Small speakers suitable for retro hi-fi

[doctor-bond]

I know there a few hi-fi retronauts on here - could do with some 'speaker recommendations.

I recently dug my hi-fi out of storage and can't wait to get busy with some vinyl revival. However, my trusty Neat Petite speakers are too vulnerable to damage from the various dogs and chilldren that seem to have colonised my gaff.

So I'm thinking that until the bairns are more sensible, I'll use some small bookshelf/satellite speakers and maybe a sub. That way the speakers can be placed out of harms way and the sub tucked in a corner.

Soooo .... what's worth a look? Are the satellite speakers used with home cinema any good (eg Kef Uni-q)? Could I use something designed for Ipods like the Jamo i300?

The rest of the system is valve amps, cd and turntable.

PS are any of the hi-fi forums retro-oriented - it's been ages since I dabbled with this stuff?


much obliged

 

[Neil G]

I've got a pair of these rigged up to a Cambridge Audio amp and they sound ace.

They come in a lovely, gloss white finish too which goes with a modern.contemporary interior.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/boo ... lumni2-whi

 

[ferrus]

Your valve amps (Audio Innovations?) are going to need speakers that present an easy load with fairly high sensitivity, say 89db or more - or the sound will be flat and lacking in volume, the bass might be hopeless too. Unfortunately this is much easier to find in large speakers than small.
I'm right ill at the mo' and have no memory, if I can think of any I'll let you know ...LGF will know of some.

 

[legrandefromage]

Dont like valve amplification...

Hundreds of small speaker manufacturers out there, so hard to pin down an obvious choice as its each to their own.

I had some PMC LB1 bookshelf that blew me away but at £1500 S/H, they're not cheap.

I am currently running some aluminium Technics SB-F2 - they are from around the hifi golden age of 1980, extraordinarily efficient and have little or no cabinet colouration (where the cabinet material resonates to add to the overall sound). They are combined with a Richer Sounds sourced Gale sub.

If I were on a budget and retrocentric, I'd look at the Mordant Short Carnival series, shallow cabinets hiding a large efficient driver:

Or some old Mission 760i or similar

 

[greenstiles]

I always liked my old Canton Karat 20's don't know what their stuff if like now..........
http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-171-7471.html

 

[legrandefromage]

utterly random suggestion btw!

Accoustic Energy AE-1

Leak Sandwich:

Kef KHT series...?

 

[greenstiles]

Their welsh aren't they leek sandwich...........

 

[ferrus]

I can't get enough of valve amps. Nothing touches them for smooth natural sound. Oooh just thinking about their seductive charms is making me all tingly inside

just fixed your little spelling mistake there..

 

[legrandefromage]

Ooooh you're a bad, bad man...

 

[legrandefromage]

I always liked my old Canton Karat 20's don't know what their stuff if like now..........
http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-171-7471.html

I had some of those! great little speakers until I knocked them off a shelve and killed them.