Help spend my 2500 on new towers.

[parkgoons]

Hey everyone im the new guy, I just blew out the woofers in my old infinity rs-4 towers (ironically at the same time) and am in need of some new towers. My max price is $2500. I have a Yamaha rx-v1600 to drive everything, a boston acoustics vr-12 center, some jamo surrounds and to complement everything I have a month old super cube II which sounds better everytime I listen to it. The only speakers I have auditioned so far are the BP7002 towers, they sounded good and would match my super cube II. Later next week I will audition the B&W 604's. What else is in my price range that I should consider before I make a final decision. I just completed burning my test discs for auditions so i can keep as many variables the same as possible. Ill be purchasing in about a month or so. I want something that will play crystal clear when loud, yet very accurate at the same time. Low end really isnt that big of a deal my old infinitys were good to 40-45hz and the sub flawlessly took care of the rest. I want something that will leave only the music. I also want them to perform HT wise, of course if they've mastered music I see no reason why they cannot reproduce HT just as well. Ive looked into the klipsch rf-7's for several years now although still havent auditioned them. My only concern is the horn tweeter will be to harsh and overpower my center and surrounds. Any other comments or questions will be fine. Thanks everyone I look forward to this forum.

 

[jaxvon]

I would suggest that you check out the Vandersteen 2CE signature speakers. My dad recently bought a pair and they sound awesome. Here's the product page:

http://vandersteen.com/pages/2Celit2.html

Yes, the website is trashy, but you shouldn't let that worry you. Here's a list of dealers:

http://vandersteen.com/pages/dealers.htm

 

[littleb]

Uh-Hmm, over here, waving both hands alert. Since you have a BA center, wouldn't it be advisable to match fronts to that. In that case you might want to look at BA mains, unless, of course, you are going to replace the CC, as well.

 

[jcPanny]

Floorstanders

Make sure you check out the Paradigm Reference series and RBH Sound in your price range. Also consider the options from internet direct companies like Onix Rockets (av123.com) and Axiom Audio.

 

[Nick250]

There are so many great speakers out there and besides the suggestions you get from this thread, if you have not done so already, go to the review section here on Audioholics and read the reviews. Next I would go to the Loud Speaker forum and scan through the post headers and read the threads that might have something useful to consider in your quest.

This might help you choose to speakers you want to audition first or focus on. On the the hand it might give you data overload. Good Luck!

Nick

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I agree with littleb match your center and mains at least. If you don't want to keep your center...You should go listen to Paradigm's studio line and what ever else you can find.

Have fun with it,
SBF1

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

PSB Stratus silver or gold.

 

[Xsound]

There are many good options for you in that price range, but there are some questions you should answer first. Like, how married are you to the Boston center speaker? If you definitely want to keep the center, then the choice for your main speakers should be pretty easy, visit your local Boston dealer and see how much BA you can buy for $2500.

If you know that you don't want BA mains, then there are some good options that could even include getting a new center channel & moving the Boston center to the 6th channel where timbre matching won't be such an issue.

One current thread is discussing the Monitor Audio RS series, you could get a pair of the RS8 and the RS-LCR for $2100 MSRP (Less if you dealer is friendly). Actually you could get the RS-6 for mains, RS-LCR center, a pair of RS-FX for surrounds (bringing your system to 7.1) for $2300.

Jamo makes good speakers, though I am not as familiar with their lines. I bet for $2500 you could get some good mains, and maybe even a center.

 

[parkgoons]

Thanks jaxvon for the links those look like a very nice set of loud speakers. I was impressed with the cut off at 26hz, seems like all other towers (without powered subs) usually are only good down to 35 or so. Although they seems to be lacking in efficency. Also is my yamaha reciever going be my new bottleneck? Im not talking about lacking power because it will drive most anything in my budget, but sound quality wise. The center will most likely be replaced if I do go with another brand, but the Boston will have to do for now. Im not really anal on how the HT part will sound its 2.1 or 2 channel that I get picky at. Ive never heard a paradigm but have always heard great things ill put them at the top of my list. I think my B&W dealers also sells paradigm so I will audition both while there. Thanks for the other recommendations as well. Ill definitly try and find a dealer and go in and test them out. Ill keep you guys posted.

 

[Sheep]

The Energy RC-70s can be had for around 2000/pair. Very nice sounding towers with great build quality, and a highly advanced crossover. The extra 500 would almost get you the matching Center channel.

