Speaker advice

Hi-Fi Corner
21

I was going to suggest adding ATC to your list as well. I don’t have Naim electronics in my main system at present, which is why I didn’t post at first, but I do love how ATC speakers just get out of the way and let the music flow. I did think the SCM40s needed a bit more oomph than my 250DR could offer when I auditioned against the active version, but by all accounts the NC 250 is a step up in power and control so ought to match very well. They’re also IMO extremely good value for such a high quality component.

Roger

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22

Thanks for the quick response, they are actually Ex-Demo so seem to be quite a bargain.

23

I guessed they must be very good when I saw what you are using them with as they are obviously the lowest cost part of what is a very nice system. Thanks for your help.

24

I got mine ex dem and several years on they still sound just as good. If you like the ATC voicing they are a great value-for-money speaker I think.
There is an ATC thread on the forum Show us your ATCs with lots of happy people posting there.

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25

I would add ProAc D30 to your list. To my ears much better than Spendor D7.2 ( more open, better base). More easily driven than ATC SCM40s which I also auditioned at home.

26

In my view when spending a decent amount of money seeking to get speakers that you will love justifies spending some effort in time/cost looking at as many possible contenders as you can, unless you have already perhaps identified a particular manufacturer’s sound signature or a particular design type that you know does it for you. My last speaker auditioning expedition (involved driving over 800 miles, two ferry journeys averaging 3 hours each, and a hotel stay, to visit 3 places and audition 5 speakers, taking with me my own large and heavy speakers plus amp and source. That last point is important: do take your own amp if seller doesn’t have same, to know how they will sound with your amp. And if you already have some speakers, taking them and listening to them first in the dealer’s room gives you a baseline for comparison, which can help tremendously if the dealer’s room is very different acoustically from yours.

Incidentally, noting your interest in the ATC SCM40 (sublime midrange unit by th way!), it is worth being aware that some people have found them to benefit greatly from a sub/subs, which fits my own expectation based on design and specs - but of course it all depends on how important the bottom end is to you.

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27

The 606 or any kudos are rare as hens teeth here in the U.S.. Even the current distributor does not have them listed on his site. The previous is still trying to off-load the last of his inventory w/out moving on price. I’m in much the same situation as Jaybar but have shifted away from naim partly for the ease although an integrated amp w/all the inputs does not save as much as I’d hoped. I’m about to have installed an older Wilson Benesch speaker - the square 5 which is also an isobaric design . Fingers crossed and good luck to you

28

I also vote for 606 - got mine (pre loved and pristine) also for less than your budget. They are very nice!

29

Thanks for the comments and suggestions-unfortunately my room has a glass door and 4 bi-fold doors along one wall creating a high level of Sibilance on vocals, instruments are fine. My current speakers are Linn Majik 140,s which seem to cope well but have now been superceded by the new 150’s which I have listened to but not in my room yet.
The Bi-folds and door are being replaced in August with triple glazing. I am hoping this will improve the room acoustics, failing that I will buy acoustic curtains.
I have on loan a pair of vintage Wilson-Benesch Discoveries which I love the look of but they don’t work in the room. I also suspect that ATC’s and Kudos speakers although well regarded on here will have too much high end emphasis for my room.

My list of possibles at the moment is,
Linn 150’s
Splendor D7:2
PMC Fact 8
Fyne F1-8SP

I will make a final decision after the new glazing is fitted-anyone have any experience of the effects of triple glazing on hi-Fi, I’m told it has a “Wall like effect”

30

Low frequencies may behave differently from single or double glazing, also if the pane sizes are much different, though whether or not better is not easy to predict, but you will still have a highly reflective surface at high frequencies. If playing with positioning doesn’t fix your excessive HF reflections then heavy curtains or some other moveable absorbers are likely to be beneficial, whether all over or judiciously placed.

I have triple glazing and can highly recommend it, though you will hear the birds less (unless you have those stupid “trickle vents” instead of proper separate ventilation), and less sound will get out to reach others. But I have no idea of how different it sounds as I didn’t have the system there before installation.

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31

Thanks for your help, my main problem is at higher frequencies, some vocalists are more difficult than others, Nancy Griffith, E>L>Harris, Jim Croce although in some cases these are older recordings of course. I will probably take your advice and have some curtains/Blinds made once the Triple glazing is fitted.

I’m also going to test out the Fyne Audio F1-8SP Stand mounts as they don’t appear to be too fussy about placement and have a device for changing the midrange output-could be interesting.

32

Just purchased some F1-8’s…very pleased with the sound though they did take a couple of weeks to ‘Burn In’

1 Like
33

Nice looking speaker. Enjoy!

34

Hi @Tecumsea , late to your thread, but I have just purchased some PMC prophecy5 this week, after demoing at home. Very pleased with them, superb sound and excellent build quality. Would recommend them very highly, but as we say, you need to hear them yourself in your room. Worth adding to the list.

35

late to your thread, but I have just purchased some PMC prophecy5 this week, after demoing at home.

Good to hear that you are pleased with them. I’m trying to balance the Sibilance between, my room with a lot of glass although with Blinds, earlier recordings (CD), my hearing aids and finally my pocket! I’m looking for a warm sound with good vocal and instrumental definition as I mainly play singer songwriter stuff with a bit of early blues, Dylan, Dire Straits. But nothing really heavy.

My current list consists of.

PMC Prophesy 5

PMC Fact8 (not sure about these)

Linn 150 (replacing my current 140’s)

Fyne F1-8SP Book shelf

Splendor D7:2

I’m warming to the Wilson Benesch Discoveries I have on demo (17 years old) very revealing if I keep the volume down! but circa 2008?

My list is guided by my dealer who has been very helpful with my whole hi-fi journey, after 3-4 visits he knows what I am looking for and advises that ATC/Kudos and Neet although great speakers would be unlikely to suit my room. He has these in stock so it is not a question of (selling what I have) stock bias.

I intend to have demo’s of the above over the next couple of months.

Thanks for all of your comments.

On Fri, Jul 11, 2025 at 1:19 PM AlanP via Naim Audio - Community <noreply@community.naimaudio.com> wrote:

Hi @Tecumsea , late to your thread, but I have just purchased some PMC prophecy5 this week, after demoing at home. Very pleased with them, superb sound and excellent build quality. Would recommend them very highly, but as we say, you need to hear them yourself in your room. Worth adding to the list.

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36

I’m confused. You’ve bought some Prophecy 5s, but you plan to demo lots of other speakers. That’s doesn’t seem to make any sense.

37

Nigel,he is quoting my earlier reply regarding me purchasing the PMC’s, Tecumsea didn’t employ the quote function.

38

Sorry for the confusion-I struggle sometimes with the website.