Can you experts tell me the right path to go here ...

[ThunderClap]

Listening - 50% HT / Gaming - 50% Music

BOOKSHELVES

- JBL 230

- B&W 685 S2

- Elac Debut 6

- Elac Uni-Fi 5

- SVS Utra

- KEF Q100

Traditional 5.1 , maybe 7.1 - Have a 12 inch Sub, Yamaha 1060 AVR
Thanx!

 

[shadyJ]

You can't go wrong with any of those. I would probably lean toward the SVS Ultras from that bunch, but they will all be solid.

 

[KEW]

Listening - 50% HT / Gaming - 50% Music

BOOKSHELVES

- JBL 230

- B&W 685 S2

- Elac Debut 6

- Elac Uni-Fi 5

- SVS Utra

- KEF Q100

Traditional 5.1 , maybe 7.1 - Have a 12 inch Sub, Yamaha 1060 AVR
Thanx!

Among this list, I believe the Ultra is a notch above.
I don't know the price on the B&W's, but otherwise, isn't the cost of the Ultras ($1000/pr) significantly greater as well?

 

[Steve81]

Among this list, I believe the Ultra is a notch above. I don't know the price on the B&W's, but otherwise, isn't the cost of the Ultras ($1000/pr) significantly greater as well?

Given that you can get the Q100s for $250 a pair at the moment from KEF Direct, I'd say so At that price, I'd consider the KEFs to be an excellent value, though if your room is large and/or you like to listen very loud, they may not be suitable.

 

[KEW]

In case you missed it, this guy did a nice (because I have heard many of these and agree with his observations) subjective review of several speakers in this price range (Elac B6 and KEF Q100 being the only two on your list):
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/89-speakers/2233954-2-0-bookshelf-compared-wharfedale-philharmonic-chane-musichall-elac-energy-kef.html

 

[KenM10759]

I get a kick out that review because he ended going with something WAY above the initial budget. Biased opinion of course, but the KEF Q100 scored well (does elsewhere too) and given the clearance price drop to $250 a pair due to the new Q150 being out it's a great bargain. The new one corrects his comment about high frequency roll-off, though it's not a slam on his review because it's a subtle thing.

What the review fails to cover is the broad soundstage/off-axis performance of the Q100. It's really quite good!

 

[ThunderClap]

I get a kick out that review because he ended going with something WAY above the initial budget. Biased opinion of course, but the KEF Q100 scored well (does elsewhere too) and given the clearance price drop to $250 a pair due to the new Q150 being out it's a great bargain. The new one corrects his comment about high frequency roll-off, though it's not a slam on his review because it's a subtle thing.

What the review fails to cover is the broad soundstage/off-axis performance of the Q100. It's really quite good!

So the Kef can be softish ?


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[KenM10759]

So the Kef can be softish ?

Not really, but depends upon your ears. As the review stated, just a tiny bit of roll-off at the very top. It's a $549.99 (original list price) pair of speakers now selling for $250. Hard to beat for the price.

 

[ThunderClap]

Good stuff guys , not easy! - I want a speaker for all seasons but some do music much better and vice versa....

I'm thinking the 685 and SVS are the best all around speaker here ..as the Elac seem to be music aimed and warmish.

 

[KEW]

Good stuff guys , not easy! - I want a speaker for all seasons but some do music much better and vice versa....

I'm thinking the 685 and SVS are the best all around speaker here ..as the Elac seem to be music aimed and warmish.

What type of music do you like?

 

[zieglj01]

So the Kef can be softish ?

That is a rare statement from a subjective review -- most do not hear them that way, and many tend to say that they can be somewhat boosted in the highs -- also look at this link and the red line on the frequency chart.
There is a rise in the frequency response from 3 to 15 khz.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/kef-q900-speaker-system-ht-labs-measures

 

[shadyJ]

That is a rare statement from a subjective review -- most do not hear them that way, and many tend to say that they can be somewhat boosted in the highs -- also look at this link and the red line on the frequency chart.
There is a rise in the frequency response from 3 to 15 khz.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/kef-q900-speaker-system-ht-labs-measures

Not much of a rise, all things considered. We also have to consider that is a listening window curve, so we don't know how those trends are carrying on what axis. That is a pretty good response, from what I can tell. I would prefer more detailed graphs though.

