Looking for speaker system.

[t3031999]

Hello, I am new to this forum and new to the audio community, so this is my first post. I don't have any equipment worth mentioning but am looking at a complete redo.

I am looking at the Denon AVR-3805 or the Pioneer Elite 56-txi for a reciever and want a 5.1 speaker system to go with them.

I would prefer bookshelf surronds and tower mains. I have a fairly small room to deal with (15' x 13') but it is a completely enclosed rectangle. It is a fairly dead room.

I have been looking at

Avant 906 Towers OR Avant 908 Towers
Avant 902 Surrounds
Avant 905C Center
Avant 909W Subwoofer OR Avant 309W

OR
M3ti Axiom bookshelves OR QS8 surrounds
M60ti Axiom Towers
VP150 Axiom Center
EP350 Sub OR EP500 Sub

I have also been looking at the SVS PB12-Plus

The system will be used for 60% movies, 20% classical, and 20% jazz/rock

my budget (read: what the wife will let me spend) is about $2500 for all speakers including the sub.

So after all of that, my question is what would you recommend?

thanks in advance for all your responses.

 

[rikmeister]

i am doing the same as you but a little larger room

i bought the denon 3805 on ubid for 651.00. so look there. they have marantz there now. also i would look at audiogon. you can get real good deals on speakers there. so you could raise your price and get them for what you want to spend. look at quad and vienna acoustics and paradigm and totem there.

 

[MacManNM]

Hello, I am new to this forum and new to the audio community, so this is my first post. I don't have any equipment worth mentioning but am looking at a complete redo.

I am looking at the Denon AVR-3805 or the Pioneer Elite 56-txi for a reciever and want a 5.1 speaker system to go with them.

I would prefer bookshelf surronds and tower mains. I have a fairly small room to deal with (15' x 13') but it is a completely enclosed rectangle. It is a fairly dead room.

I have been looking at

Avant 906 Towers OR Avant 908 Towers
Avant 902 Surrounds
Avant 905C Center
Avant 909W Subwoofer OR Avant 309W

OR
M3ti Axiom bookshelves OR QS8 surrounds
M60ti Axiom Towers
VP150 Axiom Center
EP350 Sub OR EP500 Sub

I have also been looking at the SVS PB12-Plus

The system will be used for 60% movies, 20% classical, and 20% jazz/rock

my budget (read: what the wife will let me spend) is about $2500 for all speakers including the sub.

So after all of that, my question is what would you recommend?

thanks in advance for all your responses.

Hi and welcome.

That is a good budget. Paradigm is another company you might want to look into for your speakers. The SVS is a good choice. HSU makes some really good units as well. Is the $2500 for the whole system or jusr a 5.1 and a sub? The 3805 is a great unit. You may want to look into the Yamaha 2500 and the Marantz 8400 (I got one for my Father-in-law, very good unit, clean power, easy setup, and a great remote). This is your first system, I recomend doing tons of research, and lots of listening tests. How large is your room? What type of floor does it have (basement, crawlspace or concrete underneath)?

 

[t3031999]

The $2500 budget is just for speakers and a sub.

The reciever budget is separate.

Room is 15' x 13' as mentioned in the original post

 

[Zer0beaT]

I can't offer comparisons of any kind but I can comment on your Axiom choice.

I just put together my first HT system and went with Axiom speakers.

I first got the VP100 center, which I'm very happy with. Everything I've read suggests the VP150 is even better than the 100, so I would have to say you'll be getting a fantastic center with the 150 and should have no worries there.

I then purchased the M3ti and had them for just under a month, and realized they weren't my type of speaker. I was finding they sounded slightly harsh to my ears with certain music, and my reciever seemed to have trouble really filling them out in the surround position. They have what Axiom refers to as "soft" mids, being new to all this stuff I didn't realize "soft" was another way of saying "lack-of".

I returned the M3ti's and went with the M22ti's instead. All I can say is the difference was amazing to me. The M22's were just so right, and matched seemlessly with the VP100. I'm in love with the M22's and they are so much better on lower volumes than the M3. You may want to reconsider the M3's with the M60 and VP150, the QS8's are highly regarded and should match well I think that would be a better way to go. Or, if you'd prefer monopoles in surround for music, a M60/VP150/M22 setup I can only imagine would be a phenomenal setup (this is actually my planned future upgrade).

Just wanted to chime in with my personal experience with the M3's etc. Not trying to talk crap about the M3 but I'm just being honest.

 

[t3031999]

Throw Ascend's into the mix

Thank you all for your responses.

I have also heard alot about the Ascend 340's and 170's and was wondering if the would be in the same performance category?

I also looked at the yamaha rxv2500 and it's cheaper and recommend with a separate amp as a great system.

For recievers has anyone here heard about the JVC RX-DP20 or the RX-DP15, they have decent specs but don't have many reviews. I also can't find a picture of the back of the units.

But anyway, what about the Ascends?

 

[jcPanny]

Axiom Surrounds

If you go with Axiom, use the QS8 surrounds. They are a quadripolar speaker with two woofers and two tweeters and will provide better dispersion of the surround effect for multiple listening positions.
However, this unique speaker has a driver on the bottom so it must be wall mounted or you must purchase the custom Axiom stand.
Audioholics raves about the QS8 surround speaker in their review of the M80 system.

 

[thyname]

I have M60s in a stereo setup with Rotel gear and am very happy with them. Will definitely get Axiom QS8s and center VP150 when I build my HT. Great speakers, and great customer service!!

 

[j_garcia]

IMO, I'd get the Mordaunts. I haven't heard the Axiom towers, but I've compared the bookshelf speakers. The M3s have very good upper midrange, but the highs are just a bit too crisp, IMO, and low end is seriously lacking. The 902s have excellent midrange, good depth, and great highs and much better bass than the M3. The Mordaunts also look a lot nicer and feel better built to me, though the veneers on both are about the same. These guys will be perfect in a room that size, and for that size room, I'd go with 906s instead of 908s.

I installed a set of 904s, 905c and 903s with the 900 series 10" sub for a customer recently in a 15x18 room powered only by an Onkyo 601 and it filled the room more than adequately. I thought the 904s might not be enough, but they definitely did the trick. The sub wasn't impressive at all to me. I'd still say 906s though. He's extremely pleased with the setup.

DON'T buy their subs, this is MS's weak point. Look to SVS or HSU for sure; both are a better value for your money.

 

[Tom Andry]

My room is almost the same size (14.5 by 12.5) and not enclosed. Check my signature line. This is MORE than enough to fill my room. Should work for yours as well. Call Axiom, they'll let you know if you are considering too much speaker for the space.

 

[j_garcia]

M22s should be plenty for a room that size. My room is 19x20 with high vaulted ceilings and open to the kitchen, and I am using similar type of bookshelf with 2dB lower sensitivity, and they fill the room very well. The 60s might be just a tiny bit of overkill.

With the choices between Axiom, Ascend or MS, I'd say you don't really have much to worry about. You'll end up with a good system no matter which you choose.