Mordaunt Short 914 or 906?

[Steve237]

Bit of a dilemma here. A mate of mine bought a pair of MS914's and a Cambridge Audio 540a amp last week.

I saw him at the weekend and told him I have the MS906's and am about to sell them. He's thinking of taking them back now...

He paid £249 for the 914's and £199 for the amp. I've told him I can give him my 906's for £200 including postage and wires for bi-wiring and recommended he change his amp to a NAD 352 with the change he has from buying my speakers.

Am I offering good advice here?? Which do you think will give the best performance?

Choice 1

Mordaunt Short 914's (1 x 165mm mid/bass cone + 1 x tweeter, 150w output, 50-22k Frequency response, 2nd Order x-Over type)

with

Cambridge Audio 540a (50w)

Cost = £450


Choice 2

Mordaunt Short 906's (2 x 130mm mid/bass cones + 1 x tweeter, 150w output, 45-22k Frequency response, 1st Order X-Over type MF and HF with DVP) - these speakers are £100 more than the 914's in the shops

with

NAD 352 (80w) - £300 in the shops.

and cabling from me to bi-wire with.

Cost = £500



Bass AND clarity is important; but do you think the bass on the 2 x 130mm mid/bass cones on the 906's will beat the 914's single 165mm bass/mid cone due to there being two cones instead of one, plus the lower frequency response?

The 906's are £100 more than the 914's in the shops. That means they are going to sound better, right? I just want to make sure my mate is happy with them before I pack them up and send them to him and he takes the 914's back for his money back and change of amp on my advice!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Ed Selley]

Looks and size aside, I have always preferred the 914 myself. Nice big simple two way floorstander with plenty of grunt. I suppose in being big, simple and loud it had much in common with myself which might be why I like it. The 906 is going to be a more difficult speaker to get the best out of with a 540A so I'd suggest he stick with the 914's.

Unless you are really falling over yourself to sell the 906's

[Steve237]

But the 906's would sound pretty damn good with the Nad amp though wouldn't they?

[Ed Selley]

It would be a better match but being a huge fan of two way speakers, I still prefer the 914.