need some guidance on what to buy speaker wise

[Lordoftherings]

I agree, they are asking way too much. I'll look somewhere else for better deals.
Audiogon anyone?

* See below post with quote.

 

[Lordoftherings]

IMHO, for being an out-of-date model, they're asking too much. The version 5's come stock in a nice veneer, plus the new cabinet design and other improvements, it would be worth the $$ difference in what they're asking for the v4's.

^ This quote is in reference to my above post.

 

[blarf]

well i wish i could compare the titan vs studio 20 (which i did), vs the Hsu speakers.

 

[just listening]

IMHO, Hsu is not even in the same ballpark when it comes to speakers. Subs are a different story.

 

[shadyJ]

The HSU speakers might surprise you. Their dynamic response is excellent, which make them a great speaker for action movies and science fiction movies and that sort of thing. This works to its advantage for many types of music as well, especially rock and electronic music. For these purposes, you will be hard-pressed to find a better speaker for the money.

 

[blarf]

well, i'm gonna drive to LA to listen to them. i'm gonna buy the HSU VTF3 for sure. I'll listen to their speakers at the same time and go from there then

 

[kostiakot]

thaks

thanks for info

 

[just listening]

The HSU speakers might surprise you. Their dynamic response is excellent, which make them a great speaker for action movies and science fiction movies and that sort of thing. This works to its advantage for many types of music as well, especially rock and electronic music. For these purposes, you will be hard-pressed to find a better speaker for the money.

I heard them, just didn't float my boat. For HT I can understand why people like them, horn tweeters can disperse a very wide soundstage. But that is what makes this hobby so much fun.

 

[blarf]

I heard them, just didn't float my boat. For HT I can understand why people like them, horn tweeters can disperse a very wide soundstage. But that is what makes this hobby so much fun.

where did you hear them? how would you comapre them to the paradigm titan or studio 20 for mainly movies listening?

 

[3db]

well i wish i could compare the titan vs studio 20 (which i did), vs the Hsu speakers.

have you tired auditioning any PSB products yet? PSB has revamped their biggest selling line, the Image series. I've their previous two generation spekaers and chosen them over Paradigms, mini and monitor series. The Studio series is Paradigms strong point. If your bent on Paradigm, look at their Studio series and up.Anything under that series is outclassed by others companies. Thats been my subjective find anyway.

 

[celica]

IMHO, Hsu is not even in the same ballpark when it comes to speakers. Subs are a different story.

Completely agree.+1

 

[blarf]

Completely agree.+1

have you listened to them?

 

[shadyJ]

These guys may have heard the previous mk1 series, which, from what I have read, had a couple problems, but were still supposed to be very good speakers- just read audioholics own review on them. The mk2 are supposed to be dramatically improved. While they are definitely are not harsh speakers, they still would not commonly be described as 'soft', but for home theater, who would want a 'soft' speaker?

By the way Blarf, I am also also taking a trip to pick up a VTF3 soon, but in my case it's in Wisconsin, not LA. Let me know what you think of it after you have set it up.

 

[just listening]

where did you hear them? how would you comapre them to the paradigm titan or studio 20 for mainly movies listening?

First, I heard them while in LA in late June in an HT setup with Emotiva. From what the host told me, Hsu headquarters were just 15-20 min from his home in Orange County. To me they sounded very similar to Klipsch with a slightly smoother treble.

In NO WAY do they compare to the Studio 20's, they lack the weight and presence for starters. They miss the second level of detail that one finds in monitors around 1k.

The Titans from memory I believe, have better consistency across the entire frequency bandwidth. But it would be a fascinating comparison.

Go hear the Hsu's to satisfy your curiosity, but IMHO you're taking a big step back from either the Rainmakers or the Studio 20's. If you hear the Hsu's at their headquarters, keep in mind that like all manufacturers listening rooms, it's been setup to show off the best qualities and minimize the weaknesses.

 

[blarf]

First, I heard them while in LA in late June in an HT setup with Emotiva. From what the host told me, Hsu headquarters were just 15-20 min from his home in Orange County. To me they sounded very similar to Klipsch with a slightly smoother treble.

In NO WAY do they compare to the Studio 20's, they lack the weight and presence for starters. They miss the second level of detail that one finds in monitors around 1k.

