Looking for new speakers

[Dr. Parthipan]

I am looking for new standmount speakers in the £1k to £2.5k range which are more refined than the wilson benesch arc speakers I have. I also want to know if a speaker which changes sound completely depending on the recording you play is a good thing or not?

And is there a limit on the refinement and detail you can attain in the midrange with a 2way standmount since it has no dedicated midrange drive unit?

I am looking for something with a lot of refinement in the mid and treble although it should also be capable in other areas.

 

[GranteedEV]

I'd consider some Mackie HR824s or HR626's

 

[Dr. Parthipan]

Are you sure? I did mention that they have to be very refined. Other than B&W I dont know any others which are refined especially a standmount. But B&W are kind of outside my budget.

 

[GranteedEV]

What does it mean to be refined?

They're extremely resolving bi-amplified active studio monitors used by professionals. They're THX PM3 certified. They don't have a pretty veneer and a 6moons review so no they're not refined I guess.

 

[Dr. Parthipan]

It's always difficult to describe what we hear but it's a frequently used term which is understood by audiophiles. What I mean by refined is that subtle shifts in dynamics, tone and sound are readily reproduced. In the treble, cymbals and sibilants are not harsh but sound life like. Lesser speakers will fail on these points.

 

[Swerd]

Based on today's exchange rate of $1 US = ₤0.6342, you are looking at a price range of roughly $1600 to $3950. I've not heard the Wilson Benesch Arc, but in the US they are more expensive than that price range.

I recommend a number of different speakers made by Salk Signature Sound. These are US made speakers, but Salk does ship overseas.

SongTower (floor standing)
Ellis 1801 TL (floor standing)
HT-1 (stand mount)
HT-1 TL (floor standing)
HT2-TL (floor standing)

The last speaker is somewhat higher priced than your upper range.

Reviews available online:
SongTower - Enjoythemusic.com
SongTower - Audioholics
HT1-TL - Enjoythemusic.com
HT2-TL - Audioholics

And is there a limit on the refinement and detail you can attain in the midrange with a 2way standmount since it has no dedicated midrange drive unit?

The presence or absence of a midrange driver, in general, has little to with sound quality. There are good and bad examples of 2-way and 3-way speakers. Far more important is how well a speaker's crossover handles the frequencies shared by different drivers within a speaker.

 

[KEW]

The Focal Solo6 Be is the most detailed and revealing speaker I have heard (if that is what you want).
Here is a link to a review with measurements it's sibling (which has the same drivers and amplifiers and may be a better choice of you don't plan to add a sub).
http://www.focalprofessional.com/url-doc.php?id=2325&rep=/catalogue-docs/FR/27/files/&filename=%A9-Resolution (4.6Mb pdf)
Here is my review involving the Focal Solo6Be's, Paradigm S-2 and Salk SongTower with ribbon tweeter:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59911
I think all of these are excellent speakers. Hopefully, the comments may help you find a good fit among them!

 

[zieglj01]

It's always difficult to describe what we hear but it's a frequently used term which is understood by audiophiles. What I mean by refined is that subtle shifts in dynamics, tone and sound are readily reproduced. In the treble, cymbals and sibilants are not harsh but sound life like. Lesser speakers will fail on these points.

Go to www.bostonacoustics.com and look at the Boston VS260
speakers. They will take care of the sound business.

 

[3db]

Are you sure? I did mention that they have to be very refined. Other than B&W I dont know any others which are refined especially a standmount. But B&W are kind of outside my budget.

Looks like your stuck on B&W and any suggestions made will be refuted.

 

[Theresa]

Check out Madisound

In that price range I would get the ZRT2.5s kits from Madisound. They use the best ScanSpeak drivers in a 38 liter tower configuration. I am more impressed with ScanSpeak drivers than with any others. Its a kit but can be assembled even without a soldering iron but one is recommended. I am using the ScanSpeak Rediscovery as my center channel and thinking of getting two more. The Rediscovery uses the top Revelator with a Discovery tweeter and costs a couple of hundred dollars less.

 

[zieglj01]

The OP seems to have left the building.

 

[TLS Guy]

I am looking for new standmount speakers in the £1k to £2.5k range which are more refined than the wilson benesch arc speakers I have. I also want to know if a speaker which changes sound completely depending on the recording you play is a good thing or not?

And is there a limit on the refinement and detail you can attain in the midrange with a 2way standmount since it has no dedicated midrange drive unit?

I am looking for something with a lot of refinement in the mid and treble although it should also be capable in other areas.

In the UK you have more choices for good speakers than anywhere else in the world!

Audition PMC, ATC Spendor, Quad, Harbeth B & W and many others. You need to look no further than speakers built on British shores. I would start auditioning PMC and ATC. I would look at floor standers with the same footprint as your stand. A speaker on a stand is a real waste. In general the bigger the speaker the better. That advice is particularly true of PMC which are all TL or labyrinth. A full length TL is a better bet.