Master Bedroom System Ideas

[sholling]

Now that I have my family room system it's time to start saving for a major but not too expensive upgrade to my master bedroom's system. I just spent waaaaay too much money in the family room to drop another $1000 right this minute but I am getting serious in my research.

What I have now is a fairly new 42" LCD 6 feet up the wall across from my bed and that won't change. I've also got an Onkyo TX-SR606 and a decent Blu-Ray player that I plan to keep. The sub is a TSC T250 that I eventually plan to replace but that's tabled until next year. It's really just my mains that I'm not happy with. They aren't bad but I'm a picky audioholic. The mains are Boston Acoustics CS26 bookshelves mounted 6 feet high and angled down 15 degrees at the pillows 15 feet away. The center is a BA VR10 angled down. The center works fine with the CS26s and is a decent center. I've been reviewing options and so far these are my top 4 ideas:

1. Keep looking for a used set of Boston Acoustics VR-M60 bookshelves. I've been looking for about 6 months with no joy. If I found a set in good shape they would be a perfect timbre match for the old center and surrounds from my family room. The downside is they are about rare as hen's teeth because nobody wants to part with them. And when you do find a pair they sell for $350-500 for a pair used and in uncertain condition.
   
2. Replace all 5 speakers with pair of Axiom M22 V2 mains, a VP100 V2 center, and QS4 surrounds. These are 8ohm speakers and the only downside that I see is the center and the surrounds need to crossover at 100hz and that's higher than I like. Optionally I could buy a 3rd V22 and lay it on its side as a center. $1100 delivered.
   
3. Replace just the front 3 with a pair of Usher S-520 bookshelves and a S-525 center. These are nice and small and front ported (something I like). But the woofer bottoming issue bothers me, plus the center is 4ohm and my receiver does not support 4ohm loads. That probably means replacing the receiver and that's more than I really want to spend. $800 plus $500 for a receiver.
   
4. Replace the front 3 with Emotiva's ERM 6.2 speakers. I believe these are the replacements for the well reviewed ERM-1. The ERMs are 4ohm speakers so again I'd have to replace my receiver. $900 plus $500 for a receiver which is more than I want to spend.

I'm in no rush but I'm probably looking at pulling the trigger before Christmas. Thoughts? Ideas? Alternatives? Feedback on these? Suggestions?

 

[Seth=L]

I wish I had known you were looking for a pair of VR-M60s a few months ago. I had the surrounds and matching center as well in pretty good condition (7/10). What's most surprising was the original MSRP on those Bostons, they were outrageously expensive!

 

[sholling]

I wish I had known you were looking for a pair of VR-M60s a few months ago. I had the surrounds and matching center as well in pretty good condition (7/10). What's most surprising was the original MSRP on those Bostons, they were outrageously expensive!

They were way too expensive in their day! Of course nobody paid MSRP unless they saw you coming. I bought my old VR-950s ($700ea MSRP) for like $200-300 for the pair brand new on clearance and later sold them for what I paid for them. My soon to go on Craig's List VR3 towers listed for $625ea and I think I paid $400ea brand new. I just saw a pair of VR-M50s sell for $212 plus $50 S&H but they weren't quite what I want.

Honestly just based on reviews I'd be socking away money for the Axioms or Ushers if it weren't for their centers.

 

[Swerd]

I don’t know about the Boston bookshelf speakers, but I have heard the Axiom M22 and Usher S-520, and I don’t think you’ll like them compared to your SongTowers.

What about the two SongSurrounds you bought? They have similarly voiced crossovers to the STs and that does make them sound similar. I don’t see them in your signature lines.

 

[sholling]

I don’t know about the Boston bookshelf speakers, but I have heard the Axiom M22 and Usher S-520, and I don’t think you’ll like them compared to your SongTowers.

What didn't you like about them?

What about the two SongSurrounds you bought? They have similarly voiced crossovers to the STs and that does make them sound similar. I don’t see them in your signature lines.

I'm still looking at ways to add the SoungSurrounds to my family room system. The family room is awfully tight and I may be stuck continuing with a dipolar surround. If the FR doesn't work out then I'll use the SS in the bedroom. But they are 4ohm speakers so I'd still have to buy a receiver and a center so we're back at spending about the same amount of money. But yes I've been keeping this idea in the back of my mind.

Honestly I listen to the bedroom setup maybe an hour a day and 90% of that is movies/TV and 10% listening to music while I fold laundry. On the other hand I practically live in the family room so it made sense (well to me anyway) to spend well in excess of $4k not counting my sub for that room. That's where I do all of my critical listening.

 

[Swerd]

What didn't you like about them?

I'm still looking at ways to add the SoungSurrounds to my family room system. The family room is awfully tight and I may be stuck continuing with a dipolar surround. If the FR doesn't work out then I'll use the SS in the bedroom. But they are 4ohm speakers so I'd still have to buy a receiver and a center so we're back at spending about the same amount of money. But yes I've been keeping this idea in the back of my mind.

Honestly I listen to the bedroom setup maybe an hour a day and 90% of that is movies/TV and 10% listening to music while I fold laundry. On the other hand I practically live in the family room so it made sense (well to me anyway) to spend well in excess of $4k not counting my sub for that room. That's where I do all of my critical listening.

