S

Stevemc

Enthusiast
I need a little help. I am looking to replace my current LCR set up. I just sold off my Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 bookshelf and center speakers. I was never very happy with them. I have a living room that opens up to my dinning room and kitchen. My living room alone is about 2500 cubic feet. I never felt like the Monitors were dynamic enough for my open room. My father in law has a Revel set up and they fill the room with sound. That's what I'm looking for. I do not listen to anything at reference levels and use is primarily TV and movies. My budget is between $1000-1500. I will be pairing them with a Yamaha rx receiver, SVS SB-2000 sub and Monitor Audio in ceiling speakers for the rears. I wish I could order everything to try out and send back what I don't like, but that is not going to work. So perhaps someone can give me their opinions on the following options. I would be open to bookshelf or towers.

1. Any 3 piece set up from Chane would fit into my budget nicely.

2. Ascend Sierra 1s

3. Aperion has a new Intimus Stealth lineup. I could get 2 towers and a center.

4. Paradigm has a sale going on right now where if you purchase any Monitor tower you get a free center channel.

5. Emp Tek has a sale right now. I could get 2 towers and a center for less than $1000.

6. Lastly, accessories4less has a sale on Kef and Focal. I could get bookshelf or towers with a center for around $1000.

Thanks in advance. I know this is all subjective. Just looking for honest opinions.
 
S

shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
If the Monitor Audio speakers are not dynamic enough for you none of those other bookshelf speakers would be either. You will need something with more displacement like tower speakers. I would be looking at the Emp Tek speakers, I might also look at the Fluance Signature towers. If you want a dynamic bookshelf speaker, look at the Klipsch P-17s which are being clearenced out at the moment, very good prices on those but they do stretch your budget a bit.
 
S

Stevemc

Enthusiast
Shadyj

Thanks for the reply. This was actually my first post. I was kind of thinking the same thing. What about towers from any of the ones I listed before like the Chane Ar5 towers, Paradim monitor 9v7 etc. I have heard great things about the Emps and Fluance.
 
S

shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
I think the Paradigm and Chane towers would be fine as well. You might also think about doubling up on the SB2000 subs, or getting subwoofers that have greater dynamic range. That large space is surely taxing on a single 12" sealed sub.
 
S

Stevemc

Enthusiast
That's a great idea. I didn't think about getting another sub. My wife may divorce me! Haha. I think that the Paradigm deal sounds good. I would get a $599 center for free. My only concern is I have read a couple of reviews stating that the Paradigms can be a little harsh in the highs. Perhaps that won't matter to me since I never get to turn it up to loud due to my two little ones telling me to turn it down all of the time.
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
What sound harsh to some, is more detail for others.
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
Thanks for the suggestion! Those wouldn't be considered harsh due to the tweeter?
No report of harsh sound - JBL upper level speakers are not known to be harsh.
The studio 2 speakers have good reviews and the tweeters are detailed with
no aggressive and blaring sound. Now for some they can sound a little bright,
however for your big room that can work fine.
 
Last edited:
cel4145

cel4145

Audioholic
I never felt like the Monitors were dynamic enough for my open room. My father in law has a Revel set up and they fill the room with sound.
Speaker placement can have a big impact on this. Can you share a photo of how you plan to set the speakers up?
 
S

Stevemc

Enthusiast
No report of harsh sound - JBL upper level speakers are not known to be harsh.
The studio 2 speakers have good reviews and the tweeters are detailed with
no aggressive and blaring sound. Now for some they can sound a little bright,
however for your big room that can work fine.
Thanks again for the suggestion. The price is pretty good for those. I will have to look into that.
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
looking to replace my current LCR set up
I never felt like the Monitors were dynamic enough
use is primarily TV and movies.
My budget is between $1000-1500.
Thanks in advance. I know this is all subjective. Just looking for honest opinions.
I don't know how long their sale will last, but right now, Klipsch has some very nice prices on speakers that I think make the best HT speakers at you budget!

2 at $359 ea.:
http://www.klipsch.com/products/rf-82-ii-floorstanding-speaker

and one of these at $329:
http://www.klipsch.com/products/rc-62-ii-center-speaker


That works out to a total of $1047 for a very dynamic system!

Edit: It looks like Klipsch has sold out the RC-62-ii Centers, but Amazon has them at the same price (they probably have the towers as well, if you prefer Amazon):
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Center-Channel-Loudspeaker/dp/B0040QS8R2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479956071&sr=1-2&keywords=klipsch+rc-62

Or, you can save $50 and go with a lower profile RC-52-ii center (this is the one I have with no regrets). It is 6.5" tall vs the RC-62-ii at 8" tall.
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Center-Channel-Loudspeaker/dp/B0040QW7KQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479956230&sr=1-1&keywords=klipsch+rc-52

Here are my comments from when I first heard these:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/klipsch-rf62-ii.95251/#post-1088658
 
Last edited:
S

Stevemc

Enthusiast
I don't know how long their sale will last, but right now, Klipsch has some very nice prices on speakers that I think make the best HT speakers at you budget!

