Need help picking speakers

[DanH12]

My JBL sat10 surrounds are starting to go and I have a hard time listening to them anymore. I am going to replace them and have narrowed down my selection for the replacements but am unsure what to go with. I already have a subwoofer so that is taken care of. I listed options below with subwoofers because the speakers that the system comes with are only sold with the subwoofer. The absolute max I would spend is $400 but would prefer to keep my budget closer to $300. Here is what I am considering:

Option 1
-Pioneer SP-BS21-LR ($59/pair, Amazon) for fronts and rears
-Pioneer SP-C21 center speaker ($70, Amazon)
Total Price = $188

Option 2
-Pioneer SP-BS41-LR ($149/pair, Amazon)
-Pioneer SP-C21 center speaker ($70, Amazon)
Total Price = $368

Option 3
-Martin Logan ML-T 2 5.1 system ($366, Amazon)

Option 4
-Energy Take Classic 5.1 system ($399, Amazon)

Option 5
-Energy Take Classic 5.0 system ($250)

Option 5
-Jamo S 426 HCS 3 Wenge 5.0 system ($200, Amazon)

From what I have researched, these options offer the best surround sound performance for the money. My top choice would probably be option 1 (Pioneer) because the pioneer speakers have gotten good reviews and I am not sure it would be worth it to get the pioneer sp-bs41 speakers instead of the sp-bs21 speakers for $80 extra. However, I am open to opinions in regards to this. My second favorite option would be option 5 (Take classic 5.0) because it is cheap, the speakers are well rated and I don't have to pay for an energy subwoofer that I don't need. My third favorite option would be option 3 (Martin Logan). The MLT-2 system has gotten some good reviews and the price for this system currently seems to be a really good deal.

My ultimate plan is to use the new speakers that I buy for a year or two and then sell them and buy higher end speakers ($400-500/pair range). Resell value is important factor in my purchase because I want to be able to sell these speakers when I upgrade to higher end speakers. Would people buy any of these speakers used in 2 years? Even if I am not able to resell any of the speakers that I buy listed above I could tolerate it. I just want to replace my JBL sat10s because they are worn out and it is not enjoyable to listen to them anymore. I would think that those Pioneer speakers would kick the crap out of the JBLs I have now. With the Martin Logans and Take Classic speakers, that may not be the case. The Jamos could be alright. Also, I know I could find deals on craigslist and ebay but for the sake of this post, lets just assume that there are no better deals on those sites so that my question can be answered (although I'm still open to better deals of you know of any. Also, I am open to any other suggestions for good budget speakers to replace my JBL sat10s.

What do you guys think?

 

[DanH12]

I forgot to add that the speakers will be used for 90% movies and 10% video games. I also think the Pioneers listed above would be good because they would give me that big sound that I am looking for as they are huge.

 

[afterlife2]

These new speakers are getting great reviews and board member here zieglj01 owns them and loves them:
2 pairs: SP-BS22-LR - Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers, re-engineered for 2012 | Pioneer Electronics USA

Center: SP-C22 - Andrew Jones Designed Center Channel Speaker, re-engineered for 2012 | Pioneer Electronics USA

There is a review online and they seem to like them. They were on sale recently for $179. If I were in the market for budget speakers I'd get them:
Option 5
-Jamo S 426 HCS 3 Wenge 5.0 system ($200, Amazon)

 

[jcl]

You don't mention the size of your room or your listening tastes, which would help to narrow down recommendations.

If you already have sub then definately scratch #4. Even if you don't #5 + an Energy s10.3 would be better for only $50 more. The take 5 speakers sound good for the price, but won't play very loud or very low. You would need to crossover to your sub at ~120 or maybe higher.

Another thought, Frys has Inifinity 153's on sale for $107 / pair. Not as good as last weeks 163s for the same price, but still not bad.

I've heard the Pioneers and they are good for the price. I've heard the MLT motion 10's and they're ok, definately better than the towers that I heard, but not really my thing. You can swing by BB and listen to the pioneers and mls.

 

[zieglj01]

The New Pioneer speakers, are my choice - and they do
sound real good.
Price is adjusted in the cart >> for $400, you can get a
pair of towers, the center and the bookshelves.
Search Results for pioneer speakers at TigerDirect.com

The BS22 speakers, will beat up your JBL sat speakers.

Move down and read about the new Pioneer speakers here >
http://www.audioholics.com/news/trade-show-coverage/2012-cedia-show-report

http://www.hometheater.com/content/pioneer’s-home-theater-surprise

 

[afterlife2]

SP-FS52 each speaker are on sale for $99 each regular price is 159 each. I'd run and get this set. $400.00 for the whole 5.0 set, NICE. Did you pick SP-FS52 up too zieglj01? Damn tempting...
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=electronics&field-keywords=Pioneer+Andrew+Jones

 

[DanH12]

Thanks for the advice. I am not an audiophile so all I can really say about my listening tastes is that my ears are sensitive to high frequencies so I wouldn't want overly bright sounding speakers. The room that I have my speakers set up in is 11' x 18' x 7' and that is in my basement. That works out to 1,386 cubic ft. If I went with the Jamos, the towers could be overkill for that size room and if I eventually move into a small apartment the towers might be overkill there as well. The same potentially goes for any tower speakers. I'm not sure, how big should a room be when using tower speakers in a surround system primarily to watch movies. Also, budget bookshelves would be cheaper.

