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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2018 18:46:52 GMT
Listed below are some budget speakers I like.
JPW Mini Monitor.
JPW P1.
JPW ML-110i.
Mordaunt Short MS10i (Epos-lite).
Mission 760i.
What about you?
S.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 20, 2018 21:23:44 GMT
Great idea for a thread.
I'd definitely agree JPW P1. If I'm thinking used and under £100, I would also add.
MA 352
MA 252
Gale 301
Dean Alto
Royd Sapphire
Royd A7
Klipsch Tangent 100
Mission 700LE
Mission 70 mk2
Rega Ela
Dynaco A25
JBL TLX3
You can have some great fun with low cost speakers and results can be surprisingly good.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 24, 2018 20:59:11 GMT
What about BLQ? I fancied trying Q1s or Q2s but never saw a nice pair at a good price.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2018 22:25:56 GMT
What about BLQ? I fancied trying Q1s or Q2s but never saw a nice pair at a good price. Q2 were damn good for their size |
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Post by dsjr on May 25, 2018 9:52:52 GMT
Budget boxes? Just buy a new pair of JBL Control 1's for eighty quid! Fantasic communicative mids, current ones have old school flat earth top (dip with sparkle peak) that's sensibly set not to bite yer 'ead off and the bass they hint at is tuneful and clear, but a one note thud as most baby speakers have...
You can't usually get spares for tired old boxes either - but nothing I said is what you chaps want to hear, is it?
We had a couple of pairs of BLQ1's I think. they were ok, but cabinets apart, were soon forgotten...
AVI Neutrons - rare original ones - Ashley now says they were crap, but the principle was a fair one - a slot port loaded miniature with a full range 5" driver which was smooth and excellent 'timing' and lack of smear. tweeter was the tiny dome Vifa as used in smaller Rega speakers and first generation TDL RTL's at one time and brought in at a safe 10k. Not a blow-your-head-off listen, but so easy to live with for hours on end...
Speaking of TDL RTL2's, these were incredible, but looked Sh#t with bobbly plastic veneers. The RTL3 could sound good with a crossover mod to lift the mids and reduce the cruel impedance load... |
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2018 18:05:22 GMT
Budget boxes? Just buy a new pair of JBL Control 1's for eighty quid! Fantasic communicative mids, current ones have old school flat earth top (dip with sparkle peak) that's sensibly set not to bite yer 'ead off and the bass they hint at is tuneful and clear, but a one note thud as most baby speakers have...
You can't usually get spares for tired old boxes either - but nothing I said is what you chaps want to hear, is it?
We had a couple of pairs of BLQ1's I think. they were ok, but cabinets apart, were soon forgotten...
AVI Neutrons - rare original ones - Ashley now says they were crap, but the principle was a fair one - a slot port loaded miniature with a full range 5" driver which was smooth and excellent 'timing' and lack of smear. tweeter was the tiny dome Vifa as used in smaller Rega speakers and first generation TDL RTL's at one time and brought in at a safe 10k. Not a blow-your-head-off listen, but so easy to live with for hours on end...
Speaking of TDL RTL2's, these were incredible, but looked Sh#t with bobbly plastic veneers. The RTL3 could sound good with a crossover mod to lift the mids and reduce the cruel impedance load... Must give the Control 1 a try someday. Who are the authorised dealers that stock them? S. |
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Post by dsjr on May 25, 2018 18:37:11 GMT
Richer Sounds - £80e sell 'em on Amazon as well! Mine were cheaper used but came in excellent if slightly dusty condition. Drivers and baffle were mint though.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2018 18:43:01 GMT
Thanks, Dave.
S.
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Post by dsjr on May 26, 2018 10:02:54 GMT
Could I live with *just* the Control 1's without a sub? Not sure to be honest, but I couldn't live with Kans either...
Some others not bad as they come, they're cheap and ripe for modding? -
Denon SCM 30 and SCM 50 - Mission made I think and not bad at all in stock form. The SCM 50 has usefully more body to the tone. Earlier SCM2's and 7's not bad either I remember (they came with the little SCM30 series micro/mini unit Denon sold)
The larger related Missions from this time (701, 702 stand mount and siblings) were very effective too, but not sure how well they reproduce musical details beyond the obvious lead vocals and instruments. Bigger sound than the Denons and the 701 sounded great with the 20W or so available from the DM30 series mini/micro systems.
