Hi Steve, I didn’t purchase them in the end. It wasn’t my choice, I didn’t get the money I expected to, so I was disappointed by that. It’s a shame because they were going for an amazing price (less than 50%).

I’m planning on new speakers now, but I should really wait until I’m back in the UK and I know how my listening room is going to perform.

Hi Jerry,

Tl;dr Kerr Acoustics k100 or k102 are what I’ve set my heart on. I’ve never heard them, but I’ve got a hunch. Usually this has served me well in the hobby.


To your question: budget is a funny one, what I want and what I can muster may not align! Aspirationally, I’m willing to spend up to £12k. I know I can get more speaker second hand, but my strong preference here is to go new.

One thing you may not know is I’m an ex-pat, living in Melbourne Australia, but my partner and I want to come home in the next couple of years.

I mention this because I know I’m doing this the wrong way round; I don’t know what my final listening space is going to be when we return (and have first hand experience of how this impacts sound quality).

Really I’m thinking with my heart, thinking about solutions before I know what my (acoustic) problem to solve is.

I got into hifi in 2011 (funny story behind that as it goes) and I’ve been reading post from yourself, MartinT, Mike (and many, many others) since then. I’ve learnt lots from various people and one trend I’ve picked up on is (re speakers) don’t half arse it! I remember you saying you wanted your mbls and your wife said go for it, so you did and haven’t regretted it. Martin is the same, limped out for his be20s and look how happy he’s been since!

I want the same, speakers that will satisfy me and won’t leave me wondering what if this? What if that?

Long after the price is forgotten the quality remains - this is one of the key mottos I’m building my system around.

Thanks for the full reply, Martin [in Oz].
I'm a bit astonished you remember my post about Mrs J egging me on to splash out on the MBLs, my dream speaker. But yes, it was quite true!

But as MartinT said ...
HOWEVER - big warning - buying speakers completely blind and unheard may be disastrous. Try to find out who has a pair and beg an audition. Fly somewhere if you must, it would be worth it rather than splashing out on £12k speakers completely unheard.

I quite agree.
Buying a speaker brand unheard could be disastrous.  Speakers, especially, are such individual and personal things and there is many a slip between specification and sound! 
The MBLs were my dream because I'd repeatedly heard them at Shows and I just knew they would be perfect for me even though I regarded them as Totally Unobtainium until the Mrs stepped in, bless her.

The Kerr do look interesting -- but ribbon tweeter, transmission line - a very individual package. Not that there is anything wrong with "individual". Just look at the MBLs - carbon fibre omni drivers, side firing lower mids and bass, 4-way crossover.  That's pretty individual, too - and they have given this boxswapper unalloyed satisfaction for nearly 9 years now, I think!

But I agree with MartinT, spending 'beyond the ordinary' for something you feel you might like but haven't heard in the hope that they are your dream speaker would be a stretch too much for me.
Get an extended listen somehow!!   .... and go to Shows and maybe dealers and have a listen to what else is out there.  Take your time, no rush to choose your dream.