Question Best floorstanders for around £300

Ivan Dobskey

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Currently I'm using a pair of q acoustics 2020i's downstairs for music and movies. I'm really pleased with them, but I plan to move them upstairs to use with my pc and Audiolab M-One amp. So I'm after some floorstanders and was thinking about the 2050i's at £234. Or is there anything better?
 
What amp will you be using, also room size would help narrow the selection and also are you open to second hand ?

That said, if your room can take floorstanders the 2050i at that price look a good shout. They are £269 direct from Q Acoustics.
 
It's a medium sized living room I guess. The amp is nothing fancy, a Denon N9 all in one box. It powers the 2020i's well enough though. I'd rather buy new if possible.
 
You may find at that price range that a better overall sound can be had with stand mount or even bookshelf speakers.
 
Are the 2050i's not a good purchase then?

I'd be open to stand mounted but I'd like something bigger than the 2020i's I have at the moment.
 
When they were new, the 2050i were about £500/pr, take that into consideration.

You might find bargains on the 3050, as the 3050i are now out.

Q Acoustic 3050 - £299/pair -


Q Acoustics 3050 (Matte Graphite)

Cambridge Audio SX80 - £250/pr -

Cambridge Audio SX80 (Walnut)

Wharfedale Daimond 230 - £200/pr -

Wharfedale DIAMOND 230 (Black)

These are all good speaker. I've not heard the Cambridge SX80, but I have heard some bookshelf, and for the money they are fine. But I think you will probably get more fine detail out of the other speakers.

And for reference, these are the latest 3050i -

Q Acoustic 3050i - £650/pr -

Q Acoustics 3050I (Walnut)

I had the 3050 in my home for a few months and was very impressed with them. The rated bass isn't that deep, but the perceived bass is fine. Like all floorstanding speakers, they need some space around them. But they are workable in most situation.

Probably best if you listen with Headphones, but here is my review of the 3050 -



For £250/pr or £300/pr, these are very good speakers, when you consider they original cost near £500/pr.

Very clear, nice detail without being sharp or overbearing, smooth without being dull, I was impressed.

The Wharfedale are a very smooth speaker which I find nice for music listening, but my older models might be a tiny bit recessed for Movie Dialog.

I commented on the Q Acoustic 3050, which I have experience with, and mentioned the bass, the bass is high enough that you could add most Subwoofers if you feel the need, and fill out they very low end. You would simply have to cross the Subwoofer at the natural low end roll off of the 3050.

As I mentioned, the 3050 do have impressive sounding bass, but it really does not go that deep.

Steve/bluewizard
 
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Some excellent food for thought there bluewizzard :) Thanks a lot, very useful.

Do floorstanders really need plenty of space around them to sound their best? That is something I haven't really considered.

I checked the dimensions of the 2050i's and they will fit, but I will have units right next to them both sides. Very tight.

Maybe stand mounts would be better? How are the Dali Zensor 3's?
 
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Do floorstanders really need plenty of space around them to sound their best? That is something I haven't really considered.

Floorstanding and all other speakers need some space around them. How much depends on the speaker. I think recently I saw a manual for some B&W 600 Series bookshelf speakers, and they recommend 0.5m to the side, and 0.5m from the wall behind measure to the FRONT of the speaker. That means about 10" (250mm) between the back of the speaker and the wall.

Generally you can reach a compromise by putting floorstanding speakers in roughly the 10" to 14" position forward of the wall as measured from the back of the speaker. For me, that simply means moving the speakers forward even with the front of my TV/Equipment Stand.

I checked the dimensions of the 2050i's and they will fit, but I will have units right next to them both sides. Very tight.

Can you explain this a little better? Why is the space so tight? I only have a vague sense of what is going on, but it does not seem that any speaker will work well. Work - Yes, but Well - No.

Maybe stand mounts would be better? How are the Dali Zensor 3's?

You have Stand Mounted speaker now so you have some sense of how well they will work for you. Larger Stand Mount speaker can do a very good job. I would suggest nothing less than 6.5" (130mm) Bass Drivers.

The Dali Zensor 3 should be a very good speaker. As long as you are aware of what you need and what you are getting.

Dali Zensor 3 Speakers (Pair) - Superfi

Monitor Audio Bronze 2 Speakers (Pair) - Superfi

B&W 685 S2 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Superfi

The above are all good and with 6.5" bass drivers.

The Q Acoustic Concept 20 is a very exciting speakers, though much like the 2000-Series and the 3000-Series the bass is not that deep but the clarity is impressive.

Q Acoustics Concept 20 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Superfi



The New Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 should live up to the high standard that Wharfedale has set over decades. The Diamond 11.2 has a 6" bass driver -

Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 Rosewood Quilted Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Bookshelf Speakers - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

The ELAC speakers while not perfect, have garnered nothing but praise from critics/reviewers since their introduction.

