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Seeking advice for good active bookshelf speakers


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Hi

 

The upgrade itch has got to me and I'm thinking of getting some nice active speakers. Budget is around $1500. I'm currently using a pair of Swans D1080MKIIs. They will be in a room that's about 8x4 meters. I have a nad m51 and a burson soloist so will use either of them as a pre-amp. Music genres - classic rock, jazz, folk, classical and electronic. i am open to any passive speaker suggestions but don't really want to go down that road due to the need of an amp and extra costs. if i do go down the passive road I have my eye set on the KEF ls50s. Just to give you an understanding of my sound preference, I like the LCD2s better than the Senns HD800. 

 

From the research I've done, these are the ones I've short listed (have never listened to any but will do so over the next weeks or so):

 

- Mackie HR624 MK2 (if significantly better i can go up to the Mackie HR824)

- GENELEC 8030A (maybe the 8040a if i can find them second hand)

- Focal CMS50 (again, if significantly better can go up to the 65s)

 

Also, is anyone able to comment on how the KEFs will compare (with a decent amp) to any of the active speakers in the $1500-$2000 range.

 

Thanks

Edited by molika
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I'm not a great fan of using Studio Monitors like the CMS for critical non near field listening and I love my CMS's. The only reason to get the 8040a or CMS65s is for more bass/higher SPLs, they sound remarkably similar to the smaller models.

 

You don't say what you'll be using as a stand and Active Speakers are heavy which needs to be added to your consideration along with the need to run an additional power cable to each speaker.

 

I'd recommend you revisit the more traditional Amp/Bookshelf's 

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not a huge budget to be honest. one another to consider are the quad active 11L or if on even 9L as they go really cheap at times eg on ebay for $489 a pair ! :O

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Quad-9L-Active-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pairs-Various-Finishes-Normal-RRP-999-/290687193796?pt=AU_Hi_Fi_Speakers&hash=item43ae4e92c4&_uhb=1

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It'll come down to the 'personal preference' thing in the end so listen to as many as you can, but I can probably save you a lot of reading at Gearslutz by predicting that you'd find a lot of recommendation at that price range for the Neumann KH 120, Focal CMS, Eve Audio SC205 and ADAM. Genelec and certainly Mackie seem to get a bit less love. To spend up for PSI/Gaithan/ATC/Unity Audio seems to buy the most love. FWIW.
 

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I'm not a great fan of using Studio Monitors like the CMS for critical non near field listening and I love my CMS's. The only reason to get the 8040a or CMS65s is for more bass/higher SPLs, they sound remarkably similar to the smaller models.

 

You don't say what you'll be using as a stand and Active Speakers are heavy which needs to be added to your consideration along with the need to run an additional power cable to each speaker.

 

I'd recommend you revisit the more traditional Amp/Bookshelf's 

thx. my current active speakers are on my computer desk. most likely i will get stands.

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not a huge budget to be honest. one another to consider are the quad active 11L or if on even 9L as they go really cheap at times eg on ebay for $489 a pair ! :o

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Quad-9L-Active-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pairs-Various-Finishes-Normal-RRP-999-/290687193796?pt=AU_Hi_Fi_Speakers&hash=item43ae4e92c4&_uhb=1

 

would the quads be a huge improvement over the Swans?

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QUAD 12L Active Bookshelf speaker $2499 $1199

QUAD 11L Active Bookshelf speaker $1899 $990

QUAD 9L Active Bookshelf speaker $999 $599

 

Hi Molika,

 

Caxton Audio and Sound Reference have this deal at the moment (RRP and sale price). I haven't heard the Swans but I own the passive 11L2 and have heard the active 9L2s and was pretty impressed. The 12s are obviously a bit bigger and give you some more bass, but I seem to remember some reviews saying the bass wasn't very coherent (or some other audiofool term) in the passives but I would think the actives would be a different story.

 

The 11s and 12s need decent stands.

 

I don't think you would be disappointed with the 12s at that price.

Edited by Bell Ringer
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Guest Misterioso

I'm not a great fan of using Studio Monitors like the CMS for critical non near field listening 

Why?

 

To the OP: I compared the Neumann KH120 to the Genelec 8030 and Focal CMS65 and preferred them. For a year or so, I also used the NAD M51 to drive the Neumann monitors. It worked very well but in the end I preferred a traditional preamp. 

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Hi

 

The upgrade itch has got to me and I'm thinking of getting some nice active speakers. Budget is around $1500. I'm currently using a pair of Swans D1080MKIIs. They will be in a room that's about 8x4 meters. I have a nad m51 and a burson soloist so will use either of them as a pre-amp. Music genres - classic rock, jazz, folk, classical and electronic. i am open to any passive speaker suggestions but don't really want to go down that road due to the need of an amp and extra costs. if i do go down the passive road I have my eye set on the KEF ls50s. Just to give you an understanding of my sound preference, I like the LCD2s better than the Senns HD800. 

 

From the research I've done, these are the ones I've short listed (have never listened to any but will do so over the next weeks or so):

 

- Mackie HR624 MK2 (if significantly better i can go up to the Mackie HR824)

- GENELEC 8030A (maybe the 8040a if i can find them second hand)

- Focal CMS50 (again, if significantly better can go up to the 65s)

 

Also, is anyone able to comment on how the KEFs will compare (with a decent amp) to any of the active speakers in the $1500-$2000 range.

 

Thanks

 

Throw a set of Adams into that mix - personally I prefer the Adams over the Genelecs. Lived with the baby A5s for more than 2 and half years played them every day and never got bored of their sound. They were in a big room. I found the Genelec speakers a bit metallic by comparison but they are close in sound and dynamics. The Adams ribbon tweeters are smooth as.

