So I’ve been recently going through my biennial bout of upgradeitus. It all started when two things happened. 1. My CDi started playing up and 2. I saw NDX2 ex-demo prices were coming down.
Ended up with a CD3 and CD555 in the house on demo, but I decided to stick with the CDi till it dies and then go for a transport.
I ended up getting an ex demo NDX2 with a XPS2DR, which was shortly replaced by a 555DR PS.
So this has led me to arrive at the conclusion that I was woefully under speakered and what I have (Focal Aria 926) in a 16m2 room are too big.
When I went to my dealers to settle my account, they had a just taken in a used pair of Red Focal Utopia Diablo III. Which are now in my lounge (on and (with a Rel T7x sub) sound absolutely wonderful, spine tingling good. I need to sort the price out…. But….
I wonder now if I have gone to far in the wrong direction and I’m now over speakered for the SN3. I have no desire to go pre/power not enough space. I have a HiCap DR on the SN3.
I think the room is too small for floor standers. Budget is £4,500. The only other requirement is what ever I choose needs to look good / different.
On paper’ your fears could be justified.
Those Diablo’s can be end game for all manner of exotic and expensive items upstream.
But, if it all sounds fabulous with your set up and perhaps most importantly in your room, then you shouldn’t worry too much.
Why? And which floorstanders, as they vary hugely in size, some smaller than some standmounts, while ability varies similarly. Incidentally, giving the floor area is rather meaningless - it could be 4mx4m (tricky as square - worse if 4m high). Or 2mx8m (rather corridor-like). Or 3.2mx5m (a bit on the narrow side, but not bad)… Actual dimensions tell a lot more.
What is important is that you like the sound of the speakers, that the amp is able to power and control them adequately, and that they don’t cause problems in the room that you can’t resolve through speaker/listener positioning, suitable room layout, or acoustic treatment. Some years ago I very happily used a pair of IMF RSPM (quite large floorstanders) in a room 4mx3.5m, sounding great.
As for budget, ex-dem or secondhand increases buying power…
Take a listen to a guy on YouTube playing a SN3 with NDX2 with a Scala Utopia. I am now listening to a Nait 50 with my Scala and it is tremendously musical. The Diablo + SN3 is a just nice combo for sure.
So not a bad size room really, and certainly no reason why not floorstanders. My first observation looking at your sketch is your listening position is far from ideal: fine for general background, but for seriously listening I would try moving the sofa or whatever it is forward quite a lot, or moving another chair, best position possibly being putting your ears about 1.9m forward of the wall behind.
Another point about the Supernaits. I have the SN2 and I am using it with speakers that are twice its price (Sonus Faber Electa Amator 3). The SN2 is in no way outclassed! The combo makes beautiful music.
I was just listening to the owner of PS Audio, who recommends speakers and listening position ⅓ from front and rear walls respectively. Swapping HiFi rack and chair could be a good choice when sofa moved forward. Just a thought and seemed to fit with your comment.
The theoretical best listening position with along a central axis in a rectangular room is actuall 38% of its length, from front or back, rather than 33% - 2 spots, the one nearer the front possibly better than the one nearer the rear. (My suggested position was approximately the rearmost of tgese). Best speaker position is less easily defined as it depends on the speakers and other room factors, and might be from right up against the wall to way out. What isn’t great is sitting right up against the back wall, though effective absorption on that wall can mitigate.
The Diablo’s have been listened to with all sorts of music and the sofa has come forward as much as I dare / allowed.
When I first brought the focal’s home the instant reaction was that they were very bass light (almost non existent). Not having had standmounts for years I assume that was how they should be.
I went straight back the next day and borrowed the sub and it was fine.
After the honeymoon period wore off with the focal’s, I realised that they really needed the subwoofer to work. With the sub off they were very thin.
My dealer allowed me to bring home a pair of SF Nova1 to compare. Night and day. The SF’s have a depth that almost doesn’t need a sub. An A/B listen by the boss proved that they were really thin compare to the Nova.
Took the Focal’s back this morning and hooked them up in the dealer demo room with an Arcam integrated and they were much better. Cleary they don’t like the SN3 or vice versa. Very strange as I’ve watched the video of SN3 driving the big Focal Utopia’s. The Diablo’s I had are 2008 vintage, so I wonder if that has a bearing on it?
Dealer has also lent me a pair of Guarneri Tradition to try, which on first listen are away ahead of the Nova 1, but are significantly more expensive.
If you like Sonus Faber, between the Olympica and Guarneri, you have the Electa Amator 3. I own them and power them with a SN2. The sound is glorious!
It got me off of the upgrade path. I am really happy with the setup.
…since you have the HiCap DR you could find a used NAC 282 and move the Hicap DR to that and that will provide a lovely uplift to the sound… You may be quite surprised and may want to try it if the opportunity presents itself.
Good luck on the road to a happy and magical musical destiny…
Thank you to everyone for their input. The journey has ended this morning. These absolutely wonderful speakers are now permanent residents. The pictures of them do not in any way shape or form so them justice.
They really suit the SuperNait and they produce more bass than the specification suggest. Oh and the soundstage…
