Bookshelf Speaker Faceoff 2007

[mtrycrafts]

.. Incidentally, their on/off axis measurements are stellar. Stay tuned as we are currently reviewing the new Usher Berrylium speakers that look quite impressive too.

That explains it

Is there a possibility that at least you guys can set up an acoustic curtain in front of the speaker pairs so you at least remove that visual knowledge on the subjective evaluations? No stats are needed just minimizing visual and knowledge or order bias would help. Or, use blindfolds

 

[hemiram]

Nice job of reviewing the speakers. Of course, we all have particular favorites that we would like to see included. But Audioholics dosen't have any way of getting all of the speakers out there, and in a few months, or a year or so, a bunch of them won't be available new any more, having been replaced with new models.

I wish I had the cash to buy better speakers right now, but like the guy who buys 6 Hondas instead of one Porsche (I'll pass on both, thanks), I can buy an awful lot of decent and useful stuff (DVD's, Blu-Ray, guns, Pc stuff) for the difference in price between the Dali's and a hundred different $400 speakers.

If I hit the Megamillions, I will be shopping for much better speakers, along with a new house to put them in!

 

[Alamar]

Better how? Audibly different? Aesthetically better? More flexible?

I'm just going from what I read in the review [my take on it]. From reading the review and listenting to the AV-Rant a lot of the improvements are aethetics but there are still real differences in the listening experience with the tester's environment.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'm just going from what I read in the review [my take on it]. From reading the review and listenting to the AV-Rant a lot of the improvements are aethetics but there are still real differences in the listening experience with the tester's environment.

Oh, Ok, thanks

 

[dorokusai]

Gene DellaSala, Clint DeBoer, Tom Andry, and J. Walker Clarke - Thanks for the review. It was well executed and a very good read. I especialy liked the comments on the Usher Audio bookends. I bought a pair a couple weeks ago but the color choice has me waiting. I'm excited to hear them even more than I was before

If you want to include any other Polk speakers in the next round, contact me directly. I believe the RTi series would have been a better choice in the same overall price bracket but it would probably would have placed about the same....who knows.

Most of the audio meets I attend have me in musical overload for certain songs. I feel your pain. If I ever hear Flim and the BB's - Tricycle again, it will be WAY too soon.

Thanks for your efforts guys!!

Regards,
Mark
Polk Audio CS

 

[mike c]

don't wait for the next round Mark. just send the Rti's. who knows, it might get a review of its own.

 

[dorokusai]

I don't want to stray off topic but that could be done as well. Thanks

Mark

 

[Guiria]

I find it interesting that reviews away from this one regarding the X-LS are all great, positive, and people boast the ID concept as a better bang for your buck than speaker companies using brick and mortar distribution etc. Then this review has a slightly less expensive (than X-LS) model of Polk's from a line available at Circuit City that appear to be equally if not better than the super valued X-LS.

I now doubt my internet direct beliefs which were "You get more for your dollar going ID".

There is more wisdom in auditioning several speakers before purchasing than many believe.

Thank you for writing a review that challenges my hyped up notions from all the forum buzz out there, and a review that has made me a wiser consumer.

 

[Alamar]

There is more wisdom in auditioning several speakers before purchasing than many believe.

Thank you for writing a review that challenges my hyped up notions from all the forum buzz out there, and a review that has made me a wiser consumer.

I have to concur with this. Just like a newb I was all hot-n-heavy for a specific ID brand of budget speaker because of stellar reviews. The reviews that I read made it seem like I was getting a good 400$/pair of speakers for 250$.

Now I'm almost back at square 1 trying to figure out what speakers that I can elminate from my shopping list. Then I have to see if I can try the speakers out IN THE CONTEXT that I'll be using them.

For example the review makes it clear that Ushers in a large room, played loud, without bass management is a disaster waiting to happen. However one of the reviewers also makes it clear that in a smaller room with bass management the Ushers might be a good 400$ speaker to go with.

 

[anamorphic96]

I find it interesting that reviews away from this one regarding the X-LS are all great, positive, and people boast the ID concept as a better bang for your buck than speaker companies using brick and mortar distribution etc. Then this review has a slightly less expensive (than X-LS) model of Polk's from a line available at Circuit City that appear to be equally if not better than the super valued X-LS.

I now doubt my internet direct beliefs which were "You get more for your dollar going ID".

There is more wisdom in auditioning several speakers before purchasing than many believe.

Thank you for writing a review that challenges my hyped up notions from all the forum buzz out there, and a review that has made me a wiser consumer.

I concur as well. I have now spent over a month with the Axiom M3, Ascend CBM 170, and the Aperion 632. All the speakers sounded good but not like the hype you hear all over the internet. The ID brands are offering great products but there not any better then what you get from the major speaker companies. There isn't much difference in price either. I can easily find speakers that compete if not beat the speakers listed above for comparable prices.

The only ID companies I see offering huge value are HSU, and SVS subwoofers.

 

[silversurfer]

I concur as well. I have now spent over a month with the Axiom M3, Ascend CBM 170, and the Aperion 632. All the speakers sounded good but not like the hype you hear all over the internet. The ID brands are offering great products but there not any better then what you get from the major speaker companies. There isn't much difference in price either. I can easily find speakers that compete if not beat the speakers listed above for comparable prices.

