Down sizing need advice on a A/V….

[Silverfoxvtx]

@Tankini
i will check into them..
thanks

 

[Eppie]

Yes, RBH is as good as anything else mentioned. Lots of options. The Impression 88 is a good value proposition. Given your budget you could step up the Reference 621-M which is a modular speaker. The RBH line-up is here. Hard to find frequency response graphs for their speakers though.

At the bottom of my posts is a "Spoiler" button which opens up a list of my current system. Others have this as well. I have a pair of Paradigm Studio 20 v5 speakers and the matching CC-590 centre speaker. Produced about 20 years ago, they still measure reasonably well for their price range. They are a tad bright but tameable with some EQ. I also have a Philharmonic Audio BMR Monitor kit waiting to be assembled in my retirement. I had an old pair of KEF speakers and they were definitely on the warm side of neutral with little ear fatigue. I passed those along to my daughter.

If you can't get out to listen then quality reviews and graphs will be your best source of information. Audioholics has website reviews for the Philharmonics:
BMR HT Tower
BMR Tower
BMR Monitor (there is also a round back version)

Another American manufacturer is Ascend Acoustics, a smaller company that offers great value. They perform well above their price point. There is a detailed review of the Sierra 1 V2 on ASR and I imagine that their tower speakers would have similar performance with added bass extension. The Sierra Tower offers a lot for $3,000 and the ELX is their top offering at under $5,000.

Erin reviewed the MoFi SourcePoint 888 and it remains one of his favorite speakers. They weight about 100 lbs each though.

Audioholics reviewed the JBL HDI-3800 about 5 years ago. They are still in production and every now and then they get discounted heavily so some good deals can be had.

Erin's review of the KEF R5 Meta. He likes this one for smaller rooms. The R7 Meta offers a little more bass extension.

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

@Eppie @Tankini
I just watched a YouTube on Jay iyagi channel on the Arendal 1528 Towers, it just popped up on my YouTube, it’s huge what do you guys think of that brand..

 

[dolynick]

@Eppie @Tankini
I just watched a YouTube on Jay iyagi channel on the Arendal 1528 Towers, it just popped up on my YouTube, it’s huge what do you guys think of that brand..

Jay is unlikely to get much respect here, but the Arendals are quite well regard.

 

[Nondemo01]

@Eppie @Tankini
I just watched a YouTube on Jay iyagi channel on the Arendal 1528 Towers, it just popped up on my YouTube, it’s huge what do you guys think of that brand..

I own the 1528 Tower 8 Anniversary speakers. FANTASTIC *BUT* they are HUGE and you want to downsize so hard pass for your situation. I'm 51 and I don't like moving them. Regarding your "center channel" concerns, with speakers like the KEF LS60 or other active speakers from RBH, you really can get a great phantom image without the need of a center. You can't replace it entirely like you would with a dedicated center (or surrounds for that matter), but it's not the compromise of years gone by. The LS60s are very well regarded speakers and although I don't agree with much of what Andrew Robinson says, his wife struggles with center channel and the KEFs were speakers they agreed excelled in movies and music.

I keep going back to them because for the price, they do everything you're asking: great sound, no boxes, tv and music, small form factor, and look nice. They also don't break the bank at $6K. You will NOT miss the Yamaha. All the other recommendations are great but not really "downsizing". They are replacements. Go audition the KEFs.

 

[Tankini]

@Eppie @Tankini
I just watched a YouTube on Jay iyagi channel on the Arendal 1528 Towers, it just popped up on my YouTube, it’s huge what do you guys think of that brand..

Can't say, never had a sit down to listen to a pair, but from what I have read and from the one's who have those they are well regarded. Maybe someone will chime in that may have a pair and share their thoughts on these. You've been in this music thing for a lot of decades, Any speaker will sound difference in another room, anything anyone post up about this or that speaker will be a subjective opinion even my recommendations. But you know all this already. Happy hunting!

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

@Tankini @Eppie @Nondemo01
My wife won’t like the KEF LS60, when I get rid of the 2 channel sitting in front and next to the Home theater it will be a huge down size…see my picture…
The Arendal 1528 Towers are way to big, there is a 1610 that might work if anyone out there has it..

 

[Nondemo01]

@Tankini @Eppie @Nondemo01
My wife won’t like the KEF LS60, when I get rid of the 2 channel sitting in front and next to the Home theater it will be a huge down size…see my picture…
The Arendal 1528 Towers are way to big, there is a 1610 that might work if anyone out there has it..

