Sub $1K setup recommendations

[Fitz83]

Thanks in advance to all... this board is a great resource.

I have read numerous reviews and have narrowed my choices to the following:

Ascend Sierra-1
NHT Classic Three
Paradigm Studio 20 v4

I looked at a lot of others, including RBH, Monitor, PSB, EPOS, Usher, etc...

I know I have to audition them in person, but since I have been having a hard time finding these in my area (near NYC), I was hoping to keep things as simple as possible.

$1K budget is for speakers... They will be used for 70/30 music/movies. Music is mostly classical... wife used to be serious musician.

I would like to know if we can get away with just two mains for home theater (and then maybe add sub and possibly center channel later) or if I will have to add a center channel for movies: if so, will adding another matched speaker be OK or should I add a dedicated "center channel" from the same manufacturer?

Also, any recommendations on a fairly basic but hopefully fairly future proof receiver?

Many thanks.

 

[Davemcc]

If music is your primary use, you may be better to spend the budget for a really good pair of mains and upgrade the rest at a later date. Add the sub, then a center, then surrounds as budget allows.

You will be better served to choose your speakers first, then select an amplifier based on the needs of the speaker.

p.s. if you can, add era speakers to your audition list.

 

[wesley63]

I am in a similar situation (listen to mostly classical) and budget ($1000.) When I start the search seriously, the first speaker I am going to audition is the Swan D2.1SE from the audio insider. Of course, it's red-colored rosewood is not for everyone. I happen to like it.

Jim

 

[3db]

If your listening primarily to classical

Thanks in advance to all... this board is a great resource.

I have read numerous reviews and have narrowed my choices to the following:

Ascend Sierra-1
NHT Classic Three
Paradigm Studio 20 v4

I looked at a lot of others, including RBH, Monitor, PSB, EPOS, Usher, etc...

I know I have to audition them in person, but since I have been having a hard time finding these in my area (near NYC), I was hoping to keep things as simple as possible.

$1K budget is for speakers... They will be used for 70/30 music/movies. Music is mostly classical... wife used to be serious musician.

I would like to know if we can get away with just two mains for home theater (and then maybe add sub and possibly center channel later) or if I will have to add a center channel for movies: if so, will adding another matched speaker be OK or should I add a dedicated "center channel" from the same manufacturer?

Also, any recommendations on a fairly basic but hopefully fairly future proof receiver?

Many thanks.

I suggest PSB Image T45s. I have a pair and the tonal accuracy of these speakers are phenomenal. At least to my ears. Tchiakosvky Violn Concerto in D is a real acid test in how well tweeters do. On the PSBs, the sound is very detailed, but subtle. Its there but not in bright in your face fatiguing kind of presence. It invites you to lsiten closer. The mids are life like and trumpets sound like they are in your listening room. The bass although not subwoofer deep is deep enough for most music. Its tight, fast and not boomy. The PSBs throw a large well developed soundstage with good imaging.

The best thing to do is take music with you that you and your wife are intimately familar with along with a pad of paper and audition as many speakers as you can taking down notes about what you like dislike. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Fitz83]

Thanks to all three of you.

I haven't seen era or Swan speakers and will try to find them in my area. PSB was on my list of candidates but I haven't auditioned them.

 

[Davemcc]

I suggest PSB Image T45s.

I noticed that the OP had chosen bookshelf speakers in his final cut. I did have the Image B25 on my audition list, but never found a pair to listen to. Even these represent only half the OP's budget. The closest PSB that fits the criteria might be the G-Design GB-1, but I'm not sure that PSB really hits the sweet spot within the OP's designs. But again, it's only something that an audition could determine.

 

[cornelius]

Hey Fitz - Since you're near NYC, you could try doing what I did and drive over to Ohm Speakers in Brooklyn and try out a pair of MicroWalsh Talls. I picked up a pair a couple of years ago and never looked back! In this price range, they're the only floorstanders that can do what the monitors can do but without the usual drawbacks floorstanders have at this price point. So... monitor performance, with a much more fleshed out lower midrange, and no unsightly stands!

Since you're listening to a lot of classical music, the Ohms are a must listen, and due to their design, you probably won't need a center channel, but adding a sub later on is a great idea (but don't be fooled by their size, I still have yet to buy a sub!).

 

[mazersteven]

Do they have to be bookshelf speakers?

 

[Fitz83]

They don't have to be bookshelves... just not too large (or, to be honest, too ugly). What do you have in mind?

 

[rnatalli]

I will say that classical music sounds wonderful on my Mordaunts. I've heard classical on Axioms as well and really like the sound. Both these brands are neutral to bright speakers. I like PSB speakers, but I didn't like classical music on them. I've heard Ascends, but not with classical, although, they sounded great with everything else I threw at them. You really should try to audition as many as possible.

 

[mazersteven]

They don't have to be bookshelves... just not too large (or, to be honest, too ugly). What do you have in mind?

You have a PM

 

[3db]

rnatalli

I will say that classical music sounds wonderful on my Mordaunts. I've heard classical on Axioms as well and really like the sound. Both these brands are neutral to bright speakers. I like PSB speakers, but I didn't like classical music on them. I've heard Ascends, but not with classical, although, they sounded great with everything else I threw at them. You really should try to audition as many as possible.

PSB makes 5 different lines of speakers with each line having several models. Which line/model was it. They don't all sound the same if ya know what I mean.

I'ver heard classical on the M80s and found the tweeters to be etchy but thats just my ears. I havent heard the Mordaunts or the Ascends and am curious about them.

 

[rnatalli]

PSB makes 5 different lines of speakers with each line having several models. Which line/model was it. They don't all sound the same if ya know what I mean.

Good point. I should have clarified. It was the Alpha and Image series. I don't recall offhand the exactly models. I was listening to several and didn't like classical on any. But I liked how they handled pretty much everything else.

I think another brand worth mentioning that often gets overlooked is Athena. Audio Advisor is having some major sales on their stuff. I heard an AS-F2.2 not too long ago and it was a fine speaker.

 

[mazersteven]

I heard an AS-F2.2 not too long ago and it was a fine speaker.

 

[mazersteven]

Fitz,

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