$1500 to spend on 5 speakers, need help

[cheapskete OCer]

ok , i just cant make up my mind.

i have polk audio
r50s up front
cs2 in the middle
2 pairs of r15s for rears
epik knight 15' sub
onkyo 705

i want a new better sound, im looking at (drooling over)

polk audio
rti a9s
csi a6
rti a3s or fxi a6s

klipsch

rf-35s
rc-35
rs-35s

Im just going to keep on set of polk r15s for rear surround right now

what else is there comparable in that price range, im really going for some bigger floorstanders as the r150s only have 2 6.5s. i would like some more mid range

would the upgrade in polk speakers be a big difference or would i just be getting the same sound but louder?

im all about the HT/gaming on this setup, i have a system in the car for music

thanks

 

[mazersteven]

would the upgrade in polk speakers be a big difference or would i just be getting the same sound but louder?

That would be a huge up-grade IMO. The Polk RTi would deliver much better sound quality then what you have now.

 

[cheapskete OCer]

i can get that setup for under 1300 thats alot a bang for the buck isnt it?

 

[mazersteven]

You can come close to putting together a AV123 Rocket system for $1500.

www.av123.com

 

[cheapskete OCer]

i looked at the rocket speakers, it would run about 1686 for the 450s and the center and rears, are those supposed to be good speakers

 

[mike c]

hey mazer,

has the rockets always been that expensive? did they phase out the other wood finishes? i saw on the av123 forum finishes like oak and ebony rockets.

 

[mazersteven]

hey mazer,

has the rockets always been that expensive? did they phase out the other wood finishes? i saw on the av123 forum finishes like oak and ebony rockets.

Expensive? IMO but they aren't that expensive for what you get.

I have never seen the oak finishes other then the x-series speakers. The ebony I have seen on the Rockets. I don't think they offer ebony anymore.

 

[mike c]

Expensive? IMO but they aren't that expensive for what you get.

I have never seen the oak finishes other then the x-series speakers. The ebony I have seen on the Rockets. I don't think they offer ebony anymore.

not expensive if you already know they're nice ... expensive for a 10,000 mile trek for a trial/audition sometimes i wish i lived there.

i think mojomike's rockets are oak.

 

[mazersteven]

i looked at the rocket speakers, it would run about 1686 for the 450s and the center and rears, are those supposed to be good speakers

Yes the Rockets are good speakers. And if those Polk speakers are anything like the old RTi series. Then they are very good themselves.

 

[skeeter99]

The oak was only made for OakieMike in Portland. They were a one off special. Ebony used to be a finish that the Rockets were manufactured in but they aren't anymore. Mark has mentioned that he may bring that back, though.

The Rockets are a fantastic speaker, I really loved my 450's/Bigfoot combo. Both very musical and "rocked" for HT.

There is also a sale that Mark just started yesterday on the X series. They are quite a bit cheaper if you are still looking. Check out the AV123.com forum for pricing info.

 

[mazersteven]

The oak was only made for OakieMike in Portland. They were a one off special. Ebony used to be a finish that the Rockets were manufactured in but they aren't anymore. Mark has mentioned that he may bring that back, though.

The Rockets are a fantastic speaker, I really loved my 450's/Bigfoot combo. Both very musical and "rocked" for HT.

There is also a sale that Mark just started yesterday on the X series. They are quite a bit cheaper if you are still looking. Check out the AV123.com forum for pricing info.

Welcome to Audioholics skeeter. How is the new Ombudsman position treating you?

 

[mike c]

The oak was only made for OakieMike in Portland. They were a one off special. Ebony used to be a finish that the Rockets were manufactured in but they aren't anymore. Mark has mentioned that he may bring that back, though.

The Rockets are a fantastic speaker, I really loved my 450's/Bigfoot combo. Both very musical and "rocked" for HT.

There is also a sale that Mark just started yesterday on the X series. They are quite a bit cheaper if you are still looking. Check out the AV123.com forum for pricing info.

thanks for the info skeeter.

and welcome to audioholics

i'm a mouse click away from ordering an x-cs encore PNS, but am strapped for cash at the moment (saving for subwoofers), it's killing me that the sale is a one week thing ...

 

[calnbs]

i looked at the rocket speakers, it would run about 1686 for the 450s and the center and rears, are those supposed to be good speakers

If its going to cost that much, might as well take the other deal if its still on. The RS850, Center, and RS450 for $2,000. That way, you won't have to worry about wanting to upgrade to the RS850 later on.

I haven't heard the new Rti A but they should be very good speakers based on Polk's history.