So you're using 2 pair of "fronts"?
I bet you my next paycheck that if you got rid of ALL that stuff (4 speakers, center, Yamaha, amp etc) and replaced it with the RBH or KEF 2 channel system for EVERYTHING, you'd be mightily impressed. It's hard to imagine your current setup competing with any descent 2 channel system. The 1610s aren't much smaller/lighter. They're just under 4' and weigh nearly 100lbs each.

It SOUNDS like you're more interested in "different" vice truly downsizing. You really need to go audition as many speakers as possible because for the money you're spending, there are countless speakers that perform very well. Subs & sats, towers, bookshelves, combos etc.

 

[lovinthehd]

Don't "review" speakers as to how they sound on youtube. That just is a waste of time. Jay Iyagi I also find a waste of time. You've gotten some good speaker suggestions....

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

@Nondemo01
Ya it’s a mess, the Volti Razz on the end is the front mains for the Yamaha home theater, the inside Volti is the Lucera. The Meitner MA3i dac/streamer is hooked to the Pass Labs XA-25 to the Lucera a total mess….I will be listing all of it soon, need to take it apart and take pictures…I don’t like the TV without a center too…I do have a KEF dealer about 30 mins from me, I am heading over there tomorrow….he has them set up in a home theater situation…

 

[Nondemo01]

@Nondemo01
Ya it’s a mess, the Volti Razz on the end is the front mains for the Yamaha home theater, the inside Volti is the Lucera. The Meitner MA3i dac/streamer is hooked to the Pass Labs XA-25 to the Lucera a total mess….I will be listing all of it soon, need to take it apart and take pictures…I don’t like the TV without a center too…I do have a KEF dealer about 30 mins from me, I am heading over there tomorrow….he has them set up in a home theater situation…

I think that's great! I know for me, when I go to any audio anything, I see things and hear things I'd never thought I'd like only to walk out with it. Headphones have been a "thing" for me recently. It can be overwhelming so prepare. Also, don't be afraid to have them swap things in/out for you. Treat this as a "spa day" for your ears. I've never had a dealer get frustrated with my neediness and they actually enjoy showing off stuff to see if you can hear the differences THEY hear. My only advice is to be open to anything. Once you start listening, you'll start to narrow your options. Don't feel you have to decide in the moment either. You might need a few listening sessions or a different dealer to get to your ideal system.

Lastly, "the perfect is the enemy of the good" and if you understand that every system is compromised and flawed in some way, it will ease acceptance of the "warts". I have no doubt you'll accomplish all your goals if you keep an open mind. GOOD LUCK and I'm excited for you!

 

[Eppie]

@Nondemo01
Ya it’s a mess, the Volti Razz on the end is the front mains for the Yamaha home theater, the inside Volti is the Lucera. The Meitner MA3i dac/streamer is hooked to the Pass Labs XA-25 to the Lucera a total mess….I will be listing all of it soon, need to take it apart and take pictures…I don’t like the TV without a center too…I do have a KEF dealer about 30 mins from me, I am heading over there tomorrow….he has them set up in a home theater situation…

Didn't get a chance to reply until this afternoon but it's wonderful that you can demo the KEF. LS60 is great if you go strictly 2-channel but if you really want a centre speaker then hopefully the dealer also has some R Meta series speakers as well or maybe go Reference series in a bookshelf.

 

[Eppie]

@Eppie @Tankini
I just watched a YouTube on Jay iyagi channel on the Arendal 1528 Towers, it just popped up on my YouTube, it’s huge what do you guys think of that brand..

I used to watch Jay as he is Canadian but his reviews are mostly subjective. We mentioned Arendal earlier in this thread. The S version of their speakers are smaller and what you loose primarily is dynamics but you are never going to push those speakers to their max. The bigger speakers also usually have a little more bass extension but I can't remember if you have a subwoofer or are ok with adding one? The Arendal towers go low enough for music playback without a subwoofer. The sub is more for low frequency movie effects.

Arendal allows in home trials (free return policy). You can also consider their bookshelf and Monitor speakers. ShadyJ (James Larson) reviewed the Monitors years ago and they performed very well. I came very close to ordering a pair but no free returns in Canada. I think you would be hard pressed to find a bad review on Arendal.