Dual Subwoofers - what to choose?

cbecker33

cbecker33

Audioholic
What is your budget? What is your setup like?
Denon TX-NR757
Infinity IL40s (front)
Infinity IL36C (center)
Infinity IL30s (rear)
SVS SB3000 (2) (subs)

$3k max for all 5 channels.
 
panteragstk

panteragstk

Audioholic Warlord
Denon TX-NR757
Infinity IL40s (front)
Infinity IL36C (center)
Infinity IL30s (rear)
SVS SB3000 (2) (subs)

$3k max for all 5 channels.
If it were me, I'd spend that on the front three and then upgrade the surrounds later. They aren't nearly as important, but with your rear speakers being towers I can see why you would want to do everything at once. I just don't know how much of a performance increase you'll get with that budget.
 
cbecker33

cbecker33

Audioholic
If it were me, I'd spend that on the front three and then upgrade the surrounds later. They aren't nearly as important, but with your rear speakers being towers I can see why you would want to do everything at once. I just don't know how much of a performance increase you'll get with that budget.
I'm baffled that a $500 set of Infinity speakers can't be outdone on a $3k budget.
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
Denon TX-NR757
Infinity IL40s (front)
Infinity IL36C (center)
Infinity IL30s (rear)
SVS SB3000 (2) (subs)

$3k max for all 5 channels.
I don't think you're gonna beat what you have now on that budget for all 5. Like @panteragstk said, that's a solid start for the front 3 tho... the surround speakers can be done down the road. They're not nearly as critical as your front 3 unless you do a lot of 5 channel music listening.
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
I'm baffled that a $500 set of Infinity speakers can't be outdone on a $3k budget.
What can we say, they're good speakers. Like I said earlier, it's kind of a good problem to have. Until you get the itch to upgrade, lol.

*Edit: Those 5 speakers retailed for a lot more than $500 new. Weren't the towers alone $700 or more for the pair?

**Edit: Your towers by themselves were $1000 original retail!
 
cbecker33

cbecker33

Audioholic
What can we say, they're good speakers. Like I said earlier, it's kind of a good problem to have. Until you get the itch to upgrade, lol.

*Edit: Those 5 speakers retailed for a lot more than $500 new. Weren't the towers alone $700 or more for the pair?
I'm speaking as to their value now.

How about a lateral move, something that has the look I want (black)?
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
I'm speaking as to their value now.

How about a lateral move, something that has the look I want (black)?
Value now isn't relevant. Good speakers retain their good qualities if taken care of. Their value is kinda like when you drive a car off the lot. Depreciated, but still performs like a new car, right?

A lateral move for aesthetics might be more in the ballpark. Lemme dig around a little and see what's out there. If you could get over the gloss factor, those Prime Pinnacle towers are nice and would fit your decor, taking care of aesthetics and (imo) be a nice little bump in performance. Get the Ultra center and a pair of Prime Elevation or Prime bookshelf for surrounds and that should be pretty close to your budget!
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
To start, here's an article Audioholics did on tower speakers in the $2000 range you could check out. I'm pretty sure the center channels and surround speakers for all of them are available and close to your budget.


Another for consideration would be the Monolith THX 460T. It's smaller brother and center reviewed pretty well here also.


 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
I think all of those are at least on par with what you have now, with good chances you may even like them better.
 
panteragstk

panteragstk

Audioholic Warlord
To start, here's an article Audioholics did on tower speakers in the $2000 range you could check out. I'm pretty sure the center channels and surround speakers for all of them are available and close to your budget.


Another for consideration would be the Monolith THX 460T. It's smaller brother and center reviewed pretty well here also.


That's kind of where I thought he should start. That range seems like it will make him very happy. $3k for all 5? I bet he'd still be happy, but it wouldn't be a big upgrade IMHO.
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
That's kind of where I thought he should start. That range seems like it will make him very happy. $3k for all 5? I bet he'd still be happy, but it wouldn't be a big upgrade IMHO.
I'm re-reading the 5 speaker review and I'm really liking the RBH R-55E, and I see it comes in phantom black for a little less than gloss at $1750/pr. Those might be my pick of the litter for @cbecker33, and I wouldn't mind having them myself. I'll bet center and surrounds wouldn't put him too much over budget at all.

*Edit: Discontinued?? Are they still available anywhere? @AcuDefTechGuy?
 
S

shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
I'm re-reading the 5 speaker review and I'm really liking the RBH R-55E, and I see it comes in phantom black for a little less than gloss at $1750/pr. Those might be my pick of the litter for @cbecker33, and I wouldn't mind having them myself. I'll bet center and surrounds wouldn't put him too much over budget at all.

*Edit: Discontinued?? Are they still available anywhere? @AcuDefTechGuy?
The RBH R-55E is not available anymore.
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
The RBH R-55E is not available anymore.
Yeah, I edited that in. You quoted it, lol. Bummer. I think my 2nd choice would be the Paradigms for op then. Good performance, right aesthetic and the peripheral speakers are available.
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
I would assume similar performance with the 700F minus some bass extension, which isn't a factor since we know you just got some subs. These with the center and surrounds are pretty close to the mark.


$3200 retail! I'm actually kinda proud of myself for coming in so close to budget... :p
 
cbecker33

cbecker33

Audioholic
I would assume similar performance with the 700F minus some bass extension, which isn't a factor since we know you just got some subs.
Whaa? That sounds like less, not more, 'oomp'! :)
 
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Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
They look like vinyl wrapped particle board - I'm not sure how to refinish and if it would yield a good result.
It's medium density fiber board. I would think anyone with some experience could prolly put another wrap on those without too much trouble, and I can't imagine it would have any effect on performance.
 
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