HT speakers upgrade

[Fred76]

I want to upgrade my HT speakers to have a better soundstage with music and have clearer dialogs. My current configuration is:

Receiver: Yamaha RXV-667
Center: Paradigm CC-370 V2
L/R : Paradigm Monitor 7 V3
Surrounds (2) : Paradigm Monitor Titan V3
Subwoofer: Paradigm PS-1000

My subwoofer does not work properly and I will buy an SVS PB-2000

The HT is in the following room:

Width: 12'
Length: 20'
Height: 7'
Seating distance: 8'

Usage is the following:

• Music: 25%;
• TV / movie / video games : 75%;

I have the following questions for the upgrade:

• I am looking at using bookshelfs instead of towers (specifically because of cost/quality reasons). Does this makes sense? I am looking at the Focal Aria 906 or the Monitor Audio Silver 2 with their matching centers (Aria CC 900 and Silver center)
• Can I buy the L/R speakers first and then later the center or I must buy all the front speakers at the same time? It may not sound optimal for a while but I guess I need to start somewhere
• I can use the fronts from one company and use the surrounds from another. For example: Fronts are Focals and the Surrounds are Silver FX from Monitor Audio.

Other speaker suggestions are welcomed

 

[TheWarrior]

I want to upgrade my HT speakers to have a better soundstage with music and have clearer dialogs. My current configuration is:

Receiver: Yamaha RXV-667
Center: Paradigm CC-370 V2
L/R : Paradigm Monitor 7 V3
Surrounds (2) : Paradigm Monitor Titan V3
Subwoofer: Paradigm PS-1000

My subwoofer does not work properly and I will buy an SVS PB-2000

The HT is in the following room:

Width: 12'
Length: 20'
Height: 7'
Seating distance: 8'

Usage is the following:

• Music: 25%;
• TV / movie / video games : 75%;

I have the following questions for the upgrade:

• I am looking at using bookshelfs instead of towers (specifically because of cost/quality reasons). Does this makes sense? I am looking at the Focal Aria 906 or the Monitor Audio Silver 2 with their matching centers (Aria CC 900 and Silver center)
• Can I buy the L/R speakers first and then later the center or I must buy all the front speakers at the same time? It may not sound optimal for a while but I guess I need to start somewhere
• I can use the fronts from one company and use the surrounds from another. For example: Fronts are Focals and the Surrounds are Silver FX from Monitor Audio.

Other speaker suggestions are welcomed

Bookshelves are excellent. Keep in mind, you may want to add a second sub to balance out the bass response seat to seat. But that is true whether you used towers or not...

As for what speakers to buy, I strongly recommend going out and hearing as much as you can, or utilize in-home trials! Not many speakers will sound like those titanium tweeters you are used to hearing, and therefore, you may not appreciate the sound of just 'any' new speaker.

 

[DD66000]

No matter if you stay with the speakers you have or buy new, you do need to take the time to find the proper locations in the room, especially the LCRs.
That is how you get a good soundstage.
Speakers need space to produce at their best.
L/R spread 8' and well away from the side walls will produce a better soundstage, compared to the L/R spread 11' and right next to the side walls.
Pumping the center volume say +3db improves the problem of dialogue.