Choices, choices,...
After my first hearing round 3 floorstanders still stand the chance of parting me from the content of my wallet. Below is my - very subjective - review of these. The only one I heard at home was the PMC. For now, I find myself undecided.
Audio Physic Avanti v: superb soundstage and consistency, sparkling and very detailed mid/high. Bass is ok, under control. Relaxing. No big negatives except it's a bit less wife-friendly. It is expensive and above budget at 8,5K£ new. Option to buy 2nd hand at around 4K£. (Heard these with Musical Fidelity, Naim and McIntosh amps. Last one far outshone the rest but was way out of my league pricewise.)
MA PL300: excellent detail and magnificent in treble. Good soundstage but not perfectly consistent (too much hi-bass coming through) and maybe a little forward/harsh sometime (could be the massive detail). I can buy these new at around 5K£. I'm a bit afraid of the bass in my room though (14'*19' but 15' high). Heard with ClassE and a less expensive but still out of my league McIntosh.
PMC Fact.8: very clean and also quite relaxing. Detail not perfect as in PL300 but very good, great bass and very listenable at low volume. Treble/mids are good and clean but the least engaging listen of the 3. New at around 4K and they look great. Heard'm with Bryston and my Yammie757 which did not even sound bad at all - imagine.
Heard loads of other stuff from Kef, B&W, Naim, Focal but nothing that gave me shivers.
Oh yeah: 40% jazz, 40% rock/pop/hiphop/urban (anything groovy) and 10% electro and classical each. Speakers tested with The Streets, Diana Krall, Thelonious Monk and Roots Manuva.
Of course, I'm eager to hear anyone's advice/suggestions from real world experience...thanks!
cheers,
Wouter
After my first hearing round 3 floorstanders still stand the chance of parting me from the content of my wallet. Below is my - very subjective - review of these. The only one I heard at home was the PMC. For now, I find myself undecided.
Audio Physic Avanti v: superb soundstage and consistency, sparkling and very detailed mid/high. Bass is ok, under control. Relaxing. No big negatives except it's a bit less wife-friendly. It is expensive and above budget at 8,5K£ new. Option to buy 2nd hand at around 4K£. (Heard these with Musical Fidelity, Naim and McIntosh amps. Last one far outshone the rest but was way out of my league pricewise.)
MA PL300: excellent detail and magnificent in treble. Good soundstage but not perfectly consistent (too much hi-bass coming through) and maybe a little forward/harsh sometime (could be the massive detail). I can buy these new at around 5K£. I'm a bit afraid of the bass in my room though (14'*19' but 15' high). Heard with ClassE and a less expensive but still out of my league McIntosh.
PMC Fact.8: very clean and also quite relaxing. Detail not perfect as in PL300 but very good, great bass and very listenable at low volume. Treble/mids are good and clean but the least engaging listen of the 3. New at around 4K and they look great. Heard'm with Bryston and my Yammie757 which did not even sound bad at all - imagine.
Heard loads of other stuff from Kef, B&W, Naim, Focal but nothing that gave me shivers.
Oh yeah: 40% jazz, 40% rock/pop/hiphop/urban (anything groovy) and 10% electro and classical each. Speakers tested with The Streets, Diana Krall, Thelonious Monk and Roots Manuva.
Of course, I'm eager to hear anyone's advice/suggestions from real world experience...thanks!
cheers,
Wouter