Best Buy employee recommendation...? Help?!?

[SmokinJoe]

First!

Thank you for taking a moment to read this... A quick introduction...

I have been a fan of quality stereo equipment most of my life but really a layman with regard to the deep intricacies that can go into the hobby. I have been a fan for this board for years and have finally decided to join and post for help...

My first and last true foray into the world of high end audio was 15 years ago when, after some trial and error and speaking with what was considered to be the best hi if store in the area chose a reasonable 2 channel system consisting of energy c6 speakers , the adcom gtp550 pre and an nad 216 amp. If memory serves the set up set me back around 4 k.

The system served me well but with moving, apartments, condos I rarely had the opportunity to "open it up" until about 4 years ago when I moved into our first house... As luck would have it, the amp stopped working in stereo mode, it work work in mono, but the first time that I could open it up in years and it was "broken".

Fast forward 3 years and 2 kids and I have finally started to think about my new set up.

That said, I walked into best buy today, they are moving everything around the stores so there are deals to be had... Not particularly on high end stuff, but I got an elite 42 and a marauntz sr5006 as well as a set of Martin Logan motion 12 speakers, all new in the box for under 900.00. I figured no, this is not my dream system but for the money it can do for now... It is a deal... And I can use the components elsewhere later... Fast forward 40 minutes and I at the other best buy store near me and they have a set of b&w cm9s, floor model for 1050 each, while talking to the rep I throw out 750 a speaker and it is a deal just for fun , he thinks for a minutes and agrees... Now I am trading in the motion 12s and walking out with the bnws... Now a decision, I have seen the b&ws before, thought the sound was decent but for 3k figured I could do better... Now for 1500 hard to turn them down though you know sure as heck the employees beat the hell out of them as floor models.... Anyway, the speaker decision is made... I didn't go out with e idea of spending 5k on equipment today (though that would be my initial budget for a new set up)... Now I had read that the impedence on these speakers make them a bear on receivers, especially low power and I remember from looking at equipment back in the day at good clean power is key but is stuck with the e marauntz or elite and have serious questions if these can drive these speakers...

The bb employees assure me that the b&ws can be driven perfectly with the 100w per channel marauntz and that the impedence 8...

Now I do some research here and it seems that my initial thoughtS regarding power mig be right...

Thoughts? I'm tempted to return everything and go back to drawing board starting with a solid amp/pre amp/receiver, then upgrade speakers from my energys later... Seems like a mistake to have these speakers and not be a blue to power them properly for 6 months... I also know that people on this board are not ennammerd by these b&ws and maybe I can do better from a speaker choice.

Yes, I know speakers, amps, preampqs, receivers and the sound they put out are highly selective so a little about what I like.

Mostly used for music... Range from Pop, classic rock, classical, country, jazz, hip hop, etc. like my music brighter sounding, full, penetrating and loud...

Suggestions on what you would do, choices in equipment, etc... Room size is 17 x 17

Thank you!

 

[pureiso]

To reply to your question, you may want to look into returning the B&W's.

The only reasoning for this is you said you like your sound a bit more forward and bright, which is not what one would expect from B&W speakers.

My honest opinion is to hook it up and listen to it if they will not charge you a restocking fee, it may be really to your liking.

I highly recommend digging into the used market for speakers here, audiogon, audiocircle, etc. That is one of the best ways to stretch your dollars, but you do have to know what you are looking for.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Thank you for the note, i think ill take a look around the boards for used equipment at your suggestion.

As luck would have it, one of the BnW Speakers was blown, so they have been returned... Should have know coming from best buy floor...

 

[DD66000]

If you want forward, clean, clear, loud...JBL is a good place to go.
But you most likely will not find in stores.
For new there are the Studio L890 towers. These are really great speakers, the new list price is $1400/pr, but can be had for less.

For just slightly older JBLs(last decade)...PT800, a three way that docks to the matching PS1400 subs for a full range speaker. These speakers are ALL Ti drivers. But not metallic in sound. Their list price was $1700/ea, and can be found for much less. You would have to spend twice their original price to get better. I can tell you this, BB/Magnolia does NOT have anything that can touch them.
They can be used with any sub, crossed over @80 hz.

 

[GoFastr]

Klipsch speakers are bright because of their horns.

Here is something you may be interested in.
Not mine, but I have a pair that I love.


"I have a pair of very good condition Maple Klipsch RF-7's. They have the Dean Wescott Crossovers, no tears in grille, no dustcone damage, no surround damage, and are in great shape! We recently moved and my sound room is 1/2 the size and these are simply too big! I am looking to get $1000 for the set. Or ... if you want to trade-up, I am looking for a set of RB-81's to replace them, so I would do a set of those plus $500 cash, less cash if you have the D.W. crossovers."

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/165533.aspx

<meta name="description" content="Klipsch audio systems provide the true audio/video lover a wide variety of high performance loudspeakers and loudspeaker systems for music and home theater entertainment centers, including iPod speakers, multimedia s

 

[SmokinJoe]

Thanks for the input! I've been running my old c6s off of a new marauntz 5060 and though I do not believe the marauntz has enough juice for the speakers at loud play, it will work for now... Been a long time since I had my speakers working and it's nice to have pandora, iPod set up.

So much to consider when looking at new systems... I appreciate the link to klipsche... I remember that I bought the energys in lieu of klipsche as I thought the klipsche speakers of the day with the horn were too bright and the energys offered a more rounded sound... The new klipsche might be worth considering.

I've never considered jbl speakers and will see if I can audition some.

I guess in the end it's all about true reproduction, how close to being there cayou make it... So much to consider, I.e. all components have different sound attributes... I liked my adcom and nad combination but I am wondering if anyone has suggestions As to a solid 2 channel set up that would offer the ability to expand to multi channel or surround later...

That's again!