Floorstanding Speakers Under £1K : John's Picks 2024

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks John, great video as always. Good call on the Dali Oberon 5, I have enjoyed these at home for the past year and I love them! They also work well close to a wall if you plug the rear bass port to control the bass.

[@Peter-Tyson]

Indeed, something I should have mentioned. Love the Oberon 5's! Thanks Steve. -John

[@fatboyvin]

@@Peter-Tyson how are the oberon 5 compared to polk r500? I'm on the fence between these two.

[@fatboyvin]

how are the oberon 5 compared to polk r500? I'm on the fence between these two.

[@dedge12858]

Picked up a pair of 5040s from the Peter Tyson clearance sale just before Christmas for £699. Bit of an emergency purchase because one of my previous speakers expired without warning and I didn't want to be without movies over the Christmas period. The upshot was I didn't audition anything before taking the plunge so can't compare with other floorstanders. To be honest, I wasn't expecting a huge improvement over my old Monitor Audio stand mounts but the difference, for the better, was immediately obvious, to the extent I've been re-watching movies and listening to a ton of music since. For anyone else thinking of getting these mine are paired with a sub, which obviously makes a difference, and they're positioned approximately 18" from the back wall of a medium sized living room. Would recommend.

[@johnwilliams2877]

Another great presentation John. Keep it up.

[@rbattson7171]

Thanks

[@Peter-Tyson]

Thank you! - John

[@user-a33kixd2wq41]

Great review! I am choosing between a used bronze 200 and oberon 5 for my living room. Out of curiosity, what exactly is the weakness of the bronze comparing to oberon? Would the height of oberon 5 tweeter a problem to reach the ear level?

[@larserikbruun]

Thank you John for the great review and I like some of the speakers on the list but I am hearing you from my dali oberon 5 and I am super happy with this speakers 😊

[@bruceandt]

Hello John. I very much enjoyed your offerings in this price range. I’m always on the research for this kind of tower. My problem however is simply this. I am running two Energy RC 30 tower speakers. 2.5 way design. Two 5.25 inch drivers doing the exact same job with a 1” aluminum dome tweeter. They report down to 40hz or below. Each cabinet is well braced with real wood veneer. 41 lbs each. Cracking great speakers from the early 2000’s I’m simply trying to find something to better these. Original cost Canadian was 750.00 per side.

[@vangmx]

I had the Dali Oberon 7 (a step up from the 5’s) and I loved these speakers. Two amps paired was the Yamaha AS501 and Rotel 1592 MK2. Yamaha was definitely bang for your buck and offering great sound. The Rotel improved the sound (tighter bass, cleaner, more headroom) but for 5x the price, you’ll be the judge.

[@Santbak]

Step up in size only. Oberon 5's has a much better/refined sound then the oberon 7

[@Brett1334]

Any chance you could do one under 2 grand? What are your guys takes on b&w speakers?

[@Peter-Tyson]

I'll be doing that video at some point Brett. I love B&W speakers! I own a pair of 705 🙂. -John

[@affie123]

Can you please review full setup Kef Q750 with marantz cinema 50. Thanks

[@djFELIXmne]

Hello, John. Glad I stumbled on this video since I recently bought the bronze 200 as a part of monitor audio bronze 200 5.1 HCP. tested them in the showroom and really loved the sound, in a 2.0 setup. any thoughts on which AVR to pair them with? I'm in between denon avc x3800h and onkyo tx nr7100 (both abroad) or even marantz cinema 60 (local retailer). thanks in advance!

[@markgriffiths409]

Nice to see an old company using YT. Smart home sounds have done well from this in marketing their brand 👍

[@Konrad_K.]

Great video! What exactly did you enjoy about the Oberon? I really enjoy jazz trios with a woman on the microphone, and the wharfedales didn't convince me in that area. Do you think the Oberon would be better? What's their sound signature?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Use a decent amplifier and source and the Oberon just seem to make any music you throw at them enjoyable, they just get on with it. I would say they are slightly less coloured and more natural than the Wharfedale. Absolutely stunning speakers for the money. - John.

[@Harryfin100]

Hi John great video thanks. I’m looking to get either Dali Oberon 5’s or the Q acoustics 5040. I can only have them about 20-30 cm from the wall behind so which ones do you think would suit this placement the most? Thanks

[@Peter-Tyson]

Hello Harry, The Dali do work best away from the wall, the Q Acoustics are a little more forgiving. I think you would be delighted with either but the safer option for you would be the Q Acoustics in my opinion. petertyson.co.uk/q-acoustics-q-5040-floorstanding-speakers - John

[@bri944]

​@@Peter-Tysonhi John.. How do the Wharfedale Evo 4.3/4.4 stack up against the Oberon 5's please ? I have a 4m x 4m room.. Thank you

[@chrispike5773]

I'm thinking of changing my old Mordaunt Short MS914 to the Wharfedales. Great video thank you.

[@Peter-Tyson]

Do it! - John

[@markdance574]

I think these types of reviews are great however the decision alters slightly if you then want to buy the other speakers in the range to go from just floor standers to a full 7.2.4 set up . Personally I love Kef they make phenomenal products but have always chosen Monitor Audio , outstanding value for money , great quality and easy to use across any amp or AV and because the total system ( for cinema sound ) is excellent in both Bronze and Silver full set ups and delivers great sound across music and film cinema sound .