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Post by dsjr on May 26, 2018 10:13:18 GMT
Other oldies that have festered to the surface over the last couple of days 
AVI Neutron mk1 (NuNeutrons were too Kan like for me). the mk1 used the main driver wide open and the tweeter came in only at 10k - the lack of a crossover to cause interference in the midrange was clearly audible.
TDL RTL1 in original form - a bit toppy so needs careful matching. lovely mids though.
Musical Technology did a stand/shelf mounting baby in their style with metal cone bass and metal dome Vifa tweeter - I think it was the 'Hobby' (as in small bird of prey). MT had some excellent under-priced speakers that needed good partnering gear to work right. the firm ran out of money, but had sales. Had they been priced at least 50% more, they might have survived longer.
B&W 302 - Rear baffle moulding gave plenty to talk about and the sound was impressive on cheapo gear, if not very 'taut.'
Bose 301 mk IV - YES, REALLY!!! Great 'timing' (no smear) and no screech. Great on a proper HiFi system on 20" or 24" stands and I used to listen to them for hours with no issues. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 26, 2018 11:00:40 GMT
Good to see Bose 301 mentioned. I have never heard them at home but when I have heard them elsewhere they sounded good. They seem to start and stop like lightning. I have never tried a pair at home because nobody else ever recommende them or givesthem time of day, the fact that you have just done so is motivation to seek some out.
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Post by dsjr on May 26, 2018 11:37:38 GMT
I bought a pair of 301 II's for my bro-in-law for his cheapo midi system (Saisho or similar plastic thing). They went onwall brackets high as is usual and actually sounded pretty decent to me.
Our shop in the sticks took on Bose and like B&O, the buyers honestly thought the brand was the best there was, buying totally into the hype that a pair of mid to hf little drivers in a tiny cube and used with a boom-box was setting new standards for high sound quality. The powered Acoustimass speakers were superb for a small-room AV system, but useless for decent music - I dislike Omni's anyway but the Acoustimass was too diffuse and bass detached completely as most subs were placed behind sofas and so on.
They launched two 'HiFi' models, the 301 IV and 502 floor stander. The 301 IV was something of a revelation as we found it actually worked rather well In-room over things like B&W 601 and the baby 302's. The 502 wasn't bad either but really, twice the price it should have been. It sounded no better than the much loved TDL RTL2mk1 which was half the price and with a similar way of the sound coming free of the boxes...
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2018 15:10:07 GMT
I recall seeing 301's, in most HMV stores as a child growing up in the 90's.
S.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 26, 2018 15:18:32 GMT
Me too and it liked them
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 26, 2018 15:21:18 GMT
I bought a pair of 301 II's for my bro-in-law for his cheapo midi system (Saisho or similar plastic thing). They went onwall brackets high as is usual and actually sounded pretty decent to me. Our shop in the sticks took on Bose and like B&O, the buyers honestly thought the brand was the best there was, buying totally into the hype that a pair of mid to hf little drivers in a tiny cube and used with a boom-box was setting new standards for high sound quality. The powered Acoustimass speakers were superb for a small-room AV system, but useless for decent music - I dislike Omni's anyway but the Acoustimass was too diffuse and bass detached completely as most subs were placed behind sofas and so on. They launched two 'HiFi' models, the 301 IV and 502 floor stander. The 301 IV was something of a revelation as we found it actually worked rather well In-room over things like B&W 601 and the baby 302's. The 502 wasn't bad either but really, twice the price it should have been. It sounded no better than the much loved TDL RTL2mk1 which was half the price and with a similar way of the sound coming free of the boxes... Me too and it liked them It's a while ago now, but I was offered a pair of those TDLs for £20. The finish just looked so horrible I figured they must have been no good. Sounds like I missed out. |
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Post by dsjr on May 26, 2018 15:48:58 GMT
The mk2 (SE) models looked so very much better, but they effed up the crossover deliberately to match the godawful AE109's which WTF gave continuous 5 stars to - 5db step down in the response at crossover I remember and the tweeter was different, maybe better perhaps, I don't know. Removing or reducing the inline tweeter resistor helped, but it needed more to fully sort (value of tweeter cap too) and it wasn't for us dealers to do this. This was the beginning of the end for TDL and John Wright's health was terminally failing too sadly and he passed on soon after. Such a shame...
