Help me choose

[jpaul]

Greetings, I'm on a budget (2500 to 3500$) and I need good sound advice on the speakers.
I'm most likely going to get the SVS 12+ sub. here is the rest of the speakers
I'm looking at. Dynaudio Audience 2-122,1-42c,2-42 rear), PSB, Definitive technology procinema 100, Yorkville collesiums, Axiom Mssti series,
Sappaire st2IIb with center and rears. Tannoy arenas and the Mackie speakers. The reciever, either the Denon 3508 or the Arcam ARV200.
I've heard the Dynaudio and they sound great but I'm looking at 4200$.
Can someone help me to spec out a system within or close to my budget.
Thanks

 

[jaxvon]

I would suggest that you also audition the Phase Tech PC Series. See my thoughts on their PC 9.1 speakers here:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12415

 

[Xsound]

check out the new Monitor Audio silver RS line The RS 6, RS LCR, and the bi-pole/di-pole RS FX surrounds would cost $2300 MSRP. Even though Monitor Audio dealer don't give much of a discount, buying the complete set should get some discount. You could step up to the RS 8 (instead of the RS6) for about $2800. Including the SVS Sub should keep you close to the $3500. These are awesome sounding speakers, and the finish is very, very nice. The December Home Theater has a strong review of the RS 6 system.

while Monitor Audio doesn't have any authroized on-line dealers, if there are no local dealers MA will allow a dealer to ship to you. I have dealt with a dealer this way, and it worked out well.

They have also just announced a new version of their gold line, so the current line should be going on sale soon. The GR20 system would retail for about $6000, don't know if it would ever hit $3500 though.

If I can help, let me know.

 

[jpaul]

Thanks

Thanks, I'm going to look into those brands, I've been doing a lot of research
and I'm find out that there are good speakers availible without having to pay
a inflated price. Thanks for the help.
Jpaul

 

[jpaul]

one more question

Here is one more question, has anyone have a comparing view between
Definitive tecnology ProSub 100's and the Axiom m50 series?
Thanks

 

[Takeereasy]

You mentioned PSB, and I'm an owner of this brand myself and will not hesitate to suggest it. There's a dealer on audiogon selling 7pt's for $800 that are cosmetic blemishes but factory new. They are fantastic speakers. Alternatively You can pick up 6t's and a 9c from soundcity.com for $700 and $270 respectively. You could do 4 6T's and a 9c, giving yourself 5.0 for about $1800 shipped that will drop your jaw on multi channel music. You can add in that SVS to make it a 5.1 for well under your budget. PSB has a different sound than the Dynas and the Deftechs, you really should get out there and demo them to make sure they are for you. I know people who didn't like my speakers (PSB 2B's) in the store, but that love them in my home setup. I really enjoy Monitor Audio speakers as well, and like one of the previous posters suggested you may want to give them a listen.

 

[AVRat]

Are you looking for bookshelfs or floorstanders? What are the dimensions of your room? 5.1 or 7.1?

 

[jpaul]

System size and room.

I'm looking for a 5.1 system, 2- twr's, 1-center, 2-rear and a solid bass
woofer. My room is a 24'x24'. Has anyone heard the axioms ?
With them I can get the M60 system for $2175. this will leave room
for a denon 3805 reciever. If I go with the M50 system it will be around
$1700. But, I want to make sure I will have sound quality and not just
load booming sound. I play mostly all kinds of music and watch action
movies as well.
Thanks
Jpaul

 

[rikmeister]

get the M60 they are better than the M50's/ also axiom has returns that they sell

for 10% off lookinto that too. have you look at totem too. If you find your budget gettin too close then go with good fronts and the receiver and wait and add the rest later. also look on www.audioweb.com and www.audiogon.com. you can save looks there on demos or used. there are quads there now for a great price.

 

[big deal]

I run a full compliment of the older PSB image series and I am very impressed with them for the money. The new ones are almost identical other than comsmetically. They claim a slightly lower freq response but I have heard both side by side and could not tell them apart. A non issue when using a sub anyways. I auditioned a number of other brands including B&W, mission, wharfdale and paradigm and axiom (models in a similar price range) and I dont regret my purchase in the least. I bought a pair of 2Bs (bookshelf) first, which I now run as my rears in a 7.1 setup. I have 3 9C centre channels, 1 for C and 2 for side rears. Originally had 2 in a 6.1 setup and bought a 3rd when I upgraded to 7.1. I also run a pair of 5T towers for fronts. All share the same 6.5 inch drivers and tweeters so it gives a very smooth transition on sweeping sound effects in movies. I have heard the lower end axioms (dont recall the model) and although they sounded good, I personally liked the PSBs better. If you have a chance, go audition as many brands as you can. Everyone hears things a little differently! Hope this helps.

