Suopermanni Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 (edited) Hello Stereo.net.au, I am in need of your collective expertise/experience/wisdom in deciding what I should get. I have demo'd a few speakers and I think I've narrowed it down a bit. From the few speakers I've demo'd, I liked the Dynaudio Emit 20s and the Excite 18s the most...not including the PMC 25s as they are out of BUDGET by a large margin. The Krix Acoustics Mk2 was nice but a bit rough in the highs, tiny bit too sibilant. I have heard the Monitor Audios would be worse? Can someone confirm. The Sonus Fabres/Vienna Acoustics were nice but they were attached to a Macintosh tube amp. Not used to tube sound to be honest. PMC was GREAT but too expensive. Given my budget AT A STRETCH is 2500 for bookshelves and 2500 for amp, what should I get? Have tried the Dynaudio Excite 18s on a Arcam FMJ A29. The Emit 20 were attached to something else I can't remember. My DACs are a Schiit Gungnir Multibit and a Klein DAC II. Note: Not currently interested in a KEF LS50 UNLESS it IS really that good. Or I can demo it somewhere. Am interested in hearing a Legend Acoustics Kurre 8 What should I look for in a stereo amp? Edited November 8, 2016 by Suopermanni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Muon Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 Being in QLD, have you looked at Lenehan speakers? nice pairs of ML-1s show up in that budget used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suopermanni Posted November 8, 2016 Author Share Posted November 8, 2016 No actually, I haven't considered them yet! What are they like? I assume they are near the Gold Coast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Muon Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 An accurate speaker, ver nice mids, vocals are done very well............and they do more bass that what ya' would expect from something their size. Great imaging of course They can be unforgiving in the sense that they give you what they are fed by the rest of the equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremrock Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 I love my ML2's, but ML1's would be more the budget.. $2000 odd would buy you a second hand set. I heard the LS50's and they are okay, but I think ML1s would be much better, PLUS they are butt ugly. I really like the valves or pure class A with the Lenehan speakers from what i've heard.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suopermanni Posted November 8, 2016 Author Share Posted November 8, 2016 (edited) Soo, Lenehan Audio seems to be a good pick. Does anyone have a price list of the ML1 models or should I just ask Lenehan Audio directly? Also, what is a good pairing with it? EDIT: OKay, I cracked. I just emailed them now. Hopefully, I can do something with the info they give me! Wish me luck! Edited November 8, 2016 by Suopermanni Adding more info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremrock Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 The new model ML1 I believe starts about $4400. You'd buy a set of the old shape ML1's for about $2000 (second hand of course).. If you can hunt down the Reference at a good price you'll have a winner.. the new shape is meant to sound better again, but I've never compared them directly. Again I like my Valves and the Class A Luxman I tried with my ML2's but it will also come down to your taste in music, playback level and room volume... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted November 8, 2016 Volunteer Share Posted November 8, 2016 1 hour ago, Muon said: An accurate speaker, ver nice mids, vocals are done very well............and they do more bass that what ya' would expect from something their size. Great imaging of course They can be unforgiving in the sense that they give you what they are fed by the rest of the equipment. All standmounts seem to do more bass than you'd expect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 id snap those up, partner with a 2nd hand amp like a musical fidelity a5 integrated at 250wpc and will be a great match as both go so great together. in sound these focals have a lovely warmth of mid range, sweet top end and rich bass. Placed well in a room image superbly and are a top class speaker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKay Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 9 hours ago, Sir Sanders Zingmore said: All standmounts seem to do more bass than you'd expect Especially if you have good quality stands. There were some Partington Broadsides listed which I have used with my ML1 Ref and they would be a superb match IMO. The ML1 Ref second hand can be bought for high 2s and is well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKay Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 To get the most out of the ML1s you do need some good quality current and the more the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogerthat Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 Best i've heard for $5k new is ATC SCM11 and Rega Elicit/Elex or Sugden Mystro. Very hard to fault. I am still considering downsizing to this, it is that good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakey72 Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 (edited) @Suopermanni organise a courier and get these http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/PMC-TB2-SPEAKERS-/182339115896?nav=SEARCH This http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Exposure-Classic-23-XXIII-Preamplifier-in-Black-List-Price-2-719-/162110314757?nav=SEARCH And this http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Exposure-Classic-28-Dual-Mono-Power-Amplifier-in-Black-List-Price-2669-/182099747184?nav=SEARCH You'll be in audio heaven.... Edited November 10, 2016 by blakey72 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juicester Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 don't split your budget 50 50. Spend $4000 on speakers and $1000 on amp... