help for a set of speakers

[eddygrinder]

Hello!

This is my first thread and i really don't now what to do or what to buy!

I'm looking for a set of speakers to my onkyo 607

Major drawback: I think i can't hear all the speakers, so it's kind of a shot in the dark... sort of....

I 1st thought on this one Harman Kardon HKTS-11 BQ and then on this one Pioneer S-V50-G but since i'm reading this and others forums maybe they are not the best choice!

For now, my budget is 400€ and i thought to buy the speakers separately but the set will be more expensive. If i have difficulty to choose a set if i have to look for them separately ... i'm doomed!

I am not looking for anything 5* or otherwise... maybe 3 1/2 *.

Is this set ok, H/K or Pioneer? I'm living in a apartment with ~25m^2

If i have to buy them separately what you people recommend? I'm a bit lost here...
Or better: What you people recommend for 2 speakers + subwoofer for 400€?

I know this is a bit complicated and depends of a lots of things but i would appreciate your opinions....

Thanx for your patience and support!
EddY

 

[bandphan]

If your in the UK, you might want to search this forum.

didnt notice local....sorry

 

[Davemcc]

Member with the name Djizasse is also from Portugal. I recall him mentioning his search for speakers. I believe he ended up ordering them from England but I could be wrong. It might be worth sending him a PM. He may know more about local Portuguese audio dealers that he could share.

 

[eddygrinder]

Damn it!
I must have 5 posts to send him a pm

 

[Djizasse]

Hi all

Eddy sent me a PM on another forum. Might as well return here, it's been a while

Davemcc (Hi Dave ) is right, I ordered from the UK:
- Marantz SR6003
- Monitor Audio RS6 (front towers)
- Monitor Audio RSLCR (center)
- Monitor Audio RSFX (side/surround)

I can hook you up with the seller, or just give you the contacts. It's the Seven Oaks Swindon's store.


First of all, I'll recommend that at you listen to what you can.
I don't know where you're from, but if you have a MediaMarkt with an audio room near you, go and listen to your music (take one of your CDs or just a good mp3 player - mine plays flac files and has an optical out). Don't forget to ask to disconnect the rears, center and subwoofer. Also ask to turn off any "enhancement", use the "pure", "direct out" or "stereo mode".

If you're willing to spend €400, listen to speakers below and above that price, at least you'll get a sense for what you like.
When you switch to another pair, don't forget to adjust the volume, different speakers have different sensibilities and will play louder or quieter. As louder seems better, adjust the volume.
I really like MediaMarkt, sometimes they have sales and you might just find a good bargain. From what I recall, they have Monitor Audio, Kef, Tannoy (almost bought the Revolution), Quad and a few others. It's nice just to be able to touch the veneers.
At first it will be hard to notice the sound signature of each speaker, but take your time, enjoy your listening and you'll start to get a feeling to what you like, even if you can't put it in words.

It's important to take your music with you. Record a CD with a compilation of your favorites, you might want to normalize the CD (if needed). Remember to avoid 128kbps mp2s, use at least 320kbps or flac.
And forget about movies, if the speakers sound good with music, they'll sound good with movies (even if later you have to get a sub).

As you might have noticed, I'm only recommending you to listen to pairs of speakers. For now, just forget about the subwoofer. You can buy one later if you want.

I cannot recommend any brand over another (as long as you don't buy bose), but I like Monitor Audio, Tannoy and KEF. I spent a few hours listening to the Monitor Audio RS6 and the Tannoy Revolution DC6. I loved them both, but the RS6s won my preference. The price was also lower.

You can check my system on the web, or just take a quick look here:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/floorloudspeakers/1205monitor/
or just the RS6:
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/306monitor/

My thread on getting the RS6:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52957

My thread on the whole system (needs an update):
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56183

It might be possible to get a second hand RS6s for €400. A year ago I was able to get my show room pair for €500! They were just shown on an audio fair, they weren't even connected. So, keep an eye on ebay

I don't know if the Onkyo 607 is able to drive the RS6s (or any other speakers that you choose), other members please advise.

