Upgrading Speaker System for Husband as Gift

[TheGoodWife]

Currently, we have Paradigm Phantom v.3 left and right speakers, a cc-370 v.3 for center channel, a PDR 10 sub, and the smallest bookshelf speakers sold by Paradigm 10 years ago. (The receiver is a Denon 3313CI.) These are primarily used for a home theater system. We should listen to more music, but we don't. (There is just too much crappy tv to distract me.) Plus, we are not audiophiles. We recently moved to a new house, and due to the room configuration, we are going to install some in-ceiling rear speakers. We are considering speakercraft aim wide threes or aim wide fives. (Our speaker install guy is suggesting jamo rear speakers, but we are unsure about them.)

At the same time that we install the new speakers. I thought that it would be a nice idea to surprise my husband with some new speakers at the same time. I also would really like to have two subs (not for any good audio reason, but because I would like the arrangement to be symmetrical.) My goal is to spend less than $10k for subs, left, right and center channel, but still have speakers nice enough that he can tell the difference from the ones that he has now. I have been looking at some of the Martin Logan electrostatic speakers.

My guess is that you guys will say - try them out and pick what sounds best to you. We live in someplace where best buy is basically the only place that you can try things out. Testing out speakers is difficult at best buy because they do not appear to be able to let you listen to the front or center channel speakers without a sub making the speakers appear more full than they would on their own. Do you guys have any recommendations of what would be a nice choice?

Thanks,

Allie

 

[shadyJ]

There are lots of nice speakers and sub in your budget range. One system that will look nice and sound great is some KEF R series speakers. A pair of R700 towers and a R600 center. Add to that a pair of piano black Rythmik FV15HP subwoofers, and you will have a nice sound system for under $9k shipped. If you want some truly beautiful subwoofers in a system for under $10k, switch the R700 towers to some R300 bookshelf speakers, and get a pair of Funk Audio 18.0 subwoofers. Those things are works of art, and very serious performers too. Another good looking speaker that promises very high performance which has my attention is the Soundfield Audio Monitor 2s, but I don't see a dedicated center speaker for it. However, the guy who makes those may be able to arrange a center speaker, and it's worth shooting him an email to inquire about it. I think those could blow away some old Paradigms with respect to sound quality pretty easy.

 

[Bryceo]

But he doesn't need a pair of subs, but I agree if your interested in paradigm ask paradigmdawg he has a great paradigm setup!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I highly recommend to switch away from any best buy junk and take a chance with online vendor - this one :
Inwallist
They are highly dedicated and have a lot of expertise. Trust me - if properly installed your husband will notice the difference.
call them up for recommendation for your room : Contactinfo
for Pair of subs I recommend these:
POWER SOUND AUDIO — XV15 Home Audio Subwoofer

 

[ImcLoud]

To me this is an easy decision, first with the rear speakers, don't get too hung up on them, I have heard systems using $25 rears and they sound fine, because they are just effeect speakers, a car door closing footsteps, ect, they dont play long enough for you to even notice a qualityspeaker, just something decent, and as far as Jamo goes, they make good stuff...

OK, now onto dual SUBS, YES.. Dual subs are awesome, and you have the budget to support it, go for it why not?

For your fronts and subs, I have only one thing to say, and if anyone thinks there is a better option they are liars, LOL...

Ascend Sierra towers for left and right and the ascend Sierra Horizon center Sierra Tower Bamboo Loudspeaker that will cost around $2850 and you can different finishes if you like...

Then for subs- HSU research ULS15 dual drive ULS-15 DualDrive Packages will cost you $2200 in black or you can pick a veneer for a little more....

That is only a little more than half of your budget, and in my honest oppinion you wont get better if you spend $10K, and even if you found something better it wont be double it may be equal or 10% better... I have yet to heard anyone say a bad thing about these components, I have heard them myself and can say with out pause THEY ARE AMAZING and should be $15,000!!!!

So anyway, good luck, and I wish my wife would buy me a $6000 set of speakers... Although I have no room for anymore speakers in the house, and she probably would get me Klipsch or Best buys B&Ws that I would hate

PS the Denon will power them speakers fine, BUT if its in the budget I would throw in a http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/amplifiers/products/xpa3 to power the front 3, they are on sale, and it will sound better, I have tried this both ways and even though some guys say separate amps do nothing, its BS, the speakers like to have power on stand by...

 

[TheGoodWife]

He does not need a pair a subs, but I much prefer how two subs look. One sub just languishes alone tossed off to the side. A pair of subs just looks balanced. Thanks for the recommendation on paradigmdawg.

