Feel like a challenge?

[anaitiologikos]

Well, at least I know I feel challenged about this. My father has just renovated his patio into a large (21x24x8ft) back living room, and now wants speakers for it. Here's the brief I got. None of these criteria are particularly wamm-ish, but your collective knowledge remains unsurpassed, so here goes:

(1) must be mounted in the top corners

(2) must be bookshelf speakers of no more than 1 foot high

(3) preferably white

(4) must work well with soft jazz

(5) budget up to £750 a pair

(6) preferably new

I'm thinking Rega RS1, Dali Zensor, Q Acoustics 2020i, Dali Menuet... any other ideas or advice would be much, much appreciated.

Thank you for your attention,

Steven

 

[rabski]

As long as they work close to corner/wall (don't know the porting arrangements) Q Acoustics. Heard two different pairs to date and was amazed by both. Massively better than they have any right to be for the size and price.

 

[vacdac]

Neat IOTA could do the trick.....v dinky & are supposed to lend themselves well to boundary placement. Dinky, v purdy....just cute as feck really. The Ribbon tweeter is pretty special & they're available in a variety of Funky finishes inc a rather fetching blue + also real wood veneers too IIRC. I'd have though they'd be available in the white your Da' wants too. :^

 

[misterpete]

Q Acoustics 2020i. :^

 

[themadlatvian]

Q Acoustics 2020i. :^

Agreed. Amazing little speaks. They would fill that space fine, especially with soft jazz.

:^

 

[yoda900]

Guru Jnr's in white. Made for boundary placement. Sound huge.

Post below from Naim Forum. Not mine.

The Guru's.....wow again. Beautiful looking and sounding little speakers. They seem just about perfect for my need. Close to the wall and fairly close together (around 5 ft) and with their reputation for working in pretty much any room - they are I think the best option I could hope for the price.

Listen to them. Much larger than the Iotas and they sound like it too.

 

[pgarrish]

sounds like he wants a set of Bose Acoustimass :brick:

 

[MallyMad]

Interesting to note that with a £750 budget £150 speakers get recommended. I quite fancy a new set myself - bookshelf ,to pair with an AVC EL34 - and have been wondering about good value. Ie "better" s/h or new. I would go to about £350 on a set.

Must find a Q stockist/owner near me and get a listen.

 

[Whiskeytown]

VACDAC has already recommended them above, but I'll second his suggestion. I have a white pair of Neat Iota's, wall mounted and close to the corners, in a space of a fairly similar size to your father's. Young kids forced me to move my Proacs into the study and I was concerned I'd be giving up on hifi sound completely moving to something wall mounted. However, the Iotas sound surprisingly good in this compromised set up. Plus, with their sideways orientation, diminutive size, and dedicated bracket, they really do fade into the background visually. Well worth auditioning.

The Rega RS1s and Q Acoustics you mention were also on my shortlist and are definitely worth a listen. Both great little speakers; particularly, at the relative price point. Though, for me, the Iotas ticked more boxes.

If you're father is willing to consider ex demo or 2nd hand, then the budget should be able to get him a pair of Linn Majik 109s or PMC DB1is. Both lovely speakers, of a relatively small size, which perform well wall-mounted. Again, worth a listen to hear what that price point gets you.

 

[diceman]

IMHO this is ideal territory for an active studio monitor. Corner location will benefit from a waveguide to reduce near field reflections off the walls and an element of active bass equalisation would be handy to avoid boom. Maybe partner with a sub in such a large room?

Genelec makes a load of white speakers- worth looking at at alternatives in the pro sector.

I have little experience with latest studio monitors but it seems to make a lot of sense to me.

 

[MallyMad]

Or go one up from the 2020is and get the Concept 20s with their flashy stands...