Edit: a friend of mine runs totem in his system - forest fronts, lynks surrounds and a rainmaker centre. Amazing sound but far more expensive. I havent heard their more reasonably priced offerings but they are definitely worth looking into.

 

[3db]

I concur with PSB

I run a full compliment of the older PSB image series and I am very impressed with them for the money. The new ones are almost identical other than comsmetically. They claim a slightly lower freq response but I have heard both side by side and could not tell them apart. A non issue when using a sub anyways. I auditioned a number of other brands including B&W, mission, wharfdale and paradigm and axiom (models in a similar price range) and I dont regret my purchase in the least. I bought a pair of 2Bs (bookshelf) first, which I now run as my rears in a 7.1 setup. I have 3 9C centre channels, 1 for C and 2 for side rears. Originally had 2 in a 6.1 setup and bought a 3rd when I upgraded to 7.1. I also run a pair of 5T towers for fronts. All share the same 6.5 inch drivers and tweeters so it gives a very smooth transition on sweeping sound effects in movies. I have heard the lower end axioms (dont recall the model) and although they sounded good, I personally liked the PSBs better. If you have a chance, go audition as many brands as you can. Everyone hears things a little differently! Hope this helps.

Edit: a friend of mine runs totem in his system - forest fronts, lynks surrounds and a rainmaker centre. Amazing sound but far more expensive. I havent heard their more reasonably priced offerings but they are definitely worth looking into.

I run a full PSB compliement as well;

Image T45s L/R
Image 8c Center
Image 1B Surrounds

Love em . They are equally adept in reproducing music as well as working in home theater.

Here's a cool comparison;
http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/psb_t65_c60_s50_subsonic_6i.htm

 

[jpaul]

Infinity Primus 250

Has anyone auditioned the Infinity speaker?

 

[Takeereasy]

I know that others will disagree with this post but I'm not a big fan of the Primus series by Infinity. It is my opinion, and I know it can be unpopular, that the entry level Infinity products and JBL products that they sell at Best Buy, Circuit City, and Futureshop are very over priced and under achieving and that Harman International (parent company of Infinity, JBL and Harman Kardon) are living off of brand name alone when it comes to their entry level, mass market products. I believe that you can get a better product for less money. That said, if you like the Infinty speakers better than all the other speakers in their price range you have listened to, then they are the speakers for you. Never let someone else tell you that you are wrong when it comes to your own taste in how things sound. It's your wallet and your ears that need to be satisfied at the end of the day. Really the best thing you can do, and you will hear this over and over on this site, is get out there and listen. You are spending a lot of money, just make sure you're happy with the end result. Just don't make the mistake many of us have made and start enjoying the research, otherwise you might become an Audioholic. It's a truly terrible fate I wouldn't wish on anyone.

 

[jpaul]

Good Advice

Thanks, thats good advice, right now my top picks that I'm looking at
are "PSB Image series with sub" and the "Axioms "M60 series with sub".
Unfornatly, the area I'm in doesn't have any location that I can audition
them. There is a location in Houston Tx, about an 2 hrs away.
The rest in this area are Best buy brands and one high priced store
in beaumont ((tannoy and dynaudio) $4200 and up). The reciever I'm
looking to use (Top Pick so far) is the Denon or the Arcam. Possibly the
onkyo also. These range in cost about 500$ to 1000$.
I'll be glad when the decision is made.
Thanks
JPaul

 

[zumbo]

Just to shake things up.

A pair of these: www.yawaonline.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=YO&Product_Code=MBQ_QLS830&Category_Code=MBQ

A pair of these: www.yawaonline.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=YO&Product_Code=MBQ_QLS530&Category_Code=MBQ

One of these: www.yawaonline.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=YO&Product_Code=MBQ_QLS330&Category_Code=MBQ

$2339.97 total

Just add the sub of your choice!

I have four of the 830 towers, the same center, and a NHT SW-12 sub. I am using a Yamaha 1400 with an Adcom 7605 amp. These are some of the best sounding speakers. When I decided on them, my other two choices were B&W 700 series and Monitor Audio silver series. The Quarts were a happy medium. Great tweets like the B&W's, and solid bass like the MA's. I am utterly satisfied.