Upgrade Bug Bite - Please advise about proper medicine

[dbissett]

I should say first that we're talking about a 19x21' room, fairly open at one end, with 9' ceiling, and 50/50 mix of music/movies at moderate to barely wall shaking volume. I'm planning on a new 5.1 HT system after 15 yrs nursing my current one, which includes a Marantz NR1501 (bought to temporarily replace an Outlaw receiver years ago), a now dead Klipsch 12' reference series sub, and KEF speakers with RDM Two's for mains, a Q100 center and lesser surrounds. Will replace the receiver first so I can properly audition subs and speakers, and have the Outlaw 975/5000 in sight. After the hours of internet reading required to replace actual B&M critical listening, the short list of subs includes the Outlaw X12, SVS SB2000, and Hsu ULS-15 MK2. (I originally chose the Klipsch out of 4 I auditioned because it did by far the best job with music, which is still important, and handled movies well too.) It's the speaker system where I'm really getting stuck. There are so many "best" lists on the net, and apparently excellent bookshelf speakers (below $1500/pair), that my research has created a long list of potential speakers, too long to actually audition in-house. So since I'll use a pretty good sub could you guys help me narrow the list by focusing on which speakers provide the best mid-range/high response, i.e. natural, neutral, open, etc., for the broadest (musical) sources. I'm thinking, piano, voice, acoustic instrumentation? Here's the admittedly diverse list of possible "Best" choices the net suggests...

Def Tech SM65
MartinLogan Motion 15
B&W 685 S2
(these 3 are the only ones I can find to actually listen to, at Best Buy)
RSL CG4's
SVS Ultra's
SVS Prime's
Ascend Sierra 1
Elac B5 or UB5
Polk RtiA3
PSB Imagine B

Any and all thoughts on this project welcome. Thanks.

David

 

[Hetfield]

We'll all I can say is the SM 65s are incredible and at a great price right now. You could buy 5 of them less than 1,500 bucks. In fact 1,250 bucks. I have 3 up front and SM55 surrounds. It's s potent line of speakers for sure. I'm sure there are others on your list that are as good or even better, I just have no experience with them. Just giving you my experience with the SM 65s. I love them.

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[zieglj01]

You need to reach out and audition -- even at the risk of paying return shipping -- I would try to narrow that list to the 3 speakers that interest you the most -- I would suggest that you keep the Ascend Sierra on a short list.

 

[dbissett]

Yes, the SVS, Ascend and RSL come with a trial period, and the Def Tech, MartyLogan and B&W's I assume can be bought/returned to BB, but as you suggested I'd like to reduce the list to 3-4 top choices. Plus, the 30 day trial periods kind of make it difficult to compare more choices because you've go to have them all on hand at the same time, which creates more practical limitations.

 

[Pogre]

Yes, the SVS, Ascend and RSL come with a trial period, and the Def Tech, MartyLogan and B&W's I assume can be bought/returned to BB, but as you suggested I'd like to reduce the list to 3-4 top choices. Plus, the 30 day trial periods kind of make it difficult to compare more choices because you've go to have them all on hand at the same time, which creates more practical limitations.

I'm a huge fan of SVS.

They sound as good as they look. You can easily get away with the bookshelves instead of towers if you get a capable sub(s). I got the towers because the same bug bit me!

My choice for sub(s) would be a tossup between SVS and Hsu. Both are very good. Come down to it, I'd probably call it by price (you can see in the pic I went with 2 Hsu VTF-3 MK5's). SVS offers a 45 day trial period with return shipping on them if you decide you don't like them. I never sent any of mine back.

 

[Hetfield]

Yes, the SVS, Ascend and RSL come with a trial period, and the Def Tech, MartyLogan and B&W's I assume can be bought/returned to BB, but as you suggested I'd like to reduce the list to 3-4 top choices. Plus, the 30 day trial periods kind of make it difficult to compare more choices because you've go to have them all on hand at the same time, which creates more practical limitations.

You can get the Def Techs at Crutchfield with free shipping and 60 days to return. I bought all mine there. Great customer service at Crutchfield, second to none, period.

