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Danzilla31

Audioholic Spartan
L shaped couch , single couch
On that couch directly in front of the TV you'd probably be just fine with any center channel. The HDMI center channel would be good any center channel will work on axis let me check and see if the center channel is on sale

The HDI center and towers or the Arendal center and towers are my votes
 
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Danzilla31

Audioholic Spartan
L shaped couch , single couch
Ok so the HDMI center is right about the same price as the THX Arendal center. The Arendal S center is 300 less but you want the most robust center you can get because it handles most of the content

So if you go a center channel then the Arendal S towers with the flagship THX center

Or the JBL HDI towers with either the 4500 center or the flagship Arendal THX center

Those would be my options
 
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Danzilla31

Audioholic Spartan
Have you considered the JBL studio 6 series you can get them from Crutchfield?

You can get the 698 towers and their flagship center and get literally 3 of them and get 90% of the HDMI's performance and be WAY under your budget which would give you room for subs on your budget if you need them

Eh scratch the 698 speakers they'd be great for you but they are all sold out everywhere.

So yeah the HDMI or Arendal with those options are my bet
 
Cos

Cos

Audioholic Samurai
I have probably demo'd the Paradigms more than most, and I am biased. I think that the Founders are solid speakers at their price point. LIke the review I am not a fan of the 70LCR. IF I were to match a center with the 100s I would go with the 90C.

It's size can be daunting, but worth the extra investment over the 70c. Again, it's what sounds best to you, but if you like the sounds of the Paradigms, you will have much greater success getting discounts off MSRP working with a dealer. They are already black Friday special at 15% off, and you shouldn't be difficult to get some additional beyond that.
 
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shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
I have probably demo'd the Paradigms more than most, and I am biased. I think that the Founders are solid speakers at their price point. LIke the review I am not a fan of the 70LCR. IF I were to match a center with the 100s I would go with the 90C.

It's size can be daunting, but worth the extra investment over the 70c. Again, it's what sounds best to you, but if you like the sounds of the Paradigms, you will have much greater success getting discounts off MSRP working with a dealer. They are already black Friday special at 15% off, and you shouldn't be difficult to get some additional beyond that.
The Founder 90C is the same speaker as the 70LCR, just with some passive radiators. It will still have all the same problems.
 
Cos

Cos

Audioholic Samurai
The Founder 90C is the same speaker as the 70LCR, just with some passive radiators. It will still have all the same problems.
Definitely defer to your expertise but does have larger bass drivers 7 vs 5.5 a different x-over setting and larger cabinet. Not quite the way you describe it. That being said, I am not the expert. I do know when I compared them in my dealer's home theater room, dialoge delivered improved clarity and seemed to blend better with the larger towers. (All subjective) I don't have measurements. I had a similar experience said when I had the Studio 100v5 with the 570, changing over the the 670 made a huge impact. I am not sure if those were set up in a similar manner though. I think the 670 was a 6 driver 3way vs 4.
 
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psjjw77

Audioholic Intern
I have probably demo'd the Paradigms more than most, and I am biased. I think that the Founders are solid speakers at their price point. LIke the review I am not a fan of the 70LCR. IF I were to match a center with the 100s I would go with the 90C.

It's size can be daunting, but worth the extra investment over the 70c. Again, it's what sounds best to you, but if you like the sounds of the Paradigms, you will have much greater success getting discounts off MSRP working with a dealer. They are already black Friday special at 15% off, and you shouldn't be difficult to get some additional beyond that.
I like the 80f speakers I heard. I tried to find a local dealer. But closest place is an hour away
 
Bobby Bass

Bobby Bass

Audioholic General
I have the 1723 towers and they’re excellent. If you decide to go with them would do 2 towers for the left snd right fronts and 1723 monitor for the center channel. The 1723 will go up in price on the 27th so suggest ordering before then if you want to buy and try them. You have 60 days to listen at home and can return for free with a full refund in the US. I Haven't heard the 80F.
 
Mark E. Long

Mark E. Long

Audioholic General
Do you have just one main listening spot?

Or is it a theater room or living room with multiple coaches and listening spots

If the first then the center channel for the HDI lineup is good any center channel will do or like @shadyJ said you can skip one and save some money

The HDMI towers are serious performers for the money but so are the Arendals the Arendal does have the better center channel but that's only if you have multiple seating positions

You also don't have to have an identical center channel. Unless you like aesthetics. That only matters IF all 3 of your front 3 are identical towers or bookshelves aligned vertical at the exact same height for each speaker
If it was me I’d go with the HDI 3800’s and go with a Array 880 center a much better match than the HDI center but it is larger but for a 3 way center it’s way better than most in my room which is large it works better than any I’ve had . That can be had now for around 1.000 to 1.200 compared to the 4,400 when they were in jbl’s line up .
 
