Bookshelf speaker for Stingray II?

Why not wait to see what the Manley does with your current speakers? It's additional power will give you more body and impact.

I think you are going to be OK with your Omegas.

For a number of years, I drove the Omega Super 3s with a Prima Luna PL2 tube amp (and a Rega Apollo CD player). The Omegas were placed on their sides on a shelf inside a bookcase with rear walls. To further complicate the situation, the speaker height was about 5 feet off the ground.

I spoke with Louis Chochos (Omega) at the time and he felt that it was no big deal. The only thing that he suggested was to possibly tilt the speakers up a bit from the back and have the sound fire down, which I never did.

It worked out fine. I still have the same on their side speaker placement set-up today, though I will occasionally switch out speakers.

The lesson learned was not to spend huge money on speakers in this type of set-up. The set-up is compromised and not all the audiophile points will be checked off (like separation). Speakers that worked best in this set-up were the Rega Aras (now R1), the Omegas, and the Energy RC10 ... all speakers in the $500 range. Speakers that did not work out were the Totem Mites and Spendor SA1 ... go figure, as the $2000 Spendors are designed to be placed almost anywhere.

Sit tight ... unless the upgrade bug has you bad ... then sit tighter. The Omega 8Rs are really nice speakers ... maybe you can speak with Louis about upgrading the drivers to the ALNICO version.

Rich

Thanks guys for good advice. I'll certainly wait to see what the Omegas can do with the Stingray. Their front ported is good for this placement. But I'm also interested in other possibilities, just in case. Those Spendors look interesting, being sealed cab and a pretty benign load. They'd also fit upright in the space. Never heard 'em, though.

Rich, do you think the Alnico upgrade a significant improvement to the Grande 8R? If so, in what areas?

Bill

The midrange can sound a bit sweeter and with a little more control with ALNICO magnet speakers. With the Omega Super 3s vocals were very lifelike, but could sound a little ragged or hooty at the edges.

Rich

As a Manley and Joseph Audio dealer, I can tell you that Joseph Audio RM7xl's work great with the Stingray. These are also front ported, so should work ok in your wall unit.

Rich, when you tried the Spendor SA1, was the pair well run-in? I've been digging around. Apparently they have a very long break-in period. What did you dislike about them?

Bill

Thanks, Goldprintaudio. How would they do on their side? I don't know the gospel concerning horizontal placement of high-end monitors, having been a floorstander most of my days. Do you have a sense for consequent sonic effects?

Bill

Hi Bill:

I ran the Spendors for a little over a year before selling them. I am not sure whether it was because I had them on their sides or they were inside a bookcase with a rear wall, but the speakers just lacked oomph. The Rega Ara and Energy RC 10 both seemed to benefit from the close to rear wall reinforcement, but not the Spendors or Totem Mites, for that matter.

It's not that the Spendors sounded bad, but the sound was lightweight, no fullness. It was too expensive a speaker to have there and not to be happy with the sound. To also note, I live in an apartment and am the Board president, so I don't play music all that loud anyway. And that could be part of it now that I think of it, the Spendors may have needed to be played loud to sound their best, not unlike B&W.

Rich

With the Joseph 7xl's being only 15" high, would they be small enough to stand up right in the wall unit?

While not optimal (as you have stated previously) I still think you would be ok if you have no choice but to place on their sides.

Rich,

Gotcha. Thanks for elaborating.

Bill