System Pics 2023

Sell your wife’s system and get yourself a pair of Fact 8…

Running… :rofl:

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I’ve spent part of my evening reading about speakers and am drawn to a 3rd option.
Russell K Red 120SE’s…:thinking:

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Attended an evening with Russell K in person at my dealers in Cornwall about four years ago.

Russell was a very nice man, extremely modest & more interested in some of the music played than telling us how good his speakers were.

The 150’s were demoed through a NAP300DR if I recall correctly. Among the three best systems I have heard & by far the cheapest. I shut my eyes through many of the tracks &, upon opening them was continually surprised to see a pair of speakers in front of me rather than real musicians, they were that good.

From the reviews it sounds as if the 120’s are pretty special as well.

The only thing that stopped me investigating further is that the demo room was more than twice the size of my listening space & I wouldn’t have room for them. I also suspect the sound from them (& a suitable amp) would hav swamped my room.

If I had a much bigger room then I would definitely be considering Russell K’s.

Please take the trouble to audition a pair.

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Thank you for that.
I am considering talking to Alastair at Signals, who is a Russell K dealer and the supplier of my Dynaudio Evoke 50’s.
Need to keep the trade in avenues open. I am considering the updated Red 120 SE’s

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Please let us know how you got on once you have auditioned them.

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Thanks for your words.
There are days that I look at the world and ask myself if real luck is staying or going, but we’re here so why not try to :face_with_symbols_over_mouth: life for once, before life :face_with_symbols_over_mouth: you?

:slightly_smiling_face:

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Make sure you do the full home demo. I suspect the floor is the main issue with the bass problem.
The Keilidhs produce nothing below 50 hz and your Evokes extend down to 35 hz like many modern speakers. If your bass issue is in the 45 hz region, (Like mine) the Linns will be avoiding that.
Have you considered high quality stand mounted speakers which might not extend so low ?
I know it goes against the grain but it might be a valid alternative worthy of a home demo or two!
Good luck🙂

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Extensive home demo trials will be run this time Steve.
Much as I love the Evokes, I now accept that no amount of tweaking will make them work in the space.
We always loved the Keilidh’s, but they are not the solution I’m looking for. They did however prove that I need to take my time and test extensively in my own space.
Twenty5.23i’s first, then Super 20A’s, then we’ll see how we go🤷🏻‍♂️

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Looks like the grandchildren have enjoyed the tweeters!

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You may have already considered the SCM40s, I have a vague recollection of one of your previous posts but just to say, when I was considering new speakers, they were the closest I could find to speakers that might work in the space I have available. I would take the comments about not playing well at low volumes with a pinch of salt. Also if your floor is anything like mine (chipboard/insulation/chipboard/tongue and groove) then it’s mega rigid and shouldn’t compromise base. You’ve probably tried the port bungs but I feel bungs just kill a lot of what is nice about the Dyns in the first place.

I don’t know the larger ones, but I have the Red 50 in my second system (driven by a Supernait 2). Quite happy with them!

Russell K is a fine speaker manufacturer — and possibly under-appreciated in the Forum, even though they pair with Naim rather well. They don’t quite have the presence of PMC, Neat or ATC in showrooms — maybe that’s part of the explanation.

Enjoy your new speaker search! :grinning:

Another option, as you like the Dynaudio sound, is the Contour 20. I’ve never got a ported speaker to work in my room for some reason, every one has given bass problems, even Naim Allaes. Maybe that’s why PMCs work well, as the transmission line bass is a different design to a standard reflex port.

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Best of luck with your search, I currently run the older 26’s and when they are on song they do tick all the boxes, just waiting to add a 250dr/300dr to them to help complete the system.

The ports are designed to fire down onto the plinth beneath, with the gap fixed to ensure consistent performance. So I wouldn’t be overly concerned about it. Obviously your wood floor, if it’s suspended, will still vibrate, but it will with any speaker. Only one way to find out…

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The bungs definitely have helped in reducing the problems, but as you say, though do so at the loss of the dynamics.
There are things about the SCM40’s I like, but just as many that I don’t.
The floor is Solid Pine planks on top of 20x20 rails and the whole thing floats on top of a reinforced 200mm concrete slab.

Kitchen/Dining room system. Electronics on loan. Huge mullet. It looks good though. But I’m not sure yet. In a few days I’ll swap in the UQ2 from the office that was about the same price.


I bought the speakers for the spare drive units, not intending to use them but here we are. The space in between is all earmarked for a tall racked herb garden.

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Use of specialist mounts may also assist eg Gaia 3 if using Super 20As. I found them to be beneficial: my room, my ears etc.

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I have Gaia II’s on my Evokes. They will almost certainly be used on the eventual replacements.

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So no different to the suspended floor in a house. One option might be to fit laminate flooring on top. That would help stiffen the floor up then carpet on top. Something I would try myself although a real faff :blush:

It is carpeted Paul with a heavy duty underlay. I could add another timber layer next time I replace the carpet.

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