Major upgrade advice - KEF/SVS/Martin Logan/FOCAL/GoldenEar

[Fizzafarian]

Am currently running a 5,1,2 system consisting of:

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V6A
Front Towers: Pioneer Andrew Jones SP-FS52
Center / Front Height / Surrounds: Onkyo THX HTIB Speakers (HT-S9800THX)
Dual 2 x Subwoofers: Onkyo THX HTIB Subs (HT-S9800THX)

Looking for advice on what to upgrade first on a $4k budget or so. Movies are very challenging to discern voices, so was thinking the center channel + the two towers.

Narrowed down some options to:

SVS Prime Pinnacle + SVS Ultra Center
QEF Q11 + QEF250 center (my cabinet wont fit the 650)
Martin Logan F10 + equivalent centers
EDIT:
Just found the additional options below, open-box, at local speciality store. Could not audition as they were not hooked up, but they are below and seem like great deals:

FOCAL 826 pair - $1,200
FOCAL 926 - pair - $2,200
GoldenEar Triton 2 - $2,500
GoldenEar One R - $4,000


We brought home 2 x Q950 open box, and my wife really didn't like the sound signature (not full enough, she did not "feel" the music - whereas she stated the Andrew Jones wanted to make her sing along). So am leaning against the Q11's now.

Personally enjoyed Martin Logan F20's in the store, but they did not have F10's to audition. Would they be similar?

SVS could not find anywhere to audition. But seems like a great fit. Would the Ultra be worth the upgrade over the Pinnacle?

This would be for the living area where we watch movies and have background music when cleaning or we have guests. It's an open plan area with the kitchen behind it. Quite large.

Appreciate any advice!

 

[Matt34]

Mofi Sourcepoint 8 or even the 10. (Andrew Jones speakers as well). Look at open box through Music direct . Could use a phantom center or something like the HSU CCB-8 if it would fit your shelf under the TV. I found the CCB-8 to be an excellent center channel for dialogue clarity.

Those speakers paired with a HSU VTF-TN1 sub would be a substantial upgrade.

 

[highfigh]

Am currently running a 5,1,2 system consisting of:

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V6A
Front Towers: Pioneer Andrew Jones SP-FS52
Center / Front Height / Surrounds: Onkyo THX HTIB Speakers (HT-S9800THX)
Dual 2 x Subwoofers: Onkyo THX HTIB Subs (HT-S9800THX)

Looking for advice on what to upgrade first on a $4k budget or so. Movies are very challenging to discern voices, so was thinking the center channel + the two towers.

Narrowed down some options to:

SVS Prime Pinnacle + SVS Ultra Center
QEF Q11 + QEF250 center (my cabinet wont fit the 650)
Martin Logan F10 + equivalent centers
EDIT:
Just found the additional options below, open-box, at local speciality store. Could not audition as they were not hooked up, but they are below and seem like great deals:

FOCAL 826 pair - $1,200
FOCAL 926 - pair - $2,200
GoldenEar Triton 2 - $2,500
GoldenEar One R - $4,000


We brought home 2 x Q950 open box, and my wife really didn't like the sound signature (not full enough, she did not "feel" the music - whereas she stated the Andrew Jones wanted to make her sing along). So am leaning against the Q11's now.

Personally enjoyed Martin Logan F20's in the store, but they did not have F10's to audition. Would they be similar?

SVS could not find anywhere to audition. But seems like a great fit. Would the Ultra be worth the upgrade over the Pinnacle?

This would be for the living area where we watch movies and have background music when cleaning or we have guests. It's an open plan area with the kitchen behind it. Quite large.

Appreciate any advice!



View attachment 71278

The Q11 weren't 'full sounding'?

 

[shadyJ]

If the KEF speakers didn't sound 'full' versus the Pioneer speakers, I wouild say there is a set up issue somewhere. Did you leave the EQ correction on when yuou swapped speakers?

 

[highfigh]

If the KEF speakers didn't sound 'full' versus the Pioneer speakers, I wouild say there is a set up issue somewhere. Did you leave the EQ correction on when yuou swapped speakers?

Or, they were open box and someone worked their own magic on them if some repair was needed. If they were wired correctly on the outside, they may have been mis-wired inside.

I would have turned one speaker off or used the balance control to find out if the fullness returned. I haven't heard KEF speakers and thought "That's just not full enough", even the little wireless ones.

 

[Fizzafarian]

Mofi Sourcepoint 8 or even the 10. (Andrew Jones speakers as well). Look at open box through Music direct . Could use a phantom center or something like the HSU CCB-8 if it would fit your shelf under the TV. I found the CCB-8 to be an excellent center channel for dialogue clarity.

Those speakers paired with a HSU VTF-TN1 sub would be a substantial upgrade.

Thank you for this. I found a local store to demo these. Will certainly check them out.

 

[Fizzafarian]

Or, they were open box and someone worked their own magic on them if some repair was needed. If they were wired correctly on the outside, they may have been mis-wired inside.

I would have turned one speaker off or used the balance control to find out if the fullness returned. I haven't heard KEF speakers and thought "That's just not full enough", even the little wireless ones.

Apologies, my terminology may be off - it's hard for me to describe. I think the better term is they were not 'warm' enough for her. Her test was the crescendo for the 'This is me' track in the Greatest Showman musical. There was a lot of separate between the low / mids / highs but she didn't feel it came together to have the impact our Pioneer's had. It was almost too much separation. Not sure if that makes sense.

I was running the towers only (turned off all other speakers)

I did reset all the calibration on the receiver but did not re-run calibration. Will try that.

 

[Matt34]

Apologies, my terminology may be off - it's hard for me to describe. I think the better term is they were not 'warm' enough for her. Her test was the crescendo for the 'This is me' track in the Greatest Showman musical. There was a lot of separate between the low / mids / highs but she didn't feel it came together to have the impact our Pioneer's had. It was almost too much separation. Not sure if that makes sense.

I was running the towers only (turned off all other speakers)

I did reset all the calibration on the receiver but did not re-run calibration. Will try that.

I have the Q7 towers and I think I know what you're getting at. They are very true to the recording, she may prefer something a little more pronounced in the midrange like the Wharfedale Lintons or something from Dynaudio.

 

[dolsey01]

The discontinued price of the Martin Logan Motion 60XTI makes them one of the best bargains right now for a full range speaker. Previous to owning them I had Ryan R630s at 5K a pair and the 60XTI are a much better overall speaker. I know they aren't on your list, but since you like the F20 they would be in your wheelhouse.

 

[Fizzafarian]

The discontinued price of the Martin Logan Motion 60XTI makes them one of the best bargains right now for a full range speaker. Previous to owning them I had Ryan R630s at 5K a pair and the 60XTI are a much better overall speaker. I know they aren't on your list, but since you like the F20 they would be in your wheelhouse.

Oh I will look at these - were they originally equivalent to the F100 series (XT) or the F10/20? How would they compare to F20?

 

[dolsey01]

Price wise they originally were $3495 a pair so I guess the F20 is the closest current example. I have not heard either of the new series to compare.

 

[MrBoat]

I would frame a wall between the living area and the stairs to get rid of that stair hole to the sky. Is that sofa where you are trying to hear dialogue? I would try listening up closer to the speakers, say, around 8ft back. If one sofa is longer than the other, I would put the short sofa on the widow wall and the longer one across. I would not try 'upgrade' for that room unless the speakers have a trial/return policy.