Newbie needing recommendations on speakers.

[bailey]

I am about to embark on a journey of aural discovery and need some help picking some good quality bookshelf speakers, ideally to go with a surround sound intergrated amp from either Arcam, Cambridge Audio or Pioneer. This initial system setup will be used about 60% music and 40% movies. My budget is approx. $700 for the speakers and under $1500 for the amp/rec. What combos of bookshelf speakers and amp/rec are to be listened to, with preference to the amp makers from above. My overall inclination is for natural sounding equipment that delivers accurate, non fatiguing presentations that is not bright or warm or too laid back. Any suggestions given the criteria listed.

 

[Pianoman84d]

Hi Bailey,

If I understand correctly, your budget is $2,200 total? Or is it $1500 total? I was a little confused. The reason I ask is that I think you have the proportions all wrong. The speakers are by far the most important part of the purchase as far as sound quality goes. If it were me spending your money, I'd look for a receiver/amp/ etc... for about 4-500 and spend the rest on speakers.

If the budget's $1500 total, then adjust accordingly.

Hope this helps!!

 

[bailey]

Pianoman, all in all my budget is approx $2k-$2.5K for the amp and bookshelf speakers. I find interesting your tip on saving on the amp and really putting the extra dollars on the speakers. Say I cut the budget on the amp to say $800 to $1000 dollars, leaving approx. $1000 to $1200 on the speakers, which speakers/amp combo would you look at. Also, in the event I ended up going with some speakers like B&W 705's, would I not need a premium and costly audiophile class amp to drive them ?

 

[billy p]

1 step further

get the speakers first. Then you can dertermine which receiver and power ratings you will need IMO. The receiver is less important then you think.

 

[bailey]

Billy P, what bookshelf speakers around $1000 or thereabouts would you audition? It can also be difficult geographically to actually try out alot of speakers as many audio stores carry such a limited range of products compared to Best Buy or Circuit City etc. One speaker I am looking at is the Nola Mini ( discontinued) but not after receiving great reviews. And after unsuccessfully searching for a dealer in the US ,the only place that still sells them is an audiostore in Canada. I may take a leap of faith and buy them as they appear to be an attractive audio choice. Before I do so, for anyone with experience with the Nola Mini's how do they fare against NHT's classic 3's, Paradigm, B&W 700 or 600 series or some other unknown quantity I have not mentioned?

 

[billy p]

I would suggest the investment that your looking to make YOU BETTER LISTEN FIRST. I'm not that astute at this point in time, but for my ears the best speakers I've heard are from the Energy RC line. I haven't heard that many brands but the ones you've mentioned would be high on most lists, including mine. So to that list you could add Monitor Audio and PSB as well and there's lots more.

This a link to the energy line http://www.energy-speakers/v2/products-line.php?id=264

Good luck in your decision! BP

 

[j_garcia]

Why is Pioneer in that list along with Arcam and Cambridge? "Which one of these doesn't belong?" Anyway, I think a CA or Arcam would be great choice, and I'd throw NAD and Rotel in there as well. I use my Marantz PM7200 for music only and I am very pleased with it.

I agree with Billy, go listen to speakers and choose them first, as they make the biggest difference. I really like the NHTs. I haven't heard the Classic 3s yet, but I was pretty impressed with the M5s and M6s. The B&Ws 700 series are very nice as well, and they will pair well with any of the amps recommended.

 

[billy p]

Sorry the link above

was incorrect. http://www.energy-speakers.com/v2/products/product-line.php?id=264

I also read the review on the nola speakers its very positive, but still only a reveiw. The reviewer Robert J Reina @ stereophile does a very good job, however it is his job.

 

[bailey]

I will certainly add Energy, PSB and Monitor to the list of potential candidates.
Now the tough part remains in trying to locate dealers around where I live here in San Francisco.

 

[Tex-amp]

If this is an HT setup I'd agree with the thought of flipping your budget. I'm a fan and owner of Ascend Acoustics but the Nola minis and Era 4s get very good reviews too.

 

[j_garcia]

Go to Music Lovers. They are an Arcam dealer and they have a great selection of speakers and great customer service.

 

[alphamajor]

I would suggest you audition some Focal.JMLab speakers if there is a nearby shop that carries them. They have outstanding build quality and their tweeter design is truly amazing.

 

[bailey]

My setup will primarily be used for music with enough scope to expand into a multichannel HT system in the future. Music is definately front and center for now. Anyways, I checked out the Monitor Audio Gs10- great looking speaker with a stellar pedgree- and there is a dealer close to where I live. My mind ponders on what possible amp combos will be be available to audition with the GS10's at the store. Some Cambridge Audio as well as some Arcam would be tantalising to try out with the Monitors. And perhaps there will be hidden gem in the speaker dept. that I have not come across so far in my research.

As always, please throw out as many speaker and amp recommendations as possible in the next few weeks. Knowledge is a wonderful thing to share.

 

[Tomorrow]

IMHO you are getting good advice on flipping your speaker/amp budget. Speakers can have a much greater impact on your listening pleasure than can an amp/receiver.

