New HT, which way should I go?

[Fusion]

Hi all,

As you can see, I'm new here. I posted some questions at another forum but haven't got much response. This place looks more active so I'm hoping I can get some opinions.

I'm in the process of buying a home theater. I've spent the past few days auditioning various speakers. The speakers I am considering are:

Monitor Audio Silver RS6, RS1, and RS-LCR
Tannoy Mercury F4, Mercury F1, Mercury FC
PSB Image T45, Image B15, Image C60
KEF iQ5, iQ1, iQ6
Focal Chorus 714V, 705V, CC 700V
Paradigm Monitor 7, Mini Monitor, CC-290
Monitor Audio Bronze BR5, BR1, BR-LCR
Mordaunt Short 906, 905, 903, 409 (sub)

I thought each sounded very good but some better than others. I felt the Paradigms weren't quite as smooth as the rest, and the KEFs were a bit harsh (the highs were too sharp). So I've ruled those two out.

The MA Silvers are beautiful (looks and sound-wise) but outside my budget.

I haven't listened to the Tannoys yet as the store did not have them in stock. I'm hoping I will have the option to try them at home if I so choose and exchange them if I don't like them.

The Mordaunt Shorts come as part of a package with a Cambridge Audio Azur 640R receiver and a DV89 DVD player. The price is very attractive (about $2,800). I've all but ruled this deal out though, because for about the same price I believe I'll be able to get the MA Bronze speakers with a NAD T755 and a DVD player (likely from Marantz). The NAD has more up to date features over the Cambridge (what with it being brand new and all), and has the same great reputation among high end audio enthusiasts. So for that reason the scales seem to tip in favour of the NAD/Monitor Audio combo.

The other options I'm leaning towards are either the Tannoy or MA Bronze along with a Marantz SR5002 and Marantz DVD player. This will run me about $2,500. For several hundred more I can get the MA Silvers, but I'd need to step down from the RS6 to the RS5. I'll be in the same ballpark, but several hundred dollars over what I'd pay for the Tannoy or MA Bronze package. That money could be spent on the inevitable stands and rack.

To summarize, I'm leaning towards these four options:

1. Tannoy Mercury F4, F1, FC + Marantz SR5002 + Marantz DVD player
2. Monitor Audio Bronze BR5, BR1, BR-LCR + Marantz SR5002 + Marantz DVD Player
3. Monitor Audio Silver RS5, RS1, and RS-LCR + Marantz SR5002 + Marantz DVD Player
4. 2. Monitor Audio Bronze BR5, BR1, BR-LCR + NAD T755 + Marantz DVD Player

Right now I'm leaning towards #1. I'm also thinking about stepping down from speakers that have two drivers (like the F4) and going to one driver (like the F3) in an effort to save some money. The room this will go into is 12' x 25', but the speakers will be positioned along the longer wall and firing towards the open 12'. So the listening area is not that large. What, if anything, would I lose by going from the F4 to the F3?

I'm looking for opinions on the brands and specific speakers on my list, and also addressing the 1 driver vs. 2 drivers option.

I know this was a bit long-winded - I want to be as thorough as possible. Congrats if you got this far and thanks in advance!

 

[mazersteven]

How much, and what Marantz DVD player your looking at?

http://us.marantz.com/Products/349.asp

Take a look here

http://www.oppodigital.com/dv981hd/dv981hd_index.html

 

[mazersteven]

Between the Monitor Audio Bronze and Silver series I would recommend you do whatever necessary to get the Silver series over the Bronze. If that means cutting something else out, or putting your system together a little at a time I would do that.

Just to clarify, what is your speaker only budget, and are you doing 5.1?

And what other forum?

 

[Fusion]

Hi mazersteven,

The other forum was ecoustics.

In terms of budget, I'd like the five speakers (no sub) plus receiver to come in at $2,500 or so. The sub and DVD player will go on top of that. I'll probably buy an HSU sub, but will consider the same make as my speakers if it makes sense. If I can get the DVD player within my $2,500 budget as well that would be a bonus.

The DVD player is the DV6001. I'd like SACD and DVD-A playback. Not that I have a big collection (I own just one SACD ). But of course I'd like the ability to play it, and I plan on buying more of them down the line.