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[William Lemmerhirt]

Personally with a room that big, I'd be buying towers(wink, @Pogre) for the mains(not bookshelf's with a cabinet attached either lol!), and definitely scratch the SB2000 off the list. HSU is great bang for the buck in subs and while I own svs, Rythmik and psa also offer great performance. What is your budget overall? RBH represents great value as well.

 

[shadyJ]

At 1500 per pair of speakers, I would be looking at RBH SV series, KEF LS50s or KEF R100s, maybe Revel Concerto2 M16s, maybe the SVS Ultra speakers, one of the Philharmonic Philharmonitors. If you don't listen at loud levels, maybe the Ascend Luna speaker. If you are interested in soundstage and imaging, the Hsu CCB-8s. If you want unlimited dynamic range and good accuracy, and don't care about how the speakers look, check out the QSC k10.2 speakers, they are PA speakers but I believe that they are very high fidelity speakers nonetheless.

 

[Bucknekked]

I should say first that we're talking about a 19x21' room, fairly open at one end, with 9' ceiling, and 50/50 mix of music/movies at moderate to barely wall shaking volume. I'm planning on a new 5.1 HT system after 15 yrs nursing my current one, which includes a Marantz NR1501 (bought to temporarily replace an Outlaw receiver years ago), a now dead Klipsch 12' reference series sub, and KEF speakers with RDM Two's for mains, a Q100 center and lesser surrounds. Will replace the receiver first so I can properly audition subs and speakers, and have the Outlaw 975/5000 in sight. After the hours of internet reading required to replace actual B&M critical listening, the short list of subs includes the Outlaw X12, SVS SB2000, and Hsu ULS-15 MK2. (I originally chose the Klipsch out of 4 I auditioned because it did by far the best job with music, which is still important, and handled movies well too.) It's the speaker system where I'm really getting stuck. There are so many "best" lists on the net, and apparently excellent bookshelf speakers (below $1500/pair), that my research has created a long list of potential speakers, too long to actually audition in-house. So since I'll use a pretty good sub could you guys help me narrow the list by focusing on which speakers provide the best mid-range/high response, i.e. natural, neutral, open, etc., for the broadest (musical) sources. I'm thinking, piano, voice, acoustic instrumentation? Here's the admittedly diverse list of possible "Best" choices the net suggests...

Def Tech SM65
MartinLogan Motion 15
B&W 685 S2
(these 3 are the only ones I can find to actually listen to, at Best Buy)
RSL CG4's
SVS Ultra's
SVS Prime's
Ascend Sierra 1
Elac B5 or UB5
Polk RtiA3
PSB Imagine B

Any and all thoughts on this project welcome. Thanks.

David

dbissett
Welcome to the AH forum and I hope you enjoy your time here. For what you need, there are plenty of seasoned opinions and great recommendations. @Pogre recommended some of what he has in the SVS line and having personally listened to his setup, I can vouch for the great sound. If you ended up with something similar, you'd have a system with no downside and limitless upside.

Having been bitten by the upgrade bug is serious business indeed. Many of us here won't rest until your credit lines are completely maxed out, or, you have no floor space remaining. We are here to help !

 

[Pogre]

dbissett
Welcome to the AH forum and I hope you enjoy your time here. For what you need, there are plenty of seasoned opinions and great recommendations. @Pogre recommended some of what he has in the SVS line and having personally listened to his setup, I can vouch for the great sound. If you ended up with something similar, you'd have a system with no downside and limitless upside.

Having been bitten by the upgrade bug is serious business indeed. Many of us here won't rest until your credit lines are completely maxed out, or, you have no floor space remaining. We are here to help !

You and I can also vouch for your Salk Songtowers. Also great speakers that would be a great addition to any hifi system. I was impressed by what I heard at your place. I'd be just as happy with them in my setup. If I didn't already have a start with the Ultra line, I would have (actually did) also taken a good look at Salk, Philharmonics or Ascend Acoustics. Hearing a lot of good things about Kef too.