New HT, which way should I go?

[mazersteven]

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

A Studio 20 set-up with a killer sub would be a excellent system, and I don't think it would blow the budget that much. JMO

How about Rockets in Canada?

http://www.av123.com/products_category_pack.php?section=speakers&brand=3

 

[mazersteven]

A few times I have seen you mention the number of drivers, and having to "drop down" to less drivers. I personally wouldn't be concerned about the number of drivers. I would be concerned with sound quality first. JMO.

 

[Fusion]

A Studio 20 set-up with a killer sub would be a excellent system, and I don't think it would blow the budget that much. JMO

How about Rockets in Canada?

http://www.av123.com/products_category_pack.php?section=speakers&brand=3

I see they've got two drivers on the #4 package, they must be great! I'll keep AV123 in mind. Shipping is a bit steep though (to U.S. destinations, I'd have to call to get an accurate quote, but it'll likely be more). Then you never know about duties and brokerage fees. I can't see myself saving much if I go this route. But I'll read some of the reviews posted on their website, maybe they will sway me.

Perhaps I'll audition the Studios. I'm going to one more retailer tomorrow, they carry Denon, Marantz, NAD, Paradigm, and Monitor Audio.

 

[Warpdrv]

Spend the most amount of money for your system, on speakers...

The last line of your entire system comes down to your speakers...
Its what displays (if you will) what you hear, and what evokes the emotion of movies and music...

Take your time and audition as many speakers you can find with your most beloved soundtrack, or album...

Do you have any HIFI stores in your area...?

 

[3db]

I have PSB IMage T45s

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!

and I simply love them. They are one fantastic speaker. Although I do not have a NAD, I heard them being driven by a NAD receiver and DVD player playing Dianna Krall. I never heard a better sounding system for that kind of money. I'm going to be saving for a long long time but eventually, I'm going to pick up a NAD receiver.

 

[mazersteven]

and I simply love them. They are one fantastic speaker. Although I do not have a NAD, I heard them being driven by a NAD receiver and DVD player playing Dianna Krall. I never heard a better sounding system for that kind of money. I'm going to be saving for a long long time but eventually, I'm going to pick up a NAD receiver.

And what was behind the thought process of "quoting" Fusion whole post?

 

[3db]

And what was behind the thought process of "quoting" Fusion whole post?

Can we stay on topic and not nit pick? Thanks

 

[Fusion]

Spend the most amount of money for your system, on speakers...

The last line of your entire system comes down to your speakers...
Its what displays (if you will) what you hear, and what evokes the emotion of movies and music...

Take your time and audition as many speakers you can find with your most beloved soundtrack, or album...

Do you have any HIFI stores in your area...?

Thanks Warpdrv. Yes, there are plenty of HiFi stores in my area. I've listened to many speakers. Most of them were great, only two or three I didn't really care for. Even if I go the cheaper route, I'll still spend more for speakers than for any other piece of equipment, unless I go overboard and buy the NAD. Then it would be pretty close. I know the NAD is more than I need, but it's hard to resist. I'm also considering a cheaper receiver (like the Marantz) and splurging a bit on a DVD player. Maybe the DV7001 or an equivalent player from NAD, Cambridge, or Denon. There are so many options it leaves one looking like this guy --->

3db, which speakers are you talking about?

 

[3db]

Thanks Warpdrv. Yes, there are plenty of HiFi stores in my area. I've listened to many speakers. Most of them were great, only two or three I didn't really care for. Even if I go the cheaper route, I'll still spend more for speakers than for any other piece of equipment, unless I go overboard and buy the NAD. Then it would be pretty close. I know the NAD is more than I need, but it's hard to resist. I'm also considering a cheaper receiver (like the Marantz) and splurging a bit on a DVD player. Maybe the DV7001 or an equivalent player from NAD, Cambridge, or Denon. There are so many options it leaves one looking like this guy --->

3db, which speakers are you talking about?

PSB Image T45s

 

[Fusion]

PSB Image T45s

All this talk about the PSBs is making me consider them again. I did like their sound when I auditioned the T45s (again, they were powered by a Marantz stereo receiver). Then I went to a few other stores that stocked the Monitor Audios and other brands and I guess I sort of put the PSBs on the backburner and the Monitors on the front. That said, the PSBs were great and out of all the speakers I've auditioned they would be no less than second place behind the Monitor Audios.

The interesting thing is when I was in the store getting ready to listen to the PSBs, another person was listening to something that was powered by a NAD receiver. I should have asked which speakers they were attached to because the sound was just WOW!!! Actually, I did ask, and the salesman pointed at the speakers. It was a pair of bookshelf speakers for crying out loud. I should have poked my nose in there a bit more, but at the time I thought why bother as NAD would be out of my price range. So I'm not sure if it was the speakers or the NAD that contributed most to the great sound, but it was jaw dropping.

Anyways, I have found a couple of stores that stock the Tannoy line, so I will go listen to the F3/F4 speakers next weekend. Then I'll have auditioned everything I'm considering. Looks like I'll be buying either Monitor Audio, PSB, or Tannoy.

I'm not in a rush to buy. I definitely won't buy before late December, possibly even in the spring. This flurry of auditioning and research is because I just had a week off work and I've got the time now. I don't want to rush into anything, and I tend to put a lot of time into researching big purchases. I figure the days after Christmas I might be able to get a great deal on a system. The PSBs are stocked by a pretty big chain, I'm thinking they might just discount them by a good percentage. Though I'd rather buy from a smaller dealer, I'll have to see what happens on that front. If I can get the system for 25% off or something like that, it'd be very tempting.