 

[afterlife2]

Thanks for the advice. I am not an audiophile so all I can really say about my listening tastes is that my ears are sensitive to high frequencies so I wouldn't want overly bright sounding speakers. The room that I have my speakers set up in is 11' x 18' x 7' and that is in my basement. That works out to 1,386 cubic ft. If I went with the Jamos, the towers could be overkill for that size room and if I eventually move into a small apartment the towers might be overkill there as well. The same potentially goes for any tower speakers. I'm not sure, how big should a room be when using tower speakers in a surround system primarily to watch movies. Also, budget bookshelves would be cheaper.

I'd say get the Pioneers bookshelves we suggested. I live in a studio and all I have is 4 bookshelves, 1 center and 1 sub. The pioneers will not be bright. Also those pioneers towers are not that big. Check them out at bestbuy If you can.

 

[DanH12]

I will also need to get some speaker stands. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[afterlife2]

I bought my stands off Craigslist for cheap. Don't pay more than $30 for a used pair.

 

[DanH12]

For now, I have changed my mind about the Pioneer speakers. I am sure they would be good but to buy two fronts, two rears and a center I would have to spend $300 and that is too steep to me for a temporary upgrade. I think there might be something with my subwoofer and want to upgrade that as well (probably for $150-$200).

I say this because I think my subwoofer might be hurting the performance of my front speakers because they are both connected to the front speaker terminals on my receiver. The sub is connect to the front (B) terminals and the left and right front speakers are connected to the front (A) terminals. When I only use the front (A) terminals and turn the sub off, the front left and right speakers sound better and I think this is because they are underpowered when the sub is also connected to the front terminals. I am also afraid that since the sub has its own power supply that it could somehow damage the receiver or my speakers by overloading them. My sub also always makes a constant humming noise (even when the receiver is off)

I don't want to take any chances in buying new speakers and using them in conjunction with my current subwoofer so that is why I want to upgrade to a new subwoofer that is cheap but will get me by. Instead of the pioneer speakers I was thinking about getting the Dayton audio Sat-BK satellite speakers for $39/pair. I originally wanted to get the Dayton Audio B652s but several reviewers on parts-express have said that the speaker measures at 4 ohms even though dayton audio lists the speaker as an 8 ohm speaker. I am afraid that using the B652s for surrounds would overpower my receiver so I figure the dayton satellite speakers would be safer and they are listed at 8 ohms.

So if I bought 3 pairs of the Dayton Sat-BK speakers for $120 and a new sub for about $150-200, that would keep me in the $300 range. I could tolerate spending this amount for a temporary upgrade and in a year when I have saved a lot more money I will do my true upgrade.

Any thoughts on using the B652 speakers with my receiver and then getting a new subwoofer that has an LFE jack so I don't have to connect it with speaker wire? If the B652s didn't overpower my receiver I would get those over the Dayton Audio satellite speakers. I never turn up the volume really loud anyways so maybe my receiver could handle them.

 

[afterlife2]

Why not try the Jamo? You could always return them with amazon If you don't like them. You could also start with a 3.1 setup, then add later. That's what I did and one of the most recommended way to start.

 

[DanH12]

My home theater room is 11' x 17'. Do you think that the Jamo floorstanding speakers would overwhelm my room. I only sit about 7 ft from the TV because my TV is only 40" which means that I would be 7ft from the floor standers as I would be placing the floor standers right next to the TV. I might be able to extend my sitting distance another foot or two but can't do any more than that because of space constraints in my room. Also, the Jamo floorstanders have a long term power rating of 100W and a short term power rating of 140W. Could my Sony STR-DE845 receiver rated at 100W per channel power these floorstanders adequately.

After doing more thinking I am either going to go with the Jamo system or the Pioneer speakers (SP-BS22, SP-C22). Would you still recommend the Pioneers as the speakers to get?

 

[afterlife2]

I am the same distance from my 37 inch. I think the Pioneer would be better choice music/movie wise, although the Jamo would not be in the same class, but they are a great option budget wise. Those Pioneer towers are not as big as the Jamo tower, so I'd consider them instead of the bookshelf. Cause if you think about If you get the speaker stands you'd be in the same situation. Go check them out in person at Best Buy if you can and let me know what you think. Don't forget to bring your fav. CD's.

 

[DanH12]

After doing more thinking, I am considering another option. Instead of buying an entire speaker package I could keep my JBL rear speakers which work perfectly fine and then getting 3 infinity primus speakers for my fronts. I would get either the primus p143 or p153. The p153s are on sale at Fry's right now for $53. The other speakers in the price range of the infinitys are the Polk monitor 30s but I probably wouldn't get those. Then for the sub I was thinking of getting the BIC F12 for $200. This would keep my budget in the $400 range with stands and the infinitys would probably be better than the Pioneer's. They are certainly better looking.

The only thing I would be concerned about would be the blending of the JBL rears and the infinity speakers. The way my room is set up my rear speakers are directly to the side of me at about ear level so I might notice the difference in speakers more that way.

 

[afterlife2]

I would go listen to the Infinities before you buy them. I bought them myself and I disliked them, something was missing and I sold them. The new Pioneers are better IMO. The JBL's will work fine as sides or rear placement.

 

[DanH12]

Would my JBL rears work with the Pioneers? Also, did you find the infinities to be bright sounding?

 

[afterlife2]

Would my JBL rears work with the Pioneers? Also, did you find the infinities to be bright sounding?

No not bright, just missing clarity to my ears. Maybe a little muffled. The JBL's would work nicely with the Pioneers as rears/surround.