New speakers SAM ready

[Jwg1749]

Looks like SF Amati Futura, Olympica III and PMC Fact 8 are next.....

Nice, especially the SFs.

I've heard the PMC Fact 8s with a Dev 200, and they were just about OK. Maybe SAM will transform them.

IIRC, you did try the SF Olympica - is that right - what were your thoughts? Did you try the Proac D30R or B&W CM10 or 804?

Yes, you remember correctly.

I've heard the Olympica Is, IIs and IIIs. For me the IIs were the pick of the range. I found the IIIs to be a just a little bit "baggy" and slow, whereas the IIs are lovely and crisp, whilst retaining some of the traditional SF mellowness. Having said that, I did audition the IIIs alongside some Martin Logans, which make most dynamic speakers sound wrong.

I heard the PMC Fact 8s, Proac D30Rs and B&W 804Ds in a single sitting. I'm not really a fan of B&W diamond tweeters. Otherwise I thought they were pretty good, and with considerably more bass slam that either the Proacs or the PMCs. The speaker I enjoyed least at that demo was the Fact 8. They're very nimble but the sound is overly clinical and lacks bass richness. If I'd had to have one of the three it would have been the Proacs. They're a bit coloured, but in an attractive way.