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Post by antonio on May 26, 2018 16:01:16 GMT
Just been looking at the JBL Control 1's and I see they do a Pro version for approx. £140, anyone with experience of these?
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Post by dsjr on May 26, 2018 19:04:18 GMT
Different characteristics I believe and being bullish about it, having a 'pro' suffix doesn't necessarily guarantee a better product. I believe it's a 4 ohm model? Maybe it is better, but 'we' are going to have to either try to listen to them side by side, or Google up someone else who may have done just that. For my needs, even the £79 from Richer was too much, so for me, forty five quid inc postage was a bargain and they're brilliant with the little A20's I've been testing |
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Post by dsjr on May 27, 2018 8:28:29 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 27, 2018 12:40:45 GMT
Just been looking at the JBL Control 1's and I see they do a Pro version for approx. £140, anyone with experience of these? I thought Control 1s were a "pro" speaker anyway |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2018 13:48:50 GMT
Andrew, Have you ever tried cheap speakers through an expensive system? All ending with great results? For example £100 speaker powered by a £5k amp.
S.
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Post by dsjr on Jun 29, 2018 14:25:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2018 14:36:00 GMT
??
S.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 29, 2018 14:54:19 GMT
I don’t think I’ve ever owned a 5k amp, but I guess if you count what vintage amps would sell for today, I have had Krell, Bryson, Bedini, Aragon etc. Yes I’ve tried cheaper speakers and it seems to bring out far more than the speakers otherwise would. The KSA 50 with Elas was mighty. Dean Altos also sang with a big amp. I think it was the Aragon but it couldve been the Bryston.
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Post by macca on Jun 29, 2018 15:30:07 GMT
Just been looking at the JBL Control 1's and I see they do a Pro version for approx. £140, anyone with experience of these? The 'Pro' version has higher power handling, otherwise pretty much the same deal. If you aren't using them as a sound reinforcement speaker in a pub or club you don't need the pro version. |
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Post by dsjr on Jun 29, 2018 16:37:33 GMT
Wasn't me who was asked, but I've told the tale of a Krell FPB300 driving £70 Denon SCM7's (eleven grand amp, will that do?). I was scared I'd melt them, but they sounded better than they had any right to. The Krell macca now has did a stirling job driving my IMF's too.
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Post by macca on Jun 29, 2018 16:57:58 GMT
Not tried it on my IMFS, or my Control Ones.
Mind it isn't far off the XTZ amp it replaced, that isn't short on grip either.
Other budget boxes I like, Wharfedale Diamonds, especially the IV. Kef Coda III. The little NAD speakers, the 801 (?). Also the Wharfedale CRS3, and Tannoy '6' series with the hexagonal cabs.
Not a fan of small speakers though, don't see the point of them. People say 'Oh I don't have the space for anything larger.' Or 'Small speakers image better,' What a load of bollocks on both counts. Especially when you go to their house and it's like Buckingham f'king Palace.
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Post by macca on Jun 29, 2018 16:58:42 GMT
What we can't swear on here? That's a bit much.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 29, 2018 17:00:06 GMT
I really like what you’ve said about the FPB Krells and it squares with the other things I’ve heard. If I ever go that way again, they would be my first target. Did you ever hear the original Krell KAS Dave?
I was at Simon’s (2nd Hand Hifi) shop in Stockton in 2013/14 and he had one in for what I thought was really cheap. I was only there to help drop off a heavy Levinson amp for a mate who couldn’t lift it, but I had my card with me.
The only thing that stopped me buying was that I’d recently bought a watch on a whim at a London Jeweller and had my wife storm off on me in an unfamiliar location to both of us. That’s the one and only time she’s ever objected to my spending, but it was fresh in my mind at the time. I didn’t think I’d get a good reception heading home with the Krells.
It’s one of my lasting regrets that I walked away empty handed, especially when I’ve seen them going for twice what I could’ve paid. I could’ve sold them on and effectively got the watch for free and made her happy too!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 29, 2018 17:01:05 GMT
I had a swear filler in place after my last forum. I thought I’d disabled all of it. I’ve re-saved it with no words in so it should be disabled now
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