RC-70:http://www.energy-speakers.com/v2/products/product-page.php?id=266

RC-LCRhttp://www.energy-speakers.com/v2/products/product-page.php?id=270#

SheepStar

 

[parkgoons]

The Boston although a great sounding full range center is negotiable. I already have a rear center its a B&W CC3. Ive heard some bostons at my local magnolia dealer where i also auditioned the def techs. The Bostons were an awsome sounding tower dont get me wrong, but anything lower than 40hz or so is just going to be wasted amp power. This is what sold me on the def tech super towers, they produced increadible amounts of low, wall shaking bass with out any audible distortion. Also the def techs seem like they could take a lot of power and manage it properly where I felt I might be straining the Bostons. The monitor audios sound like another good choise. The jamo's will probably be replaced, as they are very small and can only handle about 60 watts of power, I often find them lacking in movies when really cranked up. My Yamaha is supposed to deliver 120 x 7 so im sure the jamos are being pushed passed their limits. But they are a good sounding surround sound.

 

[billnchristy]

You can replace everything for 2.4k:

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=10.1

Or just get a single set of the 760s or above, but I would reccommend a matching center.

That is the system I will be buying very soon.

 

[Tomorrow]

There is no shortage of opinions about speakers around here, lol.

Give these a look, as well. These are absolutely fabulous speakers for music or HT. http://www.audioc.com/speakers1/panorama/panoramadetail.htm

Good luck in your quest.

 

[Xsound]

Any particular reason you don't want to set your crossover at 50, 60, or 80 hz? With the Def techs, your Yammie isn't pushing them below that anyway, you are just running 3 subs. With the 1600, while not a light weight in the amp department, the lower you force it to push your speakers, the more the amp will be taxed. If the Super Cube is all that you say, let the sub carry some of that, and focus everything above 50 on your towers.

 

[elmirafudd]

Or a little upmarket from the Energy Reference

Check out the Energy Veritas 2.3i if you check out the Energy Reference speakers, I think they still have a MSRP of $2800 but the street price is around $2300. I have these and they are excellent.

They should (in theory) have tighter bass and a better midrange than the Energy Reference series.

Review: http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/energy_veritas_v23i_v20ci_v2or1_exls12.htm

<br />
[img]http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/pics/energy_veritas_v23i_2.jpg[/img]<br />
<br />
[img]http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/pics/energy_veritas_woofer.jpg[/img]<br />
<br />

 

[elmirafudd]

All right lets try straight html code:

<img src=\"http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/pics/energy_veritas_v23i_2.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" /> <img src=\"http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/pics/energy_veritas_woofer.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" />

 

[elmirafudd]

of course I could try the non-rewritten source

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[elmirafudd]

Moral of the story

Don't use the little editor's <> html wrappers, wasn't doing quite what I expected

 

[tomd51]

Parkgoons, I think Xsound has some (brace for unintended pun ) sound advice. If you'll be using the SuperCube for 2.1 listening as well as HT usage, you'll rarely want to throw anything lower than 40Hz at your towers, even if they're good down to 25Hz. The SuperCube is built for low frequencies and more often than not, it'll sound better than most towers from 60Hz and below.

I, myself, am a pretty big fan of the VR12. Considering its price for performance, it's hard to beat. The VR3s or VR-M90s would be an excellent match for the VR12 and SuperCube. The VR3s would be the better value of the two, but if you've got the money, the VR-M90s are excellent for two channel listening. If you're listening to fairly low frequency source, the VR-M90s would pair well w/the SuperCube also.

I've currently got a pair of VR3s and a VR12 for my front sound stage, an SVS 20-39 PCi matched up with an RX-V2500 used as a pre/pro driven by an Outlaw 755 amp. The musical performance from this setup is everything I could ask for at this price range. The VR3s and VR12 take everything I can throw at them w/the Outlaw (200W x 5) and don't distort in the least, even 5-10 dB above reference (approx. 110 dB), which can be extremely loud, even for my tastes..

For the money you're looking to spend, I would consider using the 1600 w/a solid 5 channel amp paired with VR3s. Even if you don't go w/the VR3s, you could get a decent return selling the VR12, put it towards another center and still use the amp paired w/the 1600 for an excellent 2 channel system as well as having ample power for a 5/6/7.1 setup for multichannel music and movie soundtracks. In my experience, off loading the mains or mains and center to an external amp substantially improved the quality of the signal... -TD