Nice Speakers for Yamaha RX-V2500?

[alpharetta]

Dear all:

I am too so newbie in HT world. I just got the Yamaha RX-V2500 receiver. I don't have any speaker yet. Please advice what speakers I should have to match with Yam rxv2500? I have 1 K budget for speaker in this year. I may have some other budget next year. One of my friend recommend me that I should buy 2 front speaker first in this year, and buy other speakers next year. If you were me, please advice two options:
1. Got all speakers now for 1 K. What speakers (brand, model) to buy?
2. Got two front speakers and add other speakers gradually. What speakers to buy?

Thanks a lot and wish you all a nice weekend.

 

[mike c]

my vote is 2 front speakers for this year ... 1k is a good budget for front towers.
no matter what brand we suggest it all falls on your ears. what sounds good to me might not be good for you.
next year, get a sub

 

[bupton]

Mike is right!

The absolute best way to pick out a set of speakers is to go and listen to as many as you can find that fall within your price range. Everyone has different tastes in music (and what makes their taste in music sound good) so it is impossible to say which is best for you. There are some good deals out there though... You could probably get yourself a decent set of Axioms (everyone seems to rave about them) for what you are looking to spend. You could also look into Klipsch and a few others. But like Mike said, just follow your ears...

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

What percentage will you listen to music/movies?

Will you be adding a subwoofer?

Do you prefer bookshelves or towers?

How large is your room?

 

[Marco]

Polk

Polk Rti8 or RTi8

 

[alpharetta]

Still need your advice

My family room is about 16 F x 13 F x 8 F (ceiling). it's open room connecting to the kitchen area. I think I could increase the budget to have 1.5 to 2K for 5.1 speaker set. What are choices? In next year or so I will add up 2 more speakers so I can enhance it to 7.1. I will base on your advice options and go out to listen. I know that I should pick the speakers first, but I just so exicted with Yamaha RX-V2500 review on audioholics site, so I bought it.

I love to have good sub woofer. My friend recommend me to buy sw at least 12 inches and powered.

I prefer to have tower front speakers, other speaker can be bookshelf or towers.

I will use my system for 50% Movie, and 40% for music, and 10% for Karaoke. My wife likes to have karaoke, and we already have player+mixer.

We also prefer the nice looking speakers with cherry or rose wood to match with our furniture.

Looking for your advice.

Thanks

 

[mike c]

fortunately for you, many many speakers have cherry finishes. your friend is also right about the 12" subwoofer. its best to buy the biggest you can afford, otherwise you'll be buying one again pretty soon. also, for a good movie experience, a big sub is a must.

if you look at my signature, i have about the same budget of slightly more than 2k for all 7.1 (2.25k to be exact)

 

[jcPanny]

Nice cherry finish

Axiom Audio makes some great speakers in your price range with a attractive (fake) cherry finish. They also offer real wood veneer for extra. I requested a sample of the boston cherry and received if free in a couple days. I plan to upgrade to their speakers with the M22ti bookshelves as fronts.

Axiom recomendations:
M60 fronts $900
VP150 Center $385
QS8 Rears $500

Subwoofer:
SVS or HSU $500-600

 

[Sheep]

My person favorites are the Energy Veritas 2.4i's and they come in cherry. These will do fine without a subwoofer for music, having bass response to 30hz, and extention to 25. They also have a tapered cross-over that makes the midrange very neutral (to my ears).

These are them, you can get the 2.3's or 2.2's and still have great sound, just less bass.

http://www.energy-speakers.com/v2/products/product-page.php?id=11

The Sheep

 

[alpharetta]

Axiom Audio makes some great speakers in your price range with a attractive (fake) cherry finish. They also offer real wood veneer for extra. I requested a sample of the boston cherry and received if free in a couple days. I plan to upgrade to their speakers with the M22ti bookshelves as fronts.

