Advice needed - receiver/setup for a small apartment

[ptykozoon]

1st post: not sure if this is where I should put this but I see this subforum gets a lot of mileage so hopefully you can help.

I have an apartment in need of a receiver/general guidance. I already have a pair of B&W 684's. I'll probably be adding a B&W sub/center down the road, so essentially looking for a receiver which will be able to handle later pimpage of this setup. Im looking to spend 1k MAX, this setup will be 90% for cinema.

the living area is roughly 13' by 15' with an attached dining room of similar size.

 

[GranteedEV]

I have an apartment in need of a receiver/general guidance. I already have a pair of B&W 684's. I'll probably be adding a B&W sub/center down the road, so essentially looking for a receiver which will be able to handle later pimpage of this setup. Im looking to spend 1k MAX, this setup will be 90% for cinema.

I would get a different subwoofer, as B&W subs are overpriced. As for a receiver, the Yamaha RX-A2000 should be a great choice.

 

[ptykozoon]

I would get a different subwoofer, as B&W subs are overpriced. As for a receiver, the Yamaha RX-A2000 should be a great choice.

=^.^=
recommends on a subwoofer?

 

[GranteedEV]

=^.^=
recommends on a subwoofer?

I think Rythmik makes some good subs, with a good balance between output, extension, and damping. SVS and Funkywaves are two other sweet choices.

 

[ptykozoon]

I think Rythmik makes some good subs, with a good balance between output, extension, and damping. SVS and Funkywaves are two other sweet choices.

Thanks EV, I'll end up picking one of those up then - they look nice.

Furthermore, it's not too late to return the 684's, would CM1's be a better choice? Been hearing great things about them, no pun intended.

 

[GranteedEV]

Thanks EV, I'll end up picking one of those up then - they look nice.

Furthermore, it's not too late to return the 684's, would CM1's be a better choice? Been hearing great things about them, no pun intended.

Well, some think speakers are highly subjective. Personally, I am not a fan of B&W speakers, so I would not be a good person to ask. I think there are companies out there that make superior speakers at the same price point, with much better measured performance to match. I am more of a speaker objectivist. if a speaker doesn't measure well, then it naturally, to me, is not very accurate, and isn't worth wasting time on. So I do think you can do better, but it would necesessitate moving away from the B&Ws.

In the under/around $1000 price range, some speakers you might strongly wish to consider instead, however, include

PSB Image T65 or PSB Image T5
EMPTek e55ti
Aperion Verus Forte Tower or Verus Grand Bookshelf
KEF Q700 or KEF Q900
Revel F12
Ascend Sierra-1
VaporSound Breeze

and if you wanna raise the budget, a Philarharmonic 1 or 2 would be a wicked great option.


Ultimately I can't determine for you which speakers you will like, unless you've got an inclination towrads speakers that present an accurate portrayal of the original source material. I do have a feeling that any of the above choices will sound better than the B&W speakers. An in-home audition is often a good idea. Some of the internet direct companies above indeed allow for a free 30 day in-home trial period.

One other thing I would strongly consider doing, is spending LESS on a receiver, for example the marantz SR6004 B-stock, and using the money left over on a second subwoofer. Depending on the room size in terms of volume, you may or may not need the extra OUTPUT of a second subwoofer, but you will benefit from the improved frequency response across multiple seats, of having two spaced sources of bass instead of one..

 

[ptykozoon]

Thanks so much, you've been most helpful. I had an inkling B&W was kind of like the Patron of tequila - good but mostly marketing. I'm currently looking into the T6's, and I've decided 5.1 is as big as I'll go for a while so I won't have problems spending too much on a receiver. I'll check out the ones you mentioned now (also looking at the Onkyo TXNR509). The 30day thing sound like a plan. Thanks again, you've been the best.

 

[GranteedEV]

Thanks so much, you've been most helpful. I had an inkling B&W was kind of like the Patron of tequila - good but mostly marketing. I'm currently looking into the T6's, and I've decided 5.1 is as big as I'll go for a while so I won't have problems spending too much on a receiver. I'll check out the ones you mentioned now (also looking at the Onkyo TXNR509).

The Marantz should have significantly superior performance to that entry level Onkyo. Its MSRP is close to $1200 and its measured performance is proven. The only caveats are that it won't have modern 3D pass thru (though a good 3D Blu Ray player will have a separate audio and video HDMI output anyways) and that it's a B-Stock, not an A-Stock, although covered by warranty just fine.

Here are the measurements of the SR6004:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/marantz-sr6004-1/sr6004-measurements

I would strongly consider, among the rest the KEF Q900s, though. The matching center speaker is a smart design and this pair of speakers got a really positive review in Stereophile the other month along with nice measurements to back it up.