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantan Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 2 minutes ago, Juicester said: don't split your budget 50 50. Spend $4000 on speakers and $1000 on amp... ..................and then discover that the amplifier is not sufficiently powerful and/ or resolving to do justice to the speakers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juicester Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 (edited) 4 minutes ago, rantan said: ..................and then discover that the amplifier is not sufficiently powerful and/ or resolving to do justice to the speakers meh. just saves him upgrading two components instead of one later down the track, You could flip the equation instead (more on amp than speaker); it's just that general consensus is that speakers make a bigger difference compared to the other two considerations (of amp and source). Yes i know there are pundits who will chip in and say he should spend 90% of his budget on improving room acoustics... but shut it! Edited November 10, 2016 by Juicester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremrock Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 $500 on gear $4500 on cables. K go! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 See far too many occasions people spend all on speakers then leaving nothing for amp . Rather than buying s speaker and an amp to do them justice ! anyways not my money ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogicprObe Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Well.............I'd get powered monitors and spend the rest on a great preamp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlcip Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 On 08/11/2016 at 5:27 PM, Suopermanni said: Hello Stereo.net.au, I am in need of your collective expertise/experience/wisdom in deciding what I should get. I have demo'd a few speakers and I think I've narrowed it down a bit. From the few speakers I've demo'd, I liked the Dynaudio Emit 20s and the Excite 18s the most...not including the PMC 25s as they are out of BUDGET by a large margin. The Krix Acoustics Mk2 was nice but a bit rough in the highs, tiny bit too sibilant. I have heard the Monitor Audios would be worse? Can someone confirm. The Sonus Fabres/Vienna Acoustics were nice but they were attached to a Macintosh tube amp. Not used to tube sound to be honest. PMC was GREAT but too expensive. Given my budget AT A STRETCH is 2500 for bookshelves and 2500 for amp, what should I get? Have tried the Dynaudio Excite 18s on a Arcam FMJ A29. The Emit 20 were attached to something else I can't remember. My DACs are a Schiit Gungnir Multibit and a Klein DAC II. Note: Not currently interested in a KEF LS50 UNLESS it IS really that good. Or I can demo it somewhere. Am interested in hearing a Legend Acoustics Kurre 8 What should I look for in a stereo amp? I second the Kurre 8. Big fan of Legend Speakers. As for the amp, if it's for anything from Legend you want a buttload of current.. that's about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honreekea Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Have thought about the small Spendors. There is a guy in QLD that has them and you will be able to demo them. Audiofix in Warana. I think they even let you do home demos. ( yes I have a pair of bookshelf spendors) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunno77 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) This will make just about any speakers great with the remainder of your budget. I put dynaudio 2/6s on my mac for 2 weeks and didn't miss my paradigms. Edited November 14, 2016 by bunno77 Missed info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audio_file Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 On 11/10/2016 at 3:39 PM, Juicester said: don't split your budget 50 50. Spend $4000 on speakers and $1000 on amp... I used to do this, but never got as good results as now that I spend the same amount on both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juicester Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 11 minutes ago, audio_file said: I used to do this, but never got as good results as now that I spend the same amount on both. sure - but the intent would be to upgrade the amp later down the path. not to keep it as is. i can't recall meeting an audiophile who never upgraded their system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audio_file Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 4 minutes ago, Juicester said: sure - but the intent would be to upgrade the amp later down the path. not to keep it as is. i can't recall meeting an audiophile who never upgraded their system. I stopped upgrading as it cost me too much money, cause you tend to upgrade the weakest link, resulting in this new item as the best component instead of upgrading it to the same level as your best component. Now I buy in the same budget for every component, and rather get more components to compare to each other than replacing items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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