 

[KenM10759]

Not much of a rise, all things considered. We also have to consider that is a listening window curve, so we don't know how those trends are carrying on what axis. That is a pretty good response, from what I can tell. I would prefer more detailed graphs though.

If you read through the reviews for any of the late model KEF speaker with Uni-Q coincidental tweeter-midrange driver, the off-axis performance is excellent. Up to about 30 degrees off-axis it's an almost imperceptible drop in high frequency response. Beyond that it's noticeable but still better than a great many speakers.

This is why I like my R series setup for HT as much as I do for 2.1 channel music. When more people are in the room watching a movie with me, no one is missing anything. I don't ever get a "what did she say?" kind of comment. My sub is what needs attention because with a single sub there's a null area in the room I need to fill.

 

[ThunderClap]

What type of music do you like?

Rock, Metal , Southern Rock, Club -

 

[ThunderClap]

THE SONG I TEST ALL SPEAKERS OUT WITH FIRST ...

IF I DON'T FEEL THE OPEN IN MY CHEST ....BACK IN THE BOX

 

[KEW]

What speakers are you listening to now that you want to replace?
Is there anything specific that you like or don't about them?

 

[KEW]

THE SONG I TEST ALL SPEAKERS OUT WITH FIRST ...

IF I DON'T FEEL THE OPEN IN MY CHEST ....BACK IN THE BOX

The recording chart has Chest/Thump at ~20-36Hz (see below the piano keys).
No bookshelf will give you a really solid chest hit and it makes sense to cross any of them to the sub at a minimum of 60Hz (but more likely 80Hz), so the chest thump is your subwoofer's responsibility!
http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/main_display.htm

 

[ThunderClap]

I had rp 160 m - sold them

I’m testing Elac 6 debut right now


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[psbfan9]

Listening - 50% HT / Gaming - 50% Music

BOOKSHELVES

- JBL 230

- B&W 685 S2

- Elac Debut 6

- Elac Uni-Fi 5

- SVS Utra

- KEF Q100

Traditional 5.1 , maybe 7.1 - Have a 12 inch Sub, Yamaha 1060 AVR
Thanx!

A couple of questions;

How big is the room where you'll be doing most of the listening/gaming?

What sub do you have now?

Do you need a new sub or will you be using the one you have?

What's you're budget?

If you go up to a $1000.00, the ultras are $1000 a pair, I would suggest a full 5.1 system from RSL Speakers. They will hit the high SPL you want and have great reviews. RSL offers a free 30 day in home trial with free shipping both ways.

Reviews; https://rslspeakers.com/professional-reviews/

They offer several different sytems. The 5.1 CG23 system may work for you, but it's $1239.00

A pair of CG3's for trial will cost $270.00 a pair, and a pair of CG23's will be $400.00.

5.1 $999.00

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg3-5-1-home-theater-system-special-edition/

5.1 CG23 $1239.00

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg23-5-1-home-theater-speaker-system/

CG3 Pair $270.00

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg3-bookshelf-speaker/

CG23 Pair $400.00

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg23-monitor-center-channel/

 

[ThunderClap]

A couple of questions;

How big is the room where you'll be doing most of the listening/gaming?

What sub do you have now?

Do you need a new sub or will you be using the one you have?

What's you're budget?

If you go up to a $1000.00, the ultras are $1000 a pair, I would suggest a full 5.1 system from RSL Speakers. They will hit the high SPL you want and have great reviews. RSL offers a free 30 day in home trial with free shipping both ways.

Reviews; https://rslspeakers.com/professional-reviews/

They offer several different sytems. The 5.1 CG23 system may work for you, but it's $1239.00

A pair of CG3's for trial will cost $270.00 a pair, and a pair of CG23's will be $400.00.

5.1 $999.00

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg3-5-1-home-theater-system-special-edition/

5.1 CG23 $1239.00

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg23-5-1-home-theater-speaker-system/

CG3 Pair $270.00

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg3-bookshelf-speaker/

CG23 Pair $400.00

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg23-monitor-center-channel/

you know I see their add and I hear good things , do you have?

I'm thinking Ascend too.