Thanks for the additional feedback guys. So I had a chance to get over to Best Buy and take a listen to the Sony Cores and Pioneer BS22. First off, I realize you can't really audition speakers in a big box store like Best Buy. But I have to say both of those speakers left me wanting. While the Sony Cores had excellent detail, they seemed a little aggressive. The Pioneers were more subdued, but there didn't seem to be much depth to them at all. The Sony Core Floors did have a slightly better sound, and out of those that would probably be my choice at this point.
So here's another very noobish question, how much better/different can I expect these speakers to sound in the home environment? And can anyone provide a direct comparison of the sound of these speakers vs the e5bi and wharfedale 10.1? I like the fact that emptek offers the 30 day audition and it looks like musicdirect offers 60 day on the 10.1s (if I'm reading that correctly).
Speakers that are set up properly in the home - is the best way to hear and judge their
overall performance, such as imaging and soundstage presentation. However, that does
not mean that they will sound twice as good - but, it does give you a chance to evaluate
them as they were designed/engineered for the home environment. Then after a couple
of weeks, you should know if you can live with them. Some speakers can grow on you.
We all tend to hear things a little different - however, the Sony is not aggressive to me.
Their overall frequency response is not voiced to jump out at you in the store.
For me, compared to the Sony - the Pioneer is more closed in and veiled, and has lower
resolution in the mids and highs, and are somewhat boomy sounding.
However you need to find what you can live with, and no one can guarantee you anything.
It would be good if you can test a couple of speakers in your home, such as Emp/Rbh and
Wharfedale, and see if one of them will float your boat. You just have to be willing to pay
return shipping.