Anyone agree with the What Hi-Fi best speakers list? :D

[Mart68]

For budget 'miniatures', I agree the MS10 was great, as was the B&W DM100, but my favourite there was the little known BLQ1 from a one-man-band company in Cambridge called British Loudspeakers.

my favourite budget miniature were the little-known Wharfedale CRS3

Wharfedale CRS3 - Hi-Fi Database - Bookshelf and Standmount Speakers

Wharfedale CRS3 - Images, details, specifications and reviews

www.hifidatabase.com

 

[Westsounds]

That’s the great thing about some of these ‘old’ good speakers, they are ‘still’ good speakers. I often browse the classifieds or the bay and even have a purchase and play for fun sometimes, it’s prob my number one hobby over other things so why not. The older speakers are as good as anything you’d buy new, and new budget is not even close to the price you can pick some of these things up for, which can be an absolute joy to listen to. And that’s what it’s all about after all.

MS10’s were great, had loads. I even picked up a set of Classic’s once, which were an upmarket limited run of the mass-produced ones.

 

[Westsounds]

my favourite budget miniature were the little-known Wharfedale CRS3

Wharfedale CRS3 - Hi-Fi Database - Bookshelf and Standmount Speakers

Wharfedale CRS3 - Images, details, specifications and reviews

www.hifidatabase.com

Had the CRS9’s those were fun. Not the most elegant or refined, but they did a decent job as a larger 3 way. Weren’t really loved or marketed much by the hi-fi press, but I enjoyed them for a time.

 

[Matt S]

My family had Kef Coda and Tannoy Mercury M2 speakers. Both we a massive upgrade from the Pioneer stack system we had, which sounded just fine until our knowledge of such things improved.

Which brand would you rank as the best of the Brits then? The team at Kef certainly lean on actual science and produce great measuring speakers.

 

[sergeauckland]

My family had Kef Coda and Tannoy Mercury M2 speakers. Both we a massive upgrade from the Pioneer stack system we had, which sounded just fine until our knowledge of such things improved.

Which brand would you rank as the best of the Brits then? The team at Kef certainly lean on actual science and produce great measuring speakers.

The most consistent I thought was a tie between KEF and B&W when John Bowers was in charge. Both produced superb 'iconic' loudspeakers in the 1970s and '80s.
Standouts for me were the KEF 105.2 and 104.2 and the B&W 801 and John Bowers Active 1.

S

 

[DSJR]

Disagree rabidly - but that's probably 'cause I didn't design any of them


Some, well, a few, great speakers in the list though.

Do you review pro monitors for a pro-orientated equipment magazine, as if you are whom I think you are, I respect said reviews and articles and you came highly recommended by an artisan speaker maker I know

 

[DSJR]

my favourite budget miniature were the little-known Wharfedale CRS3

Wharfedale CRS3 - Hi-Fi Database - Bookshelf and Standmount Speakers

Wharfedale CRS3 - Images, details, specifications and reviews

www.hifidatabase.com

Is this related to the rather-nice 80s, 505 model? Size and presentation looks similar...

 

[mhardy6647]

I recall, from a long, long time ago, listening to a new girlfriend’s hifi, that the Coda 7s sounded absurdly enjoyable for their price.

[emphasis added]
Not to over-state the obvious... but it sounds like there just might have been a little sighted bias goin' on there, too.

 

[Philberish]

What did you design?

There's a very long list including lots of Morduant-Short, Canon Audio, Naim, Acoustic Energy, etc.. Edited "highights" are here: https://musicandmiscellany.com/loudspeaker-design/

 

[Philberish]

Do you review pro monitors for a pro-orientated equipment magazine, as if you are whom I think you are, I respect said reviews and articles and you came highly recommended by an artisan speaker maker I know

Yes, I suspect I probably am who you think. Thanks for the kind words. Who's the artisan speaker guy? Dave Fowler by any chance?

 

[Ropeburn]

Only a handful of non-UK speakers in that list , rule Britannia.
Keith

Angry francogerman noises coming over the channel

Reminds me of a recent YouTube video, "top 3 synths under 600", one of which was discounted to 600£ only in the UK and costs 1300 anywhere else.

 

[Mart68]

Angry francogerman noises coming over the channel

Reminds me of a recent YouTube video, "top 3 synths under 600", one of which was discounted to 600£ only in the UK and costs 1300 anywhere else.

“Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off”​

"Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off" (UK…

"Fog in Channel; Continent Isolated" (or "Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off" is a classic British newspaper headline that is…

barrypopik.com

 

[Mart68]

Is this related to the rather-nice 80s, 505 model? Size and presentation looks similar...

I don't know. They were a mid '90s model and retailed at about £100.

 

[Westsounds]

There's a very long list including lots of Morduant-Short, Canon Audio, Naim, Acoustic Energy, etc.. Edited "highights" are here: https://musicandmiscellany.com/loudspeaker-design/

That's quite a list! They did well to miss you then

 

[DSJR]

Yes, I suspect I probably am who you think. Thanks for the kind words. Who's the artisan speaker guy? Dave Fowler by any chance?

No sir and not sure you know him. I could take it to PM if you like

 

[Ropeburn]

“Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off”​

"Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off" (UK…

"Fog in Channel; Continent Isolated" (or "Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off" is a classic British newspaper headline that is…

barrypopik.com

American exceptionalism may be infamous, but we all know where it's coming from. They learned from the best!

 

[jimmyjames8]

Every Mission or Monitor Audio speaker I ever heard over the years sounded pretty good but for whatever reason I never ended up owning a pair.

 

[Philberish]

No sir and not sure you know him. I could take it to PM if you like

Please do, or contact me via my website - https://musicandmiscellany.com/

 

[DSJR]

Please do, or contact me via my website - https://musicandmiscellany.com/

Done!

May I share this topical link to your page -

Audio Icons

A few years ago, while strolling along a London street, I passed a print gallery. In the window of the gallery was a limited edition print that illustrated a group of 1970s transistor radios. I lov…

musicandmiscellany.com

SBLs and Isobariks? You'd have one or two secret friends here I reckon

I like the amp image, especially as I was looking at a now sold Armstrong 700 preamp 'on the bay,' which led to designer Jim Lesurf's site and articles on this sadly short-lived pre and power amp (the company all but folded just as production was starting I believe) and then to the 600 series which I knew and sold (even tried to own, but the thing 'motorboated' from new), the 621 amp pictured on linked page...

 

[Westsounds]

There's a very long list including lots of Morduant-Short, Canon Audio, Naim, Acoustic Energy, etc.. Edited "highights" are here: https://musicandmiscellany.com/loudspeaker-design/

That’s an interesting site you have there as well Phil. Just read your LS3/5A article, interesting and I agree. Will look what else you have written about.