Floor standing speakers for NAD C356BEE

[ravi_d]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some help in deciding a pair of floor standing speakers for my stereo set-up. My present set-up

Amp: NAD C356BEE
CDP: Yamaha CD-S700
Speakers: Mission M32i Bookshelf

I listen to pop, rock, music from Indian movies etc.

When I listen to Taal, Dil Se, George Michael etc. on the present set-up all I can say is 'awesome'. When I play some pop songs which has more electronic music I feel like to have more bass. The amp is new with about 50 hours of usage on it and the speakers with about 150 hours of usage on it.

I live in UK and my budget is around 400 for floor standing speakers. The below are the speaker options I have in mind and their best prices with shipping except Dali.

Dali Lektor 6 - 400 (All ex-display stock but if I hurry up I can grab a brand new pair walnut finish left at one of the richersounds outlet near by)
Monitor Audio BR5 - 300 (Discontinued but very few left at few shops)
Monitor Audio BR6 - 330 (Discontinued 1 pair left with a dealer near by)
Mission M34i - 240
Mission M35i - 330

My room size is 16 x 9 feet. The Dali Lektor 6 looks like a good deal for me. But it is not bi-wire able. Do I need to think about the bi-wire feature?
The BR5 is compact and has good reviews but it has the smallest 5.5 inch mid range/bass drivers. Do the size of the drivers matter for good bass response? Or a good bookshelfs like b&w 685 or kef q300 for around 400 - 450 makes a better choice than a cheaper floor stander?
Please advise?

 

[magma]

the dalis or monitor audio are not a bad choice
go for it

hear them
forget about the biwirable or driver size
As long as you like what you hear , both are safe brands

 

[iaudio]

MA Br5 wont cut it if you are after better bass for electronic music and the likes. Better look at Mission M35i and other options.

But the Br5 will give beautiful vocals.

 

[venkatcr]

NAD amplifiers pair well with PSB speakers. You should try them out.

Cheers

 

[soulforged]

From my personal experience...PSB and Monitor Audio pair up very well with NAD. Mission may sound a bit bright especially with the kind of music you listen to...it would give you ear fatigue.

Do check out PSB image series...Also add Harbeth to your list...

Since you are in London/UK, you may get a wider range of choice, why don't you visit a few shops and listen to what they have?

 

[vinod_david]

Ravi:

For your music taste and for the excellent synergy of your NAD, nothing can beat this, IMO...

On Clearance

 

[Kittu]

Ravi:

For your music taste and for the excellent synergy of your NAD, nothing can beat this, IMO...

On Clearance

That is some kick xxx deal.. :licklips: .Wish I could get em here for same price :sad:

 

[saikat]

When I listen to Taal, Dil Se, George Michael etc. on the present set-up all I can say is 'awesome'. When I play some pop songs which has more electronic music I feel like to have more bass.

Do the size of the drivers matter for good bass response?

Ravi, in your words, your system is awesome, so why change it? If all you need is a bit more bass; Why not buy a REL quake for ~300 quid and get it over with?

Forum member Arj uses his REL strata V with a pair of Merlin standmounts and his system sounds very good. You might want to get in touch with him if you want to know more.

Quake - Clearance - Save 110 [Each] from SpeakerPoint

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some help in deciding a pair of floor standing speakers for my stereo set-up. My present set-up

Amp: NAD C356BEE
CDP: Yamaha CD-S700
Speakers: Mission M32i Bookshelf

I listen to pop, rock, music from Indian movies etc.

When I listen to Taal, Dil Se, George Michael etc. on the present set-up all I can say is 'awesome'. When I play some pop songs which has more electronic music I feel like to have more bass. The amp is new with about 50 hours of usage on it and the speakers with about 150 hours of usage on it.

I live in UK and my budget is around 400 for floor standing speakers. The below are the speaker options I have in mind and their best prices with shipping except Dali.

Dali Lektor 6 - 400 (All ex-display stock but if I hurry up I can grab a brand new pair walnut finish left at one of the richersounds outlet near by)
Monitor Audio BR5 - 300 (Discontinued but very few left at few shops)
Monitor Audio BR6 - 330 (Discontinued 1 pair left with a dealer near by)
Mission M34i - 240
Mission M35i - 330

My room size is 16 x 9 feet. The Dali Lektor 6 looks like a good deal for me. But it is not bi-wire able. Do I need to think about the bi-wire feature?
The BR5 is compact and has good reviews but it has the smallest 5.5 inch mid range/bass drivers. Do the size of the drivers matter for good bass response? Or a good bookshelfs like b&w 685 or kef q300 for around 400 - 450 makes a better choice than a cheaper floor stander?
Please advise?

