best towers under $1500?

[panicphan6]

i'm thinking about selling my primus 360s to a friend and getting a new pair of towers for my stereo set up. which towers would you recommend for strictly music listening for under $1500? i have considered the rs760s

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=79.1

how much different would these speakers sound compared to the primus 360s?

 

[WmAx]

i'm thinking about selling my primus 360s to a friend and getting a new pair of towers for my stereo set up. which towers would you recommend for strictly music listening for under $1500? i have considered the rs760s

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=79.1

how much different would these speakers sound compared to the primus 360s?

I think the easiest, and best upgrade you could make considering the dollar amount you listed, is to (1) modify the speaker with damping materials -- it has a resonant cabinet and internal volume if it is anything like the other primus speakers [and] (2) get a proper equalizer to customize your sound [and] (3) add some small amount of room acoustic control devices. Let me know if you are interested in the modification, and I will be more specific.

-Chris

 

[B5I8]

I suggest you go to some local AV shops and have a listen for youself to some of the brands you've heard on this board. I just came back from a local shop and I listened to the PSB Image T65 Towers and I was very impressed with the sound. The only way I can describe the sound is BEAUTIFUL. Everyone's taste is different so you need to have a listen for yourself. Personally I found the Boston Acoustics to be cr*p along with the Klipsch Reference series. Other people swear by them.

 

[panicphan6]

i do have an eq hooked up to it..what a difference an eq makes. what exactly do you mean by small amount of room acoustic control devices?

 

[WmAx]

i do have an eq hooked up to it..what a difference an eq makes. what exactly do you mean by small amount of room acoustic control devices?

I mean some absorbtion and/or diffusion acoustic panels located in the room to remove excess reverberation(s).

Do not write off the modification(s). You can do them yourself with only needing a screwdriver(to remove the drivers) and a knife(to cut the materials to size). I had a chance to look over the acoustical damping material used in a Primus 160 a while back. If the 360 uses the same stuff ... it's very poor and allows for a subsantial degree of resonances/reflections within that cabinet. The hollow-sounding cabinet walls will be much improved with a mass loaded damping material.

-Chris

 

[tomd51]

So Chris, not to hijack panicphan6's thread, but would you suggest damping materials with any speaker you see that currently doesn't have much of this or only if you found it lacking or exhibiting behavior you didn't particularly care for?

The only reason I ask is I noticed looking at my Boston Acoustic VR3s via the rear port that there doesn't seem to be much damping material/insulation, but I do like how they sound for pretty much everything. I'd considered putting some damping material in earlier, but was concerned about negatively affecting the sound.

What do you think? -TD

 

[jcPanny]

Rocket trade in

Depending on the retail of your current speakers, you might be able to get the Rocket 850s for about $1500 with their current trade in program. Or, you could get the 760's and a good deal on the matching center channel.

Also check out this deal on the 850's for $1439 in an oak finish:
http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=stock&product=67.1

 

[billnchristy]

Yeah, I just traded in some infinitys for 760s and a Bigfoot, very good deal AND you get that $500 off the BMF!!

They arrive tomorrow, Its like Christmas eve!!

 

[toddious]

i'm thinking about selling my primus 360s to a friend and getting a new pair of towers for my stereo set up. which towers would you recommend for strictly music listening for under $1500? i have considered the rs760s

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=79.1

how much different would these speakers sound compared to the primus 360s?

You should check out Revel speakers. Their concerta series should be in your price range, and deliver incredible performance. THey are made with most of the same components from their higher end lines, but at a much lower price. I have heard the whole concerta series, and have been very impressed. http://www.revelspeakers.com/products/product-overview.asp?ID=19

Also, check out DALI suite 2.8 . http://dali-usa.com/us/page245.aspx?sub=213&prod=272They can be had for pretty cheap as well, and are incredible sounding. THese are the two systems that I am currently debating between. I will probably go with the Revel's.

 

[Nick250]

Yeah, I just traded in some infinitys for 760s and a Bigfoot, very good deal AND you get that $500 off the BMF!!

They arrive tomorrow, Its like Christmas eve!!

Yup, there some great deals on Rockets with this sale. If one were thinking of buying one their speakers, now is the time. I bought the UFW-10 sub on sale a few months back. Very pleased. Sounds good and easily the best finished piece of furniture in my living room.

Nick

 

[WmAx]

So Chris, not to hijack panicphan6's thread, but would you suggest damping materials with any speaker you see that currently doesn't have much of this or only if you found it lacking or exhibiting behavior you didn't particularly care for?

The only reason I ask is I noticed looking at my Boston Acoustic VR3s via the rear port that there doesn't seem to be much damping material/insulation, but I do like how they sound for pretty much everything. I'd considered putting some damping material in earlier, but was concerned about negatively affecting the sound.

What do you think? -TD

Most speakers will benefit from the modifications. Especially lower cost speakers as being discussed here. The exceptions to this are few, and usually limited to very expensive speakers. If I was to speculate, I think that some speaker companies(such as Infinity) purposely leave a degree of resonance audibility as a way to entice you to the higher end speakers that they offer.

I recommend adding a mass damping material to the wall internal surfaces to prevent a slow energy decay(ringing) and using a very effective acoustic damping material internally to prevent resonances/reflections related to the internal volume dimension(s).

For the mass loaded damping, you can use Peel N' Seal available from Lowe's Home Improvement for about $14 for 25 feet x 6". However, the material is rather thin, and you will need multiple layers. The layers should be built up to at least equal total thickness of 1/3 the wall thickness, for optimum performance/damping. For the acoustic damping material, use a premium grade acoustic foam such as Auralex, in 2-3" thicknesses in the entire internal surface(s), or alternatively use 6-8 lb./ft^3 density fiberglass or mineral wool. However, these last materials are usually only available at industrial/commercial insulation dealers, and only in large bundles. I will gladly sell the mineral wool material to anyone who needs it for cost(it's around $0.35/ft^2) plus shipping. The material will be cut down to smaller sizes than the original 2'x4' size boards, though, in order to make shipping practical.

-Chris

 

[tomd51]

Thank you for the additional input on this, Chris. I think once I can free up some time to take a more thorough look into the cabinets of the VRs, I'll see what they have and seriously consider if this is something I'll pursue further.

Great information and much appreciated, thanks again... -TD

 

[bpape]

I would second the recommendation to deal with the room. If you're still wanting new speakers, I'll also second the recommendation for the Revel Concerta's. They're a steal for the money IMO.

Bryan

 

[billnchristy]

I got my 760s and bigfoot last night.

I am impressed. I have never had a soundstage so large or imaging so detailed.

I sat my wife down for Nickelback's Animals, put the volume to -15 dB and she sat with jaw dropped for half the song. "Wow that sounded better than some concerts we have been to." You could easily picture where everyone was on stage.

All this without the sub on too! No way right? Well, just to be sure I cued up "Me So Horny" off of Rhapsody and they held their own quite well. It was quite comical listening to such junk on high quality speakers but it was so clean and crisp with a suprising amount of sub-bass.

They do pretty much crap out under 40Hz, but theyre 6.5" what can you do!?

We watched House of Flying Daggers last night and bigfoot is the undisputed heavyweight champion of centers in my eyes. It's like a linebacker with a flower fetish. Huge and imposing but soft and delicate too.