What Hi Fi Sound and Vision

The world's No. 1 home entertainment buyers guide online

Join the Club

Latest Issue

Latest Issue

Have your say & ask the experts

Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

Last post Nov 04, 2009, 9:26 AM by sthomas048. (14 replies)
Sort Posts:

Posted on Nov 02, 2009, 5:33 PM

Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

I bought Arcam Solo Mini and it came as a package with Dimon 10.1's.


 I was given some advise on this forum and have shortlisted the following, by budget is £400 max.


 B&W 685  £373


Monitor Audio RS1 (Ex demo) £250


Dali Lektor 2 £299


 I like the sound of these but the MA look good value?


 Any advise appreciated


 


Ian

Posted on Nov 02, 2009, 6:14 PM

327645

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

Hi IDB,


Just wondering why you need new speakers if the Arcam came with Whafdale 10.1 speakers? The 10.1's get good reviews and should suite the Arcam.


As the Arcam only produces a small amount of power I wouldn't go with the 685's and probably not the RSI's either. As to whether the Dali Lektor 2's are better than what you have, I'm not sure but I like mine!


 

CA 340C - Chunky Inter - Denon PMA 250SE - Chord Rumour 2 - Dali Lektor 2. Denon TU 380RD Tuner.

Posted on Nov 02, 2009, 6:26 PM

327668

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

Inter84   Thanks for coming back to me.


 My wife bought the system for me and the speakers came with it as part of the package, however I had a listen to other brands and they have more clarity and detail ( to my ears anyway) so I shortlisted some others.


 The 10.1's are good, but I was advised I could do better with the Arcam and after some auditions today I tend to agree


 


Ian

Posted on Nov 02, 2009, 6:42 PM

327672

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

If you have the budget, then Rega RS1's (£390) will be excellent partners. Very efficient at 90db (8 ohms) and a lovely sound.

They are also available in Piano gloss black (or white) for a 10% premium. (Or standard real cherry veneer.) 

Naim Nait 5i • Naim CD5i • Naim NAT 05 FM tuner • Naim N-Sat loudspeakers • Naim NAC-A5 speaker cable • Beresford TC7520 • Panasonic DMR-EX78 DVD/HDD • Naim interconnects • Partington Trophy speaker stands

Posted on Nov 02, 2009, 6:44 PM

327672

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

If you don't mind older 2nd hand speakers there are loads of bargains .. here are 2 :


snell K/II speakers ... ebay item 300345997087 ... buy it now of £275


or CURA CA10  ... ebay item 270413365335 ... buy it now of £270

Pioneer SA-9800 amp
Marantz CD-63 mkII K1 signature
B&W DM2 speakers (1st version transmissions)
Silver High Breed Coherence LE interconnect
Hitachi SSX 102K LC-OFC speaker cable

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 9:12 AM

327680

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

And, to wade in on the secondhand front again, Mission 751s, roughly £100, but brilliant for the money. They were superb at their original RRP (£300), and a good pair will not be wanting against current models. Expect plenty of detail and a lively and very articulate presentation. Good bass too as it's not a "mini" bookeshelf, such as the Dali Lektor 1, but a substantial standmounter.


Sansui AU-717 amp, Marantz SA7001-KI CDP, Mission 752 speakers

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 9:32 AM

327879

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

Not interested in the AVI Neutron V then? Superb speakers and in my opinion much better than those on your list.
Unison Research Unico CDE/Audio Analogue Maestro Settanta/Kudos C2 and ProAc Tablette Reference 8 Sigs. Nordost, Clearer Audio, Kimber, Crystal Cable and Chord cables. And a MacBook Air for streaming. And a plasma. And a DVD player. And an iPhone.

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 9:38 AM

327679

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

chebby:
If you have the budget, then Rega RS1's (£390) will be excellent partners. Very efficient at 90db (8 ohms) and a lovely sound.

They are also available in Piano gloss black (or white) for a 10% premium. (Or standard real cherry veneer.) 

Gloss black will be the RX1  Smile


But I agree, the RS1 would be a great partner for the Solo, especially at their clerance price.


Inter 84 - the Arcam may not look like it produces much power on paper, but it's far more powerful than any other 'mini system' at a similar rated power. We've used ours with the 684 and 685's, ATC SCM7's, ProAc Tablette 8's, and the RS1's. For normal volumes it has more than enough power for any of these speakers, and you'll only find it struggling if you like listening to Prodigy at club levels or you're playing it in a larger than average room.

David

See bio for much more detail...

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 9:48 AM

327645

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

IDB:

I bought Arcam Solo Mini and it came as a package with Dimon 10.1's.


 I was given some advise on this forum and have shortlisted the following, by budget is £400 max.


 B&W 685  £373


Monitor Audio RS1 (Ex demo) £250


Dali Lektor 2 £299


 I like the sound of these but the MA look good value?


