Going shopping next week for speakers

[markadelson]

I have a few days off next week and I am hoping to get some new speakers before Christmas. I have about $2000 to spend and am leaning towards bookshelf speakers. The reason being they are less intrusive and can be hidden away. I am not mentioning any brands because then people seem to only talk about those brands. So the forum is pretty open and I don't mind switching companies for different components. Looking for the full 5.1 surround sound experience. Help please

 

[zumbo]

B&W 685(main) X 2 @ $299.95ea retail. $599.90
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2301&sc=ht

B&W 686(surround) X 2 @ $224.95ea retail. $449.90
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2311&sc=ht

B&W HTM62(center) @ $399.95 retail.
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2328&sc=ht

B&W ASW610(sub) @ $599.95 retail.
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2342

$2049.70 X 7% = $2193.18

I would offer 2k out-the-door. If the dealer sticks to retail, get everything but the sub. Then, order this:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2-mk3.html

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I'm the Aperion Audio audioholic around here. I'll explain. I do not work for Aperion Audio, just a happy consumer

Aperion offers the traditional 30 day in home trail. But if you want to send them back, they pay shipping BOTH WAYS. They build their speakers out of 1 inch high density fiberboard, where as most speakers are just 3/4 inch medium density fiberboard. They offer two furniture grade finishes, Cherry and piano black. I have the piano black, and they would make a Steinway envious. Another cool thing is that they offer a one year trade in / trade up program. I had their 632 LR bookshelves and upgraded to the 633 Towers. The 632's sound awesome and image great. Try two and see.

Intimus 632-LR Bookshelf Speaker - $299.00 each
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-632-LR-Bookshelf-Speaker,17,20,31.aspx

Intimus 533-VAC Center Channel Speaker - $280.00 each
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-533-VAC-Center-Channel-Speaker,10,29,13.aspx

Buy four 632 LR's, one center channel, and that's $1480.00 shipped with NO tax. That leaves you $520.00 for a subwoofer of your choice. Consider an SVS or HSU Research.

Good luck, and Happy Shopping

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have a few days off next week and I am hoping to get some new speakers before Christmas. I have about $2000 to spend and am leaning towards bookshelf speakers. The reason being they are less intrusive and can be hidden away. I am not mentioning any brands because then people seem to only talk about those brands. So the forum is pretty open and I don't mind switching companies for different components. Looking for the full 5.1 surround sound experience. Help please

The only problem with bookshelf speakers to me are two fold:

1) You need to buy speaker stands. So bookshelf speakers + stands will be just as big as some slender towers. Placing them on bookshelves may detract the sound quality.

2) They lack bass due to physical constraints. Yes, the subwoofer will remedy that, but if you ever feel the need to play in PURE DIRECT Music mode, which shuts of the subwoofer & run everything FULL-RANGE, then fuller-range slender towers may be a great option. Otherwise, you will blow your bookshelf speakers.

Since everyone will be recommending a system, which will all be great, here is mine:

Definitive Technology
BP8B x 4 (Front L/R + Surround L/R) = $1,200
ProCenter 2000 x1 (Center) = $325
ProSub 200TL x1 (Subwoofer) = $450
Total = $1,975

Or

BP8B x 5 (Front L/R + Center + Surround L/R) = $1,500
ProSub 200TL x 1 (Subwoofer) = $450


(Or if you do combo Towers + Monitors for Surrounds):

BP8B x 2 (Front L/R) = $600
SM350 x 3 (Center + Surround L/R) = $600
SuperCube I (Subwoofer) = $800

 

[3db]

I have a few days off next week and I am hoping to get some new speakers before Christmas. I have about $2000 to spend and am leaning towards bookshelf speakers. The reason being they are less intrusive and can be hidden away. I am not mentioning any brands because then people seem to only talk about those brands. So the forum is pretty open and I don't mind switching companies for different components. Looking for the full 5.1 surround sound experience. Help please

What kind of amp/recvr are you going to be driving them with? There are a number of reputable speaker manufactures out there, some of teh better ones are inefficient and have low impedances as well making them hard to drive. before recommending, I need to know what you are mating them too.

