New Speaker recommendations please

[jilgil]

Hi,

I want to get a 2 channel setup just for Music. No movies, no surround, just listening to music. I have been into headphones for a while now, and I am just entering the speaker world. I love my Sennheiser HD650's and would like a similar sound signature on the speakers. Warm, wide soundstage, smooth sounding overall without sharp mids or highs but still well defined and extending well on extremes.

I am going to start slow though. I like to take my time and go through the phases and upgrade to higher end components one by one. I am slightly clueless as to the whole thing right now. I am starting with speakers, and I would need recommendations on what to drive them with as well. Source is taken care of however.

Budget is around 400$ with the amp. However I would like to spend more on the speakers and wait to get a better amp later on. Is the Gen 2 Sonic T-amp any good? If its decent, then I can spend the 400 bucks on just the speakers for now and get a better amp later.

My listening area is medium sized, dont have the exact dimensions. But I think I sit around 8-10 feet in front of the speakers. The room is probably around 20 feet wide.

Bookshelf vs Tower is something I havent decided on yet, but I am open to both. I am not planning on investing on a subwoofer just yet, so a 2 speaker setup is what I am looking for.

Thanks.

 

[jnmfox]

In no particular order

http://www.aperionaudio.com/home.aspx
http://av123.com/index.php
http://www.svsound.com/index.cfm
http://axiomaudio.com/index.html

You could also look used on ebay, the FS/FT forum, or audiogon.

$400 for an amp and speakers would be really tight. If you can use your amp I would use the $400 on a pair of quality bookshelfs, quality towers would be hard to find at $400, and plan on getting a sub later.

 

[3db]

Hi,

I want to get a 2 channel setup just for Music. No movies, no surround, just listening to music. I have been into headphones for a while now, and I am just entering the speaker world. I love my Sennheiser HD650's and would like a similar sound signature on the speakers. Warm, wide soundstage, smooth sounding overall without sharp mids or highs but still well defined and extending well on extremes.

I am going to start slow though. I like to take my time and go through the phases and upgrade to higher end components one by one. I am slightly clueless as to the whole thing right now. I am starting with speakers, and I would need recommendations on what to drive them with as well. Source is taken care of however.

Budget is around 400$ with the amp. However I would like to spend more on the speakers and wait to get a better amp later on. Is the Gen 2 Sonic T-amp any good? If its decent, then I can spend the 400 bucks on just the speakers for now and get a better amp later.

My listening area is medium sized, dont have the exact dimensions. But I think I sit around 8-10 feet in front of the speakers. The room is probably around 20 feet wide.

Bookshelf vs Tower is something I havent decided on yet, but I am open to both. I am not planning on investing on a subwoofer just yet, so a 2 speaker setup is what I am looking for.

Thanks.

The $400.00 I would suggest putting into the speaker purchase only as speakers have a much bigger sonic impact than a new amp or receiver. If you want towers, save up until you have around $800 to get you something decent. If you must have new speakers in the $400 ranger, I'd recommend PSB's Image B25s as a good place to start;

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-B25-Monitor

Their tower in PSB's image line which I own is a top notch speaker and can attest to its strengths and weaknesses;
http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-T45-Tower

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I want to get a 2 channel setup just for Music. No movies, no surround, just listening to music...Bookshelf vs Tower is something I havent decided on yet, but I am open to both. I am not planning on investing on a subwoofer just yet, so a 2 speaker setup is what I am looking for.

Without a subwoofer, you will need tower speakers for full range.

You can do a free in-home audition of the Aperion 533-PT for $1,200/pr (free shipping both ways).

The SPL vs Frequency graph (Aperion) shows 25Hz-20kHz +/-3dB or 20Hz-20kHz +/-10dB.

If you don't like it, just send it back.

http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-533-PT-Powered-Tower-Speaker,32,28,168.aspx

Another option is the Definitive Technology BP10Bs: 25Hz-20kHz +/-3dB or 20Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (Julian Hirsch).
You can get these for $700-$800/pair brand new, retail is $1,000/pr. Only problem is, it might be hard to find a free audition.

http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/bipolar/bipolar.html#bp10b

Another option is the Def Tech BP7006, which has about the same spec as the BP10Bs. You can find those at Best Buy Magnolia HT. Retail is $1,200/pr, but street price is around $850.

My favorite of the 3 is the BP10Bs.

 

[3db]

Without a subwoofer, you will need tower speakers for full range.

You can do a free in-home audition of the Aperion 533-PT for $1,200/pr (free shipping both ways).

The SPL vs Frequency graph (Aperion) shows 25Hz-20kHz +/-3dB or 20Hz-20kHz +/-10dB.

If you don't like it, just send it back.

http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-533-PT-Powered-Tower-Speaker,32,28,168.aspx

Another option is the Definitive Technology BP10Bs: 25Hz-20kHz +/-3dB or 20Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (Julian Hirsch).
You can get these for $700-$800/pair brand new, retail is $1,000/pr. Only problem is, it might be hard to find a free audition.

http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/bipolar/bipolar.html#bp10b

Another option is the Def Tech BP7006, which has about the same spec as the BP10Bs. You can find those at Best Buy Magnolia HT. Retail is $1,200/pr, but street price is around $850.

