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Suggestions: Sonus Faber, Monitor Audio, Elac etc?

Hi All,

I am currently in the market for a midsize floorstander. I am not a bass junkie, but I like tight, accurate bass which I can feel when required. I can get the following speakers (very limited range here in South Africa) within my budget:

1. Monitor Audio GR-20 and GR-60
2. Sonus Faber Grand Piano
3. Elac 207.2 or 208.2

The GR-60 appeals to me as I expect better bass response with them with the extra driver, but I would like some opinions as to wether the others (which have only single bass drivers, a mid and a tweeter) may perhaps be a bit bass light? I have a mid to large room, but in a long wall setup. Speakers are about 2m apart and I sit around 1.8-2m from the speakers.

I am downscaling from B&W Matrix 801's which were way too big and difficult to driver, but of reference quality. I thus want to DOWNSCALE, but NOT downgrade quality-wise. Any advice is welcome, but please try not suggest other speakers as there is very limited availability here. I am trying to gauge their overall bass response, and the mid and high range quality levels.

Thanks,
CL
xenithon
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
I was recently shopping with my co-worker for speakers adn heard both ind direct A/B Grand Piano and BW 801 flagship.
Both were powered with powerfull Mac(400Wpc), but don't remember what particular model.
While on 801 the bass was just a thump, on Grand Piano it's nothing but music. Mids and Highs in 801 are much more involving, but having changed the amp for more powerfull Sunfire 600-2 the downsides to 801 almost dissapeared making them sounding like a realy large speakers or maybe even better. Or maybe it was just an output transformer of Mac that couldn't handle some impedance dips of SF? That I can only assume, but the fact exists to a possibility of keeping the same quality for less!
Another option may stay next to JM-Lab Electra 926 but SF still seems to throw much more music, although never heard them both side to side...
And finally the figure that truely amazed me is AvantGard Solo - the active system that gave me a lot to remember listening and enjoying 1.5 hours of non-fatige pure music and sneaking at my SPL meeter @ 25Hz... After jingling Duos and Unos, I guess, it's their best achievement!
xenithon OP
130 posts
 
Hi There,

Like I said the other are NOT available here due to limited range. Have you hear those 3 speakers I mentioned (SF Grand Piano, Monitor Audio, Elac)? Anything you picked up which may play a decisive role?

Thanks,
CL
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
No,
But I've heard 801 and SF side by side.
I havn't heard neither Monitor Audio or Elac you've mentioned
and gave you an opinion compared to experiences I've had compared to 801...
And so with JM Lab 926 and AvantGard Solo's....
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