Tower Speaker Recommendations

[NDyse10]

Hello All-

This forum has been of great help to me in the past and am now in the market for some tower speakers and was looking for some recommendations.

A little bit about my listening habits/current setup/budget:

Marantz SR5005
Polk Tsi 200
Polk Cs20
SVS PB-12 NSD

I am getting these speakers for music quality. I do watch movies quite a bit, but I want speakers that are going to get me great musical quality and the movie part isn't as big of a deal for me.

I listen to pretty much every musical genre but the ones I listen to most are:

Classic Rock, Hard Rock and Country.

I am looking to spend no more than $400 for a pair of tower speakers. I realize this leaves me somewhat limited but I just can't stretch my budget much more than that. If people think by spending a little bit more I am going to get much more quality then just let me know!

The pair of speakers I am leaning towards most right now are the Infinity P363 off crutchfield for $400/pair. I have read the P363s are 4ohm. Will my Marantz SR5005 drive these properly? I am also looking for other suggestions of speakers around this price point.

I wouldn't have money to buy the corresponding center channel speaker for whatever towers I end up going with, so would just be running a 2.1 for now.

Thanks,

NDyse10

 

[ReUpRo]

The P363 are a great value speaker, can't go wrong there. Also, look at Pioneer Andrew Jones FS52.

 

[ImcLoud]

I see this often. since you have a decent sub, and you will be crossing your fronts to your sub below say 80hz, why not just get a really nice set of bookshelfs, you get more sound quality for your money, and IMO they normally sound better than towers, less cabinet resonance, nicer mids, ect.. More of your budget can go to the speakers vs cabinet materials and extra shipping costs....
for $400 you can get a set of Carnegie CSB1's and will be amazed at the sq and sound stage them things throw off, GR is selling them for $400 a pair for a limited time {I believe he has some left, a few of us on here bought sets and so far everyone has been happy... use the search there are some topics with pics and reviews... I like them a lot for muisc, I have a pair of 2200 mono blocks behind them and paired with an svs sb12 dual drive, they sound really nice, and they sound better than any $1000 towers I can think of..

The Pioneers {they sound good for their price, but lack that forwardish output you are going to want with music, for a budget HT system they are great} and Infinity {I've never been crazy about them, I think the pioneers are better for less, but a lot of others are happy with them} towers are nice, but for your budget you can get into that next level of bookshelf.

 

[zieglj01]

Your Marantz will drive the Infinity speakers - they can be nice, however not my preference.
Since you have a nice sub - I for sure would look at bookshelf speakers.

If you had $500 - I would get the Boston E60
http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Acoustics-E60-Performance-Bookshelf/dp/B001H9O1CQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388074514&sr=8-1&keywords=boston+e60+speakers

If budget is tight - look at the Boston M25 - special $399 pair
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cZ6LFVorzmA/p_065M25/Boston-Acoustics-M25.html

However, I would stretch for the E60

Also, you may want to look at the Carnegi in post #3

 

[TheStalker]

Since you have very nice equipment already, why not wait and save up for a worthy upgrade? What you propose and what has been recommended is no better, or worse than the Polks you already have. For excellent monitors, you need to be around $1000-$1500 and for towers closer to $2000.

You should be looking at these for a real upgrade:

B&W CM
Dynaudio Excite
Sonus Faber Venere
Focal Aria

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I see this often. since you have a decent sub, and you will be crossing your fronts to your sub below say 80hz, why not just get a really nice set of bookshelfs, you get more sound quality for your money, and IMO they normally sound better than towers, less cabinet resonance, nicer mids, ect.. More of your budget can go to the speakers vs cabinet materials and extra shipping costs....
for $400 you can get a set of Carnegie CSB1's and will be amazed at the sq and sound stage them things throw off, GR is selling them for $400 a pair for a limited time {I believe he has some left, a few of us on here bought sets and so far everyone has been happy... use the search there are some topics with pics and reviews... I like them a lot for muisc, I have a pair of 2200 mono blocks behind them and paired with an svs sb12 dual drive, they sound really nice, and they sound better than any $1000 towers I can think of..