Two more speaker suggestions....ACI and Sonus Faber. Here are links. Unfortunately, the ACI's are internet only...but their Sapphire XL's have received outstanding reviews. SF's you can find in Magnolia Hi Fi (and are to die for).

http://www.audioc.com/index.html and

http://www.sumikoaudio.net/sonus/index.htm

 

[dpnaugle]

Do you have a receiver? If so what is it?

I’ve spent the past 9 months on the Audition trail and found that Paradigm sounded best to me. I really liked Pro Ac also, but the power requirement was more then I want to invest at this time. B&W 800's, 700's were awesome but not the 600's, I liked KEF Reference, Canton and Monitor good also, but money was a factor. This is a personal thing. One for you to decide what you like. Try not to get hung up on what others think and truly take the time to audition.

Hold off on the receiver if you have a ½ way decent one now, and put your $$ in speakers, and don't fool yourself with a budget. It goes on and on... cables, stand, center channel, and acoustic treatment just to name a few. Think of this as an investment.

Palo Alto- Precision Audio, SF- SF Stereo and House of Music, and if you must, Best Buy/Magnolia. I'm sure you will find many more but that is a start.

Good Luck
DN

 

[bailey]

I have a pioneer vsx 605 receiver that is over 9 years old. This unit is used right now with a Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 speaker system and brand new Sony DVD/CD player. Funnily enough what got me interested in high quality sound was installing a premium soundcard in my trusty Sony notebook and adding the Logitech Z2300 THX speakers system. I had never heard music so good: little to no brightness across the spectrum with forward drive and steadiness in the upper reachs. And so I began to think what a "proper" stereo setup would only sound like.

The ACI bookshelf model speakers are now on the shortlist. I just hope I can audition them somewhere close to where I live. And the Sonus Faber Domus concertas will be put to the test when I visit Magnolia Hifi over the next couple of weeks.

I am now reluctant to take the chance in making any decision without first testing the speakers. It is better to put confidence in one's own aural judgement before that of a magazine or internet review. As somebody stated earlier, I will be the person who has to live and listen to them. Sound advice.

 

[no. 5]

...more speaker suggestions.... Sonus Faber.

ooo, those are nice.
I might add Totem and KEF's XQ series to the ring too.

 

[Tomorrow]

I have a pioneer vsx 605 receiver that is over 9 years old. This unit is used right now with a Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 speaker system and brand new Sony DVD/CD player. Funnily enough what got me interested in high quality sound was installing a premium soundcard in my trusty Sony notebook and adding the Logitech Z2300 THX speakers system. I had never heard music so good: little to no brightness across the spectrum with forward drive and steadiness in the upper reachs. And so I began to think what a "proper" stereo setup would only sound like.

The ACI bookshelf model speakers are now on the shortlist. I just hope I can audition them somewhere close to where I live. And the Sonus Faber Domus concertas will be put to the test when I visit Magnolia Hifi over the next couple of weeks.

I am now reluctant to take the chance in making any decision without first testing the speakers. It is better to put confidence in one's own aural judgement before that of a magazine or internet review. As somebody stated earlier, I will be the person who has to live and listen to them. Sound advice.

Actually, I found that auditioning in the home is much better than in a store. If you can't find an ACI customer near you, the shipping is not too prohibitive and actually hearing them in your listening environment is a major plus. ACI has a liberal return policy. If you don't like them, just return them (you're out only shipping costs). In person, those are beautiful cabinets, by the way. And you might be able to work something out with Magnolia to home audition the Sonus Fabers. Wow...what a nice shootout that would be! Time it right for a comparo of both and you must do a review for us.

Happy hunting.

 

[billy p]

I have a pioneer vsx 605 receiver that is over 9 years old. This unit is used right now with a Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 speaker system and brand new Sony DVD/CD player. Funnily enough what got me interested in high quality sound was installing a premium soundcard in my trusty Sony notebook and adding the Logitech Z2300 THX speakers system. I had never heard music so good: little to no brightness across the spectrum with forward drive and steadiness in the upper reachs. And so I began to think what a "proper" stereo setup would only sound like.

The ACI bookshelf model speakers are now on the shortlist. I just hope I can audition them somewhere close to where I live. And the Sonus Faber Domus concertas will be put to the test when I visit Magnolia Hifi over the next couple of weeks.

I am now reluctant to take the chance in making any decision without first testing the speakers. It is better to put confidence in one's own aural judgement before that of a magazine or internet review. As somebody stated earlier, I will be the person who has to live and listen to them. Sound advice.

I was looking at ACI site last week! Then again, I was checking out the subs. If you chose your speakers from them, they also make some nice subs.

 

[bailey]

To audition the speakers in my own listening environment sounds like a great idea. No complaints that they sounded different in the store demo etc.
Another problem I have found since doing my research into audio stores around me is that not all will have the my desired selection of amps and speakers to try together. Case in point is finding out that a dealer with NHT classic 3's in stock will not sell any of the amps on my list. Eventually, I may do a group test of speakers in my place before making an ultimate decision.