 

[markadelson]

I'm seriously looking at the Onkyo TX-SR805

 

[gus6464]

I second the B&W 685. At first you might find them overly bright but after the tweeters break-in you will be in a for a real treat.

 

[3db]

I'm seriously looking at the Onkyo TX-SR805

Here are a couple of suggestions;

Harder to drive, 4 ohm, low sensitivity:
http://www.totemacoustic.com/us/products/compact/rainmaker/specifications/
http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Synchrony/Synchrony-One-B


Easier to drive, 6 ohms and above:
http://www.totemacoustic.com/us/products/compact/mite/specifications/
http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-B25-Monitor
http://www.focusaudio.ca/index1.htm

 

[markadelson]

This is going to sound pretty ignorant, but what do you mean by Easier to drive and harder to drive. What 5.1 set up would you recommend for 2 grand with an Onkyo TX-SR805? Bookshelves are preferred, but sound is priority number 1

 

[mazersteven]

What 5.1 set up would you recommend for 2 grand with an Onkyo TX-SR805? Bookshelves are preferred, but sound is priority number 1

Build a system around these
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/SRM1/srm1.html

I would e-mail Ascend

 

[mazersteven]

This is going to sound pretty ignorant, but what do you mean by Easier to drive and harder to drive.

Some speakers require more power to perform at their best. Easier means less of a power load on the amp. Harder means more of a load on the amp.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

This is going to sound pretty ignorant, but what do you mean by Easier to drive and harder to drive. What 5.1 set up would you recommend for 2 grand with an Onkyo TX-SR805? Bookshelves are preferred, but sound is priority number 1

Speaker impedance and sensitivity are "The load". Most home audio receivers and amps prefer an 8 ohm load. The better ones will handle 6 and 4 ohm loads well. Only a handful of amps will entertain a 2 ohm load. NAD amps will drive two ohms like no tomarrow, I know, I've got an old 2200 that is rated at 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, but 600 watts per channel into 2 ohms.

Speaker sensitivity is usually rated in decibels, using 1 watt and recorded at 1 meter. 90 db is average. Also, you have to double your power for every 2 db gain. So 50 watts with a 90 db 1w/1m should sound just as loud as 100 watts driving a speaker with a sensitivity of 88db, 1w/1m.

 

[DavidG]

Very good info for the OP, Ric. I just have one thing to correct, that an increase of 3db requires a doubling of wattage.

 

[3db]

This is going to sound pretty ignorant, but what do you mean by Easier to drive and harder to drive. What 5.1 set up would you recommend for 2 grand with an Onkyo TX-SR805? Bookshelves are preferred, but sound is priority number 1

Easier to drive means the amp section doesn't have too work too hard to bring the speakers to room filling sound. The speakers I suggested are all high quality speakers that I would own myself. I own PSB Image series T45 which are towers but I didn't suggest them as you are looking for bookshelves.

The thing you need to do is write all of these suggestions on a list of paper and start visiting the audio stores. Bring material DVD or CDs that you know intimately and listen to as many speakers as you can. With each audition, you should take notes about the likes, dislikes...ie, How did they sound? Were the highs shrill and piercing or were they soft but detailed. Did the midrange sound lifelike or did they sound small. Was the bass tight, deep and fast or did it sound loose, flabby and booming. Did the image well? These are some ideas I'm tossing out.


But you need to audition because no two people hear the same thing from the same source. All of these speaker suggestions don't mean sh?t (excuse my langugae) unless you can hear them for yourself. Perfect example is Klipsh. Some people hate the sound of a horn loaded speaker and others simply love them. You should never buy a speaker without seriously listening to it first. Its analogous to buying a TV without seeing it first. You may or may not be an expert as to what is perfect sound but you can trust your own ears as to what sounds good to you or not. So go forth and listen AND keep us posted in your progress. Good luck.

 

[firedome]

spkrs

Klipsch is still tops imo!