I posted on a similar subject a while back, but I’m always on the lookout for a good deal on used kit and a couple pair of speakers came up recently in my area that have my attention.
The first pair are some PMC Prodigy5’s for a good price (42% of the MSRP). I did a showroom demo a couple years ago and although I wasn’t in love with the build quality of the speakers, I thought they sounded very good in that setting. If price was no object I would definitely consider a pair of twenty5 23i/24i or Prophecy 5/7’s, but my budget requires me to play the used market and they’re very uncommon in my area.
The second pair are some Neat Ekstra’s in like new condition for only $500 CDN more than the Prodigy’s (31% of the MSRP). I’m not so into the aesthetics, but I’ve done showroom demos of a few Neat speakers over the years, including the very good Majistra’s, and have always kept them on my short list. The HiFi+ review was quite positive, but there aren’t many other reviews to be found.
My profile is up to date but my current speakers are a vintage pair of PMC FB1+ that I got for a very good price and have been enjoying for a couple years now. My room is approximately 4.5m x 7m with my speakers firing lengthwise in the room. My listening position is midway in the room which is a bit challenged with minimal furnishings, windows behind the speakers and a built in bookcase to one side.
I always appreciate the experience of forum members and as always would appreciate any thoughts you might have.
If you like transmission line bass, as PMC do, then it is worth considering higher level PMCs than your FB1. The EB1 is excellent if you can find a pair (I saw some recently on HiFi For Sale) or better still if you can accommodate them the MB2 (the speakers I have - a bit larger and rather more expensive but occasionally available for £5-6k). Fact 12 is also good and relatively small looking as it is slim, though I am unsure of secondhand cost. Castle also made some a few TL models, though I am less familiar with them.
For secondhand Hifi Shark website is excellent as it trawls various secondhand outlet.
As for room position, centre front to back is not great, but a bit forward or backward much better (ideally 38% from front, second best 38% from rear) are better even than back to wall. And the above speakers can be placed surprisingly close to the front wall.
My listening space is smaller but also has windows behind the speakers snd bookcases on the left wall. I don’t know what the used market is for Spendor and I do not know if my speakers fit within your budget. All that not withstanding, I made a huge upgrade in SQ by moving from the Spendor A4 to the D7.2. I did not purchase used but they may be available used and worth checking out. People’s systems may differ from your system, so how new speakers will work with your existing electronics is unknown unless you stick with the same brand snd type. Even then… @Innocent_Bystander advice seems pragmatic.
Spendor’s are another brand that are on my radar along with ATC, ProAc, and some others. I just watch the used market for things that are on my short list and consider what comes available locally to avoid shipping. I would for sure consider some D7.2’s.
I do like the transmission line base and it’s one of the reasons why I’ve kept PMC’s on my short list. I can’t find the Ekstra’s frequency response in any of the literature, but anecdotally I understand they go quite low and their bigger brother the Orkestra 20Hz - 40kHz. The frequency response of the FB1+ is 28Hz - 25kHz.
I’ve been watching for those as well. I check my used sources a few times a day, just missed out on a 282 recently which was disappointing but I’m sure it will happen some day.
Ordinary is a word I’d have not thought of using about loudspeakers, but I admit all Neat speakers I’ve heard (bar perhaps the original Iotas) were ordinary. All of the Naim speakers I’ve heard (bar perhaps the Arivas under some respects) were definitely not. My opinion only, of course.