ELAC Debut B6 Black Brushed Vinyl Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Bookshelf Speakers - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

ELAC Debut B6.2 Black Ash Vinyl Bookshelf Speaker (Pair) - Bookshelf Speakers - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

The B6.2 is the latest version.

All are good bookshelf speakers, each in their own way, but from my limited sense of your speaker placement, nothing is going to sound its best. It may be enough to satisfy you, but still not their best.


Steve/bluewizard
 
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I'm guessing you know your stuff bluewizzard :) Very helpful once again.

I'll try to put a pic up of my room layout, you'll have a better idea of my space issues then. Basically, I have a TV unit with bookshelfs either side, with just enough room for speakers.
 
Picture of my current setup

 
Would they not improve if they were further forward at least level with the front of the middle unit? Cannot judge from photo how close to the rear wall there are. If you had floorstanders they could be further forward too, neither would then be so enclosed with those units.
 
Yes, true I could move them forward a little to leave more clearance from the wall.

My house is a little on the compact side unfortunately :( Looking to upgrade that as well soon :p

To be honest, I could probably push the budget higher if it means getting something significantly better. I was eying up the 2050i's because they looked such good value at £234 and I have been really impressed with my current 2020i's.
 
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Also looking at the monitor audio mr6's for £299. They are nice and slim so will fit my setup a little better. Are these a decent speaker for the price?
 
Yes, true I could move them forward a little to leave more clearance from the wall.

My house is a little on the compact side unfortunately :( ...
Right now the space in front of the speakers is wasted - you can't walk there, you can't sit there, you can't put anything else there.

Pull the speakers forward so the stands are roughly even with the front of the equipment cabinet.

In fact, pull the Equipment Stand 3" forward of the wall, THEN move the speakers even with the front of the Equipment Stand.

Steve/bluewizard
 
Rega RS3 loudspeakers | eBay

These would be a great buy. Also they are not a terribly difficult load which will help the Denon out.

Top class speakers too.
 
-- As an eBay Associate, AVForums earns from qualifying purchases --
Those Regas do look good. Would prefer to buy new though I think.
 
Right now the space in front of the speakers is wasted - you can't walk there, you can't sit there, you can't put anything else there.

Pull the speakers forward so the stands are roughly even with the front of the equipment cabinet.

In fact, pull the Equipment Stand 3" forward of the wall, THEN move the speakers even with the front of the Equipment Stand.

Steve/bluewizard

I will certainly pull the speakers out a bit. The Mrs might have something to say if I pull the whole lot out too far though :p
 
Hearing a lot of good things about the Fyne Audio F302's. They are a bit over budget at £399, but are they worth the extra?
 
Cannot help with those as I know nothing about them!

I am struggling to find much information on them, other than a glowing review on Whathifi. I think Fyne are a new company and this is an only recently released product. So hopefully more reviews to come.
 
If I was to up my budget to around £500, would this get me something considerably better?

Would the zensor 5's work ok with my Denon N9? I keep looking at the monitor audio bronze 5 too. Would these be a good choice for me?
 
I have looked at these, but they are too big for my room really. I'm trying to look at the more slimline / compact options.

Dali Zensor 5
Monitor Audio Bronze 5
Fyne Audio f302

All seem to fit my criteria. Bit worried the Dali's might need more oomph than my little N9 has though.
 
These look a good buy (B&W 684 s2) and are pretty much the same size as the Zensors (10cm taller). I have bough from these guys and they are very good, may be worth a call.

Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) 684 S2 ex-demo

684 s2 - 920 x 160 x 234, 87db, 8 ohm
Zensor 5 - 825 x 162 x 253, 88db, 6 ohm

For info
Bronze 5 - 898 x 215 x 282, 90db, 8 ohm
Fyne f302 - 932 x 190 x 271, 90db, 8 ohm

Sevenoaks also have a numbe of the Bronze 5 ex demo for £419 ish

Sevenoaks Sound and Vision

The N9 is rated for speakers from 4-16 ohm and at 65w into 4ohm.
Using the calculator below - 88db at 1w/1m > Listening at 95db at 2m needs 10w. Now, 95db is pretty loud and if you listened to pink noise at that level in a work place you would breach H&S regulation in less than 1 hour. Gigs I have been to recently (e.g. machinehead) have been around 92dbA using the app on my phone to give you an idea of the level.

Specifications RCD-N9
SPL Calculator
 
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Excellent, some great information there Ugg :)

I had seen those B&W speakers at Canterbury Audio. Originally £800, so I'd expect them to be pretty decent. Worth considering.

From everything I have read so far, my favourites are the bronze 5. But I guess I really need to hear them with my amp to be sure.
 
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