Help! I'm losing sleep over this! Kef iQ2/iQ1 or M&K B1500 or PSB Alpha T/C?

[jsantos615]

Seriously!

It's 3:22am my time and I'm losing sleep over which speakers to get! For roughly (give or take $40) the same price, out the door, I can afford:

• The PSB Alpha T floorstander with Alpha Center, but that is not the optimal setup due to the amount of space I have to work with, plus WAF. The bookshelf version of this system is about $90 less.
  
• The KEF iQ2 center with iQ1 L+R
  
• 3 M&K B1500 for LRC.

I'd rather have floorstanders, but I'm willing to step down to bookshelves to have the floor space in my small living room. Whatever bookshelves I go with will have to flank my DLP TV with little room to spare in a nook that was specifically built into the wall for a non-flat panel TV.

Whatever speakers I go with will have to mate with a Yamaha RX-v2600+Sunfire Truesub Jr. and Boston Acoustics in-ceiling rear surrounds. They will be about 5.5 feet apart and 9.5 feet from the listening position (I know, not really an equilateral triangle, but you know the rest: WAF...blah blah blah)

I listen to music as much as I watch movies, and haven't had a chance to audition these speakers side by side.

Input from anyone who has listened to any of these speakers would be greatly appreciated!



-Joe

 

[3db]

Umm Have you auditioned any of these speakers

Seriously!

It's 3:22am my time and I'm losing sleep over which speakers to get! For roughly (give or take $40) the same price, out the door, I can afford:

• The PSB Alpha T floorstander with Alpha Center, but that is not the optimal setup due to the amount of space I have to work with, plus WAF. The bookshelf version of this system is about $90 less.
  
• The KEF iQ2 center with iQ1 L+R
  
• 3 M&K B1500 for LRC.

I'd rather have floorstanders, but I'm willing to step down to bookshelves to have the floor space in my small living room. Whatever bookshelves I go with will have to flank my DLP TV with little room to spare in a nook that was specifically built into the wall for a non-flat panel TV.

Whatever speakers I go with will have to mate with a Yamaha RX-v2600+Sunfire Truesub Jr. and Boston Acoustics in-ceiling rear surrounds. They will be about 5.5 feet apart and 9.5 feet from the listening position (I know, not really an equilateral triangle, but you know the rest: WAF...blah blah blah)

I listen to music as much as I watch movies, and haven't had a chance to audition these speakers side by side.

Input from anyone who has listened to any of these speakers would be greatly appreciated!



-Joe

for yourself? If not, take some dvds and cds with you that you know really well and audition these speakers and make up your own mind. Take a note pad down and jot down your impressions of each model you listened to, both lieks and dislikes so ya have something to compare later on when the memory starts to fade. I'm a huge fan of PSB myself owning a complete PSB image series set of speakers. I love em but they are not everyone's cup of tea. I recommend you listening for yourself becuase only you will be listening to them, not us who are recommending one brand over another. Have fun and let us know how maek out

 

[jsantos615]

for yourself? If not, take some dvds and cds with you that you know really well and audition these speakers and make up your own mind. Take a note pad down and jot down your impressions of each model you listened to, both lieks and dislikes so ya have something to compare later on when the memory starts to fade. I'm a huge fan of PSB myself owning a complete PSB image series set of speakers. I love em but they are not everyone's cup of tea. I recommend you listening for yourself becuase only you will be listening to them, not us who are recommending one brand over another. Have fun and let us know how maek out

Will do. Thanks for your feedback! These days, things are so rushed that shopping for speakers isn't as pleasurable as it used to be. Truth be told, I'm really hoping that I can make the PSB Alphas work...

Funny things is how many people remind me that I should be having fun with this, no stressing-out.

-joe

 

[no. 5]

personaly, I would go with the KEF's, they image well which is good to have for music and movies, but as 3dB said:

I love em but they are not everyone's cup of tea.

so agan, you just have to listen to them yourself.

