I'd Love Some Speaker Advice

[mfrumkin]

I could use some input on my speaker choice.

1st. off I'm not really what would be called an audiophile. My listening will probably be 75/25 TV&movies/music. My room space is fairly small about 15x20 with 10ft. ceilings. I'm not looking for greatness, just something I'll be able to enjoy while listening to music or watching a movie for the next 5-10 years.

So far I have a Sub: Infinity PS212 & an Onkyo TX-SR805. I went into the local A/V boutique and listened to what they had in my price range: $1,000-$1,500 for fronts, rears and center.

I really liked the B&W 685 for the fronts, 686 for the rears and the HTM 62 for the center. The whole thing comes to about $1400 without tax.

Can I do much better than this set up as far as quality or performance? There may be better speakers out there but if I can't test listen to them, am I better off just going with the B&W's because I know I like the sound? I'm really in a quandry.

Mike

 

[Midcow2]

some thoughts

B & W are very good speakers. If I were you I would skip the rears now and would go with 700 or 800 series speakers. The most important speakers are the fronts and center.

I am partial to Def Tech speakers, but your choice is good.

Another speaker some people look at is the AV123.com rockets.

Audtion the speakers and if you like them that makes a big difference. You need to remember to satisfy your most demaning critic... yourself.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I am a Paradigm fan so try to check some out. Stay with the Studios as they are much better than the lower lines. I too would say spend the money on a great LCR and use some $50 speakers for surrounds until you can afford to upgrade. Look for some Studio 20's or maybe even some used 40's.

 

[Bugbitten]

I agree about the Rocket AV123 line.

Or the AV123 x-series.

Or the Axiom Audio Speakers

 

[Sheep]

I think for 1500 a SVS SBS-01 system would do well. You can get the 7.1 system with a PB-12NSD. Do you have a perference on towers or bookshelf speakers?

SheepStar

 

[fredk]

You can probably do better. Also look at PSB, something like the T45/55

I would also do some auditioning comparing bookshelves and floor standers to see if you have a preference.

Paradigm studios are very nice speakers, but pricey, like B&W. They are probably more comparable to the 700 or 800 B&W series.

Go back and compare the B&W 600 vs 700 series to see if you have a preference there. You may not care about what some of us consider as a cleaner, better sound.

Fred

 

[Bugbitten]

Get out of the boutique and get into somebody's home to audition some difference speakers.

Or take advantage of the 30 day trial policy available at a bunch of different ID companies.

 

[EJ1]

mfrumkin, sent you a PM.

 

[Davemcc]

1st. off I'm not really what would be called an audiophile. My listening will probably be 75/25 TV&movies/music.

I really liked the B&W 685 for the fronts, 686 for the rears and the HTM 62 for the center. The whole thing comes to about $1400 without tax.

To your first point above, I would suggest that if you manage to choose a very good set of main speakers, the ratio of movies/music may change from 75/25 to 25/75. It doesn't take an audiophile to simply enjoy listening to music and a really good pair of speakers may lead you to reacquire the pleasure of music for its own sake. Like yourself, I was a 75/25 guy until I got my first set of good speakers. Now I'm a 25/75 guy and I'm no audiophile.

There's nothing wrong with the B&W's you listed. But this price range is an extremely crowded market with a ton of options to choose from, like those listed above or Monitor Audio, Era, Epos, Focal.JMLabs, Energy, PSB, Mirage or even the upcoming Emotiva speakers, which I think are fantastic at their price point (I have heard the Emotiva and I was quite impressed). There are so very many choices at this price point, it really requires that you do some proactive auditioning to find the speakers that best suit your tastes and expectations.

The auditioning process is quite possibly the most exciting part of the hobby, trying to find the speaker that's exactly right for you. Nobody else can tell you what you like or dislike so get out and listen to speakers, as many as humanly possible. Relax and enjoy the search.

 

[the grunt]

To your first point above, I would suggest that if you manage to choose a very good set of main speakers, the ratio of movies/music may change from 75/25 to 25/75. It doesn't take an audiophile to simply enjoy listening to music and a really good pair of speakers may lead you to reacquire the pleasure of music for its own sake. Like yourself, I was a 75/25 guy until I got my first set of good speakers. Now I'm a 25/75 guy and I'm no audiophile.

I have to second this. My original plan was for mostly movies and gaming now I use my mains more for music than anything else.

 

[rnatalli]

Good suggestions so far. My usual flavors are Monitor Audio and PSB for B&M speakers; and Axiom, Aperion, and Av123 (I like the ELT series). Try and listen to as many as possible.

 

[mfrumkin]

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to reply. You've all given me some good suggestions. I think I'll try to listen to some more systems before making a final decision.

Mike

 

[3db]

What I would do is to take a pad of paper with you, write down the make and
model of each speaker you audition and what you liked and disliked about the
speakers you were auditioning. Was the bass tight and deep or was it boomy and loose sounding? Were the mids life like or were they hollow or just too pronounced? Was the treble irritating and harsh or were they dark and not revealing or were they smooththat made you want to listen for more? How was the imaging?

Bring music with you that you are very familiar with and know quite well. To
make it easier to audition HT speaker systems, listen to the main speakers in 2
channel mode with music. Music is much harder to reproduce acurately then a movie soundtrack so if the speakers do well with music, then they will do well with HT. Speakers that do HT well may not do well with music. When auditioning the center channel of the same brand and series as the main speakers, pick a difficult source like an announcer that mumbles alot. If you can make out what the mumbling announcer has to say, then you have a good center channel.

I would go to speciality stores first and start auditioning speakers becaue the specality stores are better setup acousticaly then the big box stores which will make auditioning a little easier. It will give you an idea of what you like in a speaker.

Keep track of what amp or receiver is powering the speakers you're auditioning.Try to get a receiver/amp that closest resembles what you have or want to get. It just reduces another variable when audtioning speakers.


One thing to keep note off. When auditioning speakers, make sure the volume
levels are matched between the diiferent speaker pairs because the louder
speaker pair will always sound better. Listen to levels that you think you
would listen to most of the time because thats how you are going to be using
them most of the time.

I'm a huge PSB fan, espcially their Image series. Thats what I own at home and recommed to all my friends when they come to visit. They are all amazed at the clarity and soundstage of my system.