Yamaha Speakers vs HTD Level 2/3

[djsa4]

First off, hello everyone! Expect quite a few questions from me over the coming months as I plan on upgrading every piece of audio equipment between the house, yard, and car!

I've been a yamaha fan since I was a kid and received a brand new yamaha preamp/ amp and speaker set in 7th grade. I've been out of the loop (er, well more like broke as hell) for a few years. My last receiver was a Sony STR-DN840, which I just sold. I hated it, it didn't have half the features of yamaha's nor the sound quality. I am now in the market for a whole new setup. I'm pretty well decided on the receiver (either a yammie 7.2, or a 9.2 so I can bi-amp the mains and still have 7.2)

The undecided part, is the speakers. I've been searching google for a day or so and can't seem to find any good comparisons between yamaha speakers (NS-555/NS-777) and the Home Theater Direct Level 2 and 3. Has anyone here heard both setups? What would you recommend? I'll guesstimate that the room is 10X20, I'll measure it when I'm off work to give you guys a better idea.

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

 

[JohnnieB]

Welcome to the forum. My first question would be, have you heard the speakers, or are you just going on the brand name? I have not heard the Yamaha speakers, though they sell them at my local Best Buy. Looking at the spec sheet however, I feel there are other options.
You mentioned a 7.1/9.1 setup. I take that to mean you plan on purchasing subs as well. If thats the case, I would focus more on a speaker that maybe doesn't try to cover as large a frequency range, but focuses more on clarity and imaging. For about the same money, you may be able to get into a little higher "class" of speaker.
You also mentioned room size, don't forget ceiling height. What is your budget for speakers? What other brands have you heard? What did you like or dislike about those brands?

 

[djsa4]

I've heard the yamaha NS-555's, and I own a set of a yamaha surround speakers, never heard HTD. My budget is $1k for speakers. The only place locally that sells speakers is bestbuy, I've heard Polk's, Sony's and klipsch, the polks IMO sounded muddy and the klipsch were too bright, the Sony's were in between the polks and klipsch, but then again that could be because BB had them hooked to a crappy amp. My ceiling height is laughable at 6.5feet.

 

[zieglj01]

I have not listened to the current Yamaha speakers

HTD makes some nice stuff - the sound is good for the money

I would also look at Focal - a real good price - and I do like Focal
FOCAL Chorus 717V (716V) Dual 6-1/2" Tower Speaker PAIR Havana | Accessories4less

 

[djsa4]

I have not listened to the current Yamaha speakers

HTD makes some nice stuff - the sound is good for the money

I would also look at Focal - a real good price - and I do like Focal

Focal definitely makes good speakers, for my car I'm debating between jbl and focals. However for my HT I have a $1k budget and $750+ shipping would leave me with $190 for surrounds. The yammie surrounds are more of their budget line, which is why I want to do a full over haul.

 

[rojo]

$190 isn't too far from getting you a pair of Fluance XLBP bipolar surrounds, especially if you can catch them on sale. Considering that maybe 5% of the content of movies and 0% of stereo music is played by surrounds, you'd be completely justified in devoting more of your budget to your main LCR and adding the surrounds as an afterthought. I have a similar model as my surrounds -- one with smaller drivers. They're fine for me, although the deeper low end range of the XLBP I'm recommending to you would've blended better. Still, there's no mud in mine, and I'm sure there won't be in the XLBP either.

Here is a more reputable opinion on using these Fluance surrounds with a non-Fluance LCR.

 

[zieglj01]

Focal definitely makes good speakers, for my car I'm debating between jbl and focals. However for my HT I have a $1k budget and $750+ shipping would leave me with $190 for surrounds. The yammie surrounds are more of their budget line, which is why I want to do a full over haul.

Yes JBL does make good car speakers - and their Studio 5 series are some good home speakers

For Focal - this would be my choice for surrounds - the Sib, with another good price
FOCAL Sib 5" 2-Way Satellite Loudspeakers Pair Gloss Black | Accessories4less

 

[zieglj01]

The only place locally that sells speakers is bestbuy, I've heard Polk's, Sony's and klipsch, the polks IMO sounded muddy and the klipsch were too bright
the Sony's were in between the polks and klipsch, but then again that could be because BB had them hooked to a crappy amp.

On a side note - I do like the new Sony speakers - they sound good and not cheap to me

 

[djsa4]

Thanks all, you gave me a ton of info. I just wish there was a local spot (Besides BB) that I could test out a few sets