New home, New system

[kxthor]

Hello audioholics,

My name is Nick. I'll start with a little backstory about what I have had for awhile now. When I was in college I bought my first system it was JBL "mini towers" but they were probably only 10 inches tall or so and it came with a small passive subwoofer. Once I got my career going I bought a pair of polk audio studio 70 monitors with matching center and psw505 sub. I have had this setup now for about 13 years. I have often looked at different speakers but never been able to decide on anything so never got anything new.

So my new home now. I was going to do the living room and deck it out, but my wife doesnt really want speakers everywhere. We are doing front LCR with sub with NHT speakers that were given to us. I have not heard them yet but should be better than my polks.

I asked to instead deck out our 4th bedroom (hobby room) and she said she didnt mind so I'm pretty excited now. I'm also kind of flustered because I'm the type of person that likes to research things before buying. What annoys me is there is no clear winner unless you want to spend 10 of thousands and I'm not. (Then there still might not be a clear winner. So the room is 12 foot deep and 15 foot wide with 10 foot ceilings. I will be using a powered sub so bookshelves or towers are fine. I have read multiple threads about under 3k speakers and the one on AVS about the 3k bookshelves. So I'll post a list and thoughts on the different speakers and maybe yall can help me out. Atleast at first my room will not be treated.

Kef r3/r5 speakers. These look really sleek and nice the bookshelves got really good reviews from seems like just about everyone. I have also read that they can be a bit forward or bright. Not sure if i would need the small towers or if the bookshelves would be enough for this size room.

Ascend Sierra 2 ex - I have been reading about these speakers forever it seems, everytime I start reading about speakers they come up and people talk about their clarity. I like that there is a matching center that I can buy later to have the fronts all the same. Would they be big enough to fill the room with sound? I'd likely match with rymthic sub if I got these.

Kef LS50w - I understand that the wireless version is better for multiple reasons. Maybe an issue with these is what would I do for a center? buy a passive one later? would it match the others?

Focal 906/926. Same thing as the kef's honestly. I understand that they have a bit of a different sound that not everyone likes. I'm trying to find a dealer within a couple of hours to audition.

Monoprice Thx mini-towers - So I know these probably are not in the same league as the other speakers above and dont look quite as nice. Besides looks, what else am I going to get out of the above speakers that these would not offer (be blunt here please). Also would these be to much for my size room since they are rated for 3000 cubic foot rooms. Also I'm not sure about stands for these.

Sorry about the long thread. I have tried to put everything in one place to let everyone know where I'm at. Also I'm open to options. So please post other thoughs as well...Thanks everyone.

 

[everettT]

Can you do three bookshelves across the front? That would be more optimal then a horizontal center (or 2 towers and a bookshelf). Also is it possible to place the front 3 on the narrow part of the room?

 

[kxthor]

Can you do three bookshelves across the front? That would be more optimal then a horizontal center (or 2 towers and a bookshelf). Also is it possible to lay the front 3 on the narrow part of the room?

Here is a picture of the room. The setup has to be on the wall that the door is on. I dont see why I couldn't do 3 bookshelves. As long as there is enough room under the tv.

 

[mazersteven]

I think you'd be doing yourself an injustice if you didn't look at these.

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices!

www.accessories4less.com

Or these

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices!

www.accessories4less.com

 

[kxthor]

I think you'd be doing yourself an injustice if you didn't look at these.

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices!

www.accessories4less.com

Or these

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices!

www.accessories4less.com

Are these speakers considered warm or bright? As i look at the wattage specs it seems you would have to have a large amp to drive them. Is this correct?

 

[mazersteven]

Are these speakers considered warm or bright? As i look at the wattage specs it seems you would have to have a large amp to drive them. Is this correct?

Neutral Sound.

AVR will drive them. Your room isn't large and you should be fine. Good Clean Power.