[@Goanaut218]

I had the bronze ones and they were a lot of fun when I watched a movie, but unfortunately they were too bright and too cold for me. I'm looking for a natural sounding speaker that is still fun to watch. Would you recommend Q Acoustics if monitor audio sounds too bright? Otherwise there is also Polk R600 to choose from

[@Peter-Tyson]

I can recommend the Q Acoustics, very well balanced and easy to listen to. Also what source / amp are you using? If it's a home cinema AVR it could be something happening with the room correction or setup. - John

[@Goanaut218]

I have a Marantz Cinema 40. In general I find that Marantz is a bit brighter. especially with the voices. This is a problem with Klipsch and Monitor Audio center speakers. The voice reproduction simply doesn't sound real anymore and is too bright. I really liked the monitor sound because of the fun factor and the dynamics. but for my ears I need it to be more neutral.

[@Anox99]

Can you say anything about Carina 247.4? How do they compare to the rest?

[@Pumpkin-Lifestyle]

Great video, would you go for the Monitor Audio Silver 50 7g or the Bronze 200 6g if you had to pick one? Which one is more fun to listen overall?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Depends on your room I suppose, personally I would go Silver 50 7G. - John.

[@ENGBriseB]

​@@Peter-Tyson: it depends on what works for you.

[@Yiannis2112]

Mission, B&W and Fyne Audio would have been a nice add from UK. May be a Focal or a Triangle from France, a German Elac and Heco or a Polish Taga Harmony. Regardless, this a very useful video and a good "best of" list.

[@dogisblue]

Nice. I have the Oberon's and love them. Would you say the new Arcam is a nice pairing? Thinking of upgrading my Denon P600 to the A15.

[@Peter-Tyson]

I have been using the A15 on all of the speakers from the last 2 videos and have to say I'm very impressed. -John

[@dogisblue]

@@Peter-Tyson Thanks! Will go check it out :)

[@stratosp.2180]

Hi, excellent analysis! Thank you for your honesty. I am planning to set up my first hi-fi with the oberon 5 which I like aesthetically. my question is which amplifier fits best? i am among Cambridge Audio CXA61, Arcam A5, Marantz Stereo 70’s and DENON PMA-900NE. I had the opportunity to listen to only the Oberon 7 and 3 with the CXA61 and while I liked the 3, the 7 seemed annoyingly uncontrollable in the bass for a small/medium size room like mine.

[@Peter-Tyson]

Hi and thanks. I've not heard the Cambridge Audio so can't comment. I have spent a lot of time with the Arcam A5, A15 and A25, with all sorts of speakers, all are excellent. The Marantz and Denon are both solid units too although I've not heard them with Oberon 5. - John

[@mallyd4521]

I was running my Oberon 5's with an Audiolab 6000A amp and 7000CDT transport and it sounded great,last year Peter Tyson were selling off Audiolab 8300XP power amps at a great price so I bought one. Proved to be a great move,now running my 6000A as a pre amp feeding the 8300xp and the extra power available(140 watts per channel) really makes the Dali's sing.

[@rowanwilson5215]

I'm considering getting the Dali Spektor 6, as they've got a huge reduction in price at the moment. How do they compare to the Oberon 5?

[@Peter-Tyson]

I would still go with Oberon 5. They are ridiculously good for the money. - John.

[@Kalikrates_the_witch_1]

Would you recommend the dali oberon 5 for use with a musical fidelity a3cr pre/power amp?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Absolutely

[@patriciacristobal6977]

A couple of months ago I bought a pair of Q Acoustic 5050, and I liked them so much that I decided to purchase these 5040, for a smaller room, giving an opinion about them, is really simple, they are simply Sublime, defined treble as drawn by Rotring, deep bass , but controlled, these 5040s have the same philosophy as The Ivy League, if you are a brilliant student you stand out, but if not, they don't help you, I mean, if the recording is good, the 5040s shine incredibly, and they allow you appreciate every detail, they are dynamic and lively, now, if the recording is no good enough, you see all the flaws. Listening to I can explain by Rachelle Ferrell, with these 5040, is to live the experience of seeing her sing in your own home. Extraordinary, they are clearly differentiating, if you are looking for definition and bass control, it is difficult to find something better out there.

[@jampam-jf8mt]

Mission QX MK2 series would be worth considering

[@alpigiano]

Hi - how would the Acoustic Energy AE109 mk2 compare? Especially vs the Q Acoustics or the Dali. Thank you!!!

[@Peter-Tyson]

I didn't have any when I filmed this but have heard them since. They are actually really decent and a good shout in my opinion. I still think I would go DALI for enjoyment and Q Acoustics for refinement though. The AE 109 compete more with the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3. I would still choose the AE over the Kef. - John petertyson.co.uk/acoustic-energy-ae109-floorstanding-speakers

[@alpigiano]

@@Peter-Tyson Thank you for your answer! I like the Dali but they may be a bit too forward for me, will try to audition the AE.