 

[eddygrinder]

I war writing a post when i received your answer... thx Djizasse!
(Somos portugueses a falar em inglês)

By reading this and others forums i came to a conclusion, and i think that the best speakers that suite with the onkyo receivers (by its caracteristics) are wharfedales.

I thought in two sets:

WHARFEDALE MOVIESTAR 65+ 5.1 SYSTEM - cheaper

Wharfedale Diamond 9 Hcp - the only place where i find it don't export to portugal (superfi) and the only in portugal that i found was to damn expensive.

These two are hard to find in my hometown... so

i'm starting to thinking in these two:
2 Diamond 10.1 + SW150 or
2 Diamond 10.0 + SW150

Is that the correct order to start the system?
1st - 2 front speakers and a subwoofer
2nd - central speaker
3rd - surround speakers

What do you think?

I will go to mediamarkt and see what they have! I'll be in touch....

It's gonna be more expensive but... i think my wife is gonna kill me... slow and very painfull!!!!

Thx a lot

 

[eddygrinder]

Djizasse: I see your speakers!

They are to damn big... my will kill me or worst!
She throw them out of the window:
1st - They are too big;
2nd - They don't match with the ferniture....

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I auditioned Wharfedale Diamonds before - and I like them a lot,
not sure of which model it was - it was a long time ago.

What ever your choice will be - try to audition them before purchase as mentioned above.

p.s: Some folks around these forums have mixed feelings about MA products.... and again - its a matter of personal preference...

 

[eddygrinder]

Hi...
Thx a lot, i'm gonna try to listen!

I'll be in touch....

 

[eddygrinder]

So i went to store and... nothing, no Onkyo, no Wharfedale. The next big store available is 1hour by car, so... after thinking, reading and searching a lot i came to a conclusion (set):

TV - Samsung LE40B651 (already bought)
Onkyo SR 607 (already bought)

and

2 Diamond 9.1 + Central Diamond 9.CC = 155€ + 98.40€ = 253.4€ (All Black)
Then the sub and after the surround speakers...

As i understand the wharfedale have a slightly warm sounding and should be a very good match for the Onkyo receiver.

I don't mind to "hear" other opnions!

Thx
EddY

 

[Djizasse]

For a little over that value you could get Monitor Audio Bronze BR2s.

 

[eddygrinder]

For a little over that value you could get Monitor Audio Bronze BR2s.

Djizasse: "a little over?!" chiça!!!

The speakers costs 314€, only two. Now this to much...

For 253€ i'll buy 2 Diamond 9.1 + 1 Central Diamond 9.CC

EddY

 

[Djizasse]

It's your money, but on your first post you asked for 2 front speakers and a subwoofer for €400. I advised you to search ebay and UK stores for a 2nd hand pair of MA RS6s. With these two you would not need a subwoofer and would have a very nice sound system that would sound great for the money.

Now you're eyeing the 2xfronts + center for €250, which leaves you €150 for the sub, which will be easy to find. What's next? 5.1 with amp for €50?

You have two paths you can take, one of them is getting the most for what you're willing to spend right now. If this will be your first system you might be delighted with it, until you listen to something better.

The other path is only getting two front towers and later on getting the rest of the speakers. I, and most of the guys here, prefer this path. In the end, you have a system you love, even if that takes you more time.
Don't underestimate the front speaker pair, they're the most important. All the rest is built around them.

Don't think that I'm elitist and only recommend expensive units. If you stick around you'll see some really expensive systems. Mine is very entry level.

What I'm trying to tell you is that you should pause and think a little better. How serious are you about music and movies/gaming? Can you tell the difference between entry level PC speakers and systems that cost much more than your PC? Have you ever cried while listening to some of your favourite songs and think "man, this system is awesome, the sound is beautiful"?

