Next steps - need advice

[styrbjorn]

OK I just put together my first "entry-level" system (fronts only) and, after trolling these forums for several weeks and getting great info, thought I'd ask for some help.

Here's what I've got right now:
Sony KDL52-w5100 LCD TV / DirecTV DVR
Pioneer VSX21-TXH receiver
Sony BDP-CX960 BluRay changer
2 x B&W 683 front speakers

The setup sounds great in 2.0 but eventually I am planning to add a center speaker and subwoofer. I do not plan to do surrounds in the near future.

The room I am in is 27'wx16'dx8'h, and connects to a 9x11 dining area, so it's a fairly large space. On the other hand, I generally sit about 12-15 feet from the speakers and they're tuned to that position. I'm probably 65% music and 35% HT in my listening.

Right now I think I am pretty settled on the B&W HTM62 center, but I'm a little concerned by some of the reviews I've read. I'm open to suggestions for a better match with the 683's.

I'm also looking at subwoofers - SVS PB12-NSD and HSU VTF3.3 seem like strong candidates but I'm open to other options in that price range (500-700).

So... my questions:
1) If I'm buying these one at a time, which should I get first - sub or center (leaning toward sub)
2) Will the subs I'm looking at be enough for the room?
3) Am I overlooking any obvious/great candidates? I'm flexible on price range (single and make decent money, so my 'toy budget can handle it) but want good value for my dollar.

 

[Ares]

If your get the sub first,the PB12-NSD gets my vote.

 

[njedpx3]

OK I just put together my first "entry-level" system (fronts only) and, after trolling these forums for several weeks and getting great info, thought I'd ask for some help.

Here's what I've got right now:
Sony KDL52-w5100 LCD TV / DirecTV DVR
Pioneer VSX21-TXH receiver
Sony BDP-CX960 BluRay changer
2 x B&W 683 front speakers

The setup sounds great in 2.0 but eventually I am planning to add a center speaker and subwoofer. I do not plan to do surrounds in the near future.

The room I am in is 27'wx16'dx8'h, and connects to a 9x11 dining area, so it's a fairly large space. On the other hand, I generally sit about 12-15 feet from the speakers and they're tuned to that position. I'm probably 65% music and 35% HT in my listening.

Right now I think I am pretty settled on the B&W HTM62 center, but I'm a little concerned by some of the reviews I've read. I'm open to suggestions for a better match with the 683's.

I'm also looking at subwoofers - SVS PB12-NSD and HSU VTF3.3 seem like strong candidates but I'm open to other options in that price range (500-700).

So... my questions:
1) If I'm buying these one at a time, which should I get first - sub or center (leaning toward sub)
2) Will the subs I'm looking at be enough for the room?
3) Am I overlooking any obvious/great candidates? I'm flexible on price range (single and make decent money, so my 'toy budget can handle it) but want good value for my dollar.

You want the get a center speaker that matches the fronts to maintain timbre ( seamless front sound) . The HTM62 center is a very good match. Ideally the absolute best center would be a single 683, since all speakers would be identical.

Both of you subwoofer choices are excellent. I have a SVS sub and would lean to SVS only for that reason. Hsu is also an excellent sub. However, for the size of your room (especially the 27 foot dimension) you might want to consider two SVS PB10-NSDs or two SVS PB12-NSDs. If you go to multiple subs, it is best if they are matching. A sub makes BDs sound awesome

I don't think you are overlooking anything , you have the start of a great system.


Peace and Good Sound!

Forest Man

 

[bandphan]

Run the center phantom for awhile and add these to your sub list
http://www.rythmikaudio.com/F15.html
http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/sealeddragon.html
https://svsound.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=157&CFID=121237&CFTOKEN=98012750

 

[styrbjorn]

Thanks bandphan - I'll definitely take a look at those.

And yes, I think running pantom center for a while sounds like a strong possibility - went by my HT store yesterday and the difference using a center seemed pretty incremental, whereas using a sub really seemed to make the movies a lot better.

 

[Swerd]

The room I am in is 27'wx16'dx8'h, and connects to a 9x11 dining area, so it's a fairly large space. On the other hand, I generally sit about 12-15 feet from the speakers and they're tuned to that position. I'm probably 65% music and 35% HT in my listening.

Right now I think I am pretty settled on the B&W HTM62 center, but I'm a little concerned by some of the reviews I've read. I'm open to suggestions for a better match with the 683's.

I think your subwoofer choices are good. What was it about the B&W HTM62 center speaker reviews that concerned you?

Until you have had a center speaker for a while, you may not know how you will use it. I most often listen to music in 2 channels and use my center speaker primarily with movies. For movies, center channel audio is almost always dialog.

 

[styrbjorn]

I think your subwoofer choices are good. What was it about the B&W HTM62 center speaker reviews that concerned you?

There were some concerns expressed about the off-angle sound of the HTM62 due to its horizotal orientation - in fact, the reviewer ended up using a 685 satellite instead of the HTM62 when reviewing the 683 HT system. I've seen some other concerns in forums, but I've also seen people who swear by the HTM62.

Until you have had a center speaker for a while, you may not know how you will use it. I most often listen to music in 2 channels and use my center speaker primarily with movies. For movies, center channel audio is almost always dialog.

This is exactly my impression, and is why I am leaning toward a sub before getting a center. The 683's sound pretty darned good running woithout a center - certainly better than anything I'm used to.

 

[Swerd]

There were some concerns expressed about the off-angle sound of the HTM62 due to its horizontal orientation - in fact, the reviewer ended up using a 685 satellite instead of the HTM62 when reviewing the 683 HT system. I've seen some other concerns in forums, but I've also seen people who swear by the HTM62.

I think people worry too much about that. In theory it can be a problem, but in practice most people don't sit so far off center that it does become a problem. You should read this article, where Gene DellaSala discusses this issue in more detail.

This is exactly my impression, and is why I am leaning toward a sub before getting a center. The 683's sound pretty darned good running without a center - certainly better than anything I'm used to.

If you sit in the center sweet spot, most people can't hear the difference between a true center speaker and phantom center mode. But if several people are watching a movie with you, almost any center speaker will do a better job at horizontal dispersion than with no center speaker.

 

[styrbjorn]

Thanks for the great feedback, everyone. I will do some more research and then probably start a separate thread on the subwoofer forum with any sub-specific questions I end up with.

 

[James NM]

Actually, we need to clear up a few things.

The HTM61 is the largest of the 600 series center speakers, and the one that B&W suggests for the 683. The 61 has the FST 6" midrange and a kevlar 6.5" bass on either side of the tweeter.

The HTM62 is the smallest center speaker in the 600 series and has 2 matching 5" kevlar bass/midrange units on either side of the tweeter.

To the best of my knowledge, only the 61 has gotten bad reviews. Some speculate that the asymmetrical design of the 61 (a mid on one side and a bass on the other) has caused some to complain about the performance of the 61. But there's also a lot of people very happy with their 686/HTM61 combo.

I suggest you listen for yourself and decide. You might like it better than sex.

 

[James NM]

... But there's also a lot of people very happy with their 686/HTM61 combo ...

I couldn't edit my post - had a typo. It should have said that a lot of people are happy with their 683/HTM61 combo.

I just purchased some 683's and some 685's over the weekend, but my dealer was out of the HTM61, so I didn't get to audition it. The three employees there were all surprised to hear about the negative reviews of the 61. They and their customers have been happy with it. And a lot of owners on the boards are reporting they are happy with the 683/HTM61 set up, so, I don't know ...