Help me with my setup

[budiz]

Hello new member here. I recently acquired 4 pioneer elite tz 7 ltd speakers. They are beautiful and sound amazing. I am currently using 2 of them in my home theater setup as the right and left channel. They are 4 ohm speakers so i am powering them with a realistic sta 2280 connected to the preamp on my onkyo txds676.

I tried using a power amplifier (russound x75) in place of the realistic but i dont feel that it added anything, so i went back to the realistic. My real question is what center channel to pair my mains with. Currently I am using an older polk center channel with no model number and it sounds just ok. The surrounds are polk monitor 60's.

Any advice with be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[budiz]

ok i guess im getting this Premier Acoustic PA-8C, hope it works out

 

[zieglj01]

ok i guess im getting this Premier Acoustic PA-8C, hope it works out

As long as you have a return policy, you can try it >> If you
are going to mix brand/series speakers for the center, then I
would look at something from NHT, KEF, and even Pioneer.

 

[jcl]

Probably your best match would be to use 1 of the other pair as the center if you have the room. Otherwise I would be inclined to try a phantom center setting on your avr. You may find that's better than an unmatched center.

 

[budiz]

Thanks for the responses, I didnt want to split up the second pair of elites but it looks like that is my best option. was looking for a good pioneer center to try but not too many to choose from. What model numbers on the kef would you suggest. thanks again for the responses

 

[zieglj01]

Thanks for the responses, I didnt want to split up the second pair of elites but it looks like that is my best option. was looking for a good pioneer center to try but not too many to choose from. What model numbers on the kef would you suggest. thanks again for the responses

Splitting the pair up is a good option - then look at getting some new
budget friendly surrounds, or keep using the Polk Monitor 60.

For the most part, I do not prefer off-brand centers - however for KEF
the iQ60 (if it comes back in stock)
KEF iQ60C Center Channel. Free Shipping on the KEF iQ60C Center Channel.

KEF Q200
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/548395475/kef-q200c?s_c=site_search
KEF Q600
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/548023570/kef-q600c-center-channel?s_c=site_search

 

[budiz]

Any recommendations on the rears? i could use the polks with another system in the house as the mains, with the polk center i will be replacing. i have no clue what i am doing with this setup. beginning to wonder if i should just buy all new speakers and use the elites somewhere else all together. I thought the elites were really something special when i picked them up but im having trouble implementing them.

 

[zieglj01]

Any recommendations on the rears? i could use the polks with another system in the house as the mains, with the polk center i will be replacing. i have no clue what i am doing with this setup. beginning to wonder if i should just buy all new speakers and use the elites somewhere else all together. I thought the elites were really something special when i picked them up but im having trouble implementing them.

Using a 60 watt RadioShack 8 ohm receiver, is not the best option
for driving 4 ohm Pioneer speakers. You seem to be using pre-outs
from a more powerful Onkyo receiver. Room placement/position, will
also play a big part.

The Pioneer speakers were made from a different era - and there are
some good speakers out today.

If you are looking at surrounds, are you still looking at towers, or do
you want a different speaker size for surrounds?

 

[budiz]

I am using the realistic because it was rated down to 4 ohms and I thought it would be easier on my amp. As I mentioned I tried using the russound power amp and it didn't do much. The elites do sound great don't get me wrong, but I have nothing to actually compare them to. I would replace them with something I could match if it wouldn't cost a ton to do so. Would the elites compare to a middle of the road speaker today or are they so far past their prime that I should just move on?

 

[zieglj01]

I am using the realistic because it was rated down to 4 ohms and I thought it would be easier on my amp. As I mentioned I tried using the russound power amp and it didn't do much. The elites do sound great don't get me wrong, but I have nothing to actually compare them to. I would replace them with something I could match if it wouldn't cost a ton to do so. Would the elites compare to a middle of the road speaker today or are they so far past their prime that I should just move on?

I found where the the Realistic can do 4 ohms, however their manual
spec sheet was deceiving. However, the receiver still seems to be on
the low power side.

Those are a somewhat rare set of speakers, with limited distribution,
They use to sell for around $1800 (1990) - I have not listened to them.
You said that they do sound good - so if you are enjoying them, then
continue to enjoy. I would aim higher, than speakers from the likes of
Bic and Polk, if you decide to move on some day >> If your budget is
somewhat limited, then save up >> I would look at the likes of Focal,
KEF, Monitor Audio, and PSB - to start with.

http://www.thevintageknob.org/pioneer-TZ-7.html

Stereophile was not real impressed with the TZ-9 speakers

 

[budiz]

Thanks again for responding. I will do some research on the brands you mentioned. For the rears I would likely move away from towers. I know that you have never heard the tz 7s before so this is a bit of an unanswerable question, but in your opinion would I have to pay more or less money today, for a better speaker? Would 900 dollars on a speaker today absolutely blow my elites out of the water? Again I know it is hard to answer but a better question would be, has technology gotten better and cheaper in the past 20 years? Ultimately I would like to completely replace all components of my system. And money isn't the biggest concern but 1500 dollars would be my speaker budget, and of course I can replace them in phases. I have always liked budget friendly items which is why I was leaning towards bic, I figured if I get the best they have to offer it would be better than similarly priced items with name brands attached. I'm off to check out the brands you mentioned.

 

[zieglj01]

Thanks again for responding. I will do some research on the brands you mentioned. For the rears I would likely move away from towers. I know that you have never heard the tz 7s before so this is a bit of an unanswerable question, but in your opinion would I have to pay more or less money today, for a better speaker? Would 900 dollars on a speaker today absolutely blow my elites out of the water?

I have always liked budget friendly items which is why I was leaning towards bic, I figured if I get the best they have to offer it would be better than similarly priced items with name brands attached.

As far as one speaker being way better than another speaker,
that can/would be subjective. I can not comment on the TZ-7
speakers, and I am not really drawn to them.

If you would really like to play and compare speakers > and want
to compare against the likes of Polk, Bic and your Pioneers, then
check the Wharfedale EVO2-40 speakers on close-out pricing.
WHARFEDALE EVO2-40 TOWER SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct

Now if you want to check out some bookshelf speakers for surrounds,
and find out about the Monitor Audio sound >
Monitor Audio Silver RX1
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MRSRX1 PBLKOAK

Another option - Focal 706V
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-41246-focal-chorus-706v-bookshelf-speakers-pr.aspx

Focal 705V, special price here
http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/34398

To check out the PSB sound - refurbish Image speakers here >
scroll down the page
http://www.saturdayaudio.com/picturepages/psb_bstock.htm

If you want to play with some budget friendly towers >
HTD Level Three
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-three-speakers/Level-THREE-Tower-Speakers

http://www.htd.com/Products/level-three-speakers