$2000 budget for 20x24x10 room

[roadrat]

what pair of speakers would you recommend for use for audio 95% and video 5% of the time?

My current set up includes:
Onkyo TX-NR807
HSU VTF Sub
a pair of Vienna Acoustics Waltz (for sale)
Music is streamed via Apple Airport Express

 

[zieglj01]

what pair of speakers would you recommend for use for audio 95% and video 5% of the time?

Are you looking for bookshelf or towers - and what is
your room size and placement options?

 

[ImcLoud]

Why spend 2000
FOCAL Chorus 814V 716v Dual 6½ Floorstanding Speakers Gloss Black Pair | Accessories4less
never heard them but Focal makes good stuff, I have heard a buunch of there bookshelfs and a few towers but not these....

I own a pair of these with sw300 subs next to each, I like them a lot to be honest with you, I would imagine they sound better than the foculs judging by what I heard...

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-15535-wharfedale-evo2-40-tower-speakers-pr.aspx

Since you are using a sub I would stay under 8", I like the sound of the 6.5's for some reason, its tight and efficient...

If you dont care about sales, my list of stuff to compare would be
Wharfedale diamond 10.7's Heard them they are serious for $1300 shipped...

Focal 726v {I heard these for a short listen in Boston about 2 weeks ago, initially impressed, would like more time to listen with some female vocals, maybe some Amber Rubarth to test them out..

Your avr should power all of them fine, not positive about the 726v's but I think their sens is over 90

Not sure what kind of music you listen to, and I know they are under your budget, but my favorite pair of speakers I ever owned and still own are the Tekton Lores, but its a different kind of sound, I love them for female vocals, live music, jazz, classic rock, ect... But R&B, Rap, and stuff with "fake bass" doesnt sound good through them... But something with Clarence Clemons's horn screaming and Bruces raspy voice belting away is just perfect, Ive been to a bunch of Springsteen concerts and it brings it all back...

Anyway them are my picks, there are tons more in your price range, that is a great range... Maybe narrow it down by committing to a size, style, ect..

I was jumping to the conclusion you want towers since you are getting rid of a nice set of Bookshelfs.. but if you want bookshelfs check out the jade 3's I had a chance to spend some time with them , and they are amazing... But a room your size, with your budget, towers will be a better choice..

If it were me for $2000, I would by the sale focals or Wharfedales {either the evo40s or 10.7's either way you cant go wrong} and add either an Emotiva XPA2 $800 600watts or 2- outlaw model 2200's $674 400watts amp...
Or a pair of these if they have any left http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/BOSVS336BB/BOSTON-ACOUSTICS-VS336-VS-Series-3-Way-6-1/2-in-Tower-Speaker-Black-Each/1.html with the 2 outlaw mono blocks would put your just a little over budget, but that big room of yours would be full of music for sure...

I obviuosly bought the evo40's and xpa2 so you know what I would do, I did test the diamonds and the outlaw monos in each setup and the EMO/EVO setup won... Plus I got a great deal on everything...

 

[ImcLoud]

This may be an option too-black evo40's $800, b-stock XPA3 amp $600, and a matching SW300 sub $400 {I know where there is a brand new black one for $400, pm me for info ... I sometimes only turn on one of my subs with the evo40's and it sounds really good, I also have a large room and they fill it no problem..

 

[shadyJ]

Since you already have a decent sub, might as well just get bookshelf speakers. One pair that is on my radar at under $2k is the Soundfield Monitor 1 speakers, which have some excellent measurements. The guy who makes them is a real no-BS kind of dude, and those who have auditioned those speakers have high regard for them. Another speaker to look into is the Funk Audio 8.2p, which have two 8" woofers and a horn-loaded ribbon tweeter. It looks like it could sound real nice, I would ask about them at Funk Audio, nate is redoing the product page for them so you'll have to contact home about those speakers. Those were priced at $2k I believe. If I remember right they do have some low impedance dips so you might want to power those with a separate amp, however they are very sensitive so you won't need a beefy amplifier, just one that can handle low impedance speakers.

 

[roadrat]

Are you looking for bookshelf or towers - and what is
your room size and placement options?

20x24x10

Looking for towers

The speakers will go directly in front of me on the 20' wall

I sit about 14' back from that wall

 

[roadrat]

Since you already have a decent sub, might as well just get bookshelf speakers.

I already have the Vienna Acoustic Waltz's. Would replacing them with towers be too much?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I can see how overpriced onwall designated speaker didn't work in huge room.

You want
a) Great sound
b) Fill huge room
c) doing it all on (relatively) small budget

Pick any two

What I would recommend is definitely larger speakers - You already have good avr (what model is HSU VTF?)
One option is go get best towers you can get - like Ascend SIERRA TOWER (Or Salk SongTowers)

Option b) pair of Ascend 340SE with stands and if you sub is lower series VTF like 1 - use rest of budget to get VTF3 mk4 (on sale now)

 

[roadrat]

One option is go get best towers you can get - like Ascend SIERRA TOWER (Or Salk SongTowers)

Option b) pair of Ascend 340SE with stands and if you sub is lower series VTF like 1 - use rest of budget to get VTF3 mk4 (on sale now)

I have the VTF3 MK3

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I have the VTF3 MK3

the sub should be sufficient for your room size. Just get the towers me or folks before me recommended...

If you can't visit dealer and check them out order from stores which allow returns (ascent and salk do)

Almost forget to mention Verus Grand Tower Speaker - Verus Family - Speakers By Family - Aperion Audio

Aperion Verus Grand received highest praises from AH reviewer and they do offer best return conditions (free shipping both ways)

 

[jcl]

The following towers have been recommended by many here, but I have not heard them myself -
Salk SongTowers SongTower speakers
Ascend Sierra Towers Sierra Tower Bamboo Loudspeaker
Kef Q900 - Hi-fi Speakers - Q Series - Fact Sheets - Floorstanding - Q900 - KEF International

I'm personally fond of the Magnepan sound and since you have the room I'd say listen to the 1.7s - MG 1.6 - Magnepan, Inc.

You might find you want to use an external amp with a 4 ohm speaker though.

 

[roadrat]

thank you very much!

 

[Nuance AH]

The following towers have been recommended by many here, but I have not heard them myself -
Salk SongTowers SongTower speakers
Ascend Sierra Towers Sierra Tower Bamboo Loudspeaker
Kef Q900 - Hi-fi Speakers - Q Series - Fact Sheets - Floorstanding - Q900 - KEF International
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+1 to all three of them. I've heard them all and they are very good for the money. Good recommendations, jcl.