Best new pair of bookshelfs $250 shipped can buy

[WmAx]

According to the site here, my situation is very common. As you know bass wavelength are very long and its all to easy to set up your sub in aposition reltive to the listening position that delivers a null at that point. The trick that I suggested is one of the set-up procedures suggested on this site.

The condition of your set as you seem to imply is that it was impossible to get any level of acceptable LF attributes with the LF drivers near the mid/treble units in your room. Of course, this would preclude you from any actual full range speaker if that is actually the case, since the LF unit is built into the speaker. But it is not common to have unacceptable performance in this case - though of course - room response is rarely ever ideal in any random place. One can still move the speaker around somewhat to improve response, or they can add room treatments or E.Q. bands (ideally they will use room treatments and E.Q.). But it is the case that it is very unlikely to achieve seamless integration for music purposes with the subs placed so far from the mid-treble modules when crossed at over 60-65 Hz or so. If this is not for critical listening - that is - movies, video games and background music - then seamless integration is not a big deal.

-Chris

 

[voltainthesky]

Never heard of the Acculine... does it have a matching center as well?

At this point, I really think it's between the KEF iQ3, AV123 ELT525, and Wharfedale 9.2. I think I'm going to put them in a hat and pick one blindly.

 

[bandphan]

Never heard of the Acculine... does it have a matching center as well?

At this point, I really think it's between the KEF iQ3, AV123 ELT525, and Wharfedale 9.2. I think I'm going to put them in a hat and pick one blindly.

If possible do the same 3 across the front. His recomendátion also re-affirms the need to demo.

 

[voltainthesky]

Can't demo, can't find a store here that carries them, and I dont have enough money to order all 3, and then take back 2...

 

[mazersteven]

Never heard of the Acculine... does it have a matching center as well?

Acculine A2R
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php/p/acculine-a2r/products_id/117

The whole Acculine series

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/manufacturers.php/mPath/13?osCsid=f9b047fd18d2b15264f0fe172d7f1339

30 Day In-Home Guarantee
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/index.php

 

[zumbo]

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1ENC200

 

[voltainthesky]

Yeah I have been thinking about the Energy C200 series as well, but Im not sure how they would stack up to my 'final 3'. Ahhh I think I'm goona have to think about the Acculine's now too, and reviews on them or the Energies?

 

[mazersteven]

I think I'm goona have to think about the Acculine's now too, and reviews on them

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=900045&highlight=acculine

 

[Ralls]

Yeah I have been thinking about the Energy C200 series as well, but Im not sure how they would stack up to my 'final 3'. Ahhh I think I'm goona have to think about the Acculine's now too, and reviews on them or the Energies?

I'm also curious about the Energy C-200. Somebody claimed on another forum that it replaced the more expensive and discontinued C-3. To me, they appear to be pretty different speakers. If they do truly replace the C-3, then they are a steal on Amazon.com for $150. Sounds to good to be true.

 

[zumbo]

I'm also curious about the Energy C-200. Somebody claimed on another forum that it replaced the more expensive and discontinued C-3. To me, they appear to be pretty different speakers. If they do truly replace the C-3, then they are a steal on Amazon.com for $150. Sounds to good to be true.

That is $150 each at Amazon.

Audio Advisor now has a new pair for $200
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ENC200

 

[emorphien]

The condition of your set as you seem to imply is that it was impossible to get any level of acceptable LF attributes with the LF drivers near the mid/treble units in your room. Of course, this would preclude you from any actual full range speaker if that is actually the case, since the LF unit is built into the speaker. But it is not common to have unacceptable performance in this case - though of course - room response is rarely ever ideal in any random place. One can still move the speaker around somewhat to improve response, or they can add room treatments or E.Q. bands (ideally they will use room treatments and E.Q.). But it is the case that it is very unlikely to achieve seamless integration for music purposes with the subs placed so far from the mid-treble modules when crossed at over 60-65 Hz or so. If this is not for critical listening - that is - movies, video games and background music - then seamless integration is not a big deal.

-Chris

That point being raised, how bad is it really (if either due to budget or space restrictions) to have one sub placed within a couple feet of one of your two stereo speakers on a two channel system? I think a lot of people are in that situation and have to go with just one sub for any of a variety of reasons. For a HT I wouldn't worry as much about having it near the front stereo speakers but for a music system if you can get it close I would think for most people it's still going to give a pretty good integration.

 

[3db]

I haven't been able to audition any, no. Apparently Fresno is really bad for finding stores carrying the speakers we have been talking about in this thread. I did find 2 stores that audition by appointment only, one was an ex PSB dealer who now carries definitive and swears by them, though the soonest I would be able to audition would be the 28th of this month. I found another dealer who deals Monitor Audio and KEF, and used to deal PSB. Unfortunately this dealer has none of the models talked about in this thread up for demo. I also found a dealer who carries B&W, but he doesn't have any 303's on the floor, at least not right now, and I left another msg at a store that was said to carry NHT. 2 other stores just carried Atlanta Technologies and Proficient Speakers, which I've never heard before.

3db- All he said about the PSB's was that in the past, they have had to replace drivers on many of the PSB's, (from being played too loud too long I'm assuming) and that they now don't carry them.

Sheesh, That sounds very shady to me. I've cranked mine for hours on end at +85db with no damaged drivers at all. Every speaker will breakdown if abused. But if they haven't any models for you to audiiton, then there's no sense in persuing them.

 

[Ralls]

Thanks Zumbo for the heads up and the link! That could have been disastrous.

For me right now, it is between the Energy C-200's and the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE's. I could buy the Energy's right now, but I would have to save an additional $170 for the 170's.

What would you guys choose?

 

[voltainthesky]

I'm pretty much deciding between the Infinity Primus P162 and the KEF's at this point... the infinity has a higher sensitivity at 90db compared to the 89 i believe on the KEF's... so not much of a different, but are the infinity's a good choice?

 

[mike c]

if it were me: infinity vs. KEF, i'd get the KEF

i prefer the sound of the KEF and the better looks is the kicker.

 

[voltainthesky]

Have you heard the Infinity P162's as well? Would the KEF be able to maintain it's sound quality at loud volumes better than the Infinity? Is having the tweeter directly on top of the midbass just as good as having a separate TM?

 

[mike c]

actually, i've heard the 160 (older brother of the 162) and the KEF Q1 (also the older brother of the iQ series) [kinda hints that i haven't been listening to speakers for awhile]

anyway, i wouldn't worry about where the tweeter is - that's way above what normal folks should think about. what's important is how they sound.

i've only heard the Infinity 160 in-store. but i have its more expensive brothers the BETA 10 and BETA 50. i'd say that they were so close in performance that you couldn't do wrong whichever way you choose.

my only complaint with the KEF is that i hardly see the driver move. (senseless i know)

i never really cranked my speakers - but i'd guess within practical SPL's, they'd both do fine.

pics of my KEF Q1 post #3 onwards
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33290

 

[mazersteven]

I'm pretty much deciding a

higher sensitivity

I hope this is not how you are choosing speakers, because of their sensitivity.

 

[Sheep]

Ascends Acoustics 170SE. Surprised this hasn't been recommended yet. Has a matching Center, and WmAx can verify it's performance.


SheepStar

 

[voltainthesky]

I was comparing the sensitivity between the KEF and the Infinity. The Infinity is only 1db higher, so I doubt I'd be able to hear a difference. At this point, I think I'm going with the KEF's. In the future I can get a iQ2 or iQ6 center, and iQ1 rears... now I just need a sub.