Need help in upgrading the speakers!!

[snakey123]

Hey All,

i recently shifted to a new place and iam going to dedicate the basement as an ENTERTAINMENT ROOM . Its a 15x15 room (25 sqyards approx) with a viewing distance of 11 ft (approx) and the ceiling is 8 ft high.


Now, i currently have a Sammy 55" 8 series LED along with DENON AVR-3310, 5 x TSC TSAT1000 speakers and 1x Jamo SUB 650 subwoofer.

I am now thinking of upgrading to the following :

DENON AVR 4311 (Hdmi 1.4)

Klipsch RF-82 x 2 ( front L/R)

Klipsch RC - 62 (center)

Klipsch RB - 61 or RB -52 (for Surround left/right, front height L/R and front Wide L/R - audyssey DSX)


Yes i want to use the audyssey DSX to its real potentinal. So thats a total of 9 speakers and 1 sub (jamo SUB 650) . Now, I am confused between the above Klipsch models and the KEF IQ series - thats where i need an opinion from you guys on what to choose. Am i going too heavy given the size of my room? cause iam not much of a HEAVY BASS person, i prefer quality which comes from controlled treble levels - i mainly watch movies, play games and listen to music (rock/metal) - i also keep my sub 650 at the lowest possible (minus 12 db) level cause it gets too damn boomy even if i raise it to 2.0 DB.

I can also choose between RF-82 and RF-62 if you guys believe that RF-82 is far too 'extra' for the room.*

Any buying help from you Audio gurus would certainly be useful*

Thanks.

 

[jamie2112]

My 1st question is ...have you listened to the RF-82's? Second are you completely sold on Klipsh? Third what is you budget money wise to do this project? I ask because there are many speaker types and they can be based on what music you listen to and how loud you plan on listening.Also are you mainly movies or is there music listening involved?

 

[zieglj01]

The Klipsch have a forward bright sound. Is this the type of sound
that you like. If you would like more suggestions - then ask. I am
not familiar with the current KEF speakers.

 

[snakey123]

hey thanks for the input!

@jamie:

i'll bullet down the answers to your questions :

1. Yes, i have listened to the RF-82's and they did sound a bit..umm...different somehow , maybe its their HORN technology - though they did sounded a bit toooo loud for my taste - as i mentioned i crave for quality and a natural,open sound with balanced acoustics (treble+bass) and also , again, iam not much of a BOOM BOOM TECHNO/DANCE person, i am more of a classical,orchestral, rock,metal (power/symphonic metal) person.


2. Sold out on Klipsch, see thats a difficult question. Thing is i live in Pakistan, and I am limited to a certain choice of Hi-fi stuff. The local Hi-fi distributor has the following brands here :

h**p://desertsound.com.pk/homeentertainment.html

apart from that , this other distributor (no web link sorry) deals in Klipsch,Focal JMlabs and Definitive Tech.

My budget is around $3000-$3500, in which , i have to buy a total of 9 speakers minus subwoofer as i intend on using the Jamo Sub 650 - those 9 speakers again are : Front L/R, Center, Surround L/R, Front Height L/R, Front Wide L/R.

Oh and I also changed my mind on the amp, I am now getting Onkyo 1008 as it is readily available.



3. Onto what i will use on this system - mostly movies,games and music. If i break it down then 50% movies, 40% games and 10% music. I am a music lover but i usually listen to it in the car cause i dont know, there's something about metal which simply doesnt let me sit in once place like an idiot lol.
But yes, music games, such as guitar hero and rock band will be played ALOT on this system with my group of friends. I have all the gaming consoles and each console has a different audio output (like 360 only supports DD and PS3 supports DTS/DTS-HD 7.1 as well).
As far as the movies are concerned, I have a 3D LED with a 3D Bluray player, along with Xtreamer Pro streamer so my appetite for HD Movies/HD TV Shows is no doubt, the biggest.

Also, a stupid question, considering that i can go upto $3000 for the speakers, is there any possible way i could use my existing TSAT1000's somewhere? for front height/wide maybe? cause i hate to see them getting wasted - a friend of mine brought it for me all the way from Ohio last year.