The reason I've zeroed in on Marantz is because it seems that most dealers I've visited offer Marantz receivers and DVD players. It would probably be best to buy all pieces from one place in order to obtain the biggest discount. Having said that, other receiver brands I'm considering are NAD, Denon, Harman/Kardon, Pioneer Elite, and Onkyo. I've seen Marantz and IMO they feel more high end than most of these other brands. H/K looks disappointingly cheap for example, and their volume knob offers almost no resistance. I'm more concerned with the sound of course, but assuming Marantz stacks up (and from all I've read they do) then I will also take into account looks and quality workmanship.

I'll take a look at the Oppo link you gave me.

Cheers.

 

[mazersteven]

Hi mazersteven,

The DVD player is the DV6001. I'd like SACD and DVD-A playback. Not that I have a big collection (I own just one SACD ). But of course I'd like the ability to play it, and I plan on buying more of them down the line.


I'll take a look at the Oppo link you gave me.

Cheers.

OPPO DV-981HD For the audio enthusiast, the DV-981HD has support for high fidelity digital audio in Super Audio CD and DVD Audio formats.

The Oppo will save you about $300 bucks to put to speakers and other gear.

 

[mazersteven]

And for cable, speaker wire, and interconnects you might want to look here.

www.bluejeanscable.com

www.monoprice.com

 

[Fusion]

OPPO DV-981HD For the audio enthusiast, the DV-981HD has support for high fidelity digital audio in Super Audio CD and DVD Audio formats.

The Oppo will save you about $300 bucks to put to speakers and other gear.

The Marantz player has an MSRP of $550. If I buy everything from one dealer I can probably get it for $450. Actually, one had already given me a price of $400 but I declined to buy that day because I'm just not ready yet.

The Oppo is $230, but when I add shipping and duties and all that lovely stuff (I'm in Canada) I'm guessing it would be $330. Nevertheless, that's a $100-150 savings. I'll keep this player in mind.

Is there any way to buy from Oppo other than direct online?

Edit: Thanks for the cable, wire, and connections links!

 

[mazersteven]

Is there any way to buy from Oppo other than direct online?

I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

Canada? What are you doing way up there? LOL


Have you auditioned the Paradigm Studio series?

 

[gus6464]

Have you auditioned the Paradigm Studio series?

Studio 40's would be awesome with the CC-590 center.

 

[aberkowitz]

The Marantz player has an MSRP of $550. If I buy everything from one dealer I can probably get it for $450. Actually, one had already given me a price of $400 but I declined to buy that day because I'm just not ready yet.

The Oppo is $230, but when I add shipping and duties and all that lovely stuff (I'm in Canada) I'm guessing it would be $330. Nevertheless, that's a $100-150 savings. I'll keep this player in mind.

Is there any way to buy from Oppo other than direct online?

Edit: Thanks for the cable, wire, and connections links!

Check out ebay- you can probably get a good deal on a like-new oppo for less than $200. Having owned Marantz CD players in the past, I personally believe that they are overpriced for the quality of what you get. I haven't owned one in abot 5 years, but I wasn't really all that impressed and I didn't think it seemed "high end" at all.

As for receivers I think there's a lot better stuff out there than the Marantz receiver (particularly Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha) all for the same price range as you'd pay for the Marantz. Right now Onecall.com has deals on all of those products AND they're offering 18 month no interest financing for the next two days on most items. They have great prices, offer great service, and could potentially save you money in the short run that you could put towards speakers.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Studio 40's would be awesome with the CC-590 center.

I wonder how that set up would sound?

 

[Davemcc]

Here is a Canadian source for the Oppo. I haven't dealt with them myself, but this link was passed along to me when I was looking for a player. Good luck.
http://www.onlybestrated.com/oppo-dv981hd-1080p-high-definition-upconverting-universal-p-113.html

 

[Fusion]

I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

Canada? What are you doing way up there? LOL


Have you auditioned the Paradigm Studio series?

The Studio series? Nope, I'm pretty sure that would blow the budget.

Thanks everyone for the advice, you've given me some things to look into.

Does anyone have an opinion on the speakers listed? I know mazersteven suggested I do whatever I can to move up to the Silvers.

Does anyone know how the Tannoy Mercury line stacks up to the MA Silvers or Bronze? What about the Focals? Like I said, I am leaning towards the Tannoys. If I go with them or the MA Bronze, I may be able to afford a NAD T755 instead of the Marantz/Denon/Onkyo. Or maybe an Integra since the Tannoy dealer sells Integra, not NAD.

