Help Choosing Between Speakers

[rich147]

Harmon Kardon HKTS-18 or Onkyo SKS-HT240

Right now I have a Yamaha RX-V663 Receiver and had Harmon-Kardon HKTS-18 Speakers. I thought the speakers were great and the sub was amazing. However, the sub recently stopped working so I have returned the set and am shopping around again just for the hell of it. I have come across the Onkyo SKS-HT240 speaker set and it has just as good of user reviews as the HKTS-18. It was even a CNET Editor's Pick and costs almost $100 less. I was wonndering if anybody who has maybe heard both pairs or could even check out the specs and let me know your personal opinion on which speakers are better. (not for the price, just better)

Sorry I am not allowed to post any links.

Also, feel free to give me other recommendations. I'm looking for speakers that have the clarity matching or surpassing Bose speakers without all the problems mentioned going along with them (overpriced, lack of loudness, etc.) anywhere between $300 and $600.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Rich

 

[kazza2ud]

People here will probably tell you that the HTib stuff is crap, that you should spend that on a 2.1 system like a pair of Ascend CBM-170SEs if you like clarity and a decent sub, then add on later. That's my guess after 3 days of speaker internet research. What's my rank, like Intern?

 

[bandphan]

People here will probably tell you that the HTib stuff is crap, that you should spend that on a 2.1 system like a pair of Ascend CBM-170SEs if you like clarity and a decent sub, then add on later. That's my guess after 3 days of speaker internet research. What's my rank, like Intern?

IMO not crap so much, but ones money can be better spent.

 

[WmAx]

For under 400 dollars, you can buy a 6 channel surround set of two way bookshelf speakers for your surround set up that will not only surpass Bose(a rather trivial feat - as Bose is all marketing and little actual performance), but will surpass most 'real' speakers also, in a particular budget range. The speaker is the Behringer B2030P, and you won't hear it mentioned much if at all on home audio forums, as it's a pro audio monitor. But I have analyzed/measured and compared this extensively with a wide range of available home speakers of similar type, and the B2030P at 130 dollars per pair is superior to all(that I know of) home two way speakers in regards to the measured parameters that actually relate to perceived audio quality until you get to a much higher price range(>4x) where you can just start to find some comparable and/or better speakers if very carefully chosen. Of course, you still have to add a subwoofer, these speakers are for the mid-treble ranges only. Like most things, these Behringer speakers are not perfect. There is an air leak that should be fixed to prevent a rushing noise sound at high SPL and a part inside that a dab of super glue can be used to prevent a potential vibrating/rattle sound; these are both extremely easy fixes that anyone can do in 10 minutes.

-Chris

 

[rnatalli]

I would go with a couple of towers up front and add on later. Like the av123 X-MTM for example.

 

[Midcow2]

front towers first

I would go with a couple of towers up front and add on later. Like the av123 X-MTM for example.

Rnatalli is correct go with some good front towers first. AV123 is on good brand. Depending on what you r buget is there are a lot of different choice. It is best to audtion if you can and pick the speakers that sounbd best to you!

A good sub to add later is SVS or Hsu

After the fronts get a matching center to maintain timbre ( seamless sound across the front).

Later you can add front and rear surrouinds. They are fro enhnacement only and don't have to match the other speakers.