+2

As mentioned - you already have nice sub - Get good bookshelves for best value...

In addition few more options (if Cargenie sold out)
EMP Tek E41 Bookshelf Speaker
and NHT Classic Zero - NHT Absolute Zero Bookshelf Speaker (Black, Single) | Amazon price tracker / tracking, Amazon price history charts, Amazon price watches, Amazon price drop alerts | camelcamelcamel.com

I'd put the price alert at $180 and wait for next sale

p.s: And feel free to ignore troll whom posted before me

 

[afterlife2]

Hi and welcome back! If you want to keep some of your money and want great speakers on a budget: Amazon.com: Pioneer SP-FS52-LR Andrew Jones Designed Floor standing Loudspeaker (each): Electronics

Center: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-C22-Designed-Channel-Speaker/dp/B008NCD2EI/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1388082991&sr=1-3&keywords=andrew+jones+pioneer+speakers

 

[zieglj01]

There is no way on planet earth - that I would put the Polks in the same class
as the speakers, that have been recommended in this thread.

 

[TheStalker]

There is no way on planet earth - that I would put the Polks in the same class
as the speakers, that have been recommended in this thread.

They are exactly in the same class.

 

[ImcLoud]

They are exactly in the same class.

ARE YOU SERIOUS BRO LOL, I don't know how to add text to pictures, sorry ,but it would be perfect for this pic......

Stalker, just give it up, no one is ever going to buy a pair of cm5's on your recommendation, you are the only one crazy enough to max out their best buy card on them "just OK' speakers, I have heard them and the CSB1's sound better for 1/3rd the price..... I prefer sierra 1's to them...

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Imc, Don't feed the trolls

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Marantz SR5005
Polk Tsi 200
Polk Cs20
SVS PB-12 NSD

I am getting these speakers for music quality.

How would you describe the sound quality of your current speakers?

I think it's important you'd be able return your purchase if it doesn't work out like you'd hope.

And why towers, instead of bookshelf?

Definitely go listen first and see now they actually compare to your current speakers. Don't buy unless you can tell a significant improvement.

 

[NDyse10]

How would you describe the sound quality of your current speakers?

I think it's important you'd be able return your purchase if it doesn't work out like you'd hope.

And why towers, instead of bookshelf?

Definitely go listen first and see now they actually compare to your current speakers. Don't buy unless you can tell a significant improvement.

The way I would describe the sound quality of the Polks is just overall not very detailed. I have a headphone rig that consists of a Schiit Asgard amp with the Sennheiser HD600s and when I listen to that I can just hear the detail in the music. That is not the case with the Polks. I also find the Polks to be lacking in the mid-range a lot.

I was thinking towers instead of bookshelves because in the past when I had asked about bookshelf speakers people pointed me into the direction of tower speakers.

I live in the Twin Cities area. Does anyone know of places in that area where I could demo some of the speakers that have been mentioned here? Or do some of the online retailers have a program where I can test them and return them if I don't like?

 

[NDyse10]

Also, based off the recommendations would a good shortlist to research/try to demo be:

Carnegie CSB 1
Emp Tek E41
NHT Absolute Zero

Any others to look? For me, cheaper is always better. The Emp Tek appeal to me most now because of the $300/pair price tag. What speaker stands would go with those?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The way I would describe the sound quality of the Polks is just overall not very detailed. I have a headphone rig that consists of a Schiit Asgard amp with the Sennheiser HD600s and when I listen to that I can just hear the detail in the music. That is not the case with the Polks. I also find the Polks to be lacking in the mid-range a lot.

I was thinking towers instead of bookshelves because in the past when I had asked about bookshelf speakers people pointed me into the direction of tower speakers.

Or do some of the online retailers have a program where I can test them and return them if I don't like?

I see. Yeah, that's how I feel about Polk in "general".

