Upgrading 5.1 System

[marsilians]

Folks,

I currently have a Yamaha RX-V657 driving a 5.1 system with set of Athena LS-50 Satellites. I am planning to upgrade the speaker and have the following choices. My listening is 70% movies and 30% (classic rock, R&B, Jazz fusion and classical).

* Axiom Epic Master 175 or 350

I have read that the M3s mids are not as forward as say the 22s.
Also its metallic cone will sound too bright for my listening tastes.
Pricing on the subwoofer seems high compared to similar models from HSu, Outlaw etc.

* Definitive Technology ProCinema 1000 Plus (cheaper than EM 350) and good reviews thus far.

* from AV123
Rocket RS250 MKII - (2)
Rocket RSC200 - (1)
Rocket RSS300 (2)
Rocket UFW-10 Subwoofer

My budget is 1500 - 2000 (prefer to be around 1500). The listening areas is my living room with the dimensions (15 (L) X 11 (W) X 9 (H))

Color preferences are all black or deep cherry or rosewood.

Finally I am in Canada just north of Toronto so shipping may be worth considering for US sources.

If you can add to the choices or narrow the choices that would be great.

Thanks

 

[mazersteven]

I can tell you that the Rocket RS250 MKII are definitely Not bright or forward speakers. Definitely a warmer, neutral sound. Good speaker when combined with a subwoofer. These would not be my first choice if running a 2-channel rig.

My suggestion is you step-up $200 more to the Rocket RS450 if possible.

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=12.1

The Rocket RSC200 center channel is very large. Said to be one of the best center channels on the market.

That UFW subwoofer is getting a new amp, and reports say it's supposed to be an excellent subwoofer.

I would do this system over the Paradigm, sorry I've never auditioned Axioms.

 

[3db]

Folks,

I currently have a Yamaha RX-V657 driving a 5.1 system with set of Athena LS-50 Satellites. I am planning to upgrade the speaker and have the following choices. My listening is 70% movies and 30% (classic rock, R&B, Jazz fusion and classical).

* Axiom Epic Master 175 or 350

I have read that the M3s mids are not as forward as say the 22s.
Also its metallic cone will sound too bright for my listening tastes.
Pricing on the subwoofer seems high compared to similar models from HSu, Outlaw etc.

* Definitive Technology ProCinema 1000 Plus (cheaper than EM 350) and good reviews thus far.

* from AV123
Rocket RS250 MKII - (2)
Rocket RSC200 - (1)
Rocket RSS300 (2)
Rocket UFW-10 Subwoofer

My budget is 1500 - 2000 (prefer to be around 1500). The listening areas is my living room with the dimensions (15 (L) X 11 (W) X 9 (H))

Color preferences are all black or deep cherry or rosewood.

Finally I am in Canada just north of Toronto so shipping may be worth considering for US sources.

If you can add to the choices or narrow the choices that would be great.

Thanks

North of TO you say?? Well sir, there are plenty of audio dealers in TO. Matter of fact PSB happens to have their plant there. Since your relatively close to alot of audio dealers, I suggest taking a day or two, equip yourself with a note pad and your favourite DVD ore CDs and start the audition tour.
While auditioning, take note of the speaker make and model number and right down your likes/dislikes. Is the bass fast and tight or loose and sloppy sounding? Does it go deep enough? Does the midrange sound life like? To the male voices sound to bassy (chestiness). Is the treble smooth and accurate or does it sound piercingly sharp, something you feel you would get tired off quickly? How is the soundstage? Can you discern individial instruments across the soindstage? Those are the type of things to listen for and take note off.

Beingg Canadian, I prefer to stick with Canadian products only because we're such a small nation. Canadian speakers to auditon include PSB (my personal favourites) Paradigm, Energy, Mirage, Totem, Sinclair Audio... and I'm sure there are others.

My setup consists of the following;

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-T45-Tower as my mains.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-B15-Monitor
http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-C40-Center

I have the older version of these, the Image B1 and the Image 8C center channel;

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Subwoofers/SubSeries-5i-Subwoofer

and the older subsonic 5 subwoofer;


The towers are excellent for both music and HT.

Let us know how you make out.

 

[Davemcc]

Also, since you are just north of Toronto, you can go to Axiom plant to audition your speakers since they are in Dwight, Ontario. Just a note, the Axiom subs do seem a bit expensive, but they are very high quality and the finishes are absolutely beautiful.

 

[marsilians]

Auditioning

Also, since you are just north of Toronto, you can go to Axiom plant to audition your speakers since they are in Dwight, Ontario. Just a note, the Axiom subs do seem a bit expensive, but they are very high quality and the finishes are absolutely beautiful.

Re: auditioning - That sounds like a good idea. If I were to go to Axiom, is there a risk that the equipment will be tested under perfect listening conditions as they might have treated their rooms for perfect acoustics??

 

[Davemcc]

Re: auditioning - That sounds like a good idea. If I were to go to Axiom, is there a risk that the equipment will be tested under perfect listening conditions as they might have treated their rooms for perfect acoustics??

That's something I couldn't answer. But they all seem like really nice people, and enthusiastic audio enthusiasts. I'm sure they would try to give you a realistic audition.

The perfect auditioning environment would probably be if they took you home for lunch to listen to their home systems.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...[5.1 Speaker] budget is 1500 - 2000 (prefer to be around 1500). The listening areas is my living room with the dimensions (15 (L) X 11 (W) X 9 (H)...

Front L+R: Def Tech BP8B (30Hz-20kHz +/-3dB) for $600/pr.
Center & Surround L+R: Def Tech SM350 (57Hz-20kHz +/-3dB) for $150 ea.
Subwoofer: Epik Knight (15" Driver, 6" Port, 350 Watts RMS) for $600.