Tannoy System 8 vs BM6 mkiii vs BM6A vs KH 120 II vs AV7

[Skippy63]

Hi,

I use Tannoy System 8 since more than thirty years. My homestudio is installed in a +- 15 meters square room, with basic acoustic treatment.

I use DYNAUDIO BM6 mkiii in a friend's studio. It's a little more precise and detailed than Tannoy System 8, and it offers a little extra in the low end.

I think to replace my Tannoy and some alternatives remain my attention:

- DYNAUDIO BM6 mkiii (second hand)

- Dynaudio BM6A + IK Multimedia ARC Studio

- Neumann KH 120 II + Neumann MA 1

- Adam Audio AV7 + Sonarworks SoundID Reference with mic

- Keep Tannoy System 8 and add IK Multimedia ARC Studio

I would an extra precision, room correction could be nice. I don't have much money, so I have to be realistic.

It's clear that adding IK Multimedia ARC Studio to my setup is not too expensive, but the BM6A-KH 120 II-AV7 are in the limits of my budget.

Any advice ?

 

[Revolver]

From Dynaudio I've owned the BM5A and Focus 110A. I currently own the KH 120 among some other actives. I would recommend the KH 120 from your list (either original or II). The level of engineering that goes into the Neumann's is superior to the others on your list, and that is reflected in the sound.

 

[jhaider]

I've owned System 8 NFM IIs in a desktop system and liked them for quite a while, though they weren't the last word in neutrality. FWIW, here's a polar map, and comparison to Tannoy's later Revolution XT 8F tower.

I currently use a pair of KH 120 II at my desktop. While I have not compared them directly, I doubt there's anything the Tannoys did that KH 120 II don't do a whole lot better. They're really remarkable nearfield speakers. By now I'd also expect the ferrofluid in the System 8 NFM II tweeters to have dried up, resulting in marked changes to the tonal balance.

 

[uwotm8]

My 2 cents as MC15/BM5A compact (+ sub) owner in past: Adam A7V is a big step up in terms of pretty much anything from linearity and distortion to soundstage and ability to reveal "what you didn't hear before it your fav tracks".

I'm not sure how classic BM6 compares to it. I definitely like that it has 100W+100W amp, because 50W in BM5A II or LYD is barely enough and aslo it's cheap TAS model exactly as used in Adam T series (OK for $150/speaker, but not $500). It can actually produce somewhat like 10W of clean power and then it's a harsh mess. Nothing bad if used with something sensitive but that's Dynaudio, in good old days you had to get 200W amp to pump it properly

 

[Audionaut]

When I read the headline, I thought of these speakers
Backes & Müller BM6
Active loudspeakers with actively controlled bass.

 

[Jake C]

Hi,

I use Tannoy System 8 since more than thirty years. My homestudio is installed in a +- 15 meters square room, with basic acoustic treatment.

I use DYNAUDIO BM6 mkiii in a friend's studio. It's a little more precise and detailed than Tannoy System 8, and it offers a little extra in the low end.

I think to replace my Tannoy and some alternatives remain my attention:

- DYNAUDIO BM6 mkiii (second hand)

- Dynaudio BM6A + IK Multimedia ARC Studio

- Neumann KH 120 II + Neumann MA 1

- Adam Audio AV7 + Sonarworks SoundID Reference with mic

- Keep Tannoy System 8 and add IK Multimedia ARC Studio

I would an extra precision, room correction could be nice. I don't have much money, so I have to be realistic.

It's clear that adding IK Multimedia ARC Studio to my setup is not too expensive, but the BM6A-KH 120 II-AV7 are in the limits of my budget.

Any advice ?

If your aim is accuracy, go with Neumann.

 

[Skippy63]

Hi,
I have investigated some clues since my first post, and listened to some monitors too

I can’t keep the Tannoys because a little lack of space; even the BMA are a little just

I listened five monitors:

- The Neumann KH 120 ii, but I was not convinced, a little tinny side, not much details

- The Adam A7V, I liked the large and deep stereo scene, the amount of details… almost too much: I fear not working sufficiently my mixes (width, depth, air)

- The Focal Alpha 65 EVO (with the Alpha 50 EVO in mind, because 65 are too big), it’s flat in all sense, it lacks air and depth… Maybe 50 has some air… Possibly, working with the Alpha causes mixes too wide, too airy.

As there was others models, I tried also:

- Eve Audio SC205, I liked the amount of details, but less forward that the A7V, the stereo scene, almost as large that A7V but not as deep

- Adam Audio T5V, not bad but not in the same class

It’s a first impression.

I’m curious about Eve Audio EXO 25 and Focal Alpha 50 EVO

 

[Skippy63]

I just prepared my Tannoy for selling, so I put them upright (they were lying down to have tweeter not too high) and I listened some music to be sure all was right…I realized how good they sounds: flat, sweet highs, deep and solid bass (even with the lack of sub), pretty detailed (even if not as analytical as Adam Audio A7X)
‘
Unfortunally, the reasons to replace my Tannoys are still the same: I have only one possibility for positioning (at the left and right of my desk, on two furnitures) with angles of 41°), so not ideal. And the tweeters are 23cm too high than the right height… Lying down is not possible, because there is a very unpleasant effect with the bass event, something physical (as on highway with open windows…) and strange in the lows…

So, I’m mixed: keep the Tannoys with this unorthodox seating or selling them and buy monitors that seat perfectly in the space available (Alpha 50 EVO, Adam A7X)

Advices are welcome, it’s ever food for thought

 

[baiao____]

I just prepared my Tannoy for selling, so I put them upright (they were lying down to have tweeter not too high) and I listened some music to be sure all was right…I realized how good they sounds: flat, sweet highs, deep and solid bass (even with the lack of sub), pretty detailed (even if not as analytical as Adam Audio A7X)
‘
Unfortunally, the reasons to replace my Tannoys are still the same: I have only one possibility for positioning (at the left and right of my desk, on two furnitures) with angles of 41°), so not ideal. And the tweeters are 23cm too high than the right height… Lying down is not possible, because there is a very unpleasant effect with the bass event, something physical (as on highway with open windows…) and strange in the lows…

So, I’m mixed: keep the Tannoys with this unorthodox seating or selling them and buy monitors that seat perfectly in the space available (Alpha 50 EVO, Adam A7X)

Advices are welcome, it’s ever food for th

Hey! I recently bough the Sonarworks Sound Id with the Measurement Mic and I'm loving it.

The stereo image here in my room is a little wrong, with a huge dip in the mids and a approximately 10db loss on the Right side on 11khz. It fixed perfectly.

Icurrently use Tannoy System 600s. The stereo image and the boominess of the room, that was from a lack of mid range and high frequwncy got fixed. Hope it helps!