Oof... SVS look like the overpriced option down there!
I'm still looking through the site to see what they have, but I was a little shocked when I got to SVS subs. I guess it costs a lot to ship 'em over there.
Still, for not much more ($1294 apiece) I think the PB1000 Pro will outperform that REL. Both in extension and clean output. There's a persistent myth out there that sealed subs are better for music and it's simply not true of modern designs. Especially with a company as good as SVS. The only advantage with a sealed sub is smaller size. Everything else is a compromise.
Remember that's all in AUD. The REL 1205 is $1550 AUD. Usually around $2000, but again, they're discounting everything since I'm getting close to 10K worth of gear. Package deals and such
Cannot afford for me to go elsewhere hahaha.
I have NO idea what's good and not, or what compares to what. I was originally asking for a Wharfedale sub (the S10 or something I think) because I came into this thinking that a like-branded sub was going to cross over from the speakers better. I was told that absolutely isn't the case and to get a sub from a brand that knows subs, and was offered the REL. 0 research has gone into it on my part, apart from my Dad saying REL are good, they only make subs and have survived a while doing so.
I am very open to suggestions, but don't really know how to start comparing them. I am certainly happy to pay more for something that's worth it. I know "worth it" is highly subjective and personal, so it's difficult. Especially when I haven't heard any of these myself and wouldn't know what to listen for if I did. Again, really aiming for a "best bang for your buck under ~7000USD, you wouldn't be able to appreciate 'better' just coming into it now anyways.
If Denon was your first choice then Marantz is the next closest thing. Features, performance and connectivity are virtually identical. Right now we have a huge thread discussing the new Yamahas and it sounds like things are a bit of a mess with them right now. I'd avoid or wait until we have some concrete reviews before considering them.
If available the 3700 would be my first choice. They're usually priced a little better than Marantz (at least in the states) and are a great balance between features, number of channels, power and cost.
Yeah, Denon were my first choice, from reading and seeing reviews and matchups, for exactly that reason. I just accidentally hyped myself for the Yamaha, people say pretty good things about them too.
The Wharfedales are said to be slightly warm but fairly neutral. Mantraz would certainly pair well with them for music, but when it comes to movies and shows, or would it be too.. what's the word... analytical? We sometimes binge movies or watch an entire season of a show / anime. My ears are sensitive (stupid things) at the best of times, so trying to avoid fatigue.
Curious what else might be available for speakers. I don't have anything against Wharfedale. I just don't know a lot about them. SVS make some really nice speakers too, but there are lots of others like KEF, Revel, JBL, etc.
As for why Wharfedales - I went and started with a google of "best entry level speakers for surround sound" (great way to find accurate info yeah hahahaha *sarcasm*. Anywho, I went down a few rabbit holes, and ended up settling on those because, not only could I get them for a similar price to the Diamond 11 series (previous generation, few years old now) on discontinued sale (so, around 30% off in some cases. I got the High Floor Standing Model 12.4 for around 1100USD the pair); but their closest contenders were the ELACs. The ELAC Debut 2.0 5.2 models were always closely compared to the Wharfedale Diamond 11 models, and reviews always said it was a close battle, and went either way depending on viewing / listening preferences. But the Wharfedale Diamond 12 of this year have overhauled their design and independent reviews I've seen say it's definitely a marked improvement, some going so far as to say they'd replace easily twice-as-expensive systems with them. Where as the same improvements haven't been said about the ELACs. So it seemed an obvious choice.
I know Wharfedale hasn't been as overly popular as it was years ago, but it was enough to sell me on it (without being able to actually go in store and HEAR anything).
That's right, I haven't heard or even seen any of this equipment in person, at ALL. Which is really idiotic, I know. But:
1) I'll always research before and after purchasing anything, and wonder "what if" or "if I had have known", regardless of if I am happy with my purchase or not (a bad habit I need to get out of because it only leads to disappointment).
2) I'll end up "wow'd" by anything I get, seeing as how I am coming from Logitech PC speakers, so I'm instead satisfying point 1 now by doing research and knowing I am at least theoretically getting something well worth it.
3) I'm working away so observing in person is hard. Very hard. Even talking is hard, because I'm working nightshift.
4) I was taking advantage of Black Friday deals that had the Wharfedales at said discount.
5) I could have probably talked any salesman into giving me the same discount at a later date, but I got hyped and am trying to have it all set up for Christmas, as my family hasn't seen my new house yes (is a year old and we still haven't had a proper housewarming with family!) so I want to be able to show it off
Potentially still a terrible idea to be making such large purchases without having heard, but that's difficult.
Perth, where I live, is the smaller big-city (it's small) of WA. It's the biggest city in Western Australia, but it's still small compared to cities in other states, which are small compared to cities elsewhere in the world. Stores will only have 1 surround sound setup on display and able to be used, and it's primary function will be to sell you the complete theatre package with projector and screen, rather than focusing on the audio solution.
Here in Aus, we can only typically send something back to the store if it is broken, unfit for purpose (if we asked for something that could do X in store, and it can't), or if it is still in it's unopened box completely sealed. So we can't take things home and try them for a month like seems to be the usual thing in The States.
