Upgrade Bug-Please Help!

[FatmanSize48]

I have recovered from buying a $3500 bike and am once again ready to attempt to upgrade. This time, I have a FIXED budget of $2800 USD, and I would love to get a new receiver and subwoofer. Right now I have a bottom end Denon Receiver, the AVR 1611, and a Pinnacle Baby Boomer Sub. I moved my stereo to a smaller room, a 12x14ft room with a 9ft ceiling. Once again, room treatments are out of the question-I live in a beautiful Pre-War house and don't want to change anything. You guys are always so quick and direct-that's why I keep on comin back

 

[FatmanSize48]

Still no responses...:'(

 

[its phillip]

Yamaha RX-A1000: $630
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-A1000-7-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B003XDU48O/

That's a tiny room, and I think a pair of Rythmik F15SEs would be complete overkill and awesome at $2072 shipped.

Or three F12s for $2,157 shipped.

 

[zieglj01]

I would look at the Yamaha receiver - and this HSU sub.
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk4.html

You will still have some monry left for speakers.

 

[FatmanSize48]

I moved my stuff, once again, to a bigger room. This new room is a lot larger, 18x22x10 ft. Hope this helps.

Spending under budget is something I dream of, but if need be, I will max it out for this larger room. Here are a few things which I liked.
A pair of Epik Legend subs (Empire if deemed neccessary)
Denon 3312 CI
Marantz SR6006

And maybe an external 2 channel amp? Would my Mirage OS3 FS be able to handle the extra juice?

 

[zieglj01]

If that is the thin tower speakers, with the 4 1/2 woofers - and if you play
your stuff near reference levels - then I expect some problems in that room.
You may want to look for different speakers, before you buy those amps.

 

[PENG]

Either a Yamaha or Denon will do the job for you. The Denon AVR-4311 may have an edge if you have preference or need of the following.

a) Audyssey XT32
b) Denon Link for music media player including SACD, DVD-A.
c) Ability to decode HDCD.
d) 'Rated' to handle 4 ohm speakers (such as your Mirage).

Otherwise the Yamaha A series are highly recommended. With either the Denon AVR-4311 or the Yamaha RX-A2000 or 3000 series you should not need to add a two channel amp for the thin tower Mirage (assuming in room sensitivity is 93db/W#1m base on its misleading spec of 'room efficiency" of 93dB) as long as you have a good sub. If and when you upgrade your speakers then you may or may not need to add an amp.

 

[FatmanSize48]

So maybe I should get new speakers instead? I really love the Energy Veritas, Klipsch Reference, and B&W CM lines...I hope my current receiver has enough juice to power them-I listen to music fairly loud.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I would opt for the larger Epik subwoofers. I have used both, and in a large space, they sound phenomenal.

For a receiver, I'm not a huge fan of Marantz, just because I don't think their amp section is as solid as that of other manufacturers.

Denon and Yamaha are both excellent manufactuers.

If the 1611 has preouts, then why not get a good five channel amplifier to run everything?

 

[FatmanSize48]

Would an amp make a bigger difference in sound than new speakers?

 

[its phillip]

New speakers would make a much larger difference than a new amp.

 

[FatmanSize48]

New speakers would make a much larger difference than a new amp.

I want to use these new speakers mostly for music-I don't care too much about movies and games. As I said, I like the Energy Veritas and Bowers-Wilkins CM, but other suggestions would be great. I have heard both the KEF Q900s and PSB Image T6. I listened to my favorite artists (Radiohead, Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones) with them and I did not like them . I would offer more input on why I didn't like the PSBs or KEFs but it was over a month ago so I don't quite remember much. Once again, all of your opinions and comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

[zieglj01]

Once again, all of your opinions and comments will be greatly appreciated.

Find a Focal dealer, and go listen to them.
http://www.spearitsound.com/focal/focal_800_series.htm
http://www.spearitsound.com/focal/focal_700_series.htm

 

[FatmanSize48]

The Focal 800 series speakers are quite sexy...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have heard both the KEF Q900s and PSB Image T6.

Try B&W, DefTech, GoldenEar, Klipsch, Zu Audio, etc.

I guess that's why they make all kinds of speakers to suit everyone's needs.

 

[FatmanSize48]

@zieglj01
I am unable to find a Focal dealer in the Los Angeles area...
BTW they are French made so I have some doubts about quality.

 

[Pyrrho]

@zieglj01
I am unable to find a Focal dealer in the Los Angeles area...
BTW they are French made so I have some doubts about quality.

Try to find as many different brands of speakers, and as many different types of speakers (e.g., ribbons, domes, horns, whatever) as you possibly can find within your price range. Go listen to them with music with which you are familiar, of all of the types of music to which you listen (taking a CDR with you that you create for this purpose is a good idea). Think carefully about what it is that you like and dislike about each speaker. Then buy the particular ones you like best, after going to many different shops and listening to as many different speakers as you can stand to audition.

I personally recommend that you include some Magnepan speakers in the mix to give you something quite different from most speakers. There are Magnepan dealers in the Los Angeles area, so you should have no trouble doing this.

As for your joke about French products, I have some good Heybrook speakers [British] from the early 1980's that are made with Audax drivers [French]. They function perfectly after more than a quarter century, so there is no need to worry about French ability to make quality speakers.

 

[FatmanSize48]

@Pyrrho
Thanks for the info-I will definitely include Magnepan in my "search"
The joke about the French was simply a joke-Maybe a third of all of my clothes/shoes are French and I love 'em. As for speakers, I will try to listen to as many kinds and brands of speakers as I can.

 

[zieglj01]

@zieglj01
I am unable to find a Focal dealer in the Los Angeles area...
BTW they are French made so I have some doubts about quality.

The French know their stuff - Focal sounds real good.
Good Luck, with what ever brand you choose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6_i3BPve0s

See if you can find a Boston dealer in your area
http://www.bostonacoustics.com/-VS-336-Floorstanding-Loudspeaker-P239.aspx

 

[Beatmatcher247]

No matter what you are looking to spend it is worth a road trip or two to find something that you know you will be happy with. Watch craigslisg etc... as well you may be able to audition a few things that way too.