Upgrade to B&W 686s

[Zsonic]

All,

So I took my barely used B&W 686's out of surround duties and set them up with a Rotel RA-04SE Integrated to perform 2 channel duties in another room. At last I have been able to give them a proper listen, and while they are Ok, they are bit too warm for my liking. Its not the amp, as I auditioned it with a couple of other speakers and it performed well with the better B&W Bookshelf (685) and Klipsch floorstander.

I like detail and soundstage - thats why I LOVE listening to my Ascension Summoner floorstanders.

So, I am going to look around for a replacement for this wee bookshelf.

Any recommendations for auditioning? Willing to spend up to $800. I hear the Ushers and Mordaunt Short are worth a look? I did audition the B&W 685, and loved the sound. That would be my default choice, but perhaps I can get equivalent performance cheaper?

Ideally, I would still like to have a bookshelf for the acceptance factor.

Cheers,

Neil

PS - Anyone want to buy a pair of barely used B&W 686s? I'll be putting an EOI up soon. PM me if interested.

Edited October 31, 2012 by Zsonic

[Bus_Boy]

With regards to the Ushers i think the best thing about them is they let you spend you money on other areas without really missing out on anything. Out of an $800 budget you can get the Ushers that will challenge anything in a higher price bracket and spend money on other goodies such as 500 bucks worth of vinyl for example, of which i'm sure we all know what's going to bring more enjoyment than if you maybe found a set of speakers that performed a tiiiiny bit better.

Are you going to keep them strictly for 2 ch use? What's going to replace the rear surrounds? If i was looking for a set of standmounts under a grand the speaker i'd most like to hear is the http://audioaddictio...-bedford-type-1 ok so it's a bit over the budget.

If you like you AS speakers why not try something from their range? I recently bought the Firesprite 502, but upgraded the tweeter, so the specs are much closer to the 502 monitor. The ribbon tweeter offers good detail but i have them paired with a fairly warm NAD amp, i think if my amp was more detailed and perhaps less musical i'd find them a little on the bright side. The cabinet looks lovely but it looks like someone threw up on the inside, but i've stopped worrying about the internals after listening to them for a few weeks now. I'm currently saving up for a centre and some floor standers. One day i might take the crossovers out and have someone look over them and perhaps build me some new ones...

Edited October 31, 2012 by Bus_Boy

[Zsonic]

Hi mate,

Yep _ i am going to keep them for 2 channel use. I will probably replace the rear surrounds with the FireSprite you mentioned.

I have heard different things about ribbon tweeters. I got them with my floorstanders and love the sound, really.

I was thinking of trying the FireSprites as surrounds but test them with my Rotel, and if they sounded good, then maybe get the upgraded ones. Koloss has also recommended to audition the Dynaudio 2/7 and they are on sale for about $700, which could be a goer also..

[L J T]

If you like ribbon tweeters, how about Richter bookshelfs?

I have not heard them personally, they have some good feedback from a few people on here though.

Ribbons can sound sublime when implemented correctly, when they are not they will cut your ears up.

[Juicester]

Mate - check out the John Blue's in the classifieds (seller is in Coburg I think). They do sounstaging and detail brilliantly..... $600 - money left over to find a sub...

[Zsonic]

Epilogue - in a new house now, and the room acoustics have changed my plans. My old Whatmough Floorstanders (which i was planning to sell) were too big for the TV room so I have swapped them for the 686s, which are now back in Surround duties. This is the first time Ive plugged the WMs into an integrated amp, and they sound fantastic. Doesnt look like Ill be upgrading anything anytime soon. Result!