Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Speaker choice for a G95

I have recently consolidated my hi if equipment and found an ex demo G95. I'm very pleased with it but would like to change the speakers from the Quad 21L to something with touch more clarity and imaging. I'm auditioning a s/h pair of B&W 803s but wondered if the folk on here have auditioned / using others that I should try.

Regards

If you can still find them, I auditioned the G95 with Mission Elegante E8's.

While I didn't buy the G95, I was so impressed by the clarity of the speakers that I purchased Elegante E81's, E82's and E8c (alongside a B&W PV-1). I wouldn't change these speakers in an analogue surround system for anything else.

The closest to these speakers currently on offer at reasonable price is the Mission E3 range (but be quick).

I'd caution the use of the big, top-end B&Ws. They need lots of power to make them work. The 803s (Nautilus or Diamond?) are really good but I'd want at least a 557 behind them. For clarity and imaging, the B&W 805s (in the incarnations that I have heard, i.e. Matrix and 805N) are excellent but they would need a sub for a cinematic experience. The 804s don't really add anything but a bigger box instead of a stand.

The small Martin-Logans electrostatics sound excellent, they have their own powered proto-subs but I have no idea of how much power they need.

My fave other speaker are the Shahinian Arcs which just produce music. Again not sure on power amp requirements.

And don't forget Meridian's own A500s.....

Are you running purely Stereo?

If so the Roksan TR5 bookshelves are truly stunning, they are ribbon tweeters so give a level of detail that is stunning but also never get phased at any volume and never have any hint of edginess.

They do however need a sub of some sort, nothing major, a used Rel Strata 1 for �120 would be ideal.

Used they go for around �450-500 but don't come up very often.

I sold my pair that I had in the bedroom and replaced them with the 5200s, if i am honest I was a little disappointed with the move.
I was using them with an Arcam A22 integrated amp and a Rel sub.

The Arcam and the G95 sound scarily similar, I tried a G95 when I had the A22 and there was nothing in it, and the A22 had a DAC built in so that won.

I tried a few others on the A22 including ProAcs, Castles and Focals, but none came close to the Roksans.

Never really here much about the Roksans though, not sure if they are well thought of or not?

The reason I said stereo only is they don't do a ribbon centre, and their only centre speaker is �1,100.



forgot to add. I had 11L's first, nice and smooth like the Roksans, but not as detailed and the bass was a bit wooly.
The Roksan had a massive soundstage in comparison.

I have been considering a floorstanding speaker upgrade recently - I auditioned Monitor Audio GX200, B&W CM8 and Proac D18 - the Proacs were a good middle ground between the super detail of the GX200's and the lushness of what I have now (Spendor A5)- they are pretty efficient too so I think my Meridian 551 amp will drive them without any problem.