As you can see, I own both towers and bookshelf speakers. And I personally subjectively feel that bookshelf + subs sound every bit as good as towers + subs. I wholeheartedly believe that there isn't any audible advantages of towers over bookshelf when you have subs.

NHT is one company I like that offers free 30-day returns (free shipping both ways). They also have discounts from time to time. Like the NHT Absolute Zero were on sale not too long abo for $175 each. I personally feel they sound utterly crystal clear in the midrange and amazingly detailed. And the measurements do confirm because Home Theater Magazine measured the listening window frequency response as +/-0.9dB from 100Hz-10kHz, which is superlative.

The key word here is "confirm". Measurements don't mean much if you personally don't even like the sound of the speakers.

But that is just me. It's good to try out and be able to return w/ free shipping if you don't like them.

As far as speaker stands, I like Wood Technology and VTI.

 

[ImcLoud]

You can call up danny at GR research 940-592-3400 and speak to him about the csb1's, I bought them and I was impressed with the over all package, fit and finish {which is very very good, magnetic grilles, flush plugs, angled cabinet, flawless piano black, they even came with velour and embroidered covers} but when we powered them up and started play some material they performed beyond their $900 MSRP, so buying them for $400 was a score, I think built myself a 2.2 out of them and I am satisfied with the outcome. The most surprising thing about these speakers is their HUGE sound stage, I honestly can't imagine a tower in the $400 range that can come close... I have subs with them so cant speak volumes about the low end, but I have tried them full range and they are very capable..

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Also, based off the recommendations would a good shortlist to research/try to demo be:

Carnegie CSB 1
Emp Tek E41
NHT Absolute Zero

Any others to look? For me, cheaper is always better. The Emp Tek appeal to me most now because of the $300/pair price tag. What speaker stands would go with those?

All these are extremely capable speakers - you couldn't go wrong with ether of them, but I have to say I completely forgot about Ascend Acoustics
CBM-170 SE High Performance Bookshelf Loudspeaker and HTM-200 SE Home Theater Monitor

Speaking of low budget - Pioneers BS22 are ok..., but after some powerful magic (aka new Tweeter and crossover) they could really shine
Philharmonic Audio and here: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/88348-affordable-accuracy-loudspeakers.html

At 150/pr they are not quite as level of other above mentioned speakers, but closer than you think

 

[zieglj01]

The way I would describe the sound quality of the Polks is just overall not very detailed. I have a headphone rig that consists of a Schiit Asgard amp with the Sennheiser HD600s and when I listen to that I can just hear the detail in the music. That is not the case with the Polks. I also find the Polks to be lacking in the mid-range a lot.

While still out of your present budget - read this on the Boston E60 speakers,
since you are talking about headphones.
Boston Acoustics E60 Bookshelf Speakers reviews - Audioreview.com

And for your info - The Pioneer modded AAL speakers is in another league over
your Polk speakers. However, not in the same league as the E60 speakers.

The Pioneer modded speakers will favor the NHT sound signature.

 

[defmoot]

NHT has a coupon code for 10% off right now. Use H2013 at checkout. That puts the Absolute Zeros at $395.98 for the pair. Don't know how long that coupon lasts. Maybe until December 30th when they resume shipping (on holiday right now). I have the Classic Threes and love 'em, but I'd be very tempted to give the Carnegie's a shot for the same price.

 

[gtgray]

NHT has a coupon code for 10% off right now. Use H2013 at checkout. That puts the Absolute Zeros at $395.98 for the pair. Don't know how long that coupon lasts. Maybe until December 30th when they resume shipping (on holiday right now). I have the Classic Threes and love 'em, but I'd be very tempted to give the Carnegie's a shot for the same price.

Do they actually sell the Carnegies? I sent email via their site and got absolutely zero response. That kind of gave me some confidence issues with them as a vendor. What's up with that anyway? If some builder is niche and ID and they don't reply to sales inquiries on their main page...hmmmn