The only ID companies I see offering huge value are HSU, and SVS subwoofers.

Maybe I am not listening to the right brands. I actually own CBM-170SE's, purchased earlier this year as a set with 340SE's. I have heard the Axiom, Aperion (smaller one), and X-LS's. Overall, I felt they offered a better value. There are some B&M brands that do compete(not many) at the same price points, but that is when they are on sale. I have not heard the particular Polk in the shootout.

I will say this though, at the X-LS pricepoint, you can not touch the finish.

 

[anamorphic96]

Maybe I am not listening to the right brands. I actually own CBM-170SE's, purchased earlier this year as a set with 340SE's. I have heard the Axiom, Aperion (smaller one), and X-LS's. Overall, I felt they offered a better value. There are some B&M brands that do compete(not many) at the same price points, but that is when they are on sale. I have not heard the particular Polk in the shootout.

I will say this though, at the X-LS pricepoint, you can not touch the finish.

I don't think Ascends are bad speakers. In fact as stated in my previous post they sound great along with the others. But you can find similar if not better speakers for the same price at B&M stores. PSB, Energy, Paradigm, B&W and many others all produce similar speakers that are equal at the same price points.

 

[Guiria]

I will say this though, at the X-LS pricepoint, you can not touch the finish.

I've never seen them in real life but given the pictures from forums and AV123's site I would definitely agree they are one sexy looking speaker.

 

[silversurfer]

I don't think Ascends are bad speakers. In fact as stated in my previous post they sound great along with the others. But you can find similar if not better speakers for the same price at B&M stores. PSB, Energy, Paradigm, B&W and many others all produce similar speakers that are equal at the same price points.

Have you actually done side by side comparisons?

At the same price points, I would agree that PSB and Energy have comparable product, but not Paradigm and B&W. Again, none of them can touch the finish of the X-LS.

 

[anamorphic96]

Have you actually done side by side comparisons?

At the same price points, I would agree that PSB and Energy have comparable product, but not Paradigm and B&W. Again, none of them can touch the finish of the X-LS.

I purchased all 3 speakers and did side by side comparisons. Sighted and unsighted.

Whats the point in a good finish if the speaker does not sound all that great.

B&W's entry level model is 450 so yes it might be tough for them to compete in the 200 to 400 category but above 400 they are competitive with anything in there price bracket and a little above. Besides they where only being used as an example. Even if B&W does not offer anything in 200 to 300 category there are many other manufactures who do.

I will disagree with you on Paradigm. They easily compete on all levels.

But getting back to the main point. All of these speaker companies being talked about are like great bottles of wine. Each has a slightly different character.
It's all subjective. One mans neutral is another man's bright. Just because someone doesn't like a certain companies character does mean its a bad speaker. Their just not the flavor you like.

I merely wanted to let people know that in my experience and listening ID speaker brands are not offering huge advantages over B&M companies. There offering good value and products but not to the extent that everyone raves about on the internet.

Cheers

 

[Tex-amp]

There is a new Sierra 1 review up at Enjoy the Music.com.

 

[Tex-amp]

On the value for IDs- IMO the IDs raised the bar for performance for the price and B&M are fighting back and outsourcing to China to compete on pricing. The original "classic" Ascend 170 that was released 7 years ago turned a lot of heads for speaker performance for $350 at that time.

 

[silversurfer]

But getting back to the main point. All of these speaker companies being talked about are like great bottles of wine. Each has a slightly different character.
It's all subjective. One mans neutral is another man's bright. Just because someone doesn't like a certain companies character does mean its a bad speaker. Their just not the flavor you like.

If that is the case, then everything is comparable.

 

[PENG]

Have you actually done side by side comparisons?

At the same price points, I would agree that PSB and Energy have comparable product, but not Paradigm and B&W. Again, none of them can touch the finish of the X-LS.

You may be right about the B&Ws, but Paradigm? Don't they offer products from US$120 a pair Cinema series all the way up to US$6,000 top of the line Signature series? I would say they can compete at all levels except the real high end level such as the B&W80X Diamond series and beyond.

 

[Tex-amp]

You may be right about the B&Ws, but Paradigm? Don't they offer products from US$120 a pair Cinema series all the way up to US$6,000 top of the line Signature series? I would say they can compete at all levels except the real high end level such as the B&W80X Diamond series and beyond.

I think the poster is referring to Paradigm offerings at the same price point.

This is what a reviewer had to say about the Sierra 1 and where it matches up with Paradigm...

With the Ascend Acoustics, something did: From the very beginning, I could tell that the Sierra-1 had outstanding clarity, and was conveying much more low-level detail than any other under-$1000 two-way I’d ever heard -- qualities that became even more apparent when I sat down to do some critical listening. In fact, the Sierra-1’s ability to let me hear into recordings was right up there with Paradigm’s Signature S2 and PSB’s Platinum M2, two of the best two-way monitors on the market, and each of which sells for about two grand per pair. (I own a pair of Signature S2s.)

http://www.soundstageav.com/onhifi.html