I think floorstanders would be an overkill considering ur room size 16 x 9 feet.

You should luk at the new bookshelves, you may luk at the PSB Image B6 bookshelves and it will definitely for sure fullfil ur audio requirements and NAD amplifiers matches awesomely with PSB speakers. IMHO u should go with PSB Image B6 if u want to upgrade, else buy any gud sub-woofer.

 

[ravi_d]

Thanks for the quick replies.

NAD amplifiers pair well with PSB speakers. You should try them out.

Cheers

From my personal experience...PSB and Monitor Audio pair up very well with NAD. Mission may sound a bit bright especially with the kind of music you listen to...it would give you ear fatigue.

Do check out PSB image series...Also add Harbeth to your list...

Since you are in London/UK, you may get a wider range of choice, why don't you visit a few shops and listen to what they have?

@venkatcr, soulforged
I'm interested in PSB's but they are not much famous here in UK. Auditioning them may not be possible. The Imagine Bookshelf retail for 550 and Towers for 1000. Harbeth seems out of my budget.

Ravi, in your words, your system is awesome, so why change it? If all you need is a bit more bass; Why not buy a REL quake for ~300 quid and get it over with?

Forum member Arj uses his REL strata V with a pair of Merlin standmounts and his system sounds very good. You might want to get in touch with him if you want to know more.

Quake - Clearance - Save 110 [Each] from SpeakerPoint

@saikat
My idea is to get the best possible out of the speakers and then go for the sub at a later point. I heard the REL subs are good for music.

I think floorstanders would be an overkill considering ur room size 16 x 9 feet.

You should luk at the new bookshelves, you may luk at the PSB Image B6 bookshelves and it will definitely for sure fullfil ur audio requirements and NAD amplifiers matches awesomely with PSB speakers. IMHO u should go with PSB Image B6 if u want to upgrade, else buy any gud sub-woofer.

@abhi_jollyguy
Will look around for good book shelf speakers. But I couldn't find Image B6 from any of the sellers here. Will try to get in touch with the dealer and enquire. Do you have any idea of the price in India?

Will try to audition some of the speakers as and when I get time and keep you guys posted on the progress.

 

[Sirshendu]

hi,

i have the NAD 355BEE which is the same model but an older version as yours. Auditioned them with a number of speakers now and i also agree with many of the forum members that they pair very well with the PSB speakers.
you should try auditioning the Image T5 towers. these have a smaller footprint - 2.5 way speakers and 5.25 inch drivers. But the bass is so extended yet tight that its hard to believe that this is from small towers. simply amazing. i think given the kind of music you listen to, you will not be disappointed with these.

As for 2.1 way systems (2BS and 1sub), i somehow can reconcile to this set up for pure music.

happy audiotioning.

- sirshendu

 

[abhi]

The Dali Lektor 6 looks like a good deal for me. But it is not bi-wire able. Do I need to think about the bi-wire feature?
Please advise?

The lektor 6 sounds good but does not have the bass your are looking for.

 

[ravi_d]

From abhi_jollyguy's suggestion and considering my room size I'll look for good bookshelf speakers too along with decent floorstanders.

PSB's, Usher's, Paradigm's etc. are not so famous here. If I have to buy any of these I have to buy them with out auditioning and will have to return them if I don't like. All I would be loosing is return postage. I'll see if any dealer has PSB's to audition.

The easiest to audition are B&W, Kef, Epos, Dynaudio, Monitor Audio etc. Let me audition few of the brands both bookshelf and floor standers when I have time and decide if bookshelf is enough or I need a floor stander.
If I feel I'll not be happy with a floor stander without a sub I'll go for a good book shelf speakers and consider a sub later.

 

[soulforged]

Epos is another good option...

 

[abhi]

also audition Elac FS series of speakers, they are quite compact, sound good and have good bass extension as well.

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

From abhi_jollyguy's suggestion and considering my room size I'll look for good bookshelf speakers too along with decent floorstanders.

PSB's, Usher's, Paradigm's etc. are not so famous here. If I have to buy any of these I have to buy them with out auditioning and will have to return them if I don't like. All I would be loosing is return postage. I'll see if any dealer has PSB's to audition.

