out with the old in with the "New"

[sawzalot]

Ok Audioholics here goes the same old question we get here time after time. I sold just about every extra speaker and spare audio/video piece that was taking up real estate in my home and garage, I kept my Emo XPA 3 and my Pioneer SC-37 and of course the twin Kappa builds. I want to add back some speakers that will stick around somewhat longer than the last four set-ups which I truly disliked without question. I have a budget just from my sales of 2400 dollars, I like a deeper rich sound with decent bass so as to not always run the kappas with an impressive center channel, I have never owned higher end units and with my meager budget I still wont get there. I know I should go audition but I just cant find any spare time to go to the Big city so I will try internet brands , I could and would consider EMP towers but is that a step up from the Klipsch RF-35 ?? I really disliked those. I thought I would get a few suggestions and maybe go the thirty day trial period just to get a listen, but I will say after selling off a few different speaker sets , it sure gets heavy boxing those suckers up.

 

[ImcLoud]

So what exactly are you looking for a pair of towers for music, a front sound stage for movies, a complete 5.1 with a sub

I am always looking for sale so I guess if I was trying to spend $2400 I would build a designated music system...

The Hsu Clearance Center ULS1 in black on sale for under $1000 {comes to over 1000 after shipping though...}
EPOS EPIC 5 SPEAKERS (BLACK) **DEMO** at Music Direct I'm going to have to say these like very interesting for more than 50% off!! I have a lot of experience with the 2's and they are amazing so the 5s should be just as if not more...
2 of these http://www.musicdirect.com/p-3510-outlaw-model-2200-mono-amp-ea-demo.aspx thats an awesome price for these mono blocks, and with music mono blocks are best {because I say so of course}
that brings you to $2200 and then I would invest in one of them mini dsp's crossovers and an Audio engine DAC
miniDSP in a BOX | MiniDSP
Amazon.com: Audioengine D1 24-bit digital-to-audio converter: Computers & Accessories

you would be a little over budget, but that would be one heck of a bassy 2.1 music only system, plug in your laptop and let the vibrations rock you to sleep...

And if you think about it you are getting a lot for your money, them towers are normally $1400, the amps are $679 when you buy two from outlaw, and the sub is $1125 shipped so really thats over $3200 of equipment for $2200!!!! $1000 off not too shabby...

By the way, I have heard everything except the epos 5's {but I have the 2's and they are AMAZING, and when I spoke to md about the 5s he said they are better than the 2s} and the minidsp but I am loking to start playing with them so may own one soon, I hear good things..., I have heard the uls15 a bunch of times, I have had 2 shipped to my house, I own the outlaw mono blocks and I own a few d1 dacs...

 

[jcl]

So you're going to use the Emo to power the front three, and the sc-37 to power surrounds and provide room correction & bass management? ImcLoud - you missed it, the Kappas are very capable diy subs.
So $2400 for front 3 and 2 or 4 surrounds? Can you give room size and listening volumes? Were you thinking towers or bookshelves? Also, what have you listened to before? If you haven't you really should take the time to go and listen, at least to a few different designs to help figure out what you like/dislike. Your budget gives you a lot of options. At least find a best buy where you could listen Electrostats (Martin Logan ESL) to see what you think of those designs. KEF with a coaxial design is another one to listen too.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I can see why you did not liked Rf-35 - I imagine harsher highs were not to your liking.
EMP Towers would be pretty much the opposite, they have relaxed, laid back and a possibly slightly warmer sound.
Emp still offers free 30 money back, but no longer pays the return shipping

How many exactly speakers are you trying purchase?

 

[ImcLoud]

Got it, I never heard of them I missed it... My bad, but I would still build a music only system...

I'll try to redeem myself..

