| I've got Reference 2's, I'm very pleased with them. Due to problems
with the supply of the tweeters, both ref 2's and 4's are out of
production. MC-1's replace the ref 2's. I'm told the 2's are better
than the MC-1's.
It is quite possible to get the old speakers for a good discount. I've
seen the 4's for 300 pounds (down from 400).
The bass of the 2's isn't super deep, but it's what you would expect
from this type of speaker. Now that I have a good CD player, I do
notice the tweeter sounding a bit metalic, usually on the clapping on
live albums, doesn't detract from the music though.
Great speakers.
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To open the question a bit more, does anyone have any other suggestions
for speakers to audition that satisfy the following criteria:
- work well close to walls.
- not too big (preferably small, even).
- less than 400 quid.
- would be capable of being used sensibly in both budget and more
expensive systems.
I'm upgrading the speakers in my current system before anything else
(yes, I know that it's not "conventional" to do it that way), and I
want to make sure that I get something that will see me through
amplifier and source upgrades in the distant future !
Trevor
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| Two speakers come immediately to mind, Linn Kan (II) and ION JK-1s [not
sure on the JK-1 bit]
The Kans are just over 400 the IONs just under (300-00 for active)
Both speakers are capable of sounding fantastic when driven with high
quality front end (LP-12...). The Kans sound better with LK1/280 - the IONs
with ION Nexus amplification.
Personal I prefer the IONs, they sound good in just about any decent
Hi-Fi (From Rega upwards) and by the time LP-12 + Ekos + Troika + 4xION
monoblock they beat the pants off my (passive) Isobariks - but they do
lack the ``presence'' of 'bariks.
Both these speakers require good quality speaker stands so you should
budget for these. The IONs have a separate crossover (in a matching
box) which means active operation is easy - especially with Nytech or
ION amps (ION is the new name for Nytech).
Richard Hayes (MD of ION) has designed different filter boards for the
ION amps which allow the boxes to be placed just about anywhere.
The Kans and ION look very similar but the ION is only available in
black (I think).
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