 Any advise appreciated


 


Ian



For pure synergy, the MA's are hard to better. Can't comment on Rega but from what one or two have, on the forum, said the Regas are very open and detailed sounding, but lack a little bottom end oomph. That's a trait, from personal experience, that Arcam thrive on.  

A65+, CD73T, Pro-ject X1/Clearaudio turntable, Marantz ML 2060 Tuner, MA RS6, Chord Chrysalis/Merlin Chopin & Chord carnival Silver Plus; Grado SR60i


I used to be indecisive about hi-fi, now I'm not sure.

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 9:53 AM

327895

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

FrankHarveyHiFi:
chebby:
If you have the budget, then Rega RS1's (£390) will be excellent partners. Very efficient at 90db (8 ohms) and a lovely sound.

They are also available in Piano gloss black (or white) for a 10% premium. (Or standard real cherry veneer.) 

Gloss black will be the RX1  Smile


But I agree, the RS1 would be a great partner for the Solo, especially at their clerance price.

Rega RS1 in piano gloss black Dave. (not Monitor Audio)

 

 


Naim Nait 5i • Naim CD5i • Naim NAT 05 FM tuner • Naim N-Sat loudspeakers • Naim NAC-A5 speaker cable • Beresford TC7520 • Panasonic DMR-EX78 DVD/HDD • Naim interconnects • Partington Trophy speaker stands

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 10:41 AM

327900

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

Apologies - my fault for skimming  Embarrassed
David

See bio for much more detail...

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 11:30 AM

327913

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

If you can find some Epos M5's then these are great speakers and sounded lovely with my Arcam CD73 and A70 a while back.

I got a pair for £175 unused off the usual site only a few months back for a 2nd system - 2nd hand ive seem them go for £150. They are worth looking out for and many say are better than the newer M5i replacement model.

You can even get the new M5i for £275 from Superfi at the moment which sounds a decent deal too.
Arcam FMJ CD36 - Wadia 170i & V-Dac - Rega P3-24 Blue - Arcam FMJ A32 - Neat Motive 3.
Sennheiser HD595 - Little Dot MK III.
Partington SuperDreadnaught, Chord Epic Super Twin, Van Den Hul 'D-102 III', Tacima CS929, ClearerAudio Copperline Mains.

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 11:47 AM

327645

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

IDB:

I bought Arcam Solo Mini and it came as a package with Dimon 10.1's.


 I was given some advise on this forum and have shortlisted the following, by budget is £400 max.


 B&W 685  £373


Monitor Audio RS1 (Ex demo) £250


Dali Lektor 2 £299


 I like the sound of these but the MA look good value?


 Any advise appreciated


 


Ian



How long have you had the Wharfdales? Bear in mind they need quite a few hours under their belt to perform at their best, like all new speakers.

To better the 10.1s you will have to increase your budget if buying new (otherwise it will be a sideways step) or look at buying second hand.

Also, do you have the Wharfdales on proper stands?
Sony PS-6750 • Goldring Eroica LX/Shure V15/III • Trichord Dino+ • Sony TA-FB940R/Audio Innovations Alto amps • Pioneer PD-S801 CDP • Nakamichi DR3 tape deck • Ruark Crusader II/JPW Sonata loudspeakers

Posted on Nov 03, 2009, 9:53 PM

327893

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

JoelSim:
Not interested in the AVI Neutron V then? Superb speakers and in my opinion much better than those on your list.

I would second the neutron v(although I am a little biased) but they are hard to drive so not sure If the mini would struggle only being 30-50watts.
CA 740C and 740A, AVI Neutron V, Partington super dreadnoughts, QED XT350, SHB2i, Merlin Bach, QED performance optical, ONKYO ipod dock, I pod classic 30gb, iphone, Grado SR60, Goldring NS1000, airport express (for spotify premium) Logitech Harmony 555.

Posted on Nov 04, 2009, 9:26 AM

328274

Re: Which of these 3 are best bookshelf Speakers?

bay24:
JoelSim:
Not interested in the AVI Neutron V then? Superb speakers and in my opinion much better than those on your list.

I would second the neutron v(although I am a little biased) but they are hard to drive so not sure If the mini would struggle only being 30-50watts.

 

Another vote for the Neutron V here. I absolutely adore mine. I dont think that would be a problem, i think the minimum watts for the AVI is 30w. Its odd how the Neutrons dont get more coverage. I picked mine up cheap from Ebay. They look great too !

Stephen

Musical Fidelity B200 / Linn Genki cd player - Russ Andrews Crystal Cu Interconnects / AVI Neutron 5 speakers - QED Silver AnniversaryXT Speaker Cable
Latest Issue
  • Fulfill your potential at Haymarket
  • Careers