My wife just increased my budget on Floor Standing Speakers for HT room - Need advice

[alumiu90]

All,

I was looking at the Pioneer FS52's mated with the CP22 for my new HT setup, but once my wife saw the pricing she stated, "hey why not spend a little more and get something a little easier" by a little more she probably does not mean thousands of dollars but more like no more than $180-$200 per speaker.

I had narrowed it to the Pioneers for budget purposes plus I want floor standers for the room. However, now I have added the following options to compete with the Pioneers and wanted to get forum members advice.

Pioneer FS52's
Klipsch Synergy F-20's
Bic America DV64
Infinity P363
Polk Tsi300
JBL ES80BK3

I have read a lot of good reviews on the Infinity P363's, but have also seen raving reviews on the bang for the buck on the Pioneers.

What do forum members think on these speakers? I can't affored more than $180 - $200 per floor standing speaker.

Thanks

 

[slipperybidness]

All,

I was looking at the Pioneer FS52's mated with the CP22 for my new HT setup, but once my wife saw the pricing she stated, "hey why not spend a little more and get something a little easier" by a little more she probably does not mean thousands of dollars but more like no more than $180-$200 per speaker.

I had narrowed it to the Pioneers for budget purposes plus I want floor standers for the room. However, now I have added the following options to compete with the Pioneers and wanted to get forum members advice.

Pioneer FS52's
Klipsch Synergy F-20's
Bic America DV64
Infinity P363
Polk Tsi300
JBL ES80BK3

I have read a lot of good reviews on the Infinity P363's, but have also seen raving reviews on the bang for the buck on the Pioneers.

What do forum members think on these speakers? I can't affored more than $180 - $200 per floor standing speaker.

Thanks

Personally, the only others on your list that I would consider are the P363. I actually own a pair of the P362 as I liked the sliver aesthetic better than the 363. The 363 was the go-to budget speaker for quite a while, until the Pios came out. Some people prefer the Pios and some prefer the Infinity.

Any of the others on your list will most likely not be any better than the Pios, and in that price range it is gonna be tough to beat the Pios.

In that price range, maybe consider the Fluance
Fluance-High Performance Three-way Floorstanding Loudspeakers
Fluance-High Definition Two-way Floorstanding Main Speakers

Or the HTD level 2
HTD Level TWO Tower Speakers

Or maybe the ARx
Arx A3rx-c floorstanding loudspeaker

I have not heard the Fluance, HTD, or ARx, but everyone seems to like these budget choices and some of them may give you a risk free trial.

Other than that, you are probably gonna have to spend at least double the $ to move up to a better speaker.

 

[3db]

Personally, the only others on your list that I would consider are the P363. I actually own a pair of the P362 as I liked the sliver aesthetic better than the 363. The 363 was the go-to budget speaker for quite a while, until the Pios came out. Some people prefer the Pios and some prefer the Infinity.

Any of the others on your list will most likely not be any better than the Pios, and in that price range it is gonna be tough to beat the Pios.

In that price range, maybe consider the Fluance
Fluance-High Performance Three-way Floorstanding Loudspeakers
Fluance-High Definition Two-way Floorstanding Main Speakers

Or the HTD level 2
HTD Level TWO Tower Speakers

Or maybe the ARx
Arx A3rx-c floorstanding loudspeaker

I have not heard the Fluance, HTD, or ARx, but everyone seems to like these budget choices and some of them may give you a risk free trial.

Other than that, you are probably gonna have to spend at least double the $ to move up to a better speaker.

+1 . I concur.

 

[j_garcia]

I've owned the Pioneer and Infinity bookshelfs side by side and heard the P363 as well. I don't think it is a matter of preference, the Pioneers are easily better speakers. That's why I sold my 163s and kept the BS22LRs. The place where the Pioneers fall a bit behind is their appearance, as they aren't too pretty, but that's a small trade off for the quality of sound for the price they go for.

I had a buddy over this weekend to hear my new speakers and I first hooked up the BS22s because he hadn't heard them. He builds a lot of DIY speakers and has some excellent ones right now. He was really surprised at their sound for just $90.

 

[ImcLoud]

Im going to have to say the pioneers are going to be your best bet... What were you thinking for a sub put the extra money into a better subwoofer, that will get you where you better difference for your money..