I took almost a year to decide on my current system. That took a lot of reading, asking around and listening. It also took a few months to convince my wife to approve on the aquisition of the two towers. I had to take her to audio shops to listen to some systems. After two or three visits she was enjoying and was able to identify her favourite sound signatures. I spent countless hours on this forum reading and asking questions. And after we decided on the system I took 2 or 3 months just to find a nice deal on the net (which I did).

If you're really in a hurry to buy some speakers and are strapped for cash, take a look at the Behringer 2030p, buy 5 of them and a subwoofer. I hope your wife likes how they look. But please, if you're a music lover and love good sound, do not waste your money on those Diamonds.

 

[Djizasse]

A friend of mine took the same path you're about to take and bought those same 3 diamonds and a subwoofer, against my recommendations. But he's happy with them. That's all it matters in the end.
But the funny thing is that the Diamonds that were supposed to be in the living room, for music and movies, got thrown to the office, to be used with the Xbox 360. He prefers his old two towers. Don't remember their name, but at least they're much bigger, heavier, with a larger woofer and sound much better.
At least you're trying to match the 3 front speakers

 

[KEW]

You have two paths you can take, one of them is getting the most for what you're willing to spend right now. If this will be your first system you might be delighted with it, until you listen to something better.

The other path is only getting two front towers and later on getting the rest of the speakers. I, and most of the guys here, prefer this path. In the end, you have a system you love, even if that takes you more time.
Don't underestimate the front speaker pair, they're the most important. All the rest is built around them.

The third path is to buy a pair of speakers you can afford now to use as mains. Then, if and when you decide to upgrade, buy new mains and use the old speakers for the rear channels.

I like the sound of the 9.1, but certainly there are better speakers if you have more money.

 

[eddygrinder]

Hei... what a post!
Thanx a lot, by the way!

So, maybe i didn't explain very well!

Ok, the 400€ is for now, so... maybe for the 1/2 of the system!
For what i read here and in the others forums is that, for the characteristics of the receiver the speakers that match well are the wharfadales because of the "warmer" sound. (For example, for a Yamaha receiver which has a warmer sound is not recommended to connect a Wharfadale speakers...) This is what i've learn

So i could label my choice: "a shot in the dark", i know, but what can i do!

I'm not looking for a top set speakers as i don't have a superb receiver! I have no money for that! I'm looking for... i don't know a 3 stars set of speakers! I've read in another forum (start with a Z) that the 1st speakers that we have to buy are the 2 fronts and the sub.... and i disagree, i think the 3 front speakers and then the others

I like to watch some Full HD movies and listen some good music but i'm not an audiholic.

Another example: I've called my wife to show her two (tower) speakers and she open is eyes so wide... and say: What?! This are to damn big!! And i said... "Just kiddin'" These ones are out! :-D

So i don't' even think to buy the MA RS6s (If i have time, tomorrow i'll take a photo of my living room)

I'm not in a hurry, i'm gonna try to visit some stores, i don know if it is possible, i'm living at ~100Km from Porto, the mid town nearest to me is Aveiro... i'm only one day a week because my wife works 6 days a week...

It's a little complicated...

Inté!!

 

[Djizasse]

I'm not in a hurry, i'm gonna try to visit some stores, i don know if it is possible, i'm living at ~100Km from Porto, the mid town nearest to me is Aveiro...

Excellent! Do that, take your time. If you do visit Mediamarkt in Aveiro, don't be shy and force (nicely) the audio "specialist" to let you listen to some speakers. If he starts being unfriendly, just ask "Do you not want to sell?". That usually does the trick

As for the warmer/darker and amp/speaker marriage... I think that's all rubish. That might have been true a few decades ago, but now, most amps are made not to have a sound signature.
If I recall correctly I also heard that my Yamaha RX-V861 was brighter sounding than my Marantz SR6003, but I could not hear a difference between them... maybe it's just my ears.

Anyway, the most important thing is to make an informed decision and be happy with it.