Just Another New Speakers Thread

[mhamer]

I am looking for a bookshelf system that is wife friendly, with a budget of $1,500.00. I have read all related threads going back 1 year. I also looked at every speaker link attached to them. It would take forever to type out everything I looked at and, I'm still at a loss.

I currently have Atlantic Technology 171's for the front and center channels, they are a bit worse from wear and need to be replaced. The rear speakers are M&K K4 tri-pole's, rounding it out with a M&K V75 sub. I'm not sure if the rear and sub should be replaced or not, they seem okay. This is currently driven by a Marantz NR-1403 (not going to be replaced). All the speakers are 12 years old.

The system is placed in a 20' x 14' room with a 8-6" ceiling. Imagine splitting the room due to entryways and stuff but still wide open to, 7' x 14'. The TV and mains are on the 7' wall. Due to windows and doors the rears sit on the floor behind the sofa (not ideal but it keeps the wife happy).

The system is used 60% music 40% video in the summer, opposite in the winter.

Any thoughts are welcome. Thank you.

[zieglj01]

Look at Focal 706
FOCAL CHORUS 706V BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct

Focal 700C
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-4927-fo...r-speaker.aspx

Monitor Audio Silver RX-1
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo...0%20%20PGLSBLK

RX-Center
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo...20%20%20GLSBLK

NHT Classic Three
http://www.nhthifi.com/Three?sc=12&category=3772

Classic Three Center
http://www.nhthifi.com/Three-C?sc=12&category=3774

PSB B6
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_760IMGB...rk-Cherry.html

Image C5
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_760IMGC...rk-Cherry.html

Definitive Tech SM55
http://www.onecall.com/definitive-te...-monitor-55-ea

CS8040 center
http://www.onecall.com/definitive-technology-cs-8040hd

[ImcLoud]

So $1500 for your front 3?
Heres the 2 I would go for

Low budget-
WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10.2 BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct
WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10 CM CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER (EA) at Music Direct

High budget-
Sierra-1 Bamboo Loudspeaker
Sierra-1 Reference Loudspeaker

Both are worth a listen... The sierras grow on you, the diamonds sound good too..

[CHASLS2]

Also the Paradigm Studio 20's.

[dseng]

I'll second the Sierra-1 suggestion - great speakers and a good company to deal with.

[ImcLoud]

I'll second the Sierra-1 suggestion - great speakers and a good company to deal with.

and on sale rite now in piano

[marsman]

Do yourself a favor and go with the Sierra 1s.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would get 3 pairs of the Focal 705V @ $500/pr = $1500 for a 6.1 or 5.1 system (keep 1 speaker in the closet for spare). They come in walnut, Havana, & black finishes.

High-end speakers made in France.

FOCAL CHORUS 705V BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct

Disclaimer: there are so many great sound speakers made in China, Mexico, and other countries too. Heck, my Salon2 were made in Mexico.

[ImcLoud]

The Sierras are a great speaker,
the only thing I did notice, but have no real data to support it, is when I was running them full range, they use a lot of power when making bass, I only noticed this because when they reproduced any bass notes the lights on my xpa2 shot higher than I ever seen them go so I kept the volume the same and plugged one of my 40 towers into one side and kept the sierra on the other, and sure enough for some reason the sierras made the amp lights go higher which makes no sense? {so I figured maybe this was because it was stereo and they arent identical signals so I used a y and gave both channels the same signal, still offset to the sierra, so I swapped sides, and the sierra still lit more lights on the opposite side, I don't know what caused that... But I did run them crossed at 100hz and they lit the identical amount of lights as the towers... Weird...

but anyway, that is useless, the seirras sound good, I would definetly look into them, and sales never hurt, plus if you buy now, for a year, you can trade up with ascend and get full value for your sierras!!!!

[mhamer]

One thing I did notice while checking out the Sierras is that they want a minimum of 45 watts. My receiver maxes at 50. I think that might be a little too close.