 600 and 601 are much more equilibrated, good speakers, and play with almost everything.
They played very well with an (unregulated) amp I had at the time.
If I were you I would buy any of these and with the rest of the money buy some good cables.

I tested lots of speakers.
I just can't recommend you better than this for the money (and the amp) you have, you would have to spend more and listen carefuly.

These B&W speakers take a lot of time to -in.
They don't sound good on the first two weeks, specially the tweeter.

[Peter Daniel]

Check this link: http://www.sakurasystems.com/show.html

All those people use amps similar to BrianGT's GC. As you see, driving B&W 802 doesn't present a problem. I have yet to find speakers which are difficult to drive by NIGC. Krell is used here only as the platform for Gaincard.

[trigon]

This is your choice trust me


LINN KAN


Trigon

[samsagaz]

i have b&W 602-s2 in the front channel that ill change it for 603-s3 and use the old one in the surround

i have an yamaha receiver....

this speakers are good.... i never hear the 603-s3, can someone tellme if is ok that i want to do?


thanks

[carlosfm]

Originally posted by Peter Daniel
All those people use amps similar to BrianGT's GC. As you see, driving B&W 802 doesn't present a problem. I have yet to find speakers which are difficult to drive by NIGC. Krell is used here only as the platform for Gaincard.

Peter, this is quite puzzling.
Too many people have amps that can't drive their speakers properly.
They only find out when, one day, they upgrade the amp.
To say that a single-chip, unregulated, no zobel (yes, I found this important in many cases) GC drives any speaker is quite amazing.
EDIT: I think the new BrianGT boards have provision for a zobel, right?
Maby just any speaker you have tried.
I would not be surprized that the old 802 is easier to drive than the current 602 S3.
The 602 is hard to drive even for many "good" and $$$ commercial amps.
If you want more details, when I said it has impedance dips to below 3 ohms, I mean that in the bass region it goes to as low as 2.8 ohms.
In my oppinion, this is a very bad design for a "claimed" 8 ohms speaker.

Originally posted by trigon
This is your choice trust me
LINN KAN
Trigon

Yes, a very good speaker, I've heard it.
With active crossovers.
But this speaker is not cheap, I think it's over the budget.
EDIT:
What I heard was the Linn Katan, sorry for the confusion.
Here:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...atansizmik.htm

[Nuuk]

I agree that the Linn Kans are a great choice. Almost addictive once you hear them. A little light on bass but the reward for that is the bass quality and resultant timing which makes the music flow like very few other speakers.

Still found on Ebay they can be a real bargain!

I have never heard Kans with a GC but would imagine that they are a match made in heaven.