I appreciate your thinking, and you may be right. I've just loved the MBL sound.... I did get a very good unexpected deal on the pair, so it's a good way for me to sample the MBL sound Good for you! Sometimes a deal is too good to turn down! Sorry for being so blunt - I am glad you did not take offense. Hi-fi to a man is like clothing to a woman....a very sensitive subject and a dangerous one to speak of frankly and openly. |
Shadorne - I appreciate your thinking, and you may be right. I've just loved the MBL sound and why it wasn't on my shortlist because of my room scenario, I did get a very good unexpected deal on the pair, so it's a good way for me to sample the MBL sound, at least for a while. I have fun swapping out equipment every once in a while. Were I to add a good sub or two later, it may make more optimized use of the room acoustics. |
Well, I ended up pulling the trigger on the MBL 121s For a large room with vaulted ceilings and for listening to rock music I think you ignored the good advice here and have made a mistake. I hope you got a great deal as you will very likely be selling them shortly. Great speaker - but wrong application, IMHO. Sorry to rain on the parade but I am sure many people will agree... |
Thanks guys. Well, I ended up pulling the trigger on the MBL 121s. I figure I can add a sub (or two) later,as the upgrade bug bites me - maybe the JL Audios 112 or 113, and maybe a crossover like Bryston 10b to take some of the strain off bass for the 121. I guess I'll need to investigate amp matching, as my 30wpc may not be enough for this speaker. |
I know - [MBL 101] compltely different speaker and pricepoint, but I liked the midrange and treble on them If you like midrange and treble on MBL's then you like wide dispersion speakers. Dr Floyd Toole in the 70's found this was pretty much the number one consistent thing about peoples tastes in speakers. The research lead to companies like Energy, Mirage, PSB - often designed with wide midrange dispersion in mind. The MBL's are limited dynamically. I have also heard the Beolab 5 and they started to get congested at realistic levels. I am sure you can find some good used speakers in your price range that have wide dispersion. A used pair of Energy Veritas 2.8's are the ticket ...it will leave you money for a sub (which you may need for HT but probably won't need for music). |
Domes are a nightmare. Sound actually travels the curve and comes out the opposite side. You will need to hang room treatments |
Thanks for all the input guys - some great ideas there. Bozsiujj - that's so interesting that you like the Acuhorns. I love the look of them, but I could never get good sound out of them, and I tried everything, and I used them with KR amps, which Acuhorn usually uses for their demos. I loved the KR amps on other speakers.
So, getting back to my speaker question, I have a strange inclination - to get some MBL 121 speaker. They are the omni monitors. Any thoughts on that choice? I can get a good price on them, I've heard and loved the 101e (I know - compltely different speaker and pricepoint, but I liked the midrange and treble on them, which would be similar to the 121), and I could add a sub or two later like the JL Audio. Thoughts? |
I have those Acuhorn running them w First Watt 3 and Modwright 9SE. I love the sound even though love to have more bass - my room is smaller though! You need a planar like MG or ML, but then IMHO your amp will need an upgrade! |
If your willing to change amplifiers, the big Thiels, in a big room are hard to beat. |
Great recommendations on this list so far, especially the Harbeths, Dunlavys, and the Thiels.
You could probably get an old school pair of B&W 801 Series 3 within that price range which'll sound very fantastic.
But my personal bias (disclaimer: I own a pair of 1.6QRs), I'm going to say a pair of Maggie 3.6Rs will definitely fill up that room in no time. Although again, quite the amp guzzler but you might luck out with how that matches.
ProAcs definitely add some magic to music, but it's always my opinion that it's always lacked a lil on the bass end. but YMMV.
Good luck with your choice! |
Saunderse,
The OP will not likely find Continuum 3s for even close to 4K, but it would be a good suggestion if his budget were more.
However, he needs to look no further than either of those pair of Piega P-10s on Agon right now for under 4K. These are full range speakers that have the absolute best bass response of any full range speaker that I have owned. This is not to say they are a one trick pony, far from it. Dynamic, expressive, cohesive and just plain fun are how I would describe them.
Shakey |
Green Mountain Audio Continuum 3's. Time and phase coherent,
all done with 1st order cross-overs.
Nothing else comes close! |
Need to look at Proac offerings. They are incredibly dynamic, large sounding, image great and require as little as 15 watts to drive. Your bass requirements will be met with the Proac sound. How big is your room? |
The Living Voice Speakers sound promising for your needs, and they just recently posted on the RWA message board saying their speakers are a good match for you amp. |
Thanks for the responses so far. Actually, Thiel 7.2 have been on my mental list too. Agreed about the power though - would involve another amp investment too..
The same with ATC - have been on my list. Am wondering which models though, to do the room justice. I assume I woudl need to be at least SCM50. The monitors + sub available on A'gon just now look tempting too. |
A pair of Thiel 7s or 7.2s can be gotten for around that kind of money these days, but it would require a real hefty ss amp for sure.
Anthony Cordesman has made many changes to his systems over the years but has always kept his 7.2s, telling me that they still sound very good when properly driven. |
big speakers for big rooms...duntech, dunlavy, atc, chapman, proac, hales, certain jbl, klipsch, aerial 10, avalon |
