Thank you. 250DR may hold its own but not ideal to punch the 12’s to fullest, but will give me room to upgrade later to 300. I will have to ponder this one as my 25.26 seem to match really well with my 282/250. Tough decision I suppose. Money may be better spent getting a superline to replace my prefix on lp12/Aro.
The fact’s do like a more powerful amp, as they are a bit hard to drive.
A 250 will obviously run them, but not going to get the best from them i am sorry to say.
I did run mine with a 300dr for a while, but even this is probably the lowest you want to go.
I have also heard them being powered by a pair of big mono blocks and they just sounded sublime, also a fantastic source i have to say.
2 weeks since last summary, and if I have read right only 4 additions. Nevertheless time for an update:
73 responses.
Naim is still most popular brand followed now by Kudos displacing B&W. The two most popular speakers are Titan 808, with 7 users, followed by Naim NBL with 6 users, though NBL is matched by B&W 802 if you lump all the variants together.
As before a number in parentheses after the speaker is the number of users if more than one:
B&W 802 D
B&W 802 D2 (3)
B&W 802 D3 (2)
B&W 803 D3 (2)
B&W 804 D2
B&W 804 D3
Dynaudio S5.4
Focal 1007 Be
Focal 1028 Be
Focal Maestro Utopia
Focal Supra 2
Gauder Acoustik Berlina 7 Diamond Mk 2
Harbeth 40.2 (2)
Kudos Titan 606
Kudos Titan 808 (7)
Kudos Titan 88 (3)
Linn Isobaric
Magico S3 MkII
Mission 70
Monitor Audio Studio 60
Naim DBL (3)
Naim DBL (Active)
Naim NBL (6)
Naim Ovator 600 (2)
Naim Ovator 800
Naim SBL
Naim SL2 (4)
Neat MF9
Neat Ultimatum MF7
Neat XL6
PMC 20.21 + Velodyne DD10 sub
PMC Fact 12 (3)
PMC IB2 se
PMC MB2
PMC Twentyfive.26
Proac K6
Proac K6 signature
Shahinian Diapason
Shahinian Obelisk (2)
Sonus Faber Amati Futura
Spendor Classic 200
Totem Mani 2
Verity Audio Sarrastros II
Vivid Audio Giya G3
Wilson DAW
I had the PMC 20.26 before the Fact 12. If you like your 26s, then you will really enjoy the upgrade to the Fact 12s. My advice, if I had to do it again, get a used pair of Fact 12s and wait for a used 300DR/500DR to complete the upgrade.
Out of interest, and I don’t disbelieve, but why is it the Fact 12’s require so much amp to get the best from them.
Obviously specs don’t tell the whole story but they say they are a nominal 8 ohm load.
Interesting then why most would have the opinion that they require a lot of amp to get them singing as they should and a 300 being minimum but a 500 is best?
I am also looking for more compact and less tall floorspeakers.
The Neat Iota Xplorer look quite interesting and were designed to blend in size-wise. I have not yet heard them, but would be great with more choices like them. For me they would be a downgrade w the sound but upgrade with peace at home so will test
I’ll be the Shahinian bore then…
Marmite speakers and most at home on Classical, Jazz, acoustic music if that suits your tastes.
I use Obelisks. Short, relatively inconspicuous and tend to get only positive comments from aesthetes. Also have the advantage of being on castors rather than spikes (because the designer prefers the sound) which means they can be wheeled out to optimum listening position for serious listening or pushed back against the wall the rest of the time. They even sound pretty good back against the wall. Might be worth a try
Sorry, an old pic. In fact, it’s from my last house in Devon (we are currently in East Sussex and about to move once again, this time to Somerset!) but I thought this pic helped illustrate the point that they are quite decor acceptable. I’ve long been thinking about the T808’s and remember measuring how they’d fit into that room. If the OP is still reading, the 808’s would be topping out in line with the 5th CD shelf up vs the 2nd shelf for the Obelisks. A fair bit more acceptable ?
@pumpexch still wonder have you asked Mrs. Pumpexch her opinion? No point in throwing lots of suggestions out if we’re all missing the mark. It obvious she doesn’t want big boxes. So Fact 12, big ProAc’s, big B&W’s Big Magicos, most speakers are big boxes. Would she dig Maggie’s? Kef Blade 2, YG Acoustics are interesting, Vivid Audio, Wilson’s can be painted any color and blend right in. Well good luck.
I thank you for the information, I have always heard that the 12’s need a specific level of amp to sing and see them mostly with 300/500 series. But based on the data, I could be very happy with my 250 driving them, and as said by mfinn99, upgrade later down the road.
Whilst certainly some PMCs do benefit from amps with low output impedance and high current capability, I am unclear whether that also applies to Fact 12. The data posted by Thomas seems to suggest not, though the better the amp the better the speakers are likely to perform. I’ve only heard powered by Bryston 4Bsst2, with which they sounded very good indeed in one room, but sounding a bit clised in in another (probably room effects).
If I had Titan 808 kind of money to spend, but wanted something a little more compact, I would be buying a pair of Kharma Elegance DB 7’s. In person they are stunning to look at, and sound equally excellent.
A dealer I use told me that Kharma speakers with Nagra electronics are the best he has heard. They are my dream speakers personally, but I am a long way from affording a pair.