[NEW INTRO]First of all... If your looking for LOUD, then you dont need to go much farther then your local Circuit City, and nothing in this post will help you. All of the speakers suggested here, and in this thread are VERY LOUD. Infact, we wont even talk about LOUD, because this level of performance is expected. What we want is sound quality. Sound Quality is the reproduction of sound that meets your unique requirements. These requirements are both Biological and Mental. Meaning that your ears and your head is different then EVERYONE elses, so you are the ONLY one to decide what is good and what is bad. The more money you spend, the more you tend to get a very exact reproduction of sound based on mechanical and human based methods of testing. That is assuming you dont buy snake oil.
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The 600 series is one of the best sets at the price point. Very accurate speakers. Thiels are amazing for Accustical/classic speakers, nothing I have heard has played this type of music better. I havent listened to them in a (edit) full 5.1 theater setting. but I was not impressed with my CS.5's music ability on some types of Techno and Heavy Music. The other lines of Thiels will do much better at this. However if your primary enjoyment is not Accustical music (Tom Petty is AMAZING) then Thiels might not be for you. Thiels also have an amazing ability to play music at really low volumes while remaining constant and very enjoyable. (edit) I am disapointed in both of these areas when I compair my 603's with the Thiel CS.5! Thats not to say I think the 600 series is not as good as the Thiel CS.5's, for the B&W are simply different, and can reproduce a much wider range of music at a very high level of quality. Again, the higher priced Thiels perform MUCH better, but are also allot more money.
However, you also have to home audition at the Thiel price range. The dynamics of your listening area will greatly effect each speakers performance, and at the $2000+ (for a pair of speakers) price range requires additional attention to details (speaker placement, accustical room dinamics, etc)
The reason I say this is because these speakers are all about a great listening sound, however as you pass the $2000+ mark, you will find that you also pass the mark that allows you to place speakers anywhere. Simply put, you are facing the law of diminishing returns, and that law assumes you have a good listening environment, great power source, etc. If you dont, then your $10,000 speakers wont sound much better then the B&W 604's or Thiel CS.5's.
If you plan on spending a large amount of money on speakers, and you will have them hooked up to a TV, I would recommend a VERY good soundcard and a HTPC system. I am HAPPY to say this, but the days of component audio are over. The sound and features available from computers is simply breath taking and will match if not excede equipment costing $10,000.
Also, with HTPC you get the ability to start adding all of your audio (word deleted) controls (such as control over Light Sources, Project Screens, etc). Also with a HTPC you can Record TV, HDTV, and even Radio, and then Rewind and play back all three. Then with multiple HTPC's networked, you can share your shows and media with all of the devices around the house.
With a HTPC, those super high definition HDTV's with 1800 x XXXX definition can be used. Some of the great MPEG decriptors for Computers do image enhancement and will take advantage of that extra resolution. As new standards come out, HTPC's can simply be upgraded by removing cards, and adding new ones.
The only thing HTPC have yet to accomplish is the ability to have true Audio Video Passthrough, there-for a Pre-Amp or Audio Switch is needed if you plan on using a XBox or other time sensitive video source. HDMI is still not allowed to be inputted into computers, and your HD or BLUERAY DVD's wont be out for computer components for a few months too years.
If you have HDMI, I would recommend running the DTS/Dolby Digital (better known as SPDIF) through a switch to an amp, and then plugging the HDMI cable into your TV. If a HTPC meets all your needs, then I recommend you plug it right into an Amplifier, and forget about a AV Receiver or Pre-Amp.
There is allot more to this, then I am able to discuss in this thread. However at higher price ranges, amps become very important, and amps that are seperate from the PreAmp are a good choice.
You should also think about sound dampening materials or other attempts to prevent sound from bouncing off walls. Deep bass will rattle the windows so you must think about choosing windows that are more suitable for this application. Once again its based on your listening preference. I tend not to play music loud, so vibrations dont play a big roll.
If you have anything that makes background noise in the room, that you cant silence, then you just cannot justify the cost of high price speakers.
Speaker position is the single biggest factor in sound quality. Placing speakers against a wall is a no-no. Sitting with your back to a wall is bad, etc.. Small listening rooms are bad, big rooms are great and almost a necessity.
Just some things to consider... Also, dont buy into the expensive wire sales pitch. Buy the cheap stuff that people here can link you to. The sales man will do everything possible to sell you Expensive speaker wire... Simply refuse. If hes presistant, tell him that all evidence and studies have proved that Expensive Speaker Wire simply is not any better then regular copper wire. If he continues to push the topic, tell him that you will not shop with him if he continues to insist on high end speaker wire or if they wont support the speakers due to inexpensive speaker wire. I personally will tell a sales man, "To stop talking about speaker wire, or you will quickly find me walking out of the door"
Any recordings made before 1980 will have a natural hiss do to the age of the analog recordings used in the Digital -> Analog process. If you prefer old music, then expect this hiss. Check your recordings, if you want to listen to music with a hiss, then it doesnt matter much if you buy the B&W 600 serries or $100,000 speakers. Live recordings tend to contain feedback from the huge monitor speakers, again reducing the quality of the recording. Though sometimes you can find some amazing live recordings (Tool's discontiued CD/DVD combo has a few amazing live recordings). Distortion pedals give distortion. Again, it doesnt matter if you spend $1000 or $100,000. You will just have hiqher quality reproduction of distortion. Which supprisingly sounds like distortion.
My speakers will pick up the rumble of near by train tracks near one of the local radio station I listen to... It comes through the base, and cant be heard... but its there.
Mike