The easiest to audition are B&W, Kef, Epos, Dynaudio, Monitor Audio etc. Let me audition few of the brands both bookshelf and floor standers when I have time and decide if bookshelf is enough or I need a floor stander.
If I feel I'll not be happy with a floor stander without a sub I'll go for a good book shelf speakers and consider a sub later.

PSB Image B6, Monitor Audio Bronze BX2, Do special attention to PSB Image B6 and Arcaydis DM1 if it's available in ur city

These 3 are the best bookshelves in ur budget.

 

[nvashi]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some help in deciding a pair of floor standing speakers for my stereo set-up. My present set-up

Amp: NAD C356BEE
CDP: Yamaha CD-S700
Speakers: Mission M32i Bookshelf

I listen to pop, rock, music from Indian movies etc.

When I listen to Taal, Dil Se, George Michael etc. on the present set-up all I can say is 'awesome'. When I play some pop songs which has more electronic music I feel like to have more bass. The amp is new with about 50 hours of usage on it and the speakers with about 150 hours of usage on it.

I live in UK and my budget is around 400 for floor standing speakers. The below are the speaker options I have in mind and their best prices with shipping except Dali.

Dali Lektor 6 - 400 (All ex-display stock but if I hurry up I can grab a brand new pair walnut finish left at one of the richersounds outlet near by)
Monitor Audio BR5 - 300 (Discontinued but very few left at few shops)
Monitor Audio BR6 - 330 (Discontinued 1 pair left with a dealer near by)
Mission M34i - 240
Mission M35i - 330

My room size is 16 x 9 feet. The Dali Lektor 6 looks like a good deal for me. But it is not bi-wire able. Do I need to think about the bi-wire feature?
The BR5 is compact and has good reviews but it has the smallest 5.5 inch mid range/bass drivers. Do the size of the drivers matter for good bass response? Or a good bookshelfs like b&w 685 or kef q300 for around 400 - 450 makes a better choice than a cheaper floor stander?
Please advise?

----------------------------------------------------

Hi Ravi,

You can try PSB Image T6 (3-way floor standing speakers) which will surely go best with NAD C356BEE and may fit into your budget.
OR you can also look for B&W 684 (2.1/2 way floor standing speakers) which will be in your budget or may slightly more than your budget.

I have same NAD C356BEE Amp with NAD C545BEE CDP for B&W 683 Floors (3 way) and it is perfect for me. Well, it's still a new set-up and not used much.
However, this is going very very well.


Regards,
Nirav

 

[TaureanBull]

I think floorstanders would be an overkill considering ur room size 16 x 9 feet.

I differ in opinion. I will put it this way, bookshelves may be sufficient for this room size but FS are not 'overkill', unless one is looking to play at full volume. FS also takes care of entire frequency range whereas BS does not.

 

[TaureanBull]

I think floorstanders would be an overkill considering ur room size 16 x 9 feet.

I differ in opinion. I will put it this way, bookshelves may be sufficient for this room size but FS are not 'overkill', unless one is looking to play at full volume. FS also takes care of wide range of frequencies whereas BS does not.

I really dont know if anything like what suffices a particular room size thing exists. Would love to know those statistics.

 

[ravi_d]

Hi all, Thanks for the inputs.

As soulforged suggested to add Harbeth to my list. The amp cost me 450 (32K INR approx). The entry level Harbeth book shelf starts from 1L INR approx or say I like some other some Dynaudio X16 which is close to 70K INR. I have a question here.
Is it worth going for a bookshelf speakers costing more than double the price of the amp?

Will the NAD with 80W output be able to put the best out of the speakers say a ATC SCM11 or Dynaudio X16? For such speakers I read somewhere that I need to go to a better amp like Creek, Roksan or Naim? Sub 500 NAD and Marantz amps though the power matches wont be able to control them properly? Is it true? If Yes, in what budget should I be looking at to suit my NAD amp?

I was thinking costly speakers offer linear impedance and are easy on most decent amps.

Also I'm leaning towards good bookshelf speakers now. It will be easy for me if at all I want to bring them to India.
I agree with others that PSB speakers go well with NAD. But PSB is not much famous here. They are available with two or three dealers in UK. The problem would be once I purchase PSB's and later if I change my mind I'll not be able to sell them here easily or suppose if I want to bring them to India I can't think its a good deal as they were priced same as in India or more here.