[timind]

Let us know what you think of them after a bit. Thanks for finishing this up.
Good luck with the sale of the Minuets.

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Well, the Quads are set up and playing. I don't have the most optimum listening room options, nor proper stands. And, of course, I'm experimenting as much as I can with position. The 12Ls are way larger than the Minuets. I knew that, but it's different when you see them.

Very tentative, initial impressions: Low end is definitely deeper, but not as well defined or three-dimensional/airy. The overall sound seems more laid back. Is this what the term "polite" means when referring to a speaker? Again, too early to tell, but I'm really appreciating the Minuets.

[wywires]

Well, the Quads are set up and playing. I don't have the most optimum listening room options, nor proper stands. And, of course, I'm experimenting as much as I can with position. The 12Ls are way larger than the Minuets. I knew that, but it's different when you see them.

Very tentative, initial impressions: Low end is definitely deeper, but not as well defined or three-dimensional/airy. The overall sound seems more laid back. Is this what the term "polite" means when referring to a speaker? Again, too early to tell, but I'm really appreciating the Minuets.

What you are hearing is the traditional "British sound". Very polite, laid back and never offending anybody. This is very different from what you are used to in the Silverlines. I think you need to spend more time with the 12L's as there is much to appreciate but different from what you have grown accustomed to.

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Alex, thank you for that information. I should also have pointed out that these Quads are not yet broken in, so the sound may definitely change over time. But then again, I may just prefer the more detailed, less veiled and transparent (?) qualities of the Minuets. I would be extremely interested in hearing one of Silverline's larger monitors.

[sunnydaze]

Alex, thank you for that information. I should also have pointed out that these Quads are not yet broken in, so the sound may definitely change over time. But then again, I may just prefer the more detailed, less veiled and transparent (?) qualities of the Minuets. I would be extremely interested in hearing one of Silverline's larger monitors.

Forget the larger monitor.  Get a pair of Silverline Sonatina Mk2.  Small floorstander, very attractive, killer sound.  Significant sonic upgrade to what you are accustomed to.  Can be had for about $1500 used.

[Mass. Wine Guy]

If only I had an extra $1,500.

[sunnydaze]

If only I had an extra $1,500.

Sell your monitors + stands + sub + xtra cabling and I bet you are most of the way there.   

I've seen them as cheap as $1200.  Was just giving you a price where you  can buy them, no problem.

[Bemopti123]

What you are hearing is the traditional "British sound". Very polite, laid back and never offending anybody. This is very different from what you are used to in the Silverlines. I think you need to spend more time with the 12L's as there is much to appreciate but different from what you have grown accustomed to.
[/quote

My concept of British sound perhaps was built around my older Epos ES11s...and while smooth, they were never boring or slow.  Actually I call its sound quite punchy, nimble.  Maybe my British concept it different than the one described here. 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Sell your monitors + stands + sub + xtra cabling and I bet you are most of the way there.

Believe me, I have nothing fancy in terms of cabling. No stands, either. I could sell my Morrison ELAD preamp, but I may not always have an integrated amp. Another Morrison would also be hard to come by for what I paid for it. But I will take inventory and see.

Thanks.

[Mass. Wine Guy]

In a quandary, need advice.

My Quad 12 L speakers are not broken in, don't have proper stands or good speaker cables. Sometimes they sound great to me, other times the low end sounds very boomy and the highs rolled off. Do I:

— Get stands, cables (bi-wire cables?) and give them time to see how they sound after breaking in?

— Sell them and try the Quad 11 L, which the person who sold me the 12 Ls and is selling the 11 Ls described as being "tighter and more musical than the 12's, the 12's are good but do tend to be laid back and have that more americanized sound with enhanced bottom end. As apposed to the traditional british sound which in my mind focuses on the mid's and imaging."

— Keep the 12 Ls and change from my Arte Forma amp to a British amp like Naim or Exposure, as one Circle member advised me to do in a personal message? How does being British-made affect anything?

— String two paper cups together, sing into one and hold the other to my ear.

Thanks very, very much.

Signed,
Audiologically Confused

[hibuckhobby]

One of the problems with advice on forums is that you get a great deal of opinion without the benefit of know what the author's sound and listening preferences are.  There are a number of things you can do with your system.   If you genuinely prefer the Silverlines, sell the Quads and get a subwoofer that will blend well with them.  As has been indicated, you need to have either a preamp output or a line level sub output on your amp to do that.

You need to try raising the Quads off the floor even on boxes if you can.  If they were meant to be stand mounted, they really need to be off the floor.  Placement too close to room boundaries can/will alter both the soundstage and the bass quality of a loudspeaker.

Sadly, part and parcel of this hobby is a measure of buyers remorse from time to time.  We decide we need/want a change and after asking a few questions, pull the trigger.  Then we get the product home...hoping for change and finding that while change is there, it isn't exactly what we had hoped it would me.  It's a disease I tell ya'.
Hibuck...

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Thanks, Hibuck. You speak the truth. The Quads aren't on the floor, but they are on wood stools. I think I'll reconnect the Minuets to remind myself how they sound.

[sunnydaze]

These are an absolute steal!  For the price, it's hard to imagine doing much better for big, full range, and musical sound.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=91310.msg905005#new

I could be wrong, but my impression is you seek a bigger more robust sound with greater weight, impact and scale.  I assume that because you keep referring to adding a sub to your monitors.  Like I said earlier, having done it both ways, my preferred approach is a full range floorstander over monitor + sub.  Perhaps if you gave more specifics re: your priorities, room size, etc. you would get more targetted and relevant advise?

I can tell you these speakers will give lots of bass and whomp.  Some reports say maybe too much -- that the room must be large enough and they must be positioned with some air around them.  I can also tell you that your Arte Forma integrated will drive them with ease without breaking a sweat.  My buddy has the smaller 6.2 and they are excellent.  He drives them with a 40 wpc tube integrated (KT88), and before that, a 100 wpc SS integrated.

Read more:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/soliloquy_63.htm

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue3/sol63.htm

http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/soliloquy/6-3/PRD_136045_1594crx.aspx

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Thanks so much, sunnydaze for letting me know. The seller is only doing local pickup in Virginia, which doesn't fit my schedule right now.

I don't know if my wife would go for floor standing speakers because of their size. But then, monitors on stands may be about the same size.

[sunnydaze]

No difference in terms of floorspace (and airspace) used,  monitor on stands vs. small floorstander.  Personally, I think floorstanders look much better.  Others may disagree.  And with the right floorstander, no sub and xtra cabling / amps needed.  And all that stuff uses real estate and adds to the clutter.

[Mass. Wine Guy]

I think for the moment I'm going to stick with the Quad 12L speakers. I've done, if not a 180, at least a 140 degree turnaround on them. I pulled them out from the walls a bit more, widened their separation distance, and they sound better. I'm going to try biwiring them with good cables, get those Pangea stands and wait a while until they're fully broken in. I think I can always find a buyer for them, considering the price I paid and would sell them for.

[davidrs]

MWG,

Take your time with the hobby.

While you have the Minuets and Quads, go back and forth after extensive listening sessions to get a better feel for strengths and weaknesses (based on and within the context of what you are driving both speakers with). This should also give you more insight into what 'turns you on / off.'

It's a journey and rushing it will only delay you in getting to where it is you want to get to, and likely be a lot less satisfying, to boot.

- David.

[Mass. Wine Guy]

My Minuets are sold and will be shipped out Monday or Tuesday. But I'll definitely hook them up again before that to compare. I can't afford to keep both at once. I can always buy another pair.