Crosscourt121 Posted June 15, 2013 Posted June 15, 2013 Hi all You only turn 50 once (in August) and the wife has agreed to the purchase of a pair of ProAc Response D Two standmounts - especially with recent price reductions. I am in Hobart with no plans to fly to Melbourne so I can't audition. From what I have read, these appeal and I am sticking to standmounts for the near future. Some background: Kit: Bel Canto CD2, Lightspeed Attenuator (pre), Plinius 200W P8, Mark and Daniel Sapphires, 2 x REL T5 subs, anti-cable cables Room: 8m x 4.3m x 2.7m lounge kitchen dining combo. Homemade bass traps in front corners. Opportunity: the 50th is leverage for new speakers, and the opportunity is not likely to reappear for many years! Taste: all styles of music but favour good recordings in the house and move the harsher edgier stuff to the car. Pretty happy with the kit and sound but a forum thread comparing ProAc, M&D and Lenehan standmounts (albeit different models but arguably same sonic signatures) a couple of years back has gotten under my skin, esp: "The m&d hurt.The Lenehan ml1s impressed.The proacs gave me shivers." To my ears, the M&D Sapphires sound great and I love them - they don't hurt. I once heard some vocal harshness on a Jamiroquai track but nothing since in the year I have had them. They do amazing things for their size and I like their innovations around DREAMS tweeter, low crossover, long throw woofer and marble-like cabinets. Great bass. Also the 200W is a good match for these very inefficient speakers. But I am convinced that the 'ProAc magic' will be another step towards nirvanna even though with this more traditional choice it seems like a backward step with regards to design and style. All my 'high end' purchases have been 2nd hand opportunistic purchases so actually planning to buy new speakers is a real novelty. If the ProAcs disappoint I can sell them and keep the M&Ds. Incidentally, the sound I am getting now in my room is much better than the B&W N804 floorstanders that I had. So am I crazy buying the ProAcs without auditioning? Will they be softer in the bass (I love good bass) but I can use the subs to compensate? But most of all - will they give me shivers?? Thanks Crosscourt121
LogicprObe Posted June 15, 2013 Posted June 15, 2013 Happy birthday! As you say..............you can always add a sub.
THOMO Posted June 15, 2013 Posted June 15, 2013 (edited) Well I really rate the Mark and Daniels speakers. At Steve Ms GTG in Perth these were brought out towards the end of the gathering and after all sorts of exotic speakers I thought their class showed out. They are capable of beautiful tone and timbre with the right preamp/power amp combination. I reckon you should be keeping the speakers and add either a good valve preamp or a valve power amp.This will play to their musical strengths. An all SS system is not doing them justice. Edited June 15, 2013 by THOMO
Crosscourt121 Posted June 15, 2013 Author Posted June 15, 2013 Thanks LogicprObe for the pleasantries, and Thomo for your comments on the M&D sound and valves. I first heard the Sapphires from a fellow SNAer in Hobart with an Einstein hybrid integrated amp so tubes were involved then. They impressed (that's why I bought them). They were also in a much smaller room so no need for subs, however in my room which is more than twice the size, they needed the subs. A valve pre would mean I can keep the 200w power and get the best of both worlds. But I do love the Lightspeed - it is soooo quiet! Anyone out there with ProAc Response D twos who are happy with them with solid state amplification?
Steve M Posted June 15, 2013 Posted June 15, 2013 Well I really rate the Mark and Daniels speakers. At Steve Ms GTG in Perth these were brought out towards the end of the gathering and after all sorts of exotic speakers I thought their class showed out. They are capable of beautiful tone and timbre with the right preamp/power amp combination. I reckon you should be keeping the speakers and add either a good valve preamp or a valve power amp.This will play to their musical strengths. An all SS system is not doing them justice. Agreed Thomo, they are the most refined stand mounts I have had in my house, that's why they have stayed and the rest of the small speakers have departed. The crossover is perfectly designed, an inert Corian/marble box, long stroke woofer and double Heil AMT ribbon tweeter combine to make beautiful music. They need good clearance from the walls and room to breathe to perform at their best or else the bass can overpower and cause a recessed midrange.Also, mine are the Mark & Daniel Maximus loudspeakers and @ $4K, a model up from the ones displayed in this thread. Steve.
Crosscourt121 Posted June 16, 2013 Author Posted June 16, 2013 Thanks Steve I can see from your blog your vast history with different speakers/kit. Wow!! Therefore your endorsement of the M&D Maxi monitors carries a lot of weight. I note you have had a couple of ProAc models including the SC1. Any comparison? Also were you involved in the GTG that I refer to in my first post above? I wonder what sort of valve pre I could get (perhaps 2nd hand) that would add the tube magic to my sound?
fwt1712 Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 There's a pair of CJ Premier 8s that might be for sale in Hobart, are you interested in taking your M&Ds around for a test run.Regards Nigel.
Crosscourt121 Posted June 18, 2013 Author Posted June 18, 2013 Hi Nigel Sure am. Will be in touch. I suspect they will be too pricey though! Cheers
Juicester Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 You only turn 50 once true, but i've turned EVERY age only once and never scored a speaker upgrade for it... Good luck with your hunt!
Crosscourt121 Posted June 28, 2013 Author Posted June 28, 2013 Thanks Juicester. I think I'm going to keep the Sapphires and consider a used tube pre.
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