Need Help Choosing Speakers

[afterlife2]

Hi I'm new here!

I'm a big fan of the JBL's and was wondering if I can get some help. I'm trying to decide on a pair of speakers for my studio apt:

JBL ES80CH

Or

JBL E80

Any big differences? Which ones would you get? I'm using it for music and as part of a home theater set-up. I listen to Rock, Jazz and Pop mostly. I own a pair of Cerwin Vega's that is just not cutting it. Looking to spend $200-450.

I have the Onkyo 707 and JBL SCS500 which I have not setup yet. Please HELP!

Thank you!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Hi I'm new here!

I'm a big fan of the JBL's and was wondering if I can get some help. I'm trying to decide on a pair of speakers for my studio apt:

JBL ES80CH

Or

JBL E80

Any big differences? Which ones would you get? I'm using it for music and as part of a home theater set-up. I listen to Rock, Jazz and Pop mostly. I own a pair of Cerwin Vega's that is just not cutting it. Looking to spend $200-450.

I have the Onkyo 707 and JBL SCS500 which I have not setup yet. Please HELP!

Thank you!

I recently got JBL Pro monitors (in sig) and I do like them a lot, but many AH members said, JLB pro and consumer stuff is very different...

So you got Onkyo TX-SR707 (very decent AVR btw), JBL 5.1 speakers (tiny and not impressive) and looking to get pair of full sized tower speakers...
Me = confused
Are you looking to build one system and integrate tower with 5.1 speakers?
If so, the immediate issues would
a) Tiny center speake would be lost next to towers and could never catch up to them
b) Sub is designed to support much smaller speakers and probably bass would be "muddy" if used with much bigger speakers

If you like music - I think you should really concentrate on it
My suggestion is a Pair of Infinity Primus P163 bookshelfs at 85/ea on amazon
and good sub - like this one:
Elemental Designs: Car Stereo, Home Speakers, Electronics
Yes, it's a bit over your budget, and maybe you can shave few bucks by finding used sub in local Craigslist

 

[afterlife2]

Thanks BSA for breaking it down!

I really want them for music only. I thought the SCS500 would be ok for my small studio apt + I got them for 225 used. What would you suggest for floor standing 100+ watts for my budget? Everyone is raving about Polks or Klipsch.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks BSA for breaking it down!

I really want them for music only. I thought the SCS500 would be ok for my small studio apt + I got them for 225 used. What would you suggest for floor standing 100+ watts for my budget? Everyone is raving about Polks or Klipsch.

Polks - They surely have plenty of *cough* [strike]blind[/strike] deaf *cough* followers, but imo only Polk worth of considerations are LSi series, but they are well above your budget.

Klipsch - are loud and in your face very aggressive sound - probably good choice for HT and value receivers - they are very easy to drive, however I'd strongly recommend to listed them yourself, preferably with music you know well.

My $400 rec for tower speakers is Infinity P363
Amazon.com: Infinity Primus Three-way dual 6-1/2-Inch Floorstanding Speaker (Black, Each): Electronics

 

[afterlife2]

Thanks BSA! I'll look into those any other you would suggest?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks BSA! I'll look into those any other you would suggest?

My first choice would be:
CMT-340 SE Mini-Tower Loudspeaker

These not bad ether:
Amazon.com: Energy CF-30 Floorstanding/Tower Speaker (Black), Each: Electronics
EMP Tek E5Ti Tower Speakers

 

[jcl]

You might go to best buy and take a listen to these :
Pioneer - 5-1/4" 3-Way Floor Speakers (Pair) - Black - SP-FS51-LR

Some people rave about the pioneers designed by Andrew Jones. They are supposed to be very good for the money. I took a listen atbest buy (hardly a good audition) but they were noticeably better than the neighboring Klipsch and Polks on display.

I have the older model of the Infinity P362 and they are hard to beat for the price.

One other point, you don't give the size of the room. You may find towers overwhelm the room or are hard to place. In which case something like these would be worth looking at : http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542469405/energy-rc10

 

[afterlife2]

Wow thanks guys any other brands with budget in mind. So JBL are no good anymore?

 

[afterlife2]

JCL I live in a small studio apt if that helps.

 

[zieglj01]

Wow thanks guys any other brands with budget in mind. So JBL are no good anymore?

For me, JBL lower level consumer speakers - tend to be a bit
of a cheat. They always seem to be holding something back.
The midrange is weak, the highs seem unbalanced - and they
tend to hold back on the bass.
Infinity Primus speakers, will give you more for the money.

For the consumer speakers - I would only consider from the
LS series up.
LS40 Details | JBL Synthesis
http://www.jblsynthesis.com/Products/Details/98
http://www.jblsynthesis.com/Products/Details/97

 

[afterlife2]

Maybe I'll go for the Infinity Primus P163 Will these be good with my Onkyo 708? or should I get the Cambridge Audio S30. Like I said it's a studio apt, so maybe these will be ideal? I will use these only for music(acoustic, classic rock, jazz and R&B) or maybe integrate them with the JBL SCS500? Any recommendation for cheap speaker stands? Do I really need a sub for these?

 

[zieglj01]

Maybe I'll go for the Infinity Primus P163 Will these be good with my Onkyo 708? Like I said it's a studio apt, so maybe these will be ideal? I will use these only for music(acoustic, classic rock, jazz and R&B) or maybe integrate them with the JBL SCS500? Any recommendation for cheap speaker stands?

The Onkyo will drive the Infinity - I would look to get a Primus center and
use the JBL's as surrounds. For music, set the receiver to stereo.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=infinity+primus+

Speaker stands
Amazon.com: SPEAKER STANDS

http://www.standsandmounts.com/search.aspx?manufacturer=1080&log=false&category=204&gclid=CMKh1Oy_5KsCFcm77Qodl3q8IA

 

[afterlife2]

zieglj01 thank you! Maybe I can use the JBL Woofer alone with the Infinity's? Is there a way to do that without having to disconnect the other speakers when I just wanna hear music?

 

[zieglj01]

zieglj01 thank you! Maybe I can use the JBL Woofer alone with the Infinity's? Is there a way to do that without having to disconnect the other speakers when I just wanna hear music?

You may or may not like that sub with music - if you do use the sub
for music - then set the receiver for 2.1 when playing music.

 

[afterlife2]

Thanks zieglj01 I'll give 2.1 a try if not I'll get a good used one. How about these I know someone selling (2) for $150 used: Amazon.com: Infinity Primus P362 3 Way Dual 6.5 Floor Spk (Sold Individually): Electronics

 

[zieglj01]

How about these I know someone selling (2) for $150 used: Amazon.com: Infinity Primus P362 3 Way Dual 6.5 Floor Spk (Sold Individually): Electronics

Go for it.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks zieglj01 I'll give 2.1 a try if not I'll get a good used one. How about these I know someone selling (2) for $150 used: Amazon.com: Infinity Primus P362 3 Way Dual 6.5 Floor Spk (Sold Individually): Electronics

$150 for pair used - is great price if they are in good shape

 

[afterlife2]

I'm gonna go check them out and let you know. Is there a picture thread here of setup of your home theater?

 

[afterlife2]

The guy sold them.

 

[ahblaza]

The guy sold them.

Hello, $150 is rediculously low for the 363 towers, are you sure that was not for a single speaker? I would get 5 Infinity Primus 163's @ $85 apiece and free shipping, get a decent sub and you will be good to go, Epik Legend if you could swing it. With shipping on the sub, total investment under $1000. I forgot to mention stands, sorry. Something else to consider, Ascend Acoustics (3) 170's upfront, about $500 plus shipping.
Jeff