 

[cheapskete OCer]

I just dont know, and my patience are running thin, i did find a paradigm dealer and i listened to moniter 9s the cc-390 and the ap 190s they sounded pretty good, i about **** myself when i walked in the demo room and saw the cc--390 with the grill off, what a beast.
now i was very impressed with the studio 60s but that was just a stereo set up they didnt have the rest of the seires for surround, but the studio 60s were 2k just for the fronts...ouch, after that i went and listened to b&ws i heard the 683s the htm61 and the 685s
now i can tell you i noticed a big difference in sound between the studio 60s and the 683s
the paradigm just sounded so much more alive(not bright) i guess is how i would describe it, i was offered the monitor setup for 2,100.00 with the smaller center ofcourse and it was about the same price for the b&w set up.

today i went to american and listened to klipsch rf 82s c64 and rs52s , and right next to them were the polk rtia7s csi a6 fxi a6s they both sounded good but so different. i liked them both in their own ways the polks seemed more refined but almost dull next to the rf 82s they were forward but not overbearing one thing i know for sure is the rears for both the klipsch and the polks are huge klipsch being the biggest but damn, i liked it

i can get the klipsch setup brand new from a authorized dealer for 1600 shipped, the polk are going to be new from ebay and from what ive been watching it looks as though ill spend about 1400-1600 for the rti a9s csi a6 and the fxi a6

and then there is av123s rocket series that i mentioned earlier

DAMN THIS SUCKS

oh get this american tv had the klipsch rf 82s on sale for $375 each can you believe that, they had them on order so i put a refundable 10% down so i can have them at that price if i feel like picking them up and listening to them at home...

 

[cheapskete OCer]

If its going to cost that much, might as well take the other deal if its still on. The RS850, Center, and RS450 for $2,000. That way, you won't have to worry about wanting to upgrade to the RS850 later on.

I haven't heard the new Rti A but they should be very good speakers based on Polk's history.

its 2k for the rs850s the center and the rs450s for rears, thats a way better deal.. if they can give me that with free shipping and the 30 day in home trial hell i might aswell try it

 

[fredk]

If you liked the Studio 60s, consider something like the Axiom Audio M60 or M80. The Axiom M60s is very similar in sound to the Studio 60 at half the price and the M80, very similar to the Studio 100.

Check out Axioms hearing things forum to see if there is someone close to you that will let you audition either speaker.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=9&page=1

 

[mazersteven]

its 2k for the rs850s the center and the rs450s for rears, thats a way better deal.. if they can give me that with free shipping and the 30 day in home trial hell i might aswell try it

Now that you've auditioned some speakers you will have an idea once you hear the Rockets if you would like their sound. You also might like what you see once you see the Rockets.

But I seen you make reference to the Paradigm center channel. The Rocket center is very large. But it is an excellent performer.

 

[cheapskete OCer]

im not going for looks, granted i can tell you those axiom speakers look really cheesy (no Offense), my concern is the sound, obviously i am not going to pay close to 2k for some speakers that look like crap, but it seems to me when people on here talk about the rockets they say how great the finish looks..its dark 75% of the time in my HT room, its not like ill be looking at them whilst enjoying the movie and the sound of the speakers.
what im getting at is...are the rockets a great sounding system that happen to look good, or are they great looking system that happens to sound good?

on another note can any one else compare the paradigm studio 60s to the axiom speakers?

 

[Matt34]

I'd check out the Salk Song Towers if I were you, they are built to order but have gotten very good reviews. They were preferred over the Rockets, Swans, Def Tech BP-10 and some others during a "not so offical" blind test done by a gathering of enthusiast.

http://www.salksound.com/SongTower.shtml

 

[calnbs]

im not going for looks, granted i can tell you those axiom speakers look really cheesy (no Offense), my concern is the sound, obviously i am not going to pay close to 2k for some speakers that look like crap, but it seems to me when people on here talk about the rockets they say how great the finish looks..its dark 75% of the time in my HT room, its not like ill be looking at them whilst enjoying the movie and the sound of the speakers.
what im getting at is...are the rockets a great sounding system that happen to look good, or are they great looking system that happens to sound good?

on another note can any one else compare the paradigm studio 60s to the axiom speakers?

My opinion is that Rockets are great sounding speaker for their price range and the nice finish/look is just the icing on the cake. Great choice for music and HT.

You have to call AV123 if that sale is still current on the Rocket System. It's been weeks already since they made that announcement. Usually MLS, the owner will announce the ending of a fire sale like that one but I didn't see one this time, so do call in to confirm it. Secondly, there seems to be confusion over the shipping thing as well....Some believe that shipping is free both ways...my understanding was that YOU still had to pay for shipping to your place but if you are unhappy with it, send it back and they'll pay for return and your whole amount including first shipping cost. Any ways, call them up to confirm about the sale and shipping.

As for comparison, Rockets rated really well against Paradigm from reviews I read. And as for Salk, they cost a little more but they did edge out Paradigm and Rockets on an unofficial audition and blind testing by a few members at avsforum.