So it seems like I am zeroing in on either:

a)Tannoy/MA Bronze with NAD/Integra receiver, or
b) MA Silver with Marantz SR5002 (or Denon or Onkyo) set up, or
c) to save some money the Tannoy/MA Bronze with Marantz SR5002 (or Denon or Onkyo)

Also, can I step down to one woofer driver instead of two? What would I be losing?

Thanks again.

 

[Fusion]

As for receivers I think there's a lot better stuff out there than the Marantz receiver (particularly Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha) all for the same price range as you'd pay for the Marantz. Right now Onecall.com has deals on all of those products AND they're offering 18 month no interest financing for the next two days on most items. They have great prices, offer great service, and could potentially save you money in the short run that you could put towards speakers.

Onecall looks great, but unfortunately they don't deliver to Canada.

 

[Fusion]

For any Canadians, Onkyo's website provides the following link for an authorized dealer:

http://www.electronicsforless.ca/

http://www.onkyousa.com/loc_results.cfm?detail=1&city=Markham&state=ON&loc=0&type=d

Unfortunately, not as good as onecall.com

btw, I needed five posts before I could post a link or respond to PMs!

 

[Warpdrv]

Don't rule out used gear.... There is alot of great gear you can get second hand, mostly right from Audio enthusiasts like yourself...

I have bought a few things on www.audiogon.com
You can search by brand names, to see whats out there...

You can get a great step up on better products, for excellent prices...
Do a search with the first 2 and first 3 digits of your zipcode to see whats avail. in your area, and you can save on the shipping....
You'll be amazed at what you will find...

I have Paradigm Studios, and love them...

 

[jinjuku]

My buddy just went with the PSB T45 and Image C60 after listening to comparable Paradigm and Mirage. The PSB simply have killer imaging and smooth/layed back sound. Paradigm still designs a speaker with little too much blat/bloat down low and the Mirage sounded boxy IMO. He was able to pick out the PSB in a blind listening almost no matter the source material. Unfortunately we couldn't A/B compare all the brands we wanted too.

 

[Warpdrv]

My buddy just went with the PSB T45 and Image C60 after listening to comparable Paradigm and Mirage. The PSB simply have killer imaging and smooth/layed back sound. Paradigm still designs a speaker with little too much blat/bloat down low and the Mirage sounded boxy IMO. He was able to pick out the PSB in a blind listening almost no matter the source material. Unfortunately we couldn't A/B compare all the brands we wanted too.

I have heard that the PSB's were great sounding speakers, but unfortunaltey I didn't have the ability to listen to them in my area... I still would love to have a sit down with them....

 

[jostenmeat]

good input at this thread for you Fusion.

I have some PSB Images mated with a NAD, and am very satisfied with their HT performance. They can seriously crank.

Ive heard half of the 8 lines you originally listed. Of the half that I've heard, Id also try for the Silvers as well.

Between Bronze and PSB. I found the BRs to have a slightly more pleasing coloration. The PSBs however will outcrank them for HT, no problem. (Much harder to compress).

I've never heard Tannoys.

Oh ya, regarding Oppo players. What I have heard is that the 981 is more full-featured, but that some audiophiles prefer the 980 as a transport as it has an audio only button that deactivates HDMI circuitry, supposedly allowing a cleaner audio signal. Dunno. The 981 requires toying with the menus for the same purpose AFAIK. Anyways, you can always add an outboard DAC for it if that ever interests you. Good luck.

 

[Fusion]

Great imaging is something I am looking for. I did like the PSB T45s that I listened to, they were powered by a Marantz stereo receiver. No complaints.

I really loved the silvers, but again though, for me to get into that line I'd have to move down to the RS5 from the RS6 and have one less woofer. I wonder if that would change your decision? If I go with the Tannoy F4, PSB T45, or Bronze BR5, I can get two drivers. I am thinking that probably gives me greater depth of sound and lower frequency range.

The Tannoys are sold at a dealer that also offers the Bronze. I haven't listened to the Tannoys (not in stock) but if the dealer lets me order them and do an exchange for the Bronze if I don't like the F4s then that pretty much eliminates any risk, plus I get to hear another line of speakers.

jinjuku, I agree about the Paradigm and the Mirage. I listened to a pair of Mirage speakers very briefly, and right away I could tell they were not for me. Boxy is how I'd describe the sound as well.