$900 shipped FOCAL Chorus 727V (726v) Triple 6-1/2" Tower Speaker PAIR Havana | Accessories4less
$325 shipped FOCAL 705V SPEAKERS (HAVANA) **DEMO** at Music Direct
$400 shipped FOCAL Chorus CC701 (CC700) Dual 6-1/2" Drivers Center Speaker Havana | Accessories4less

Thats $1625 for 5 channels, the tripple fronts should have decent low end, I like the Havana look too...

BOSTON ACOUSTICS M350 TOWER SPEAKERS (PR) **DEMO** at Music Direct
BOSTON ACOUSTICS M CENTER SPEAKER **DEMO** at Music Direct ehhh.. nahhh..

or
WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10.7 (BLACK) **DEMO** at Music Direct
WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10.2 SPEAKERS (BLACK) **DEMO** at Music Direct
WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10 CM CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER (EA) at Music Direct

or
KEF Q900 Q Series 8 inch Cherry Floorstanding Speaker Each | Accessories4less
KEF Q100 Q Series 5-1/4 inch Cherry Bookshelf Speakers, pair | Accessories4less they have a few options for surrounds, including a bi di set, and another larger bookshelf set...
KEF Q600C 6.5in. 3-way Cherry Center Channel Speaker | Accessories4less

but I think if I had to choose from a bunch of speakers I never heard and liked bass I would go with these..
$1700 https://www.svsound.com/outlet-specials?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=279&category_id=5#.Uic-gDaURZs
$600 https://www.svsound.com/outlet-specials?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=285&category_id=5#.Uic-tDaURZs
these come and go in the outlet but never last long...

 

[sawzalot]

Yea I overlooked that part I am mostly HT front three L/C/R maybe add rear surrounds down the road, I am still hoping they could handle music well enough to to make most smile, you know the best of both worlds.

 

[sawzalot]

So you're going to use the Emo to power the front three, and the sc-37 to power surrounds and provide room correction & bass management? ImcLoud - you missed it, the Kappas are very capable diy subs.
So $2400 for front 3 and 2 or 4 surrounds? Can you give room size and listening volumes? Were you thinking towers or bookshelves? Also, what have you listened to before? If you haven't you really should take the time to go and listen, at least to a few different designs to help figure out what you like/dislike. Your budget gives you a lot of options. At least find a best buy where you could listen Electrostats (Martin Logan ESL) to see what you think of those designs. KEF with a coaxial design is another one to listen too.

I was thinking tower speakers and like you mentioned the kappas work very well and will probably stick around for a while.

 

[sawzalot]

I can see why you did not liked Rf-35 - I imagine harsher highs were not to your liking.
EMP Towers would be pretty much the opposite, they have relaxed, laid back and a possibly slightly warmer sound.
Emp still offers free 30 money back, but no longer pays the return shipping

How many exactly speakers are you trying purchase?

I am thinking about the front three for now and adding surrounds in the very near future L/R towers and the better matching center, what I mean is they usually carry two or three moedels of centers to match the towers and I would want the better of the bunch, center dialogue is important for me with the whole HT Movie deal.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I am thinking about the front three for now and adding surrounds in the very near future L/R towers and the better matching center, what I mean is they usually carry two or three moedels of centers to match the towers and I would want the better of the bunch, center dialogue is important for me with the whole HT Movie deal.

If you like running towers full range these ultra towers do fit the bill nicely and have probably best warranty and return policy. EMPs are very nice speakers, but they just not in same weight class ... I gotta say me and wife agreed that during AH GTG 2012 EMP system was only second best system in the show (to us)... Sorry EMP, but Jim Salk's SoundScapes stole the show

Lack of clear voice dialog is very common issue with 5.1 systems and it is often result of bad room acoustics. Audyssey MultEQ can typically work around this issue.

 

[GO-NAD!]

If you're just looking for L/C/R at the moment, you could also look at the Aperion Verus series.

 

[psbfan9]

Sawz,

I have the EMP E55 towers with the E56ci center and I'm very happy with this set up. Honestly, the honeymoon phase was coming to an end, then, I got the Yamaha A830 avr and I'm really enjoying my speakers again.
Now, the center is huge. I mean a real monster;

Dimensions: 31" W x 8½" H x 10½" D and 28lbs.