 

[TheGoodWife]

There are lots of nice speakers and sub in your budget range. One system that will look nice and sound great is some KEF R series speakers. A pair of R700 towers and a R600 center. Add to that a pair of piano black Rythmik FV15HP subwoofers, and you will have a nice sound system for under $9k shipped. If you want some truly beautiful subwoofers in a system for under $10k, switch the R700 towers to some R300 bookshelf speakers, and get a pair of Funk Audio 18.0 subwoofers. Those things are works of art, and very serious performers too. Another good looking speaker that promises very high performance which has my attention is the Soundfield Audio Monitor 2s, but I don't see a dedicated center speaker for it. However, the guy who makes those may be able to arrange a center speaker, and it's worth shooting him an email to inquire about it. I think those could blow away some old Paradigms with respect to sound quality pretty easy.

Thank you for the recommendations. I have heard good things about Kef. I will check them out. My husband would be displeased with bookshelf speakers. It is a size thing.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum, Allie! That's very nice of you to want to surprise him like this. Do you have a sister?

Regarding dual subs, when set up properly, two subs can help smooth out the frequency response over a larger area compared to what you can achieve with one sub. How large is your room (length, width, and ceiling height)? The total volume can help us and any vendors that you call help you size them properly. I'm a total SVS fan boy because I bought one from them, absolutely loved their customer service and the performance of the sub, and I got a second one. That said, there are a number of good companies and lots of quality subs available.

...first with the rear speakers, don't get too hung up on them, I have heard systems using $25 rears and they sound fine, because they are just effeect speakers, a car door closing footsteps, ect, they dont play long enough for you to even notice a qualityspeaker...

I'll agree and disagree on this. I agree that you don't need your surround speakers to be the same level of quality as the front three speakers, and the Audyssey auto equalization on your Denon will help quite a bit to get different speakers sounding similar, but you don't want to get junk for the rear speakers. When I went from a pair of $20/pair speakers to my $600/pair (back in the 90's) NHT 1.5s in the back, I was blown away by how much better they sounded. I happen to upgrade all of my speakers at the same time, and I matched the fronts and the rears. It sounded so much better to me because the pitch and character of sounds from the front were no longer changing as they moved to the back. Plus, the NHTs could play a much wider range of frequencies. Surround effects or not, you can notice the difference.

 

[TheGoodWife]

To me this is an easy decision, first with the rear speakers, don't get too hung up on them, I have heard systems using $25 rears and they sound fine, because they are just effeect speakers, a car door closing footsteps, ect, they dont play long enough for you to even notice a qualityspeaker, just something decent, and as far as Jamo goes, they make good stuff...

OK, now onto dual SUBS, YES.. Dual subs are awesome, and you have the budget to support it, go for it why not?

For your fronts and subs, I have only one thing to say, and if anyone thinks there is a better option they are liars, LOL...

Ascend Sierra towers for left and right and the ascend Sierra Horizon center Sierra Tower Bamboo Loudspeaker that will cost around $2850 and you can different finishes if you like...

Then for subs- HSU research ULS15 dual drive ULS-15 DualDrive Packages will cost you $2200 in black or you can pick a veneer for a little more....

That is only a little more than half of your budget, and in my honest oppinion you wont get better if you spend $10K, and even if you found something better it wont be double it may be equal or 10% better... I have yet to heard anyone say a bad thing about these components, I have heard them myself and can say with out pause THEY ARE AMAZING and should be $15,000!!!!

So anyway, good luck, and I wish my wife would buy me a $6000 set of speakers... Although I have no room for anymore speakers in the house, and she probably would get me Klipsch or Best buys B&Ws that I would hate

PS the Denon will power them speakers fine, BUT if its in the budget I would throw in a XPA-3 | 200W x 3 | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo amplifiers, and monoblock amplifier to power the front 3, they are on sale, and it will sound better, I have tried this both ways and even though some guys say separate amps do nothing, its BS, the speakers like to have power on stand by...

These are interesting recommendations. I have not heard of ascend acoustics, but I will research. With respect to the amp, the amp seems like a good idea to me from what I have read. (Now if I can find a place to put it. With the center channel, cable box, media server, power conditioner, receiver, and gaming systems, the media cabinet is really full.

 

[slipperybidness]

He does not need a pair a subs, but I much prefer how two subs look. One sub just languishes alone tossed off to the side. A pair of subs just looks balanced. Thanks for the recommendation on paradigmdawg.

Hmmm.....ADTG re-incarnate

 

[psbfan9]

due to the room configuration, we are going to install some in-ceiling rear speakers. We are considering speakercraft aim wide threes or aim wide fives. (Our speaker install guy is suggesting jamo rear speakers, but we are unsure about them.)

I have been looking at some of the Martin Logan electrostatic speakers.