EDIT: Iam asking this cause i know if i buy better speakers then they would simply over shadow these babies(TSAT1000's) - i dont know, I am not really familiar with all the Crossover Sh*t and at what frequency speakers are "cut" / "cutoff", still going through a whole new world of audiophile 101 step by step

@zieglj01 - Sure , more suggestions are welcome - but remember, I dont have much variety over here so suggestions from any of the above mentioned brands would do great

 

[zieglj01]

I have heard all 3 brands - I prefer the Focal for better balance, then
Definitive Tech. Klipsch is low on my list. You can use your TSC speakers
for side and rear, since music is low priority. Cross them over between
100 to 120 hz.

 

[snakey123]

@zieglj01 : Thanks . But i was hoping if i could use my TSC as front wides and front heights (4 speakers in total) as i really wish i could use bookshelf speakers as surrounds.
Ok now the question lies: which speakers from Focal JMlabs? if you say my current TSC speakers would do fine as front height and front wide (without being over-shadowed) then all i would require from Focal Jmlabs is :

Center

Front L/R

Surround L/R

remember the total budget is $3000-$3500

 

[zieglj01]

@zieglj01 : Thanks . But i was hoping if i could use my TSC as front wides and front heights (4 speakers in total) as i really wish i could use bookshelf speakers as surrounds.
Ok now the question lies: which speakers from Focal JMlabs? if you say my current TSC speakers would do fine as front height and front wide (without being over-shadowed) then all i would require from Focal Jmlabs is :

Center

Front L/R

Surround L/R

remember the total budget is $3000-$3500

Expierment with the TSC speakers for sound effects - For music, then
the main speakers for front, center and surround. The Focal Chorus
speakers should fit your budget. They are good for movies and games.
They handle music, movies and games well - remember, movies have
music in the sound track.

 

[jamie2112]

Your TSC speakers would do fine as surrounds.I am not sure about front hi and wide as I have never heard of this myself.I like JM Lab and Def Tech way more than I like Klipsch. In fact I dont like the sound of them at all really.I would suggest that you try to listen to the JM's and Def's in store with a few of your favorite movies.I am not sure what models your dealer has bit I am looking at Euro dealers who ship to Pakistan at the moment.....

 

[snakey123]

ok i would definitely check the speakers out in the store - as per the dealer, he has complete range of JMLabs as well as Definitive Tech - so please, bring in the model numbers/names as per my room size/requirements.

oh wow, so that means my TSAT1000's can still perform with class-leaders/more powerful speakers ??? I still somehow cant believe but hey, you guys are the elite when it comes to audio so your opinion is all what matters to me

EDIT : @Jamie, the front heights/front wides is something which Audyssey DSX provides and from what iam hearing from all the hype/reviews, it really does open a new dimension in Home theaters so I really want to experiment

 

[jamie2112]

The Tsats will be fine as surrounds because they are really only used for effects in surround mode. Always keep your L,R,and center the same brand and model if possible.You want your front soundstage to be uniform so thats the reasoning for having the same speakers across your front.

 

[zieglj01]

Focal front towers 726V - center CC700V - surround SR700V
Expierment with the TSC for front height - however, you may
find a need to put Focal up there.

 

[snakey123]

The Tsats will be fine as surrounds because they are really only used for effects in surround mode. Always keep your L,R,and center the same brand and model if possible.You want your front soundstage to be uniform so thats the reasoning for having the same speakers across your front.

GOT IT! i would definitely use my TSAT1000's as SURROUND L/R and FRONT HEIGHT/WIDES.

So now it comes down to just 3 speakers - Front L/R and center and i have $3000-$3500 to cash in for them.

Recommendations please! also how's B&W?? any specific model you can recommend?

 

[snakey123]

Focal front towers 726V - center CC700V - surround SR700V
Expierment with the TSC for front height - however, you may
find a need to put Focal up there.

Thanks Z ! I will look into these focal models.
Also, as mentioned in previous post , do you think any B&W in this price range would do a better job?

 

[zieglj01]

Thanks Z ! I will look into these focal models.
Also, as mentioned in previous post , do you think any B&W in this price range would do a better job?

I can't speak for B&W - however, look at the Definitive Mythos 1
speakers and the Mythos 9 center channel to audition.

 

[snakey123]

I can't speak for B&W - however, look at the Definitive Mythos 1
speakers and the Mythos 9 center channel to audition.

Thanks for your help buddy! after a lot of researching, i have come down to 2 brands: Focal or Swan Diva's.


Whats the take on Swan Diva's? anyone heard of 'em?


I really like the reviews of Focal's Chorus 700v and 800v series - shall definitely go on an audition for both.