The Titans from memory I believe, have better consistency across the entire frequency bandwidth. But it would be a fascinating comparison.

Go hear the Hsu's to satisfy your curiosity, but IMHO you're taking a big step back from either the Rainmakers or the Studio 20's. If you hear the Hsu's at their headquarters, keep in mind that like all manufacturers listening rooms, it's been setup to show off the best qualities and minimize the weaknesses.

Appreciate your answer. I'll check them out at the same time i pick up the subwoofer.

 

[blarf]

First, I heard them while in LA in late June in an HT setup with Emotiva. From what the host told me, Hsu headquarters were just 15-20 min from his home in Orange County. To me they sounded very similar to Klipsch with a slightly smoother treble.

In NO WAY do they compare to the Studio 20's, they lack the weight and presence for starters. They miss the second level of detail that one finds in monitors around 1k.

The Titans from memory I believe, have better consistency across the entire frequency bandwidth. But it would be a fascinating comparison.

Go hear the Hsu's to satisfy your curiosity, but IMHO you're taking a big step back from either the Rainmakers or the Studio 20's. If you hear the Hsu's at their headquarters, keep in mind that like all manufacturers listening rooms, it's been setup to show off the best qualities and minimize the weaknesses.

now if you could remember, you would think they are in the same levels as the mini or titans. i know you said:"The Titans from memory I believe, have better consistency across the entire frequency bandwidth", but just to get an idea.

I'm gonna listen to the mini, titans and studios 20 tomorrow again just to get a refresher of how they sound and then i'll drive to LA and listen to the Hsu (just for me not to tell myself:i wonder how they sounded)

 

[blarf]

wrong post

 

[blarf]

Well i came up with couple different settings to put on my Denon 2310CI:

Setting #1:
Axiom M22 x2 (front)
Axiom VP150 x1 (center)
Hsu VTF3-MK3 or SVS sub

Setting #2
Hsu HB-1 x2
Hsu HC-1 x1
Hsu VTF3 or SVS sub

Setting #3
Paradigm Titan x2
Paradigm CC-290
Hsu VTF3 or SVS sub

Setting #4
SVS SBS-01 x2
SVS SCS-01
Hsu or SVS sub

Setting #5
Ascend CMT-340 SE mains
Ascend CMT-340 SE center
Hsu or SVS sub

 

[the grunt]

You should pick a few of those and order them for an in home demo. No better way to buy a set of speakers than to have them to demo at home for some time. A couple of other things I would add.

Don’t ignore B&M stores. Some will let you take home speakers (in my case he brought the speaker and equipment over) for an in home demo which you could coordinate with and internet direct demos you might do.

I would order all three front speakers to demo, because how they integrate and how the center speakers sounds is very important for 95% movies.

In the case of the Axioms (possibly others) if you could fit an additional M22 above or below your TV it would give you 3 matching speakers up front which though not necessary for good sound is considered ideal. The M22 would also cost you a lot less. Alternatively an M2 would also work well as a center for the M22s mains and save you even more money. In many if not most cases you can get a better sounding bookshelf speaker sonically matched to your mains that sounds just as good or better than a horizontal center speaker and pay less for it.

Lastly, how these speakers integrate with your subwoofer will be critical. So make sure to have the subwoofer available while you’re doing the demo speakers so you can hear how they sound as a whole system. It’s very possible one set of mains/center could sound better than the competition w/o a sub because they go lower but when integrated with the sub another brand might turn out to sound better because of clearer vocals or better highs…

Cheers,
Dean

P.S. same thing I said at AVS or I’d be running late for work.

 

[shadyJ]

If you are going to get the VTF3, I wouldn't wait too long, there is a sale on them right now, $70 off the satin black ones. Also, for the SVS speakers, I wonder if there is any improvement in performance going from the SBS to the SCS for the left and right fronts? It's worth asking about, I would look into that if I were you, especially if you have a large room. The SVS SBS sensitivity isn't as efficient as the others, at 85 db. Another thing is I have read is that older Titans were not so great for home theater, due to a poor dynamic response, but the newer ones, v5 and v6, are supposed to be excellent. Here is a page with a bunch of reviews of the Axiom m22s, there is a review in there by a guy who had the Titans, and compared the Axioms unfavorably against the titans.