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psjjw77

Audioholic Intern
I have the 1723 towers and they’re excellent. If you decide to go with them would do 2 towers for the left snd right fronts and 1723 monitor for the center channel. The 1723 will go up in price on the 27th so suggest ordering before then if you want to buy and try them. You have 60 days to listen at home and can return for free with a full refund in the US. I Haven't heard the 80F.
I don't wanna have to repack and send them back if I don't like them, they are a heavy speaker. I am gonna keep saving for the phil towers or something around that level, they have a wider dispersion from the tech specs!
 
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shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
I don't wanna have to repack and send them back if I don't like them, they are a heavy speaker. I am gonna keep saving for the phil towers or something around that level, they have a wider dispersion from the tech specs!
Keep in mind that wider dispersion doesn't necessarily equal better. It just means that you get a different soundstage. Wide dispersion speakers also involve the room more, and if your room acoustics are not good for sound, that hurts them more than narrower dispersion speakers. That being said, the Philharmonic speakers are terrific as well as the JBL HDI-speakers. The JBLs have more dynamic range, but if you don't listen at really loud levels, that doesn't do you any good.
 
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D Murphy

Full Audioholic
Keep in mind that wider dispersion doesn't necessarily equal better. It just means that you get a different soundstage. Wide dispersion speakers also involve the room more, and if your room acoustics are not good for sound, that hurts them more than narrower dispersion speakers. That being said, the Philharmonic speakers are terrific as well as the JBL HDI-speakers. The JBLs have more dynamic range, but if you don't listen at really loud levels, that doesn't do you any good.
I think your taste in music is as important as room involvement in deciding between a narrower or wider dispersion speaker. If your taste runs to classic rock recorded in a studio with lots of mixing and no natural ambience, a good narrower-dispersion speaker may give you a more up-front presentation. For acoustic jazz or most any genre recorded in a concert venue with natural ambiance, I think (all else equal) the wide-dispersion speaker would give you a more open and spacious sound stage, possibly with better retrieval of midrange detail.
 
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psjjw77

Audioholic Intern
I
I think your taste in music is as important as room involvement in deciding between a narrower or wider dispersion speaker. If your taste runs to classic rock recorded in a studio with lots of mixing and no natural ambience, a good narrower-dispersion speaker may give you a more up-front presentation. For acoustic jazz or most any genre recorded in a concert venue with natural ambiance, I think (all else equal) the wide-dispersion speaker would give you a more open and spacious sound stage, possibly with better retrieval of midrange detail.
Am not a jazz person, more rock, and movies
 
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psjjw77

Audioholic Intern
Keep in mind that wider dispersion doesn't necessarily equal better. It just means that you get a different soundstage. Wide dispersion speakers also involve the room more, and if your room acoustics are not good for sound, that hurts them more than narrower dispersion speakers. That being said, the Philharmonic speakers are terrific as well as the JBL HDI-speakers. The JBLs have more dynamic range, but if you don't listen at really loud levels, that doesn't do you any good.
I love it loud
 
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psjjw77

Audioholic Intern
The JBL HDI 3800's with the Array 880 center as suggested by @Mark E. Long would be ideal for you in view of your musical preference and the loudness at which you like to listen to it.
I wish we had some home audio stores, to hear speakers at around here. Kansas city area.
 
Mark E. Long

Mark E. Long

Audioholic General
The JBL HDI 3800's with the Array 880 center as suggested by @Mark E. Long would be ideal for you in view of your musical preference and the loudness at which you like to listen to it.
The JBL HDI 3800's with the Array 880 center as suggested by @Mark E. Long would be ideal for you in view of your musical preference and the loudness at which you like to listen to it.
Oh this goes plenty loud and is incredible for movies too . With good clean power behind it hard to get much better for music Sacd , DVD audio any high rez music is incredible with this setup and as loud as the op wants .
 
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psjjw77

Audioholic Intern
So do you have just one main couch that you and the family listening from? More in front of the TV or multiple couches with people sitting at different locations? Is it just you and your wife mainly listening directly in front of the TV?

Or the whole family and guests spread out in sitting that you want them all to hear good dialogue?
If I have something that's good at 40 degree angle I'd be good in all seating areas
 

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