Axiom recomendations:
M60 fronts $900
VP150 Center $385
QS8 Rears $500

Subwoofer:
SVS or HSU $500-600

Thanks jcPanny, I see that people prefer HSU wubwoofer over the Axiom. SVS/HSU subWoofer is much far better than Axiom EP350 with the $650 price range? What is other reason we should go with HSU? Should we go with the same brand for front speaker, center and sub for better sound?

 

[jaxvon]

The general rule for speakers is to buy from the same manufacturer for your 3 front speakers and 2-4 surrounds. For the subwoofer, look for the best performance.

I would be inclined to agree, that in your price range, an SVS or Hsu subwoofer will provide much more satisfaction and value [this is completely based on specs and reading other reviews]. The Axiom is only rated down to 28Hz Anechoic. The Hsu is rated down to 25Hz (STF-3 or VTF-1), and an SVS in that price range will go strongly to 20Hz and below. I own a Hsu and I've listened to an SVS cylinder. Both sound great for music, but for HT, SVS has the ability to go lower than a Hsu. Hsu is still a great sub though.

As far as my adivce goes, I think you'd be best served by getting 2 front speakers right now and slowing building your system. This will allow you to get much nicer speakers, and it will help you to take your time. Taking your time and listening to as many speakers as you can is very important. You don't want to regret a $1000 purchase.

 

[jcPanny]

Matching speakers

Alpha,
Axiom makes a couple high end subs (EP500 and EP600) in the 1K+ price range. See audioholics reviews. In a lower price bracket, most people on the forum would recomend the 10" or 12" subs from SVS and HSU over any of other manufactuers because they produce more low frequency bass and offer great performance for the price. I don't have either of these yet but I'm saving for an SVS.

Concerning speaker matching, it is desirable that the front, center, and surround speakers (and surround back) are tonally matched so when effects pan arround the room you won't notice a difference. The easiest way to achieve this is to buy all the speakers from a single manufacter of speaker line, like Axiom.

The sub receives only the low frequency information from the receiver and matching is not an issue, so you can use any sub with the Axiom speakers.

The only advantage to the Axiom sub would be the matching finish. If this is important to you then I would consider saving for the EP500. Axiom also has a great return and upgrade policy so you could always start with the 350 sub and upgrade later if you thought you needed more bass.

 

[bupton]

Have to wonder...

Hey jc, do you work for Axiom or something?

 

[jcPanny]

Hey jc, do you work for Axiom or something?

No, but I have been very impressed with Axiom's quality and customer service.

 

[abboudc]

I have the same receiver, and wanted cherry (to up the WAF), and ended up with M&K LCR650's on the cherry stands. Admittedly, my Klipsch sub is the underperformer in the system, but i'll be upgrading later (i already had the sub). I love the speakers, and the wife loves the way they look (though they do look modern/industrial).

There are a lot of great speaker options out there though in your price range. BIC Venturi 62, Mordaunt Short 902, etc. I'd tell you to listen to all you can, but the best speakers in your range aren't likely to be found at your local best buy. Read the reviews and order from a place with a good return policy Chances are though, you'll be more than happy.

 

[alpharetta]

Axiom Epic 60 system

Dear All:

I finally go with Axiom because of it's great review and return policy/upgrade. I ordered Epic 60 system with Sub 500 yesterday and they will arrive my home on Monday next week. It's so fast shipping. http://www.axiomaudio.com/epic60_500main.html#

I will post the result in 2 weeks. I really want to go with Epic 80, but the M80 towers are 4 Ohms, while Yamaha only support 6-8 Ohms. I read the Yam spec. Not sure if it could handle 4 Ohm speakers. Any advice?

Other question: where is the best place to buy speaker wire and plugs?

Thanks

 

[jcPanny]

Great system

You picked a great system, I'm jealous.
I think that you made a good choice with the M60s. They will be an easy load for your Yamaha and the M80s might have required a seperate amp. They are very efficient speakers so max volume should not be a problem.

Concerning wire and connections, look for 12 AWG Sound King speaker wire and bananna plugs from *****************
For inwall or under carpet type wiring, order Belden 5000UP from Westlake Electronic supply.