$500 Challenge

[abefroeman]

no, you don't get a prize.

Where would your dollars go if you were shopping in this price range for home theater mains.

I have been searching for the best speakers that I can find under/around $500 and have come up with these diverse choices:

Klipsch KG5.5 (Used $400)
Klipsch RF-35 (Used $600)
Def Tech (Used $300)
Mourdant short AVANT 906 Dual 5¼" ($479)
Mourdant short MS914 6½" ($499)
GR Research AV/2 kit ($530)
Audax Front MTM kit ($??)
PE Aluminum MTM Kit ($500)

What are you thoughts on the best speakers on this list? is there anything else in this price range I should consider?

 

[Audioholics]

I love these thread titles that come right out of the spam email marketing campaign playbook! lol

 

[emorphien]

What, those are your only options? I'm sure we can add at least another dozen contenders!

 

[gmichael]

I enjoy the sound of my Infinity Primus 360's. I think they have been discontinude and replaced by the 362's though.

 

[abefroeman]

What, those are your only options? I'm sure we can add at least another dozen contenders!

These are either what I have auditioned, or what have been recomended to me.

 

[jcPanny]

Onix Ref 1's

You can find a used pair of the Onix Ref 1's for about $500.

 

[farscaper]

You can also add PSB Image B25.

 

[emorphien]

Focal Chorus 706 V for $595 as well
whatever B&W makes in that price range (you can tell I'm not a fan )

 

[no. 5]

whatever B&W makes in that price range

DM601 S3.

Where would your dollars go if you were shopping in this price range for home theater mains.

my dollars would go to the Mourdant-Short AVANT 906, in fact, my dollars almost did go to the Mourdant-Shorts.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Focal Chorus 706 V for $595 as well
whatever B&W makes in that price range (you can tell I'm not a fan )

I second that. (Especially if you could go up to $600 and get the 602s.)

 

[billnchristy]

A pair of X-CS ($139 a piece) with ninja elite X-overs ($126 each)
shipping will put you over 500, but not by much.

A pair of X-SLS ($319 + shipping)

 

[abefroeman]

A pair of X-CS ($139 a piece) with ninja elite X-overs ($126 each)
shipping will put you over 500, but not by much.

A pair of X-SLS ($319 + shipping)

Are those crossovers designed for those speakers, how can you just mix and match like that?

 

[jcPanny]

Crossover Upgrade

Are those crossovers designed for those speakers, how can you just mix and match like that?

The crossover upgrade is sold by an AV123 employee. They retain the same woofer/tweeter crossover frequency and component values while improving the quality of the components with air-core inductors, sonocaps, etc. The stock X-LS components are good, but obviously AV123 can't afford to put $100 worth of parts into the crossover of $200/pair speakers.

I have also heard some news on their forum of an upcomming X-Pro model that will include unique cabinet construction in addition to tweeter and crossover upgrades.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Those speakers mean nothing unless I know how large a room I'm putting them in, the type of amplification I'm using, and the type of listening I'm doing. Can you be more specific?

 

[abboudc]

How about a pair of Mordaunt Short Avant 908's? I picked up a new pair last week for $550:
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/45944d9b005bd05c2740ac1003410629/Catalog/1089

Not sure how much shipping would be since i'm local to the store. They also have the 914's for $370.

 

[Swerd]

The crossover upgrade is sold by an AV123 employee. They retain the same woofer/tweeter crossover frequency and component values while improving the quality of the components with air-core inductors, sonocaps, etc. The stock X-LS components are good, but obviously AV123 can't afford to put $100 worth of parts into the crossover of $200/pair speakers.

Warning - abefroeman!

This is a controversial topic, but it has been my experience, as well as that of many other more experienced DIY speaker builders, that substituting high-priced inductors, capacitors, or resistors has no audible effect in a properly designed crossover. It might be possible to design a different and better crossover, but to substitute crossover parts with higher priced parts of the same electronic value does little if anything.

I would not pay $126 for "upgraded" crossovers that only use parts with the same electronic values but of higher price unless it is clearly demonstrated that they contribute to improved sound from the speakers.

If you are interested, I would be glad to discuss what my preferences are in crossover parts, but that gets away from your original question here.

 

[abefroeman]

Those speakers mean nothing unless I know how large a room I'm putting them in, the type of amplification I'm using, and the type of listening I'm doing. Can you be more specific?

The room is about 12x24, these will be mains in a surround set up for movies and some non-critical music listening. I am also on the hunt for a reciever, and will pick up the first 100w per channel reciever that I find at a pawn shop. I have been to 3 shops so far without luck.

How about a pair of Mordaunt Short Avant 908's? I picked up a new pair last week for $550:
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.sto...9/Catalog/1089

these are great prices, I would buy those 908's if they were black. The maple finish does not meet the WAF. Big black towers are not a problem with her for some reason. Perhaps I should be worried about her?

 

[silversurfer]

I just recently heard the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340SE and CBM-170SE. I would say that the 170SE is a worthy contender in the under $500 arena. At above $500, I would include the 340SE.

 

[abboudc]

these are great prices, I would buy those 908's if they were black. The maple finish does not meet the WAF. Big black towers are not a problem with her for some reason. Perhaps I should be worried about her?

Wow, that is odd...usually black does NOT get by the wife. TSTO only has maple, but Accessories 4 Less has them in black (but for $700 not $550):
http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MORDAV908BL

 

[Danny Richie]

This is a controversial topic, but it has been my experience, as well as that of many other more experienced DIY speaker builders, that substituting high-priced inductors, capacitors, or resistors has no audible effect in a properly designed crossover. It might be possible to design a different and better crossover, but to substitute crossover parts with higher priced parts of the same electronic value does little if anything.

This is actually not true at all. There is a significant difference in performance due to crossover quality, especially with capacitors.

Just ask some of those X-LS customers that have upgraded. Some own a pair that have been upgraded and a pair that has not been upgraded. The difference is not subtile.