bookshelfs - $400 a pair - too many choices! - OVERWHELMED!

[twochordcool]

Is there any way to play process of elimination when every one of my speaker considerations have excellent reviews? Especially when it is not possible for me to listen to each one due to lack of decent shops in the area?

I want to use the speakers that I buy for music AND movies.

I will, eventually, be buying a subwoofer. Which makes me wonder, would it be overkill to buy the NHT SB3's if they only improve on the SB2's on the low end of the frequency range and I'll have a sub to pick up that slack? Should I try and choose speakers that are more generous at the other end of the frequency range, even though they all go up to and beyond 20kHz, and that is as far as the human ear can hear anyway?

Are the NHT speakers as good at reproducing music since they are technically in their home theater line?

Are the SB3's that much better than the SB2'S? The Paradigm Mini Monitors over the Titans? The Axiom m22ti's over the m3ti's?

Should I avoid the incredible Monitor Audio Bronze B2's and the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1's because of their 6 Ohm impedence if I am not going to spend a fortune on a receiver?

Who wants to play a game called "rank the speaker"?

I really need to eliminate some of these and purchase speakers and move on to the next thing!

Now Hear This! SB-2 –
51Hz to 22kHz
86db
150 Watts

Now Hear This! SB-3 –
39Hz- 22kHz
175 Watts
86db???

Paradigm Titan –
60Hz to 20kHz
86 db
100 Watts

Paradigm Mini Monitor
56Hz to 20kHz
87 db
100 Watts

Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 -
69Hz to 20kHz
89db
200 Watts

Axiom M3ti –
60 to 22kHz
88 db
175 Watts

Axiom M22ti –
60Hz to 22kHz
89db
200 Watts

Energy C-3 –
46Hz to 23kHz
89db
125 Watts

Monitor Audio Bronze B2
42Hz to 22kHz
90dB
100 Watts
*6 Ohms*

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
50Hz to 24kHz
86db
*6 Ohms*

 

[mawst95]

I own and enjoy the Energy C-3's. Half price at goodguys.com. Can't beat them for $250

 

[Rob Babcock]

In this day and age manufacturers find it prudent to designate their products with a moniker that identifies them as home theater speakers. This is purely for marketing reasons; unless it is egregiously designed, a good speaker will perform well with whatever signal it's fed, whether music or HT. The speaker doesn't know or care.

Of the models you listed, my favorite is the Monitor Audio Bronze B2. But take that with a grain of salt- I'm a notorius MA booster.

 

[twochordcool]

And you can now add:

JMlab Chorus 706 S

and

B&W DM601 S3

to the madness!

 

[nm2285]

Have you heard any of these speakers yet? Do the best you can to listen. Where are you located?

The best and only way to narrow it down is listening. None of the choices are bad.

I would say you could safely eliminate the Titans. They're jut not up to par (nor are they meant to be) with the rest of the group.

Eliminate one of the Axiom's (pick the one that best suits your interests).

I think the biggest difference in the NHTs will certainly be the bass (although I have not heard the SB3). I read a review from a user who had both and he never commented on the SB3 being significantly better, just that it had great bass.

That's 3 down...you're on your way!
Unfortunately, the only way you'll ever be sure about the others is to listen. I'd say check reviews, try to find comparisons, and judge by price. If shipping isn't too bad, order the Axioms and the Ascends to demo those.

Good luck

 

[jaxvon]

Axioms have free shipping to you, but I don't know how much it would be to send them back.

 

[craigsub]

Axioms have free shipping to you, but I don't know how much it would be to send them back.

They have a return depot in Buffalo, NY. Even from California, you are looking at about $20 for a pair of M22-ti's.