 

[mazersteven]

Good Thread. Speaker Recommendations and Videos

Front Three Channel Recommendations $2000

I am looking for recommendations for three front speakers for a home theater system. Usage/Ideal Features: I listen to 50% music and 50% movies/gaming. The main listening position is about 10-11 feet away from the speakers. I’ll be running dual subwoofers (likely HSU VTF-3 MK5) crossed over...

forums.audioholics.com

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Must upgrade the 505...

Btw, did you you ride MX?

 

[kxthor]

Must upgrade the 505...

Btw, did you you ride MX?

I already planned on upgrading the 505, not sure to what yet. It will probably be sealed though.

i did, in my very early life, and I wasn’t very good. Later in life I road raced super sports and I was quite a bit better at that. Hope to get back in to it a bit in the next year.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I already planned on upgrading the 505, not sure to what yet. It will probably be sealed though.

i did, in my very early life, and I wasn’t very good. Later in life I road raced super sports and I was quite a bit better at that. Hope to get back in to it a bit in the next year.

Interesting. I guessed the tag was referring to a Kawasaki and Thor gear!
Anyway, you’ve got a lot of sorting, but I’ll just add that I’d recommend against sealed. Unless you have specific criteria. Cough...waf...cough lol.

 

[kxthor]

Interesting. I guessed the tag was referring to a Kawasaki and Thor gear!
Anyway, you’ve got a lot of sorting, but I’ll just add that I’d recommend against ported. Unless you have specific criteria. Cough...waf...cough lol.

Yes sir, your thoughts were correct, I have had this screen name forever I suppose. I still love green, even though for the past few years I have rode Suzuki. thanks for confirming sealed is the correct way to go lol.

 

[mazersteven]

but I’ll just add that I’d recommend against ported.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Interesting. I guessed the tag was referring to a Kawasaki and Thor gear!
Anyway, you’ve got a lot of sorting, but I’ll just add that I’d recommend against SEALED. Unless you have specific criteria. Cough...waf...cough lol.

Holy balls. That was close. Can’t believe I even wrote that... must be past my bed time lol. Hope too many didn’t see that. Fixed.
I’d never recommend SEALED unless there’s waf. And even then...

 

[kxthor]

Holy balls. That was close. Can’t believe I even wrote that... must be past my bed time lol. Hope too many didn’t see that. Fixed.
I’d never recommend SEALED unless there’s waf. And even then...

Hmmmmmm. Ok, so am I supposed o be confused now? I have had a few too.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Hmmmmmm. Ok, so am I supposed o be confused now? I have had a few too.

Lol. Nope. IM the confused one.
I’m am not a fan of sealed unless you are dealing with very small spaces or WAF that just won’t bend.
I am a preacher for ported. Just to be clear. FWIW I have experience with the 505. It’s not very good, but for the price it will do.
Sorry for the confusion. Don’t know how I did that one...

 

[mazersteven]

You could always use these

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

You could always use these

View attachment 38369

Good point. And iirc the PB subs in sealed mode have slightly more output and extension simply because of the larger cabs.

 

[kxthor]

Good Thread. Speaker Recommendations and Videos

Front Three Channel Recommendations $2000

I am looking for recommendations for three front speakers for a home theater system. Usage/Ideal Features: I listen to 50% music and 50% movies/gaming. The main listening position is about 10-11 feet away from the speakers. I’ll be running dual subwoofers (likely HSU VTF-3 MK5) crossed over...

forums.audioholics.com

Thanks for that thread.

 

[kxthor]

Lol. Nope. IM the confused one.
I’m am not a fan of sealed unless you are dealing with very small spaces or WAF that just won’t bend.
I am a preacher for ported. Just to be clear. FWIW I have experience with the 505. It’s not very good, but for the price it will do.
Sorry for the confusion. Don’t know how I did that one...

Yea, no worries, I understand. When I was just coming out of college my budget was not very much. Now that I have been in my field a few years I don't have as much of a budget. I did want to stay within reason though, and since its a small space I didnt think I would need a huge sub.

 

[mazersteven]

I didnt think I would need a huge sub.

Subwoofer OverKill is a Great thing.