Speakers for Classical Music for Rotel RB 1070 (budget: upto 2k$)

[Pat D]

Thank you all for quick reponse - i had no idea this forum is this active! By the time i added my room config i did not notice there were 3 responses already!!

I will try all the suggestions, my only fear is i may not have all available in my city - I live in New Delhi, India. So far B&W, Dali (no one has suggested it, I have noted), Maggies and Dynaudio are confirmed and i am searching for dealers for other brands.

It looks to be very busy week ahead and i am looking forward to it!!

I haven't heard any of the Dali speakers in your price range. A few years ago, I heard the Dali Helicon 400, which was quite nice, but the current iteration is even more expensive. They're a good, well known speaker manufacturer, so Iadvise you to audition their speakers.

I have been favorably impressed with the Dynaudio speakers I have heard. They tend to be insensitive and 4 ohm impedance, but your Rotel amplifier should do fine. Their standmount speakers also have good bass response for small speakers. I believe their floor standing speakers are above your price range. What about Quad speakers? Are they available? A lot of people seem to like their dynamic speakers, though I have only heard a little one.

[Dev]

I haven't heard any of the Dali speakers in your price range. A few years ago, I heard the Dali Helicon 400, which was quite nice, but the current iteration is even more expensive. They're a good, well known speaker manufacturer, so Iadvise you to audition their speakers.
....

Indeed, Helicon is way beyond my budget. But they have Ikon 6 an Ikon 7 series which is very much in the limits. I came across decent reviews as well so I certainly plan to audition them. Would be glad if anyone who has had experience with them shedding some light.

Maggies seems to be the majority's recommendation but their bass response has added to a big negative already - the dealer quoted price at 3.5K!!! Now that makes it far too expensive (i have a mortgage to pay as well ).

Feaner: Thanks a lot for the pic. That was very helpful.

B&W 683 anyone? I read they have good bass response.

[bubslewis]

Indeed, Helicon is way beyond my budget. But they have Ikon 6 an Ikon 7 series which is very much in the limits. I came across decent reviews as well so I certainly plan to audition them. Would be glad if anyone who has had experience with them shedding some light.

Maggies seems to be the majority's recommendation but their bass response has added to a big negative already - the dealer quoted price at 3.5K!!! Now that makes it far too expensive (i have a mortgage to pay as well ).
Feaner: Thanks a lot for the pic. That was very helpful.

B&W 683 anyone? I read they have good bass response.

$3.5K!! That's awful. 1 and a half years ago they were going for $1.75K in the US. I don't think they cost much more than that today. Are you stuck with that one dealer or is there anybody else who offers Magnapan so you can compare prices? Are you sure the dealer was quoting the price for a 1.6, and not a Maggie 3.6?

[Ajani]

Indeed, Helicon is way beyond my budget. But they have Ikon 6 an Ikon 7 series which is very much in the limits. I came across decent reviews as well so I certainly plan to audition them. Would be glad if anyone who has had experience with them shedding some light.

Maggies seems to be the majority's recommendation but their bass response has added to a big negative already - the dealer quoted price at 3.5K!!! Now that makes it far too expensive (i have a mortgage to pay as well ).

Feaner: Thanks a lot for the pic. That was very helpful.

B&W 683 anyone? I read they have good bass response.

B&W's should be a good choice for Classical (considering that several major classical recording studios use them)... But as you have probably already realized, speaker selection is a very personal thing... we all have our favorites... so in the end you'll just have to audition what you can and pick your favorite...

[Pat D]

Indeed, Helicon is way beyond my budget. But they have Ikon 6 an Ikon 7 series which is very much in the limits. I came across decent reviews as well so I certainly plan to audition them. Would be glad if anyone who has had experience with them shedding some light.

Maggies seems to be the majority's recommendation but their bass response has added to a big negative already - the dealer quoted price at 3.5K!!! Now that makes it far too expensive (i have a mortgage to pay as well ).

Feaner: Thanks a lot for the pic. That was very helpful.

B&W 683 anyone? I read they have good bass response.

I haven't heard any of the Dali Ikon speakers but the measurements for the Ikon 6 in Stereophile look quite good. The frequency response is a little less even in the midrange than I would like but it's quite good really, perhaps a little tizzy on top (a slight cut with the treble control might make an improvement, but they have quite good dispersion and should image well. They look to have useful bass to below 30 Hz, and I presume the Ikon 7 would go even lower.

http://stereophile.com/floorloudspea...li/index3.html

In your price range, I tend to prefer standmount speakers for value. One can get a subwoofer later for the deep bass. The Dynaudio Focus 140 measures very well (another I have not heard), so it would probably sound even better than the Ikons. The measurements indicate it actually has useful bass down to about 30 Hz but it would not have as great an output capability in the deep bass as an Ikon 6 or 7.

I would like to suggest Canadian speakers such as the PSB G-Design Series and Paradigm Studio Series (I haven't heard the current models), but I have no idea whether they are available in New Delhi. They would have some floor standers in your price range, as well as standmounts. With a little dealing, you could probably get their topline standmounts (the Paradigm Signature S2 and PSB Sychone One B) for less than $2K.

I haven't heard the lower priced B & W speakers for a long time. Again, they make some very good speakers.

I audition speakers initially using recordings of full orchestra with massed strings, male and female vocals, mixed chorus, and piano. Most speakers don't pass. Then I can audition the ones that do pass at greater length.