The main difference will be that any of the Song series speakers will be much more clear across the midrange. Once you get used to that, there is no going back to other speakers without it.

The Usher S-520 would be a decent speaker except that it lacks baffle step compensation. It overemphasizes the midrange. There is a peak in the response around 1 kHz, followed by a dip. The overall effect emphasizes voices and brass, but in a way that actually smears the sound. You lose clarity and detail instead of emphasizing it. If you keep these speakers close to the wall behind them, this problem is much less apparent.

I don't remember the M22 very well, except that it doesn’t come close to being in the same class as the Song series speakers. It didn't sound very clear and it started sounding like it could become fatiguing. I only listened to them for a few minutes.

I can't remember if you got the SongSurround I or SS II. The SS I is 8 ohms and is no problem for any receiver that I know of. The SS II is a 4 ohm speaker, but just like the ST, is not a problem for any receiver capable of delivering an honest 50 wpc at 8 ohms. When I first got my STs, I used an older Denon 70 wpc receiver without any problem. Try your receiver and see if the protection circuits kick in. If not, then you are good to go. I wouldn't automatically assume you need a new receiver to drive them.

 

[AJinFLA]

The mains are Boston Acoustics CS26 bookshelves mounted 6 feet high and angled down 15 degrees

The Usher S-520 would be a decent speaker except that it lacks baffle step compensation.

Couple comments here Swerd:
Unless I misunderstand, these speakers are to be mounted on or in very close proximity to the wall...precisely the scenario where you would want a lack of so called baffle step (free space) compensation.
Secondly, the entire issue of this type of correction filter is a debatable subject (but one in which I will limit my time on, since I hate typing). Keep in mind that the amount of correction (in db), is the amount you reduce the maximum output capability driven by the same amplifier (which may not be much of a consideration in a bedroom setup).
Lastly, if the speaker lacked a correction filter and was placed far enough away from boundaries to sound a bit thin, the typical bass control shelving filter (on most non-audiophile hardware) will correct this nicely with a small increase, so again, no need to throw away sensitivity.

cheers,

AJ

 

[Seth=L]

They were way too expensive in their day! Of course nobody paid MSRP unless they saw you coming. I bought my old VR-950s ($700ea MSRP) for like $200-300 for the pair brand new on clearance and later sold them for what I paid for them. My soon to go on Craig's List VR3 towers listed for $625ea and I think I paid $400ea brand new. I just saw a pair of VR-M50s sell for $212 plus $50 S&H but they weren't quite what I want.

Honestly just based on reviews I'd be socking away money for the Axioms or Ushers if it weren't for their centers.

A pair of BA VR-M60s sold on ebay recently for $399. The seller said their camera didn't work, but the speakers were in otherwise perfect condition. I imagine if they were in fact perfect and he had taken pictures it would have added another $200 to his final value.

I saw the VR-M50's as well. I like the cherry finish. I can tell you one thing. After owning the VR-M60 I was very surprised by the quality and finish of the speakers. I don't mean this in a good way either. For a pair of bookshelf speakers that retailed for $2000, they had better look amazing and feel like they are made of brick. The overall build quality didn't better than my Infinity IL10 bookshelf monitors. Granted the BAs sounded much better than the Infinitys, I preferred the heft of the Infinitys.

 

[sholling]

Update: I went with Usher S-520 Bookshelves

I ordered a pair from the Audioholic Store and third brand new in the box off of ebay for a use as a center. What a huge improvement. They produce a nice well defined soundstage and the clarity and detail are excellent. Diana Krall's sultry voice in Peel Me A Grape was delightful. Earl Klugh's Spice Of Life came through light and airy. And Drum Trip from Rusted Root produced all the impact that I had hoped for. Appearance wise they're small enough to fit almost anywhere and the front ports make placement simple. Mine came in a beautiful piano black finish which I chose over white because I plan to leave the grills off. Service from the Audioholics Store was outstanding I'll probably pick up two more from them down the road to make it a 5.1 system.

Bottom line they're everything Tom said they were in his review.

Naked speakers for the speaker porn junkies.

Doubling my fun. I'll be upgrading soon but by dragging my other T250 out of my home office and adding it to my bedroom I finally have enough bass.​

 

[Swerd]

Your set up has grown nicely .

I’d be interested if you listened to your Salk Surround Is and the Ushers in a direct comparison of small bookshelf speakers.

 

[sholling]

I’d be interested if you listened to your Salk Surround Is and the Ushers in a direct comparison of small bookshelf speakers.

Not side by side. I'd already tested the SS1s in the bedroom before setting them up as surrounds before I ordered the Ushers. But I have subwoofers to buy and $2000 and a 6 week wait for 5 SS1s just wasn't doable for a lightly used system. Plus due to placement limitations I really wanted front ported speakers. I have a grand total of $550 in 3 Ushers and will have a total of $950 in 5 speakers that sound really good as long as you don't exceed their limitations. I set my crossover at 80hz and don't anticipate exceeding those limitations in a medium sized bedroom.

I think you'd have to play them side by side to appreciate the difference. And since Jim probably spends twice as much for the SS1s' drivers I suspect that the Salks would win any A/B test but for my usage the Ushers sound really good and are a great bargain and flat blow the doors off what they replaced.