[@JonasJensen1308]

Recommended amp for the 5040?

[@ENGBriseB]

Dimiond 12.3 speakers are probably the best if you haven't got a large room.

[@Peter-Tyson]

I really like them too, for the money they are outstanding! - John

[@Petrolhead_1]

Please Review Focal Theva and Vestia. Nice video btw

[@Sc0rpioRisin79]

What floorsrander would you partned with rotel a11 tribute, cd11 tribute and project carbon evo TT?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Personally I would go Dali Oberon 5 or the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 with your setup. - John

[@alexeyk1676]

I am listening to the Oberon 5 in a 16 sq. meters room and feel that the bass is either just not enough or maybe somewhat too soft. At louder volume the sound becomes better. Sometimes I even think that probably I should have bought bigger speakers?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Speakers are big enough. It could be a characteristic of the amp you're using or try and play around with placement, pull your speakers a little further away or closer to the wall. Even a few cm's makes a difference. John

[@gerbenvandenhurk]

​@@Peter-TysonI agree; I have mine hooked up to a Naim Uniti Star and there is plenty of bass.

[@LorDarkGoose]

make you you give the Oberon's plenty of break in. I found mine only settled well over 100 hours, but now they're fantastic.

[@mphomolefe6094]

Certainly, after about 100hr of break in, the Dali come out live and bass is also much deeper

[@jamesmclanders9875]

Between these snd monitor audio silver 300 and wharfdale evo 4.2/3/4 what would you say is the best bang for buck?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Hi James. The Monitor Audio Silver are lovely, beautifully built and the same sort of signature as the smaller ones, just more of it! I've not had enough time with the Wharfedale Evo series to make a fair comment, sorry. I heard the smaller ones in the main shop briefly, but, it was noisy in there with other people and stuff going on. They sounded good from my brief time with them. I have heard the huge Elysian 4 briefly and was very underwhelmed! Could have been the room/placement/source I suppose. -John

[@moneyzonetrader]

going with dali thnx

[@moneyzonetrader]

I think oberon 5 made in china can you confirm if oberon 7 is made in denmark or china

[@questionyourself718]

​@@moneyzonetrader china as well. All Dalis from their cheaper lines are designed in denmark but made in china. Mid Lineup is Made in China but some final assembly in Denmark. Only High End is fully produced in Denmark.

[@shunpillay]

Awesome video.

[@LorDarkGoose]

I would love to see a high end speaker - maybe in the £1-3k budget with the same form factor as the Dali Oberon 5's. Anyone know of anything like that?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Hi, you're probably looking at an excellent stand mount speaker to match Oberon 5. Dali Rubicon 2 petertyson.co.uk/dali-rubicon-2-speakers B&W 705 S3 petertyson.co.uk/bowers-wilkins-705-s3-standmount-speakers Or slightly larger floor standers petertyson.co.uk/monitor-audio-silver-200-7g-speakers

[@LorDarkGoose]

Thanks but none of those remotely match the Oberon 5’s physical dimensions. I think the closest I found were the Spendor A5’s. Such a huge gap in the market there still.

[@Peter-Tyson]

@@LorDarkGoose Yeah, Oberon 5 are kind of on their own. Small and better performance is stand mount that cost more or larger floor standers. - John

[@LorDarkGoose]

Thanks John, I actually found a very interesting proposition that may fit my requirement - the Rega Ayas - going to try and go for a demo.@@Peter-Tyson

[@Peter-Tyson]

@@LorDarkGoose Interesting. Let me know how you get on.... - John

[@Marco-cz7rb]

Did you pick the Monitor Audo Bronze 200 and Kef Q550 on purpose? Cause the Bronze 500 and Kef Q750 are also under 1000 bucks and have real base

[@Peter-Tyson]

Hi Marco. The original retail price for those two are £1,199 in the UK so I didn't include them. For less than £1,000 I personally prefer the sound of smaller floor standers. Huge ones are even more difficult to get right on a budget. The Bronze 500 are good fun in a big room though! :-) -John

[@thebingaling1105]

Really like my Oberon 5’s, driving them with a Roksan K3. Went to audition some more expensive potential replacements and they weren’t impressive enough to replace. Oberon’s staying put for now.

[@Marco-cz7rb]

@@thebingaling1105 Did you listen to the Kef Q750 or Q Acoustic 5040 maybee

[@thebingaling1105]

No I didn’t actually. I was comparing to bookshelf speakers. Listened to Kef LS50, Sonus Faber Lumina 2 and PMC Prodigy 1. Didn’t like the Kef’s but the PMC were very good. SF were good too but didn’t feel any of them were worth the cost vs the Oberon 5’s.

[@Marco-cz7rb]

@@thebingaling1105 Okay interesting i will definitely check out the Oberon Series before making a purchase decision. I am pretty sensitive to high frequencies so sf would be too much off a good thing. I think the Dali should be pretty smooth up top ?

[@bryede]

I gotta say, KEF keeps getting heaps of praise and they're certainly ahead in terms of engineering, but I also find them lean and analytical even as you go up the line.

[@milemilic4859]

Dali bomberoni