My favorite of the 3 is the BP10Bs.

HT tested a pair of Aerprions and they found that the did NOT meet their advertised spec in the low frequency part. Just an FYI

 

[jilgil]

I guess I am gonna settle for bookshelf speakers for now. I am just gonna drive them using the Sonic T-amp for now.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Based on some searching I did I found a few bookshelf speakers with decent reviews for a cheaper price. There are a couple of Paradigm speakers between 200 and 400$ I think, like the Atom V5. Also I hear that Infinity Primus 612 is pretty good. Any comments on those?

Also, I can't seem to find Paradigm speakers on any online store? Where can I find them?

 

[gus6464]

I guess I am gonna settle for bookshelf speakers for now. I am just gonna drive them using the Sonic T-amp for now.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Based on some searching I did I found a few bookshelf speakers with decent reviews for a cheaper price. There are a couple of Paradigm speakers between 200 and 400$ I think, like the Atom V5. Also I hear that Infinity Primus 612 is pretty good. Any comments on those?

Also, I can't seem to find Paradigm speakers on any online store? Where can I find them?

If you are going to be using that Sonic T-amp make sure you get high efficiency speakers. Speakers that come to mind are some used Omegas, Unity Audio, and maybe some Tannoy. Also Axiom makes efficient speakers.

Unity Audio Inner Spirit
http://www.obadimports.com/catalog/item/4377764/4344751.htm

Axiom M3v2
http://www.axiomaudio.com/m3ti_main.html

 

[3db]

PSB Image series are also very efficient

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

HT tested a pair of Aerprions and they found that the did NOT meet their advertised spec in the low frequency part. Just an FYI

Well, the Aperion specs are anechoic chamber and HT, S&V, and most reviewers are "semi-anechoic", which basically means in-their-room. Maybe Stereophile is anechoic.

I've actually compared a bunch of speakers' manufacturer vs 3rd party measurements (HT, S&V, UltimateAV) and found most of them don't even come close. Some are even 30-40 Hz off!!!

View attachment 5650

 

[Alex2507]

Also I hear that Infinity Primus 612 is pretty good. Any comments on those?

You mean Primus 162's ? Stereophile did a review of the 150's and the 360's. They are suppose to be amazing for the price. I own both and like them a lot but in all honesty have not compared them to any of the speakers mentioned in this thread.

Just to clarify, the old series was 150 and 360. Same speakers with a face lift are now 152 and 362 I believe.

Here's my real contribution: For around $400 you can get the 362's here.

http://www.theaudiovideosource.com/1PrimusSeries.html

 

[jilgil]

Alex2507, thanks for your reply.

Yes sorry about that I was referring to the Primus 162, and that stereophile review you talk about was the one I read as well.

Are those efficient enough to be powered by the Sonic T Amp Gen 2?

You mentioned the 362's, I can definitely get those as they fit my budget. But same question as above, will the t-amp prove enough for them, or should I just settle for the 162?

gus6464,
The Axiom M3's look beautiful. How do they compare to the Atom V5 and the Infinity Primus. I believe Polk has some in this price range as well. How do they stack up

This is all so confusing, there are so many options, and all of them look great and have some good reviews.

 

[MinusTheBear]

I own a pair of Axiom M3 and I love them! (They are not expensive either)

 

[Alex2507]

The Primus series is efficient. The 362's are 93db IIRC but you'll have to go to Infinity's site to get the real spec's. You're gonna love 'em.

 

[avaserfi]

Just to clarify the Primus XX0 series (160, 360 etc..) and the Primus XX2 series (162, 362 etc...) are not close to the same speakers. The latter of the two is the latest production line that happens to be of lesser quality than the newer line. This was done to lower production costs - as far as I can tell driver and crossover quality have both been lowered.

If you can find a pair of used XX0 series Primus speakers it would likely be for a very good price as they are no longer in production. For example, when the 360s were being cleared out I bought a pair for less than $200...

 

[Alex2507]

Just to clarify the Primus XX0 series (160, 360 etc..) and the Primus XX2 series (162, 362 etc...) are not close to the same speakers. The latter of the two is the latest production line that happens to be of lesser quality than the newer line. This was done to lower production costs - as far as I can tell driver and crossover quality have both been lowered.

If you can find a pair of used XX0 series Primus speakers it would likely be for a very good price as they are no longer in production. For example, when the 360s were being cleared out I bought a pair for less than $200...

First of all, thanks. Second of all, that sucks. My center is the XX2 series. If my girl has to hear about one more speaker deal, she's gonna have a cow.

The crazy thing is that the spec's are the same. Any chance you can direct me to some more info on the matter?

 

[3db]

There are a few people in this forum who recently purchased PSB imgae B15s and B25s who afre very happy with them. I used my 1Bs (predecessor to the B15s) as my mains while saving up for my towers. They are very efficient, accurate, and neutral sounding speakers. Just ask around on this forum. Better yet, audition some. You won't be disappointed

 

[deedubb]

On that budget, I would strongly suggest buying used. Some reasonably priced but very decent speakers include PSB, Paradigm, and Energy.