 

[alumiu90]

I was taking theJman's recommendation and going with the NXG Technology NX-BAS-500 12" 500-watt Powered Subwoofer - Black Pebb and Definitive Technology ProMonitor 800 Bookshelf Speaker or Boston Acustics Soundware for the surrounds. Mounting the surrounds is giving me the biggest problem. The D Techs look like nice speakers.

 

[afterlife2]

Could you post a picture of your place, so we can get a better idea what you're working with?

 

[ImcLoud]

would you have enough budget to step up to VTF-2 MK4 Subwoofer ? that would be a huge upgrade... IMO

 

[afterlife2]

If you want a step up from the pioneer's this would be one of my choices for fronts/center:
HB-1 MK2 Horn Bookshelf Speaker
HC-1 MK2 Horn Bookshelf Speaker

 

[alumiu90]

Imcloud - Maybe, but then I would have to stay with those Pioneers.

 

[alumiu90]

I can, but it will be this evening or Friday

 

[shadyJ]

Might as well look at a Hsu Hybrid 2 package, that would be pretty good.

A $200 speaker that has my attention is the Zaph MTM kit and its associated center. That is what I would go for within that budget.

 

[ImcLoud]

Imcloud - Maybe, but then I would have to stay with those Pioneers.

I think its a better upgrade than most other speakers i can think of... The pioneers are a really good speaker for the money to do noticeably better you need to be in a 340se, diamond 10 series, which are going to be 2-3 times the cost...

 

[afterlife2]

Might as well look at a Hsu Hybrid 2 package, that would be pretty good.

Yep this package is great:
Hybrid 1 - 5.1 Package in Satin Black
In-stock:Yes
$1189.00
S/H:$178
for a little under $1400 you can't go wrong. You could also call them and haggle you never know.

Hybrid 1 Packages

 

[ImcLoud]

Did you guys ever hear them hsu bookshelfs? I demo'ed them and could not stand them... they were almost as bad as the klipsch speakers I tried... I know a guy that bought them and love them, but me, my brother, and 2 others I had over listening put them dead last... Plus I know another couple people who sent them back...

 

[afterlife2]

I like klipsch they don't bother me. I had the Klipsch Icon and like them.

 

[ImcLoud]

I like klipsch they don't bother me.

I owned some reference towers and pretty much an entire 5 channel {cost was around $2000}, I found myself shutting the system down and rather listen to the tv.... I am not a klipsch fan at all...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you have listened to the Pioneer and they sounded very good, then a few more hundred dollars probably won't improve anything. I've recommended the Pioneer to a few people. Some agreed that the Pioneer sounded very good. Some said the Pioneer sucked. It surprised me when they said that, but not everyone thinks the Pioneer sound good. Go to Fry's and listen to the P363 and see for yourself. Don't just take people's word for it. Compare for yourself. Never know until you try. My opinion is to get the less expensive of the two.

 

[ImcLoud]

If you have listened to the Pioneer and they sounded very good, then a few more hundred dollars won't improve anything. I've recommended the Pioneer to a few people. Some agreed that the Pioneer sounded very good. Some said the Pioneer sucked. Go to Fry's and listen to the P363 and see for yourself. Don't just take people's word for it. Compare for yourself. You may or may not think the P363 sound better.

Thats about the length of it rite there, your ears {and actually your room too} are going to make your decision... Thats why i like the demo bring it home ship it back if you don't like it stuff, plus you get a good deal from id companies.... But the pioneers aren't going to be superseded by anything in the near budget...

Somethnig may sound awesome to me, and get it home in your room and you hate it... Another factor is length of listen, I have heard speakers that sound good, and then played them for a coupe movies in a row and wanted to put them back in their boxes... I like warm speakers, I want a relaxed sound....

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thats about the length of it rite there, your ears {and actually your room too} are going to make your decision... Thats why i like the demo bring it home ship it back if you don't like it stuff, plus you get a good deal from id companies.... But the pioneers aren't going to be superseded by anything in the near budget...

Somethnig may sound awesome to me, and get it home in your room and you hate it... Another factor is length of listen, I have heard speakers that sound good, and then played them for a coupe movies in a row and wanted to put them back in their boxes... I like warm speakers, I want a relaxed sound....

I've heard the Pioneer @ Best Buy and I used to own the P362. Never did a side-by-side comparison, but by memory, I think it's a toss-up. Both sounded eqully good to me.