 

NFA

Edited by nofixedaddress
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Why?

 

To the OP: I compared the Neumann KH120 to the Genelec 8030 and Focal CMS65 and preferred them. For a year or so, I also used the NAD M51 to drive the Neumann monitors. It worked very well but in the end I preferred a traditional preamp. 

I've tried it and was disappointed with the loss of imaging and sound stage - too point source. Also they're ugly in most domestic settings, require massive stands to support the weight and have little protection for the drivers.

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The Adams ribbon tweeters are smooth as.

 

NFA

I'd agree, likewise with other AMT tweeters I've had. Find it interesting that on the pro audio forums they seem to equally have a reputation for sounding harsh. Just goes to show how much ears and tastes vary.

 

 

 

thanks everyone. did a bit more reading and looks like it will be passive speakers - most likely the kef ls50s. now just to find a decent integrated amp. cheers.

 

Not sure what the reading is you're referring to, but if it is the seemingly ubiquitous idea that studio monitors are unsuited for music listening, I'd laugh that off pretty loudly. I think a majority of speaker designers would concede active better than passive, all else being equal. Further there is the cost saving of bundling amps with speakers - the LS50 route will put you well over budget by whatever you have to spend on an amp.

 

Have you heard the LS50? If not I'd just reiterate the sense in hearing first as tastes vary enough that if you had the LS50 in a blindfolded lineup against 5 studio monitors I think it statistically unlikely you'd pick the LS50. Some people find analytic speakers engaging and so 'musical', some not, but there is as much variability amongst active monitors as there is amongst passive speakers in this regard (if this is your worry) and in every other regard. I don't think you can generalise wrt sound quality in pro active vs domestic passive beyond what I've written above, and perhaps that near field monitors have a slightly better chance at being coherent in the extreme nearfield and might be slightly more linear on average.

 

FWIW I've heard most of the actives mentioned, and have owned ADAM and the LS50s, both great speakers. 

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I'd agree, likewise with other AMT tweeters I've had. Find it interesting that on the pro audio forums they seem to equally have a reputation for sounding harsh. Just goes to show how much ears and tastes vary.

 

 

 

 

Not sure what the reading is you're referring to, but if it is the seemingly ubiquitous idea that studio monitors are unsuited for music listening, I'd laugh that off pretty loudly. I think a majority of speaker designers would concede active better than passive, all else being equal. Further there is the cost saving of bundling amps with speakers - the LS50 route will put you well over budget by whatever you have to spend on an amp.

 

Have you heard the LS50? If not I'd just reiterate the sense in hearing first as tastes vary enough that if you had the LS50 in a blindfolded lineup against 5 studio monitors I think it statistically unlikely you'd pick the LS50. Some people find analytic speakers engaging and so 'musical', some not, but there is as much variability amongst active monitors as there is amongst passive speakers in this regard (if this is your worry) and in every other regard. I don't think you can generalise wrt sound quality in pro active vs domestic passive beyond what I've written above, and perhaps that near field monitors have a slightly better chance at being coherent in the extreme nearfield and might be slightly more linear on average.

 

FWIW I've heard most of the actives mentioned, and have owned ADAM and the LS50s, both great speakers.

thanks for you comments. I haven't heard any of the speakers including the LS50 and am just narrowing down a few by reading or asking on the forums for views and recommendations. I am going to audition a few soon here in Sydney. I can go up to around $3000 for speakers and an amp, I just don't want to spend the lot on speakers only. my thinking now is to go passive as a dedicated amp will give me options if I ever wanted to change speakers later on. however I'm not discounting the active monitors and will have a listen to whatever is available in Sydney before making a final decision.

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going passive will bring more choice. not only in speakers but also amps available in my opinion. definitely check out whats around active wise there is some lovely stuff out there would be pity to sideline :)

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well, i am seriously looking at the quad speakers (11L). only question is should i go active or passive+amp. can anyone comment on whether the passive 11L + stereo amp (say the quad 99) will be significantly better than just getting the active 11Ls. both speakers are on special at Caxton Audio. i get the separates will give me more choice if i want to change speakers down the track but they are for my bedroom and the less components the better (that's what the wife says) but im willing to fight that battle not to compromise on sound quality. thx

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I would go passive and then if want to keep components down can always go a source/amp depending on what looking for few nice items out there :) either way dont have to rack up too many components if dont want to.

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well, i am seriously looking at the quad speakers (11L). only question is should i go active or passive+amp. can anyone comment on whether the passive 11L + stereo amp (say the quad 99) will be significantly better than just getting the active 11Ls. both speakers are on special at Caxton Audio. i get the separates will give me more choice if i want to change speakers down the track but they are for my bedroom and the less components the better (that's what the wife says) but im willing to fight that battle not to compromise on sound quality. thx

I had the 11L2s running off the Quad 99 power amp (being sold by @@jezzaboogie at the moment in the classifieds for a good price) with a tube pre (Consonance and an old Counterpoint for a while). I really liked them but with your budget I'd be looking a bit more upmarket. I can't compare them to the 11L actives and I'm not sure how similar the Quad separate amps are to the amps they use in the actives.

 

The thing about quality actives is that the engineer has done all the matching for you, you can relax knowing that the amp is perfectly tuned to the drivers, its just a matter of hearing ones you like. For a bedroom system I like the idea of actives.

 

Second hand Adams I think would definitely be worth a listen.

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