I realy like floorstanders too, but as it is a small room; they might be more speakers than you need. just a thought.

 

[Jack Hammer]

You really need to listen to each speaker yourself. Speakers can be very personal. Not everyone likes/prefers the same setup and type of sound. You don't want to get something and three months later be irritated everytime you listen to it.

The B1500 has a bass plug that can be removed to lower the frequency response of the speaker or left in for use with a sub. That and it's size offer a few option for how you can use it now or down the road.

I wouldn't worry too much about matching your rear surrounds. the sound sent to them is generally fairly subtle. Most good fronts will sound fine with them. It makes a larger difference with your surrounds (sides), but will not ruin the sound if they are not a perfect match. some people can't really tell the difference there either.

Again, try to find somewhere you can listen to each, preferably an in home audition. That way you can decide what you like.

Jack

 

[jsantos615]

You really need to listen to each speaker yourself. Speakers can be very personal. Not everyone likes/prefers the same setup and type of sound. You don't want to get something and three months later be irritated everytime you listen to it.

The B1500 has a bass plug that can be removed to lower the frequency response of the speaker or left in for use with a sub. That and it's size offer a few option for how you can use it now or down the road.

I wouldn't worry too much about matching your rear surrounds. the sound sent to them is generally fairly subtle. Most good fronts will sound fine with them. It makes a larger difference with your surrounds (sides), but will not ruin the sound if they are not a perfect match. some people can't really tell the difference there either.

Again, try to find somewhere you can listen to each, preferably an in home audition. That way you can decide what you like.

Jack

Thanks! It's been a while since I've listened to M&Ks, but I remember loving their sound, build quality and understated looks. I love the b1500 on paper, but the problem is that there isn't an M&K dealer anywhere around here. Also, the b1500 fits my space fairly well, but the concern is SPL from a speaker that size. Not that I need them blasting, but I'd like to hear music detail in 2 channel stereo from across an 11 foot wide room. I haven't had much experience in higher-end bookshelf speakers, so I really don;t know what to expect. I was getting ready to take a risk and buy them on M&K's reputation alone and sell them on eBay if I didn't like them.

Cheers -


joe

 

[jsantos615]

Hmmmmm...

I just listened to the PSBs again...loved the sound, especially for the $$, but not the most optimal use of space.

The floorstander devil is on my shoulder...

 

[p38]

I have the M&K's , they can be a bit bright in a smaller room. Not to mix up things too much, but you might give the B&W 602 s3's a listen to, their imageing is great, and they go lower then the M&K's. With that bassier sound it would eliminate your needing a sub right off the bat. Just my 2 cents .

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker options

Check out the AH review of the PSB alphas, they got an OK rating.
You might consider the affordable Onix X-sls floorstanders which will start shipping soon for $319 a pair. Add the matching center channel for $139 and you will probably come in much less than the options you listed. The real wood veneer on these speakers might increase the WAF factor.

 

[3db]

yeah but that review was very flawed in its delivery

Check out the AH review of the PSB alphas, they got an OK rating.
You might consider the affordable Onix X-sls floorstanders which will start shipping soon for $319 a pair. Add the matching center channel for $139 and you will probably come in much less than the options you listed. The real wood veneer on these speakers might increase the WAF factor.

The alpha's are much better than teh reviwer gave them credit for. Pitting 300 dollars speakers to Thiels which cost 10 times as much. Really fare comparison.
This is the only place that gave the PSB Alphas an OK review. All other reviews gave them good marks. Id rather PSB over onyx anyday!!

 

[3db]

PSB Alphas get a glowing revue in February issue of

Hmmmmm...

I just listened to the PSBs again...loved the sound, especially for the $$, but not the most optimal use of space.

The floorstander devil is on my shoulder...

Home Theater magazine. Maybe you can get buy with just the alpha Bs and not the towers. Worth another audition.