I really like coaxial speakers (since I have first heard Tannoy Dual Concentric studio monitors) and I would like to buy myself a Christmas present to replace my KEF iQ3 speakers in my smaller listening room. I have a subwoofer available and use Chrome Audio for streaming music. I cannot listen too loud in that room.
My budget is 2k USD max. What would be your choice? My boss has a pair of KEF X300A and they are amazing at his desktop - and when playing loud, the sound is still nice and balanced two rooms away (with open doors). I do not need too many bells and whistles, just an audio input analog or digital(optical). The speakers can be even passive, since I have some great amplifiers at hand, too. What would be your recommendation from the list in the subject? Or any other suggestions? And since we are at DIYAudio, I am willing to do improvements after the warranty period is over (LS50 seems to need a little attention to get perfect, for example). Thanks!
My budget is 2k USD max. What would be your choice? My boss has a pair of KEF X300A and they are amazing at his desktop - and when playing loud, the sound is still nice and balanced two rooms away (with open doors). I do not need too many bells and whistles, just an audio input analog or digital(optical). The speakers can be even passive, since I have some great amplifiers at hand, too. What would be your recommendation from the list in the subject? Or any other suggestions? And since we are at DIYAudio, I am willing to do improvements after the warranty period is over (LS50 seems to need a little attention to get perfect, for example). Thanks!
Hi, I would buy the Sceptre just because they have some Dave Gunness magic in the DSP and I'd like to hear that. Best advice would be to go and listen to the options by your self, that is the only way to select a "best" option. Forum suggestions are other people best options, either in their imagination or based on experience, but still it's not you. Anyway, enjoy your present!🙂
The sceptres i know have nice transducers but are produced much too cheaply, resulting in distorting bass.
The dsp magic is new to me, and i do know A LOT about the code in that speaker.
The dsp magic is new to me, and i do know A LOT about the code in that speaker.
Saw it on some marketing material, including this: PreSonus Sceptre S6 & S8 CoActual Active Studio Monitors Overview | Full Compass - YouTube
i think i'm not allowed to talk more about this. anyway, i really liked the small PA speakers with that transducers, just not the 8" monitors.
(Also I love Coax speakers in general. Tannoys especially, but there are very different models).
(Also I love Coax speakers in general. Tannoys especially, but there are very different models).
tmuikku: There is a new KEF LS50Meta, which is in a local studio for demo together with LSX (and Fyne coaxials, which is in fact Tannoy). I need to go there. However, there is no Sceptre for demo around.
efluon: Any recommended models I could try to find a demo of?
I found some measurements of the LS50Meta - KEF LS50 Meta Spinorama and Measurements | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum - and they look really better than the ordinary LS50.
efluon: Any recommended models I could try to find a demo of?
I found some measurements of the LS50Meta - KEF LS50 Meta Spinorama and Measurements | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum - and they look really better than the ordinary LS50.
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well, i know only the lower end of the tannoys. i owned and loved the precision 8d but the amps are broken atm (replaced them with the small pioneer coax's which are ok for monitoring). I own the revolution 6 which I got cheap and I think they are great shelf-speakers and I know the old gold-10 which I liked (although I preferred the precisions). I think with your budget I would aim for some of the bigger used models (not the new chinese stuff).
I suggest Ls50w. It sounds better than LS50 and Lsx. The built-in DSP/active crossover gives great sounding.
You can stream music from your phone, music server, nas and tidal, spotify too via wifi/ethernet.
You can stream music from your phone, music server, nas and tidal, spotify too via wifi/ethernet.
I'm stronly biased to all the Tannoy dual concentrics, so a Monitor Gold 8 would be my choice for a bookshelf, or if you can stretch it (or second hand) an Tannoy Legacy Eaton. Those Eatons are top level Tannoy dual concentric, but may need a sub (wich you have).
An Kef LS50 is also quiet good, i don't know the digital version, so i can't judge it, but the classic one did surprise me when i heared it (and i'm not really a Kef fan). But it has a good balanced sound with a rather flat response and wide flat dispertion.
The Presonus is cheap, in build, in sound and in quality. It's not total trash, but no way near the quality of a Kef or an Tannoy, even the cheaper Gold 8 ones... So i would not consider it. the tweeter is sharp piercing, and the bass is very muddy when i heared the S6 recently in a friends studio. He was also not happy when ordering them online and returned them even before i could return with my mic to measure them. And even my diy non monitor-bookshelfs with mark audio drivers were better as monitor he found when i put them next to his. He uses still his old Focal SM6's now and is thinking what he will use in the futur (as the focals are beaten up trough the 15 years of heavy use).
An Kef LS50 is also quiet good, i don't know the digital version, so i can't judge it, but the classic one did surprise me when i heared it (and i'm not really a Kef fan). But it has a good balanced sound with a rather flat response and wide flat dispertion.
The Presonus is cheap, in build, in sound and in quality. It's not total trash, but no way near the quality of a Kef or an Tannoy, even the cheaper Gold 8 ones... So i would not consider it. the tweeter is sharp piercing, and the bass is very muddy when i heared the S6 recently in a friends studio. He was also not happy when ordering them online and returned them even before i could return with my mic to measure them. And even my diy non monitor-bookshelfs with mark audio drivers were better as monitor he found when i put them next to his. He uses still his old Focal SM6's now and is thinking what he will use in the futur (as the focals are beaten up trough the 15 years of heavy use).
Second hand is also an option, athough there are not may of these for sale locally. During my research, I read a lot of complaints about the Presonus, so that one goes off the list.
My X300A died after a few years of very light use (just a few hours use every couple of months for about 4 years) and that has given me pause in trying other KEF active products. My LS50 and Q100 are fine though. Even before the Meta was released,
the LS50 has been selling quite cheap in Canada the last couple of years, making it a relative bargain.
the LS50 has been selling quite cheap in Canada the last couple of years, making it a relative bargain.
Hard to beat the LS50 as an overall package, but your diy skills are solid and you get things done quick.
These drivers are much cheaper and have higher sensitivity.
Coaxial speaker BMS 6CN160, 8+8 ohm, 6 inch
Coaxial speaker Kartesian Cox165_vPA, 8 ohm, 164.5 inch
These drivers are much cheaper and have higher sensitivity.
Coaxial speaker BMS 6CN160, 8+8 ohm, 6 inch
Coaxial speaker Kartesian Cox165_vPA, 8 ohm, 164.5 inch
In this case, I would like to get a finished product and maybe tweak a bit later. I have the great Beyma 12AX30, but in an ugly box. And the list of unfinished DIY projects is long...🙂