Picking speakers without hearing them....where have all the audio stores gone?

[c wiz]

So...Hello Everyone! I am new here....Living in a rural area, it is nearly 100 miles to get to an audio store, and even then the choices are only the most popular, obvious items. I feel that I have the choice narrowed down to 4 differing speakers; therefore, I am looking for opinions.

I have a fairly large room, 17 x 22. I want a pair of speakers that a accurate, smooth in the high end, with great presence, soundstage and dynamics. However, they need to be suited to multiple music formats- sometimes they will play quiet and mellow, but they also need to rock....

Here are the choices that I can afford:

Emotiva T1 towers
SVS Prime towers
ELAC Uni-Fi UF5
Polk RTi A7

Although the Polk's are a mainstream choice that will likely be picked apart, they look fantastic with the cherry finish- and I doubt that they are horrible....so let's hear it audio-pros....what's the best speaker in my price range of under $1000 per pair?

 

[everettT]

I'd add the JBL studio 270/280, which I'd subjectively take over the others

 

[Speedskater]

I'm not familiar with most of those speakers, but at this point in time I would look at active powered speakers first.

But getting back to old-fashioned passive speakers, an important question is:
what amplifiers are on-hand?

 

[agarwalro]

at this point in time I would look at active powered speakers first.

Why though? Are you assuming the OP is not intending to use an AV receiver?

 

[agarwalro]

what's the best speaker in my price range of under $1000 per pair?

As asked before, how are you driving these speakers?
Also, will you use a subwoofer?

 

[c wiz]

As asked before, how are you driving these speakers?
Also, will you use a subwoofer?

I will probably use a Pioneer Elite, 100 WPC at 8 ohms. I may use a sub for movies, but not likely for audio.

 

[c wiz]

As asked before, how are you driving these speakers?
Also, will you use a subwoofer?

I'm not familiar with most of those speakers, but at this point in time I would look at active powered speakers first.

But getting back to old-fashioned passive speakers, an important question is:
what amplifiers are on-hand?

I will probably use a Pioneer Elite, 100 WPC at 8 ohms. I may use a sub for movies, but not likely for audio.

 

[slipperybidness]

I will probably use a Pioneer Elite, 100 WPC at 8 ohms. I may use a sub for movies, but not likely for audio.

If you have a capable sub....then I suggest using it for movies and music......

 

[Mikado463]

while I'm not personally familiar with any of your choices I do recall someone on the board recently touting the virtues of your SVS choice.

 

[agarwalro]

Emotiva T1 and SVS Prime Tower are both 4 Ohm speakers. I'd highly recommend adding a full time subwoofer to make life easier for the AV receiver.

Any chance you're near this guy?
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/emptek-r5tti-towers-and-r56ci-center-b-stock.107629/

 

[Speedskater]

Why though? Are you assuming the OP is not intending to use an AV receiver?

Not assuming anything. I wrote what I would do, first choice.
But with a good big receiver or big amps, I might also look at passive speakers.

Before considering passive speakers, the first question is. Will the amps or receiver output be happy driving those speakers?
Not all amps will drive all speakers.

 

[lovinthehd]

Of the choices in the OP's list the Prime Towers would be my pick. Picked up both my JBL 590s & 580s for under $1000/pr via Amazon, the 590s are currently available from JBL for about $1000/pr http://www.jbl.com/loudspeakers/STUDIO+590.html

 

[c wiz]

Not assuming anything. I wrote what I would do, first choice.
But with a good big receiver or big amps, I might also look at passive speakers.

Before considering passive speakers, the first question is. Will the amps or receiver output be happy driving those speakers?
Not all amps will drive all speakers.

The amp is designed to play at 4 ohms. I think the output is 170wpc at 6 ohms.....not sue of the output at 4 ohms. I am sure it is sufficient for any of the speakers I listed.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Of the choices in the OP's list the Prime Towers would be my pick. Picked up both my JBL 590s & 580s for under $1000/pr via Amazon, the 590s are currently available from JBL for about $1000/pr http://www.jbl.com/loudspeakers/STUDIO+590.html

+1. Solid recommendation. These would be most dynamic speakers out of bunch. They are easy to power with typical AVR and you'll like the sound for both quiet and then you want to rock the house

 

[c wiz]

Emotiva T1 and SVS Prime Tower are both 4 Ohm speakers. I'd highly recommend adding a full time subwoofer to make life easier for the AV receiver.

Any chance you're near this guy?
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/emptek-r5tti-towers-and-r56ci-center-b-stock.107629/

Unfortunately, I am even more rural than the outskirts of LA, being from the Midwest, along the Mississippi river, deep in the woods.....

 

[j_garcia]

Very few receivers are truly 4 ohm capable, especially if you are after high output levels. That doesn't mean it won't work, just be advised since the model wasn't listed.

At $1k a pair, the Polks are OK. You are correct, they'll be fine but maybe not stand out IMO. I'd probably opt for the SVS Primes or JBLs. Take a look at the SVS Outlet, there are quite a few Prime Towers in both ash and gloss finishes on discount.

 

[c wiz]

+1. Solid recommendation. These would be most dynamic speakers out of bunch. They are easy to power with typical AVR and you'll like the sound for both quiet and then you want to rock the house

I have often used JBL in pro-audio applications with much success; however, I have never really considered the brand for home audio. I work in a pro audio store that carries JBL and could probably get a serious discount on them.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

speak

I have often used JBL in pro-audio applications with much success; however, I have never really considered the brand for home audio. I work in a pro audio store that carries JBL and could probably get a serious discount on them.

speaking of pro JBL's
http://noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR308/

 

[lovinthehd]

I have often used JBL in pro-audio applications with much success; however, I have never really considered the brand for home audio. I work in a pro audio store that carries JBL and could probably get a serious discount on them.

I really like the JBLs in the home...have the 590/580/530/520 set. If going active speakers, they have some nice options as well. Then again, I grew up with JBL to an extent as many of my friends' parents had the L100s and other JBL speakers (in theaters as well) of that era....

 

[shadyJ]

One speaker I like in that price range: Fluance Signature Towers. The measure well and they look nice too. Also I think they are very likely quite a bit more capable in bass frequencies than the other speakers you have mentioned, so if you are going without a sub, they are a great choice.

Something else you can do is just take a couple bookshelf speakers and a couple subwoofers and make some tower speakers by using the subs as bookshelf speaker stands. That will give you very powerful and highly controlled bass. One thing you can do for that is get a Hsu Hybrid 2.1 package and ask them to throw in another VTF-1 subwoofer. Another good and slightly less expensive solution is to use the Hsu VTF-1 subs and a couple Philharmonic AA speakers.