Floorstanders for Denon 3805?

[bradsands]

I'm looking to bump my current 5.1 system up to a 7.1 by adding two floorstanders to the front so I can enjoy music more. I have a Denon 3805 and am looking to spend around 1000 a piece. Recommendations anyone?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

That's quite a budget. What type of music do you enjoy? You can go used ultra high end, or new upper end. You may be able to find a set of used Nautilus' which are known for their accuracy, or a nice set of new Paradigms. Will you be using a sub with the music?

 

[Duffinator]

Check out the Paradigm Studio 100's. But only do so if you can afford them.

http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SiteReferenceProduct/RModels/StudioSeries/StudioSpecs.html

 

[zumbo]

Here is a link of the speakers I use. They are superb! MB Quart!

 

[20to20K]

Agree...

Check out the Paradigm Studio 100's. But only do so if you can afford them.

http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SiteReferenceProduct/RModels/StudioSeries/StudioSpecs.html

Those Paradigms are as about as good a $2000 speaker ($2200 list) as I've heard. If you want to save a little you may want to check out the Quad 2.2L as well($1600). Harder to find a dealer though but they are outstanding and take up less space if real estate is an issue...

 

[Duffinator]

Those Paradigms are as about as good a $2000 speaker ($2200 list) as I've heard. If you want to save a little you may want to check out the Quad 2.2L as well($1600). Harder to find a dealer though but they are outstanding and take up less space if real estate is an issue...

Do you have a link to the Quad's?

 

[golfhack]

The Digm 100's or B&W. Both are superb. Also you might want to keep in mind it is also dependent on the music you listen to and your preference of sound. B&W's excel in the midrange, which I feel is important since most of your hearing sensitivity lies in this region. The 100's are no slouch either though. If you mainly listen to rock and like live concerts, then you may prefer the brighter sound (think of a PA system - in your face sound) that the Klipschs offer. But as far as the 100's and B&W, I think it may come down to just the price you can get them for. You may just be in luck!!! Ebay has a new listing on a pair of 100's, you may be able to "steal" those (though I doubt it). I imagine since posting this, there may be a mad rush to bid on these (sorry). But if you can get those cheaper than retail, that may very well be the way to go. Hope this helps. Good Luck.

 

[20to20K]

Do you have a link to the Quad's?

http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/lseries.htm

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Polk LSi15's. Surprised 20to20k didn't recommend them

I have the RTI12's and wished I bought the LSi15's. They seriously kick the paradigm studio 100's. No contest.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Polk LSi15's. Surprised 20to20k didn't recommend them

I have the RTI12's and wished I bought the LSi15's. They seriously kick the paradigm studio 100's. No contest.

Funny you say that. Your RTi12's have a much better frequency response, much better bass (3-7" woofers as opposed to 1-8"), 6 drivers as opposed to 4, handle amps rated at 50-500 watts as opposed to 20-250 watts, weigh 88 lbs ea opposed to 66 lbs, and are rated at 8 ohms as opposed to 4 ohms. JMO, but I felt the RTi series sounded much more realistic than the LSi's. A lot of people got the impression Polk was trying to save money with the LSi series. I think they're both award winning speakers, but to knock your own set that should blow the socks off the LSi15 is mad. Have you had both sets in your house to demo? I did in Tweeter several times. Here's a review pulled from the Polk website on the RTi12's:

"REVIEW:
After listening to jm lab,totem,monitor audio,paradigm,mirage and few others need not mentioning I managed to come to the conclusion that there was truly nothing out their that offered everything thr RTI12 had to offer for the price. I do however have to say that the consumer with a home theatre reciever will not get the range or authority out of these that they posess with the right amplification.
Bottom line is that if you truly want to here these speakers run a good power supply as I hooked them up to a Denon 3802 and I was very dissapointed, however after conecting them to a Bryston 4B they came to life with an unbelievable level of punch and detail that came across as smooth as butter with vocals to die for!!!"

Originally Posted by 20to20K
Those Paradigms are as about as good a $2000 speaker ($2200 list) as I've heard. If you want to save a little you may want to check out the Quad 2.2L as well($1600). Harder to find a dealer though but they are outstanding and take up less space if real estate is an issue...

A friend of mine has the Paradigm 7.1 setup with an older Denon 2803 and they sound wonderful. They do sound different than Polks though, and they are more efficient (isn't everything).

 

[warpdrive]

Nice Budget

I'd recommend the Studio 100's also, nice speaker

I'd also throw in Energy Veritas V2.3i, which I prefer over the Studio 100's slightly

One other set that really made me notice is the Vandersteen 2Ce (around $1500 pair) http://www.vandersteen.com/pages/2Celit2.html

 

[20to20K]

Reason I didn't recommend Polk

I love my LSi15's...but they are not very easy to drive(4ohms and 87SPL).
Considering the poster sounds like he's going with only the AVR for power I thought the Paradigms would be a better choice. I power my LSi's with an ATI 1502 seperate (225x2) and they sound significantly better than driven with my 3805.

On top of that I feel the 100's sound little better than my Polks. I didn't hear the 100's until after I bought my Polks AND the cost $700 more than my Polks which I didn't have at the time. Now that begs the two questions: Do they "sound" $700 better to me? And if they do would I have waited another 6 months or so to save that amount up? Both are pretty tough to answer in hindsight but bottom line is I'm not wallowing in remorse...just acknowledging that the 100's sound a little better to me.

On the other hand (and just to show how subjective speaker sound is) I feel both speakers blow away the RTis. I listened to the LSi15's and RTi12 extensively sidebyside (hoping to save some cash by getting the RTis) but to me the LSi sounded so much better that they justified the slight increase in price.

I'm saying all this to say is no matter what we say you have to listen for yourself to be sure. I'm sure all of these speakers sound great to somebody's ears. The only thing that's important is what sounds great to your ears.

Good luck and have fun! I think speaker auditioning is the most fun you can have in a public place!

 

[asathor]

You will need to get 3 matched speakets to be happy.

If you do any significant amount of 5+ channel listening get a matched center speaker.

 

[nibhaz]

Imo

If you do any significant amount of 5+ channel listening get a matched center speaker.

asathor is correct, if you do multichannel music and HT you really need to make sure that what ever you chose is timber matched to your center channel. So why floor standers? Do you want to listen to stereo with out the aid of a sub? That's why I have my B&W 604's, but when listening to anything other than 2ch music they are set to small with a 80hz crossover (limited by my surrounds, and the global base management settings of my AVR.) Depending on what you already have, the acoustics of your listening area, and your motives, your money might be better spent on a really nice sub.

However if you want floorstanders, and still would like to maintain a timber matched front soundstage, you should take the time to audition a some B&W 604's and their LCR600 since all three could be hand within your budget...it never hurts to have a listen...(unless you have empty credit card... )