Help deciding on speakers.

[Nebonit]

I've been looking at buying a proper sound system for about 9 months now and only just bought the amp I wanted (Yamaha HTR 6066, equivalent to the RX 675, but they were out of stock and the discount he offered for the inconvenience was too much to pass on $1,299 to $800).

This comes to where I'm undecided, after reading your articles and forum posts I'm pretty confident that you're not biased, and if you are, you do a solid job at being fair (from other forums people dismissed Bose simply on paper drivers, or just on price alone without reason, while they sang praises of other brands that also used paper).

My first option was to connect a Bose acoustimass 15 (iii) to the Yamaha receiver. The Bose will cost $2,200, it includes their direct reflecting cube speakers, and a 3 driver sub (you can read Bose's limited info here. I like the Bose since it has matte black finish, and to me, sounds fine for music and games (I've tested my dads at least 5yr old Bose system and my cousins with pleasing results in how music and game noises came through).

Second option is a Boston acoustics Soundware S 5. That will set me back between $900 & $1,200 (much cheaper than the Bose).

I'm also open to any other brands with similar speaker setups. Just keep it to the following.

• Similar size to both the bose and boston setup (I don't have much room)
• Black finish, or dark finish (glossy is okay, matte is my preference)
• No more expensive than the Bose system
• Available in Australia (obviously, it needs to work on the 230v 50Hz system, I could use a inverter to resolve it, but thats more costs, more wasted electricity and a device warranty (if in the unlikely event is needed) will be useless)

Finally, these prices probably sound really high to you, but I'm in Australia, and that just how the prices of electronics works out.

Thanks for the help!

 

[ImcLoud]

So you just need surround speakers {fl fr c sl sr} and a subwoofer for 5.1?

If I was looking for something small, I would be here Wave Crest Audio or the ascend acoustic 200se... as far as subwoofers, SVS, HSU, ect...

 

[Ponzio]

As a former owner of Bose's flagship 901 speakers, I can't stress enough that you go in another direction. You will get a ton of good recommendations here, in your price range. Spend a weekend at your local shops listening to various brands to get an idea of what your ears like and do some research on the intergoogle. My own recommendation would be a pair of KEF LS50's with the R200c center channel speaker or any of KEF's R series speakers. I would invest in a good sub (SVS, etc.) and go easy on the wallet when it comes to surrounds. Have fun.

 

[3db]

The problem with Bose ( I don't care what the drivers are made of) is for their price, you can get a much better performing speaker/sub combination. I hold any company suspect that won't publish detailed specs about their products.

i would look at reputable speaker companies such as PSB, Paradigms, Ascends, SVS, KEF, B&W, Boston Acoustics, Pioneer (must be designed by Andrew Jones) . For subs, look at Rythmik, SVS, HSU, Outlaw.

 

[zieglj01]

Look at the Monitor Audio Mass, Focal Little Bird, Cambridge Minx and the Boston SoundWare

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Can you get these down-under? SuperZero 2.1 | Bookshelf Speakers | Premium Audio Equipment
I know SVS has an aussie official resellers in the area

another option:
KEF KHT1505 Compact 5.1 system w/2 pairs of stands included | Accessories4less

 

[Nebonit]

Thanks for the replies and yes it's for at least a 5.1 system.

Sweet, that's given me a few more options.
The HVL-1 speakers are too large by the dimensions to be anything other than fronts and centre.
The SuperZero 2.1 I couldn't find any online reseller or one that mentioned in a catalogue.

That being said, I could still get them and not worry about power, only the subs seem to have their own power supply.

I've managed to find a hifi store (amazingly hard) that may be able to order in and organise some of these.

Thanks for the help and suggestions, I'll post back here once I've had a chat with the store.

 

[Nebonit]

Thanks for all the help. The guys at the hifi store recommended a set of Paradigm cinema ct100s.
I got to have a listen to movies and some music on them in the store (their sample room is about twice the size of what I have) and the speakers filled it effortlessly. These will set me back $1,300, and I'm fine with that price since I was willing to spend about $2.2K on the bose.

Thanks for the help again!

 

[zieglj01]

Continue to enjoy.