• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Help with my new system shortlist

greyhound

Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2021
Messages
17
Likes
13
I've currently got a system in my tv room that I absolutely love - 2x Genelec 8340 with a 7360 Sub, using GLM correction. The sound is wonderful, to my ears, and the simple setup with GLM a huge win for Genelec.

However, I want a new system for music only, to go in a second room. How it looks is important, and so a duplicate Genelec system is sadly out of the question.

I listen to rock, techno, and (importantly) a lot of dub-influenced electronic stuff, so crisp low end down low is important to me. I tend to listen around 86db but it would be good to have the option to go louder sometimes :D

Budget is currently ~£5-6k, but I could hold off and save for a few more months if there's a compelling reason to.

Current shortlist:

1. LS60 with KC62 sub. I get get this new for £5k, which seems like a fantastic deal. My concern is whether the room correction will be good enough, and I am not in love with how they look.
2. Buchardt A10 with Sub 10. Also about £5k. I love the look of these, but wonder if the LS60 will outperform this system for a similar price.
3. Sigberg Sbs.1 - A bit above current budget, and perhaps harder to configure the sub compared to the Kef/Buchardt options
4. Take a punt on Ascilab A6B in a couple of months, then take another punt on their bass management solution hitting production later on
5. Maybe change tack completely and go passive with the Radiant Acoustics speakers and sub such as Arendal etc

The 'save-up-more longlist'

1. Dutch and Dutch 8C - double my current budget, but cardioid appeals to me, as does BAACH. Worried that it's diminishing returns over the KEF system for a lot more money

I've attached a floorpan with rough dimensions. Speakers would go opposite the couch. Sub, if wireless, could maybe go behind/under the couch, or perhaps by the speakers

Phew! Any opinions and advice gratefully received. Thank you for reading this far!
 

Attachments

  • room.png
    room.png
    61.1 KB · Views: 41
I'm going to say KEF Q7 Meta and two subs of your choosing, perhaps SVS-SB1000 or something like that.

KEF R3 Meta is a possible option. So is Q Concerto Meta. Depends if you want towers or not, and budget/style

Sound profile for KEF is neutral and similar to Genelec. Directivity is better, so they are more suited for reflective rooms than Genelec (generally speaking). If you like you 8340's, you'll very likely be happy with KEF.

I had KEF Q Concerto Meta at home for testing for a couple of days. Had Genelec 8030A also at the time. Did A/B with a switch and volume adjusted to be the same for each. Even tried doing EQ to lift the duller treble of the KEF to match better, but couldn't do it with a simple switch so evaluation of that was a bit difficult. In the end, I felt 8030A won out in my environment. I have significant absorption and not so many reflections, therefore the benefits of KEF's directivity didn't get to shine. In a more reflective room, I may well have chosen the KEF's.
 
Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I'm guessing you'd mentioned the Q series KEF so there's budget left for subs. I think I'd rather invest in higher-end speakers and a single sub, upgrading later if I need to. I've got a Dynaudio BM9s kicking around that will probably do the trick in the very short term if it means I can dedicate more budget to the mains.

However your post got me thinking more about passives. Maybe I could stretch to R5/7 meta, but I'm also intrigued by those Radiant Acoustics because they are just *so good* to look at. Aesthetics are important in particular room, so that is a big plus for the Radiants (assuming I add a sub later)
 
I mention the Q series because I honestly think it's good enough. I've done A/B with Q Concerto Meta and 8030A and for me the Genelecs won out with a narrow margin in an extensively acoustically treated room at a critical listening position. Difference is very minor with EQ.

For what I assume (perhaps incorrectly) are your circumstances in that room, I just don't think the R-series will give you significant enough better performance, and certainly not considering the extreme cost of the R-series.

Finally, have you considered Genelecs G-series in black? These should really have a decent WAF, quite good looking.

Edit: Also, do not buy R5 or R7, these have ridiculous pricing compared to R3 with subwoofers, and not that much better performance.
 
A pair of StageAccompany M57 monitors.

”M-57 Studio Standard Stereo
Active or passive crossover, DSP Correction via HE-50.
Made of 18+18mm plywood/MDF.
Surface in studio standard black semi-matte protex surface.
H x W x D: 91 x 61 x 40 cm. Weight 84 Kg/each.
Kr. 48.000 Dkr”

48’ danish kr = 5300 £

You can find them second hand some times. Use Hifishark.com to find a pair.

I listen to simular music like you do.
Owned a bunch of small and large well regarded speakers and the StageAccompany M44 (smaller sibling to the M57, now obsolete) is the one that allways stays. The are just so complete , powerfull and effortlessat ALL spl leves in an home environment.
Very easy to drive, you would probably do very well with a Wiim amp pro.
I use a yamaha ax-590. Tried many poweramps and big integrated amps. Can’t tell a different. Even a Denon DM-38 (2x18w rated micro cd receiver) did quite well.

Edit: price is for each speaker. Missed that bit.
But if you buy secondhand you should be able to find a pair with in your budget.
 
Last edited:
Used StageAccompany M57 in what appear to be good condition.

4440 £ for that pair

 
Back
Top Bottom