Hi Allie,

Because of room layout, I'm guessing you don't have a choice on the in ceilings. If possible, I would recommend free standing over in ceiling. I have heard Speakercraft in ceiling speakers and they're pretty good.

As far the electrostats go, keep in mind that most, if not all, electrostats are placement sensitive. They typically do better away from walls and placed out into the room.
ImcLoud, made a good suggestion with the Sierra towers. I would suggest you opt for the RAAL upgrade. I would like to suggest another option, SalkSound home page. Well reviewed, and well liked here.

As far as subs, SVS, Rythmik, Funk Audio, and Power Sound Audio are all good choices. Oh, and Hsu.

Sound Experts | High Performance Audio Products at Manufacturer Direct Prices - SVS

Rythmik Audio • Servo subwoofer products

Hi-fi Glory

POWER SOUND AUDIO — Welcome

HSU Research

The Denon receiver you have now will be more than enough to drive the Sierra towers, if not, then an external amp can always be added later once you make more room in your cabinet.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

$10K surprise?

I don't know about your husband, but I would not want anyone buy a $10K system for me without my input.

 

[Pyrrho]

$10K surprise?

I don't know about your husband, but I would not want anyone buy a $10K system for me without my input.

I feel that way, too. And with speakers, they are very subjective, so the risk of not getting him what he really wants will be high, unless he is not very picky, in which case it will likely just be a waste of money.

To TheGoodWife:

I recommend, if you are sure you want to surprise him and not get his input (though I really think you should reconsider that), at the very least, buy from a store with an excellent return policy, in case he does not like them.

 

[ImcLoud]

$10K surprise?

I don't know about your husband, but I would not want anyone buy a $10K system for me without my input.

Speak for yourself, lol.. My wife bought me a new 900cc Ranger XP and that was $17K and I love it, she even had the drivers seat laser etched with one of my favorite movie quotes "Mamma, I'm Going Fast" Ricky Bobby.. She almost bought me a $20K juke box, but I already have a couple, and she knew my quad was getting old, just a good wife...

by the way Ascend, Emotiva and HSU are returnable with in 30 days, but you wouldn't be returning them.... I have heard the Salks, and there are a lot of guys on here that love them, I prefer the Seirra towers... Als have listened to a lot of subs, prefer the uls 15, small sealed and HUGE sound, about the most musical capable sub I have ever heard, and impressive with the pressure it can give for movies, never mind 2 of them...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I feel that way, too. And with speakers, they are very subjective, so the risk of not getting him what he really wants will be high, unless he is not very picky, in which case it will likely just be a waste of money.

To TheGoodWife:

I recommend, if you are sure you want to surprise him and not get his input (though I really think you should reconsider that), at the very least, buy from a store with an excellent return policy, in case he does not like them.

Amen, brotha.

Just like I am sure women would rather pick out their own $20K diamond rings.

I like to buy my own clothes, shoes, PC, cars, phones, and everything else too.

 

[GranteedEV]

I would also get Dual or quad subs, and a pair of Philharmonic Audio 2 speakers, and a pair of EMP E41-B surrounds. I like the HSU and Power Sound Audio and Funk Audio options - i'm sure you can decide on that sort of thing on your own depending on aesthetics and budget. Funk Audio 18s would of course be my choice

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What about some Revel Performa3 piano gloss black for 25% off MSRP (2 F208 + 1 C208 for $5,250) and dual Rythmik FV15HP in piano gloss black for 10% off MSRP ($2976 delivered) ?

And for AVR, I would keep the Denon 3313.

So Revel F208 (2 very large towers), C208 (1 large Center), 2 Rythmik FV15HP-SE = $8226.

Add some Revel in-ceiling speakers for surrounds ($300-500).

 

[TheGoodWife]

How large is your room (length, width, and ceiling height)? The total volume can help us and any vendors that you call help you size them properly.

Adam: Thank you for your response. The room itself is relatively small, approximately 16 x 18 with 10 foot ceilings (i.e., 2880 cubic feet). Please note that the room is open to the kitchen and the foyer. As a result, the rear speakers will probably be ceiling mounted between the family room and the kitchen. If we included the kitchen, it would probably add about 14 extra feet in length. (We have had a dedicated theater room in the past, but my husband hated being isolated from everything that was going on the rest of the house. As a result, he opted to make the family room our theater space).

 

[TheGoodWife]

Hi Allie,

As far the electrostats go, keep in mind that most, if not all, electrostats are placement sensitive. They typically do better away from walls and placed out into the room.

Thank you for your suggestions. How far away from the walls would electrostats generally need to be placed?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

GoodWife, I sent you a PM regarding a friend of mine who might be able to help you out. If I were building a custom HT, he would be the one I would call on the phone for everything.