2 at $359 ea.:
http://www.klipsch.com/products/rf-82-ii-floorstanding-speaker

and one of these at $329:
http://www.klipsch.com/products/rc-62-ii-center-speaker


That works out to a total of $1047 for a very dynamic system!

Edit: It looks like Klipsch has sold out the RC-62-ii Centers, but Amazon has them at the same price (they probably have the towers as well, if you prefer Amazon):
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Center-Channel-Loudspeaker/dp/B0040QS8R2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479956071&sr=1-2&keywords=klipsch+rc-62

Or, you can save $50 and go with a lower profile RC-52-ii center (this is the one I have with no regrets). It is 6.5" tall vs the RC-62-ii at 8" tall.
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Center-Channel-Loudspeaker/dp/B0040QW7KQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479956230&sr=1-1&keywords=klipsch+rc-52

Here are my comments from when I first heard these:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/klipsch-rf62-ii.95251/#post-1088658
Thanks Kurt! I have a place in south Florida that is having a huge sale on Klipsch right now. I'm going to stop by there and check them out. I know quite a few people have a love/hate relationship with them, but I heard they are great for home theater. No one has said much about Focal or Kef yet. Perhaps I should seriously consider the Klipsch or JBL studio line. Still curious about Chane and Paradigm...
 
S

Stevemc

Enthusiast
I don't know how long their sale will last, but right now, Klipsch has some very nice prices on speakers that I think make the best HT speakers at you budget!

2 at $359 ea.:
http://www.klipsch.com/products/rf-82-ii-floorstanding-speaker

and one of these at $329:
http://www.klipsch.com/products/rc-62-ii-center-speaker


That works out to a total of $1047 for a very dynamic system!

Edit: It looks like Klipsch has sold out the RC-62-ii Centers, but Amazon has them at the same price (they probably have the towers as well, if you prefer Amazon):
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Center-Channel-Loudspeaker/dp/B0040QS8R2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479956071&sr=1-2&keywords=klipsch+rc-62

Or, you can save $50 and go with a lower profile RC-52-ii center (this is the one I have with no regrets). It is 6.5" tall vs the RC-62-ii at 8" tall.
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Center-Channel-Loudspeaker/dp/B0040QW7KQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479956230&sr=1-1&keywords=klipsch+rc-52

Here are my comments from when I first heard these:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/klipsch-rf62-ii.95251/#post-1088658
Just finished reading your review. That was a great write up. I'm looking forward to getting over to my local place to check out their Klipsch sale.

Steve
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
Just finished reading your review. That was a great write up. I'm looking forward to getting over to my local place to check out their Klipsch sale.

Steve
Enjoy!
Let us know what Klipsch models they are selling at what price. The RF-82-ii's are not their cheapest nor their best speakers, but they are a nice package!

I have a pair is Focal Solo6's that I love, but I have never heard their lower priced offerings, so cannot comment on them.
The only KEF's I have heard were the LS50's. However, I only listened to them with music before I returned them. I did not like the way the waveguide sacrificed the room ambiance. They did lots of other things very well and I can understand why they are popular. I think they could work well for HT, but still would not have the dynamics of the Klipsch. The Klipsch are especially dynamic speakers, and they seem to deliver stuff like percussive attacks extra fast which get my hairs and adrenaline up a little quicker when watching an action flick!
 
S

Stevemc

Enthusiast
Enjoy!
Let us know what Klipsch models they are selling at what price. The RF-82-ii's are not their cheapest nor their best speakers, but they are a nice package!

I have a pair is Focal Solo6's that I love, but I have never heard their lower priced offerings, so cannot comment on them.
The only KEF's I have heard were the LS50's. However, I only listened to them with music before I returned them. I did not like the way the waveguide sacrificed the room ambiance. They did lots of other things very well and I can understand why they are popular. I think they could work well for HT, but still would not have the dynamics of the Klipsch. The Klipsch are especially dynamic speakers, and they seem to deliver stuff like percussive attacks extra fast which get my hairs and adrenaline up a little quicker when watching an action flick!
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
The tower you list is essentially identical to the RF-82-ii except it has 2 ea. 6" woofers instead of 2 ea 8" woofers. Of course, the 82 costs more so if just looking at the cost, the 82 is a much better deal because it is $360 vs $400 for the 62.
Since you are running a sub, the 6" vs 8" difference is of little practical consequence so other factors will drive you decision, such as the size of the speaker cabinets and how they will fit in your room.
 
newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top