Speaker brightness

[Nomo]

I'm looking to upgrade my speakers, most likely surrounds and center first then when money is a bit more plentiful get a decent set of fronts. This probably seams like a bassackward plan but my reasoning is such;
My listening is 60/40 music/movies. My current fronts are more than adaquate for musical and movie reproduction. (Old Technics)
My surrounds, although a bargain at the time, (Onkyo) do not provide justice to my Yamaha 1500.
The flaw in my plan unfortunately is I need to decide on fronts well before buying them in order to keep everything matched.
I realize the idea of brightness has been somewhat debated here but to me it is a reality, not just one that is subject to room treatments and EQ adjustments. I've almost completely eliminated from my list the Klipsh line. I've heard the several times thru a 1500 and would call the combination harsh rather than bright.
I really love the clarity of my Yamaha but I feel that it is more than any brand succeptable to a bad speaker pairing.
As I said the clarity of my 1500 is great but I like bass. I listen to rock music, ACDC, Soundgarden, Audioslave, (Krokus anyone?). I need a speaker that can perform well in Pure Direct mode, No Sub woofer. I don't want speakers that will scorch my ears with treble, but I want one that will match up well with the Yamaha clarity.

 

[Yamahaluver]

Check out Yamaha's own NS-555/777 with matching NS-333 for surround and NS-444C. For the sub, check out Yamaha YST-SW-315. Give all these an audition attached to the RXV-1500.

 

[Nomo]

I wish i could find a place to give the Yamahas a listen. No one around here seems to carry them. The price is definately tempting but honestly I have yet to find a Jap tower speaker that impresses me. I have no doubt that they sound better than their Sony or Pioneer counter parts but I'm curious how well they compare to the American or Canadian companies.

 

[Yamahaluver]

The Yamaha NS-300 and NS8HX blows speakers from Canton, Paradigm, B&W etc. The NS-777 are not that high end and yet have super accurate sound, try Tweeters or BB, they both carry them.

 

[Nomo]

NS8HX is beyond my budget. NS-300? Yamaha must have discontinued this one?
I'll check again at BB but I don't think the ones around here have the 777's or 555's. This is just Wisconsin here, you can prctically buy beer and cheese at the library. Audio equipment is a much scarcer commodity.

Thanks for the info.

The low effeciency and 6 ohm factor worry me Yamahaluver. If you don't mind me asking; what does your system consist of? Are you running the 777's?

 

[toquemon]

I have a pair of NS-300 and Yamahaluver is right. Those speakers are very accurate, have a very good soundstage and have the sweetest highs that i've ever heard in a sub $1,000 pr. speakers, i just love the way the cymbals sound. Maybe you could get one pair for less than $500 at ebay.

I also liked a lot the Energy Connoisseur C-5, but they were out of my budget.

The efficiency of the Yamaha speakers is generally acceptable (my NS-300 are 91db) and the impedance is very stable. Don't worry, your Yammie 1500 would handle the speakers very well.

 

[Nomo]

I checked BB today. No Yamaha 555's or 777's. Sucks to be me. I guess my major concern with these Yamaha speakers is the possibility that while they may be great for movies they'll lack the balls to stand up on their own without a sub for music.
By the way, at this point no NS-300 anywhere. Not even Ebay!
I just realized I really didn't give a budget. I definitely need to stay sub $1000 for the fronts. Sub $800 preferably.