 

[ptykozoon]

any advice on a center?
haha

 

[GranteedEV]

any advice on a center?haha

Back to the list of mains I posted, the centers I'd be most comfortable buying, would be the KEF Q200C, Revel C12, Aperion Verus Forte Center, and Aperion Verus Grand Center, because of their natural dispersion patterns; or just get an identical tower speaker if you've got an acoustically transparent projection screen to hide it behind (this approach is optimal)

It stands to reason that I'd lean towards the accompanying mains to the quality centers, although I do quite like my EMP E55tis, good sir. Sooner or later I'm going to mate my e55tis with the Aperion Verus Grand Center and see what the results are!

The E5Ci and Image C6 would not be my choices.

The Philharmonic 1's don't yet have a center, but they're worth getting if you choose them, anyways. And the Philharmonic 2s use a world class RAAL tweeter.

 

[ptykozoon]

Gotcha,
Hmm, yeah the KEF's seem like the vulcan choice but they are ugly as sin, do they even come with grills?

Unless the KEF's are really that much better than the T6's Id say I'll probably stick to the PSB's. I also like the Zu Audio Omen's but they're 500+ overbudget. Are there any aforementioned towers that cater more so to watching movies?

In any case I'll upload some audio porn when my setup starts taking shape.

 

[GranteedEV]

Gotcha,
Hmm, yeah the KEF's seem like the vulcan choice but they are ugly as sin, do they even come with grills?

Unless the KEF's are really that much better than the T6's Id say I'll probably stick to the PSB's. I also like the Zu Audio Omen's but they're 500+ overbudget. Are there any aforementioned towers that cater more so to watching movies?

In any case I'll upload some audio porn when my setup starts taking shape.

I agree, the KEFs are ugly. I mentioned it in this thread and others disagreed. I think they're crazy

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75414

Kal Rubinson had this to say about the T6's:

for $1199/pair, this is an absolutely wonderful full-range speaker, and is now my quasi-$1000/pair standard for an entry-level high-end loudspeaker.

So it looks like the Q900s are a notable step up over the PSBs, based on the respective reviews by the same person. The center would also be significantly better based on its design.

I would steer :::CLEAR::: of anything by Zu Audio.

As I said earlier though, I really do like the EMP e55tis. I think they sound great, look great, and get really loud too. The center's not up to par, but neither would be the PSB Center I think.

If you are willing to raise (essentially double) your budget, and want something really suited for movie dynamics, perhaps JTR speakers are the correct choice for you.

 

[ptykozoon]

"I agree, the KEFs are ugly. I mentioned it in this thread and others disagreed. I think they're crazy"

Well, those reviews are interesting. Benchmark vs quasi-benchmark hmmm.

Any dark horses you've failed to mention? What'd be your 2nd choice assuming KEF is your 1st?

Any thoughts on Axiom M60's?

 

[GranteedEV]

Benchmark vs quasi-benchmark hmmm.

What he implied was:

One is the sub-$2000 benchmark.
The other is the ~$1000 benchmark.

Any thoughts on Axiom M60's?

How do Axioms sound? I don't know, though I've heard that they're a tad bit boom n sizzle without great resolution. Nor have I seen good measurements of them.

That aside, I wouldn't really consider them. They're a strongly marketing driven company from what I can tell.

 

[ptykozoon]

What he implied was:

One is the sub-$2000 benchmark.
The other is the ~$1000 benchmark.



How do Axioms sound? I don't know, though I've heard that they're a tad bit boom n sizzle without great resolution. Nor have I seen good measurements of them.

That aside, I wouldn't really consider them. They're a strongly marketing driven company from what I can tell.

Well then, I guess I'll go with the B&W's.



JKJK, unless the earth shatters I think I'll be purchasing the 900's tonight or tomorrow. Just wanna sleep on it. Thanks again.

 

[GranteedEV]

Well then, I guess I'll go with the B&W's.



JKJK, unless the earth shatters I think I'll be purchasing the 900's tonight or tomorrow. Just wanna sleep on it. Thanks again.

You may as well pick up the latest issue of stereophile at the newstand and read the full review

I don't doubt they sound wicked good. Coaxial speakers are able to control dispersion and that also means they will also be a lot less room dependant. Speakers with the kind of off axis response i've seen from B&W, may change their sound as you change rooms.

Room reflections are a big percentage of what we hear. We want speakers that either give extremely similar (but tapering as frequency rises) off axis response to a flat on axis response, or speakers that attenuate off axis response (like a coaxial). The coaxial will redirect far off axis energy back towards you, improving the response of the sound actually being sent at you.

One speaker whose driver I want really badly, is a coaxial. The Pioneer S-1EX

Anyways, don't forget to give us your Q900 impressions, side by side to the B&Ws