Buying help

[rscrawford]

I have a Pioneer SC1222 receiver and I am looking to upgrade speakers. Speaking with a home theatre salesman, he said he can sale me a "set" of 2 Definitive Technology BP-8060ST SuperTowers, a CS-8040HD center channel speaker, and 2 SR-8040BP surround speakers for just at $2000. I know this is a great price, but my concern is I know nothing about speakers. My main problem is I have a hard time hearing dialogue and I don't want to drop $2000 when I can fix it by upgrading a center speaker. Any suggestions or comments is appreciated.

 

[tmurnin]

What speakers do you have now? How big is your room?

 

[rscrawford]

They are my old Onkyo sc550. The speakers are from an older system I had. The room is a large living room with a cathedral ceiling.

 

[ImcLoud]

If I were spending $2000 on a 5. I would buy a set of carnegie cst1's and the csc center with a pair of the csb1s for surrounds, call GR research and I'm sure he will give you a great price, I would imagine under $1700 which is $300 less than the towers alone cost!!!! Audiophile grade, magnetic grills, flawless finish, sloped fronts, very very well made and the sound is amazing, I have the csb1's and the sound stage is enormous, the towers will surely prove even larger...

 

[DannyA]

I own DefTech speakers and really enjoy them. However, if I had to do it all over again, I would have looked at other speakers in the same price range. I have learned a lot from this site I believe the advanced audiophile gurus here have listened to many different speakers so I trust their recommendations. I'm guessing you looked at these speakers at Best Buy or another big box store. I know it can be difficult but take any opportunity you can to listen to some other speakers for comparison. Maybe someone can recommend an ID manufacturer that will do a try before you buy?

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Pioneer PDP-5020FD
Yamaha RX-V3800
Samsung BD-F5700 Blu-ray Player
Sony - PS3
Definitive Technology BP7006 Mains
Definitive Technology CS-8060 HD Center
Definitive Technology Pro Monitor 1000 Surround
Power Sound Audio XS 15 Subwoofer

 

[j_garcia]

I'd go listen to some center channels and decide what works for you before dropping that kind of cash. Did you listen to the DTs?

 

[tmurnin]

I would start by ensuring you fully understand your goals here. You said your main issue is with dialogue, but you are entertaining a full 5-channel DT package based on a salesperson's offer. Do you really want to upgrade your entire audio environment, or just get crisper dialogue? It is true that you should match your fronts across the entire soundstage - meaning that the left, center and right should at least be from the same speaker brand, if not the same speaker family (i.e. don't use your existing Onkyo's for left/right and then buy a DT center), but that isn't as critical for the surrounds - if you even want surround speakers.

If you want to upgrade your entire speaker set, and you have set $2K as your budget, then as many have suggested here, go audition a few and decide what you like.

 

[rscrawford]

I did listen to them a few times, even drug my wife down and made her listen. But that being said, they were the only ones I listened too.

 

[rscrawford]

Where this started was because of dialogue. Speaking with others they said I needed a better center so I started shopping around. That is where I ran into, matching the front three. I am not located in a great area, about an hour north of Orlando, so there aren't very many places to go visit and hear the speakers myself. I heard the DT speakers and was amazed with the sound of the center, and not to mention the built in sub on the tower. BUT, before committing that kind of money that is why I came here for other suggestions. Other than the big box brand I have researched Boston acoustics but those are around the same price.

 

[zieglj01]

Where this started was because of dialogue. Speaking with others they said I needed a better center so I started shopping around. That is where I ran into, matching the front three. I am not located in a great area, about an hour north of Orlando, so there aren't very many places to go visit and hear the speakers myself. I heard the DT speakers and was amazed with the sound of the center, and not to mention the built in sub on the tower. BUT, before committing that kind of money that is why I came here for other suggestions. Other than the big box brand I have researched Boston acoustics but those are around the same price.

Speaker choice/options, is a matter of preference and taste - and one thing for
sure, everyone wil not agree on what you should buy - and no one can speak
for your ears.

Most speakers will be better than the Onkyo and their weak centers.

Definitive Tech is a nice option - however, I am not a fan of built in subs.

For the fun of it and exploration - I prefer the JBL Studio 5 series.

Also Boston from the mid-level up is nice - and Focal is nice.

You can even get by, with bookshelf speakers and matching center - with
a new good subwoofer.

Your option/choice and call

 

[rscrawford]

So should I start with finding a good center, then build out from that, instead of looking at a complete set? If I do that should I spend more on the center than the two sides? $2000 is what the DT set would have cost. So if I can just get a center and 2 sides that give me the same results for maybe a little less that would work. Here is my scenario again.

So you are starting with a Pioneer SC1222 receiver and need to "build" a system. You have a large room with wood floors and a high ceiling. You want crisp clear dialogue on action movies, even when to world is exploding, and even while watching the news. You are wanting to replace old (5 year) Onkyo center, L/R sides, and the sub. Your wife is giving u a $2000 budget. You can get 1 speaker or 5. Where would you start and with what?

 

[zieglj01]

So should I start with finding a good center, then build out from that, instead of looking at a complete set? If I do that should I spend more on the center than the two sides? $2000 is what the DT set would have cost. So if I can just get a center and 2 sides that give me the same results for maybe a little less that would work. Here is my scenario again.

So you are starting with a Pioneer SC1222 receiver and need to "build" a system. You have a large room with wood floors and a high ceiling. You want crisp clear dialogue on action movies, even when to world is exploding, and even while watching the news. You are wanting to replace old (5 year) Onkyo center, L/R sides, and the sub. Your wife is giving u a $2000 budget. You can get 1 speaker or 5. Where would you start and with what?

I would not start with just finding a center - It is best to start with the
front stage - most of us prefer that the center timbre (voice/tone) match
the front L/R speakers.

Again, a lot of systems will way-out perform the Onkyo stuff.

It is not so much about size, as it is about the design/engineering of the
speaker, as a whole.

I would build/concentrate on the front 3 and a subwoofer.

Now if you like and desire the Definitive - then go for it - it is about you
and what you will be happy with.

Your option/choice and call.

 

[tmurnin]

I would get 3 speakers and a sub. For $2k you should be able to get the Carnegie's referenced before or a nice set from Focal which will be perfect. Combine that with a VTF-2 sub from HSU research and you will have a really nice system. Move your existing onkyo speakers to the surround channels - they won't be great but you can upgrade those next year, and you typically aren't asking the surrounds to do much other than occasional effects anyway.