Need help choosing sub $500 stereo speakers for start of 5.1 system

[Louis Rizzo]

Might be a dumb question- does the receiver significantly effect the sound quality? Or is it more for being able to drive certain speakers? Also I think I'm gonna have to cut some budget money for the receiver, making the jbl studios (530s) a bit beyond my price range. If we are talking $200-$400 a pair, are there any good suggestions for bookshelves I could pair with the Denon? Again, don't need loud or aesthetic, I just want a solid two (or three) steps up from the Dayton B652's I have.

 

[Louis Rizzo]

Alright guys, just got a really good deal on a pair of KEF Q300s- $435 for the pair and shipping- will post pics when it all arrives!

 

[Louis Rizzo]

Look at the Denon S700W
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S700W-7-2-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00JRTMOGS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1437621020&sr=8-3&keywords=receivers&refinements=p_89enon

Plus Amazon has a used one for $275.95
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00JRTMOGS/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

It will drive the JBL and surrounds - I would go phantom center and save
for the proper center channel

Your call

So given that setup, what kind of center would you suggest to be 'the proper center'?

 

[zieglj01]

So given that setup, what kind of center would you suggest to be 'the proper center'?

If you were or would have bought the 530, then the center would be the 520
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-520CBK-Channel-Speaker/dp/B00622SUHK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438047276&sr=8-1&keywords=jbl+studio+520

However, the KEF is not bad - enjoy the audio adventure.

 

[Louis Rizzo]

If you were or would have bought the 530, then the center would be the 520
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-520CBK-Channel-Speaker/dp/B00622SUHK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438047276&sr=8-1&keywords=jbl+studio+520

However, the KEF is not bad - enjoy the audio adventure.

Would you recommend a same-brand center in most situations? I'm sure I need to listen to find out but if I lack the option, in a general sense, would a KEF center be worth looking into at the right price?

 

[agarwalro]

Would you recommend a same-brand center in most situations? I'm sure I need to listen to find out but if I lack the option, in a general sense, would a KEF center be worth looking into at the right price?

Same brand and same series. Looks like the Kef Q200CB is the matched center speaker, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CE3LGZY/

 

[zieglj01]

Would you recommend a same-brand center in most situations? I'm sure I need to listen to find out but if I lack the option, in a general sense, would a KEF center be worth looking into at the right price?

AC4L has some refurbish KEF center channels - the Q200C and Q600C
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/spkcenter/speakers/center-channel-speakers/1.html?brand=KEF

 

[Louis Rizzo]

Thanks! Just got the kef q300s and the denon reciever- gonna finish setting them up when I get back from work (I mistakingly bought 12 gauge wire and can't fit it into the receiver) and I'm looking forward to some ear- opening experiences - I'll post photos soon and thanks again for all the help!

 

[Louis Rizzo]

Ear opening is an understatement. Holy crap. Think I'll be here for a while, guys.

 

[agarwalro]

Ear opening is an understatement. Holy crap. Think I'll be here for a while, guys.

Ya!

 

[Louis Rizzo]

Would I be correct in assuming that I would need a better receiver to reach the q300s potential? I find that, when I play music, certain frequencies (namely specific high and mid range ones) have like a white noise 'afterglow' to them. That's the best way I can describe it. Like the clarity is not 100% there on a speaker that boasts its clarity. Could the fact that the speakers are physically too close together contribute to what I assume is 'distortion'? (I have yet to put a sound to a name yet and don't really know what 'distortion' is supposed to sound like.

 

[rojo]

What kind of speaker wire are you using? Did you get some 16 gauge oxygen-free copper or thicker to go with your new speakers? Or did you reuse the the stuff that came with your home theater in a box? I have a suspicion your HTIB came with 22 gauge disposable stuff; and if you're still using it, that could be the cause of the treachery. See this page for a thorough explanation, and be advised that copper-clad aluminum wire (like Amazon Basics) is only about 2/3 as efficient as oxygen-free copper (like Monoprice or Belden).

 

[Louis Rizzo]

What kind of speaker wire are you using? Did you get some 16 gauge oxygen-free copper or thicker to go with your new speakers? Or did you reuse the the stuff that came with your home theater in a box? I have a suspicion your HTIB came with 22 gauge disposable stuff; and if you're still using it, that could be the cause of the treachery. See this page for a thorough explanation, and be advised that copper-clad aluminum wire (like Amazon Basics) is only about 2/3 as efficient as oxygen-free copper (like Monoprice or Belden).

Yea I'm using 16 gauge oxygen gauge copper. Lower gauge wouldn't fit in the receiver. Is it possible that it's the acoustics of my room? The fact that it's on random pitches in any frequency as opposed to all being at a specific frequency leads me to believe it's related to room acoustics.

 

[agarwalro]

The Denon S700 should have enough power. Did you play with the placement, toe-in, etc. (and run auto calibration after each change)?

 

[Louis Rizzo]

The Denon S700 should have enough power. Did you play with the placement, toe-in, etc. (and run auto calibration after each change)?

Yea I've been playing around with the configuration, although I haven't been running calibration after each change. I find that if I put my ear to the speaker, I lose any harshness. I usually only get the distortion on perfect chord intervals, so it's likely that it's just something in my room vibrating. It's not exactly acousticly engineered.

 

[Louis Rizzo]

Think I figured it out, and it was a really simple thing. The audio I was listening to was coming from spotify on a playstation 4, and until I had speakers that could expose it, I didn't realize how crappy spotify's audio quality was.