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Upgrade from Proac Response 1SC?

I never thought I'd be asking this, but what bookshelf speaker might be a step up from these? I've had and loved them for a little over 10 years now, but with a recent major upgrade in my electronics (will be listed at end of post) I think they're just a bit too small for what's now driving them. I've heard a pair of Sonus Faber Olympicas (way out of my price range) and some Revel M-106's (not sure they're a step upwards from the Proacs). Would like something I can live with for a long time to come, but hoping not to exceed about $3000. Impossible mission? Maybe...
Advice and suggestions are welcome. Thanks.
Hegel H-200, Cambridge Audio 751BD, Bryston BDA-1 DAC, REL S2 sub. Clarus Aqua speaker cables & interconnects (mostly).
cooper52
badri
69 posts
 
@cooper52 I heard both the D2 and the D20r this weekend. Side by side, the D2 sounded *just* a little strained and the D20R had much more of a "live-sounding" feel. Think this is what some folks refer to as "presence". It felt like a living breathing thing in the room rather than a speaker playing music exceptionally well.

I am not sure if this is because the D2s had not broken in yet.

I am leaning towards the D20R right now - with my only concern being a floppping/huffing bass when driven loud by a relatively low powered 35w/ch PrimaLuna classic amp. I fully intend to buy the 20R - what they did with the midrange was just magic. I don't think I have relaxed more visibly into the sound of a speaker than I did with these. They are liquid and just envelop you in a blanket of sound.

My challenge will be to get a good SS amp to grip the bass - but that will be another journey, I guess :)
Post removed 
cooper52 OP
187 posts
 
Thanks for the response (no pun intended), badri. I hope to hear the D20Rs one day, assuming I can find a ProAc dealer within a day's drive of here. I'm still using my Hegel H200 integrated which definitely keeps a tight grip on the bass, but that's aided in no small measure by my REL S-2 sub. Not sure if you want to go the sub and/or SS route.
ryder
1,699 posts
 
@cooper52 I heard both the D2 and the D20r this weekend. Side by side, the D2 sounded *just* a little strained and the D20R had much more of a "live-sounding" feel. Think this is what some folks refer to as "presence". It felt like a living breathing thing in the room rather than a speaker playing music exceptionally well.

I am not sure if this is because the D2s had not broken in yet.

I am leaning towards the D20R right now - with my only concern being a floppping/huffing bass when driven loud by a relatively low powered 35w/ch PrimaLuna classic amp. I fully intend to buy the 20R - what they did with the midrange was just magic. I don't think I have relaxed more visibly into the sound of a speaker than I did with these. They are liquid and just envelop you in a blanket of sound.

My challenge will be to get a good SS amp to grip the bass - but that will be another journey, I guess :)


Good to note on the differences between the D2 and D20R. I guess for scale and dynamics, a larger floorstander will always be a better choice than small standmounters.
cooper52 OP
187 posts
 
Good news: a dealer in my area has recently started carrying Proac, which gives me an incentive to audition the D20Rs in the near future. I'm looking forward to hearing them. It seems a lot of dealers dropped the Proac line in recent years because their former American distributor was problematic. I've had some dealings with their new American reps, The Sound Organisation in Texas, and their customer service is exemplary.
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