I bought them because of the glowing reviews here at AH. GranteedEv, FMW and I think Grador own them as well.

 

[jcl]

Just a thought - your budget would buy any number of highly regarded ID towers (Ascend Sierra Tower, Salk Sound Towers, SVS Ultra) but unfortunately wouldn't stretch to include the center. Perhaps you could live with using phantom center until the budget is replenished to purchase the center? My Infinity Primus center is in a cabinet in the corner of the room and on occasion I have used phantom center instead and found it better than the misplaced center.

 

[lsiberian]

I take it you have no desire to go the DIY route. For 2400 you can get amazing parts.

 

[Swerd]

Sawz, if I were in your shoes, I'd quit messing around and get SongTowers and be done with it. I heard EMP towers a number of years ago, and thought they were good for their price – they did nothing audibly wrong. But they were not in the same league as STs.

If you are patient and look regularly on audiogon, you'll find a used pair along with a SongCenter in your price range.

I just did a quick look there now and saw several other speakers, in your general price range, that I've heard before and think they are worth recommending.

If you don't hate their appearance:
Vandersteen 3A with sound anchor stands Mint customer trade-in | Full range | Bethel, Connecticut 06801 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community

Still kind of expensive at this price:
Joseph Audio RM25si Signature 2 w/ Audioquest CV-4 8 foot bi wire cables free. Pick up only. | Full range | Highland Beach, Florida 33487 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community
Edit: I just noticed "pick up only" in Florida .

I heard these once at an audio show and thought they were decent:
Carnegie Acoustics CST-1 Transmission Line Tower Loudspeaker Pair in Black Gloss | Full range | Roscoe, Illinois 61073 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community

Note: There is one pair of STs for sale there now in bamboo. Avoid them as the seller is a known trouble maker on the Salk audiocircle site, and cannot be trusted. Besides, his price is too high.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I remember Carnegie - I think they were designed by Dannie Richie. He was talking about liquidating these over here: Another big sale on completed speakers.
Might still have some left... They will need a minor DIY fix as described in the post

 

[j_garcia]

I have talked to Danny about the Carnegies a few times and he said they are very close to his N Series lineup, with only the midbass drivers being of different manufacture so needing a slightly different x-over, but they should be solid speakers. I heard the N2X before and thought they were excellent, and actually just asked him about the CSB-1 speakers yesterday too

*Edit - I noticed the price was even lower than the last time I talked to Danny, so I *just* ordered a pair of CSB1s

 

[sawzalot]

I take it you have no desire to go the DIY route. For 2400 you can get amazing parts.

Lets not get that thought going again in my head, I could build a beautiful pair but I just love the idea of instant gratification, heck swerd and I discussed a build a while back and almost made a go of it but working just takes the wind out of my diy sails. I guess I'm getting too old for my own good lol

 

[j_garcia]

Lets not get that thought going again in my head, I could build a beautiful pair but I just love the idea of instant gratification, heck swerd and I discussed a build a while back and almost made a go of it but working just takes the wind out of my diy sails. I guess I'm getting too old for my own good lol

I hear you, I actually enjoy doing DIY, but I have been so busy at work too that the thought of even doing FUN work still sounds like work

 

[lsiberian]

Lets not get that thought going again in my head, I could build a beautiful pair but I just love the idea of instant gratification, heck swerd and I discussed a build a while back and almost made a go of it but working just takes the wind out of my diy sails. I guess I'm getting too old for my own good lol

I completely understand my project is probably the witness against the idea. I've not heard a Salk, but if I were buying speakers they'd be my first in home trial.

 

[j_garcia]

I tried to get a local audition of some Salks for about a month. Even with Jim himself trying to arrange it, it never happened. I was unable to hear the Philharmonitors either, but those were on the list as well, still waiting to see if Dennis can find some for me to listen to.